Two teachers and a staff member with more than 70 years of combined service to McCallie will retire at the end of the school year.

Longtime history teacher Dr. Richard "Doc" Swanson will retire after 33 years on the Ridge. Over his career, he has taught all high school grades in classes ranging from the history of England to several Advanced Placement history classes. He served as department chairman for a decade and served several years as an AP reader.

After coaching several sports, Dr. Swanson in 1990 organized and started the school's crew program and served as its head coach until 2009. Under his tutelage, the program has consistently expanded in both scope and prominence. Many of the programs graduates have matriculated to colleges with nationally-competitive rowing programs. The team has regularly made a name for itself in both national and international races.

"In the classroom, Doc Swanson has opened his students' eyes to the world," said Headmaster Dr. R. Kirk Walker. "Through rowing, he has helped more than a thousand boys to understand that great things can be achieved by setting goals and working hard."

Kenny Sholl, head of the Upper School, added, "We appreciate Doc for having the energy and confidence to take what was a big risk 20 years ago and to turn what began as an experimental team into a national powerhouse."

Dr. Pamela Childers, the Caldwell Chair of Composition and director of the Caldwell Writing Center, retires in June after 20 years at McCallie. Dr. Childers was the first person to hold the endowed chair, established through a donation from the Caldwell family. She also served as leader of the school's Writing Across the Curriculum program. Over her time on the Ridge, she has become a national speaker and writer on issues involving schools and writing centers.

"Pam has been a tremendous asset to our learning community," said Dr. Walker. "She has created a center with a national reputation and has been a tremendous resource for two decades of McCallie students. Her impact will be felt beyond tomorrow's term paper as some of her students become published authors in their own right."

Dr. Childers began a Writing Fellows program in the past decade, a remarkable success that will continue in the coming years. "The Writing Fellows tutor other students, present at conferences, and are a tremendous support to the academic community as we continue to stress writing across the curriculum," said Dean Sholl.

Staff member Nancy Coffey will also be retiring in June. Mrs. Coffey first came to McCallie in 1988 and served for more than a decade as administrative assistant to the assistant headmaster. In 1999 she became the faculty liason and has, according to Dr. Walker, "given generously of her time and talents in supporting the work of the faculty. Among her other accomplishments, she organized and supervised Project Graduation, an event which has provided a safe place for thousands of McCallie and GPS seniors to celebrate their graduation."