RE Log - Spring 2020

bids farewell to two treasured educators Act� Penny and Guillermo arrived to Ransom Everglades in the days of IBM electric typewriters and ditto machines. Headmaster Frank Hogan hired them, and they have served under five additional heads of school: Jerry Zank, John Cotton, Judy Chamberlain, Ellen Moceri and me. The leadership of the school changed, perhaps more times than one would have liked, but Penny and Guillermo remained a constant and steadying presence in the eyes of their colleagues and students. Their files in the head of school’s office protect yellowed resumes that attest to outstanding academic credentials and advanced degrees in their chosen fields. Memos of special recognition share space with more than ample documentation of varied professional development activities that speak to their relentless commitment to continual improvement. And both files bear witness to the many hats they have worn at Ransom Everglades. In addition to their teaching, club and advisory duties – and Penny’s varsity coaching – both Penny and Guillermo served as department heads – Guillermo of world languages and Penny of physical education, and both were academic deans. Neither avoided holding their students to high standards, and their tenures on the Disciplinary Committee were each characterized by a calm demeanor and dogged determination to reach the best outcome. Penny and Guillermo have been part of the fabric of the school for three decades, and they packed an enormous amount into their time at Ransom Everglades. The personnel files, however, are but one part of the story. It’s the recollections of their students that provide the definition of the arc of Penny’s and Guillermo’s careers. And they are beautiful arcs. When recalling time spent with Coach Matthews, phrases like “she brought out the grit in me that I was lacking,” “she instilled a love for volleyball that is still with me today,” “she GuillermoUrbina SPRING 2020 Ransom Everglades LOG 25