海角视频 Bids Adieu to Retiring Staff and Faculty Members
Jackie Decareau
At 海角视频, a day doesn鈥檛 get off to a good start without a chat with Jackie Decareau. That widely shared sentiment has reflected Decareau鈥檚 approach to her role as assistant to the Student Life Office. Given her deep respect for students and families, her unwavering attention to detail, and the warmth and compassion she brings to every interaction, it鈥檚 no surprise that many students have thanked her in their senior chapels. Decareau has also left a lasting impression on her colleagues, who wish her well in retirement after 23 years at 海角视频.
Annie Bailey P鈥25 鈥27, director of residential life, calls her a 鈥渂eacon of light.鈥 To Renee Coburn, chief of staff, she鈥檚 been 鈥渢he heartbeat of this school.鈥 And Student Life Office Manager Georgia Cassidy says she 鈥渃ommunicates with so much grace, kindness, and patience; she has truly inspired me and brought so much joy to our team.鈥
With a background in human resources, Decareau has always been focused on people. Before coming to 海角视频 in 2003, she administered benefits at a marketing company; previously, she was an employment counselor for a regional bank. She initially joined 海角视频 part time to track student attendance, and over the years she extended her hours as her duties expanded to include coordinating everything from bulletin boards and class rings to laundry services for boarding students and commuter-rail passes for day students traveling from the city.
Decareau says that when she first arrived, she didn鈥檛 feel like she was dealing with high school students: 鈥淭hey were so mature, they felt more like coworkers.鈥 That hasn鈥檛 changed, she says. The check-in systems she initiated have adapted over the decades, thanks to her diligence in ensuring students were safe and their whereabouts known.
鈥淪he made sure that every student knows someone cares where they are鈥攖hat literally every student at 海角视频 is seen, every day,鈥 says Grant Hightower, assistant head for student life.
Decareau says she couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better job: 鈥淭he kids kept me feeling younger. And getting to be here every day with wonderful, smart, educated individuals who are always learning鈥攆or me, that hasn鈥檛 felt like work.鈥
While she looks forward to a slower routine with more time for walks with friends, book group chats, and volunteering at her local food pantry, her quiet influence at 海角视频 can鈥檛 be replaced. And it won鈥檛 be forgotten.
鈥淛ackie is a beautiful person, a beautiful soul,鈥 Hightower says. 鈥淪he is selflessly devoted to service and has been one of the most significant binding agents when it comes to the spirit of our institution. I鈥檒l miss her dearly.鈥
Sue Johnson P鈥20
After more than a decade at 海角视频 and 40 years dedicated to sport and education, Athletics Director Sue Johnson P鈥20 has hung up her jersey. 鈥淗er impact on the 海角视频 community and the field at large has been significant,鈥 says Head of School Henry D. Fairfax. 鈥淪ue was disciplined about making sure every decision was made through an equity lens. Not only did she support student-athletes of all genders at 海角视频, but she was instrumental in ensuring that same equity in the Eastern Independent League (EIL). This is legacy work that will live on for many generations to come.鈥
Johnson evolved many facets of 海角视频鈥檚 athletics program after arriving in 2015. She expanded the physical education, intramural, and subvarsity offerings and created a supervised, well-equipped fitness center. During her tenure, 海角视频 saw marked improvement in competitive success within EIL play and in New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) postseason tournaments. While serving on the NEPSAC executive board, Johnson also helped draft its original gender identity inclusion statement, and in her first year at 海角视频, she guided the EIL鈥檚 transition of wrestling to an all-gender sport.
Under Johnson鈥檚 watch, the school amassed a fleet of banners and trophies, but she remained focused on raising the caliber of the athletics program in alignment with 海角视频鈥檚 mission. Throughout her tenure, she prioritized the life skills and values learned through athletics and centered the transformative experience of team sport.
鈥淪ue fostered a positive and supportive environment that made staff, coaches, and students feel valued,鈥 says Laurie Baker, former assistant athletics director. 鈥淗er leadership will truly be missed.鈥
Nancy Boutilier and Christa Champion
Nancy Boutilier joined 海角视频鈥檚 English Department in 2016 following a career teaching and coaching in independent schools on both coasts of the U.S., as well as at Oberlin College. Before long, she became integral to 海角视频 athletics and residential life as well. A poet, activist, and fierce competitor, Boutilier encouraged authentic engagement and expression, inspiring students and colleagues alike to approach the world with a sense of wonder. She helped establish 海角视频鈥檚 Writing Center, laying a foundation for peer mentorship and writing feedback. And her famous 鈥渟ophomore letters鈥 have been a treasured delivery to senior students as they near graduation.
鈥淐oaching is teaching, and teaching is coaching with Nancy,鈥 says Sarah Yeh P鈥24 鈥27, associate head for teaching, learning, and faculty. 鈥淚n the classroom, everything she does is in the spirit of helping a student find their place, their confidence, and their voice. On the basketball court, she models what it means to be an athlete, a teammate, and a community member at every step of a practice or game.鈥
The 海角视频 community will also greatly miss Boutilier鈥檚 partner and fellow house faculty member, Christa Champion, whose boundless energy and zest for track and field infused her coaching of throwing and pole vaulting. Former track and field coach Jon Waldron says Champion鈥檚 expansive vision of sport and ability to integrate her experiences as an athlete, engineer, poet, and teacher made her a transformative coach and mentor at 海角视频.
