Subject: Retirement Announcement
From: "Bryan Garman" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2018 18:02:49 +0000

Dear Friends,

With sadness for Sidwell Friends and joy for one of its longest serving teachers and administrators, I write to announce that Associate Head of School Ellis Turner will retire on June 30, 2019.

Ellis has served the School with distinction since he was first hired as a history teacher in 1980.  His quick wit, engaging teaching, and kindness quickly earned the respect of students, many of whom place him at the top of their list of memorable and masterful teachers.  In the classroom, Ellis pioneered courses in American Studies and the 1960s, drawing upon his deep expertise to develop innovative assignments and encourage students to appreciate all aspects of history and culture, from the political to the popular, the conventional to the quirky.  He taught students to revel in ideas and introduced them to the rigors and rewards of historical research.  In recognition of his talents, Ellis earned the University of Chicago Outstanding Teacher Award and was honored with the Sidwell Friends yearbook dedication in 1984.

Ellis's contributions to the School have been vast and versatile.  He served as Director of the Continuing Education Program, Assistant Director of College Counseling, Director of External Affairs, Upper School History Chair, Assistant and Associate Head of School, Interim Upper School Principal, and Interim Head of School.  Perhaps no individual since Thomas Sidwell held as many different roles, each of which Ellis served gracefully and graciously.  Ellis is known for his sense of humor, which brings joy to all; his fastidiousness, which makes him an outstanding and highly dependable administrator; and his generosity, which he routinely demonstrates by treating teachers to coffee at the Fox Den.

I am personally grateful to Ellis for hiring me as a young history teacher in the late 1990s.  He served as a wonderful friend and mentor in my early days at Sidwell Friends, and continued to do so when I returned as Head.  His love for the School and its mission is palpable, and he has been instrumental in maintaining its spirit during his tenure.  He is a principled colleague, a trusted friend, and a loyal servant leader who will leave behind an extraordinary legacy.  We will have time to celebrate Ellis's tenure later in the year, but for now please join me in recognizing his tremendous service to the School.  Thank you, Ellis!  You will be missed.

In friendship and with gratitude,

Bryan

Bryan Garman

Head of School

Sidwell Friends School

3825 Wisconsin Ave. NW • Washington, DC 20016 • 202-537-8100
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