McCallie's 2016 Faculty Fellows are, from left, Suzanne Mortimer, Rob Lyons '88, Rebecca Burnette, Adam Tolar and Tom Adams '90.
McCallie School's Faculty Fellows program annually rewards outstanding educators who make a positive impact on both the academic and character development of their students.
The 2016 Faculty Fellows class is Rebecca Burnette, Middle School English teacher; Tom Adams '90, Middle School English teacher Rob Lyons ’88, Upper School mathematics teacher; Suzanne Mortimer, Middle School art teacher; and Adam Tolar, Upper School English teacher.
The program was initiated in 2008 by former Board Chairman Ed Michaels ’60. A monetary reward for each honoree is funded through an endowment.
A committee selects the fellows from a pool of teachers who are in their professional review year. Faculty are evaluated every four years based on classroom observations, class surveys, a professional improvement plan, department input, response to strategic questions, a personal teaching portfolio and nominations from alumni and parents.
Selection criteria include the following:
Passion for teaching and their subject
Knowledgeable about the subject and effective at helping students understand the material
Enthusiastic and energetic
Effective communicator
Genuinely interested in the student as a person and his well-being
Approachable, accessible, patient and understanding
Challenges boys to be more than they think they can be
Stresses character and values in and out of the classroom
Offers thoughtful and helpful ways to improve