Bruce Bean Faculty Development Fund
The Bean family has had a long affiliation with the Blake schools, beginning with Alice Bean Fraser, one of the first Northrop graduates in 1901. Atherton Bean was in the Blake Class of 1926 and later served on the Board of Trustees. This family relationship has entered its fourth generation, with at least 25 Bean family members attending one of the Blake schools.
In 2000, Bruce W. Bean and the Athwin Foundation established the Bruce Bean Fund for Teachers. The fund is earmarked to provide incentives to teachers who wish to coach or sponsor an extracurricular activity. The fund supports the opportunities for teachers and students to interact in a non-classroom environment.
Bea Blodgett Teaching Chair
Barbara Forster graduated from Northrop Collegiate School in 1955. She was one of the leaders in establishing the Blake and Northrop Classes of 1955 Speakers Fund. As the 2000 Centennial Campaign was launched, Ms. Forster gave a very generous gift to establish an endowed faculty chair.
The endowed chair fund is in honor of the Northrop faculty members who made such an impact on her life. Among other teachers, Ms. Forster has fond memories of Janet Gray, Head of School, and Bea Blodgett, Latin instructor. The Beatrice Blodgett Teaching Chair honors the legacy of all Northrop teachers while providing special opportunities for the rising stars of the current Blake School faculty.
Thomas M. Crosby Sr. Endowment
The Thomas M. Crosby Endowment Fund has been established as a memorial to Thomas M. Crosby--a former student ('32), a trustee of the school from 1948-1972, and an individual with an intense interest in education. The fund was created initially with a bequest in Crosby's will, as well as a contribution from the Carolyn Foundation and gifts from members of his immediate family.
The Crosby Fund shall be an indivisible part of the endowment funds of The Blake School. Income may be used periodically at the discretion of the Board of Trustees for the operation and development of the school. The principal of the fund shall be held intact as an endowment. Subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees, the income should be directed to maintaining a high quality of teaching and to promote citizenship qualities in both faculty and students.
Frank Donaldson, Sr. Sabbatical Program
The Frank Donaldson Faculty Development Sabbatical Program was established in 1992 to provide support for members of the Blake School faculty and allow them to undertake and present significant sabbatical projects. In addition to salary support, the program provides a project stipend for up to two recipients annually.
Sabbatical recipients are selected by the Blake Sabbatical Review Committee, comprised of three teachers, the Head of School and one administrator. The committee is guided by the following criteria: seniority, past achievements, potential benefit to the school, the community, and the applicant.
Each sabbatical concludes with a presentation of the recipient's project. Presentations may take many different forms, such as a public lecture, paper, published article or book, video or an exhibit. The original project budget includes provisions for the expenses related to the project's presentation.
E.E. Ford Foundation Faculty Development Fund
In 1981, the E.E. Ford Foundation established an endowed fund at The Blake School to support the Partners-in-Teaching Program. This program offered the exchange of ideas and positions between Blake teachers and post-secondary education professionals. In 1985, Blake altered its strategy for faculty development and the exchange program was disbanded.
Adapting with the times, the E.E. Ford Foundation generously agreed to allow the endowed fund to more broadly finance faculty development. For example, in 1992 the Fund underwrote a comprehensive faculty training and counseling seminar in the area of chemical abuse. The E.E. Ford Fund remains true to the foundation's commitment to secondary education--a genuine "partner-in-teaching" with The Blake School.
The Plank Fund for Teachers
Starting as a pilot program at The Blake School in 1998 and originally known as the Plank Fund for Teacher Enhancement, this initiative has grown into a nationally recognized fund for educators. The goal of Raymond Plank, Blake alumnus and former trustee, is to help teachers feel renewed and energized about their profession.
With this fund, Plank pays tribute to teachers like Noah Foss, a Latin instructor who inspired, challenged and motivated the young men of Blake School in the 1930's. Thanks to Foss and others like him, young people leave school with the focus and self-respect necessary to reach their goals and succeed in life. Each day teachers inspire, challenge and shape the lives of Blake students in countless ways.
The Fund For Teachers rewards the promise, creativity and dedication of these professionals. The grants of up to $5,000 each are based solely on merit. Their intent is to make teachers--and their students--smile. And, in turn, the world will be a little better off than it was before.
Hawley Family Fund
The late J.B. Hawley was a trusted advisor during the merger process of the Blake Schools and felt very strongly about the institutions and their place in the community. Rosita Hawley Wright graduated from Northrop in 1943. The four Hawley children attended the Blake Schools. Two graduated from Blake, one daughter from Northrop and the youngest from the merged institution, The Blake School.
In 1989, Rosita Hawley Wright made a gift to the school that had played such an important role in her family's life. The Hawley Family Fund was established as an endowment for faculty development. The proceeds of the fund are available annually for the support of faculty programs, projects, or individuals. The prevailing theme of the Hawley Fund is to add something important to the life of the school. As the Hawley children had benefited from previous gifts to the School, the Hawley family chose to enhance the Blake experience for generations to come.
Whitney MacMillan, Jr. Chair
Whitney MacMillan, Jr. graduated from Blake School in 1972. His family has had long ties with Blake and its predecessor schools over the years. Parents, Whitney and Elizabeth, are both graduates and have served on the board of trustees. As the 2000 Centennial Campaign was launched, Whitney MacMillan, Jr. gave a very generous gift to establish an endowed faculty chair.
The endowed chair fund is in honor of the Blake faculty members who made such an impact on his life. Among other teachers, Mr. MacMillan has fond memories of Dan Danielson, Science, and Heinz Otto, German/Latin instructor. The MacMillan Fund honors the legacy of all Blake teachers while providing special opportunities for the rising stars of the current Blake School faculty.
The Plank Institute Fund
Established in 1980, the Plank Institute annually brings together a group of educators to study and participate in discussions with local business and industry leaders. The teachers are selected on a competitive basis and receive a stipend for attending the five-day institute. Blake School instructors make up the majority of the attendees, with 30% to 50% coming from other independent and public school districts. An advisory committee assists the school in selecting participants.
The advisory committee also assists with recommendations for the institute's curriculum. Presentation and discussion topics range from business and scientific technology to literature, arts and the general economic health of the community. The group explores economic issues such as governmental regulation, capital formation, business ethics and resource utilization. Participants receive assignments prior to the institute, providing a common ground for discussion.
Steiner Faculty Fund
Bruce and Julie Steiner, B67 and N69, recognized the impact that teachers at Blake have made to their family. Wishing to support the historic Centennial Campaign, they designated their generous gift to the general endowment. The fund is to support endowed chairs and faculty recruitment, retirement and training.