The 2022-23 school year began with the heartbreaking and unexpected passing of Joe Christy, a beloved and respected member of the Beaver faculty for 19 years. An educator, advisor, mentor, friend, and so much more to so many, Joe’s work was felt by our entire community. He created programs, resources, and systems that share and distribute the priorities of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, and his impact remains embedded in our student experiences and our faculty and staff professional development.
We are committed to supporting and continuing Joe Christy’s work.
The outpouring of care, love, and support from our extended Beaver community has been tremendous, and many community members expressed an interest in creating an endowment in Joe’s name to fund the predictable and unpredictable work of fostering student engagement and belonging.
In December 2022, the Joe Christy Endowment Fund was established with gifts ranging from $10 to $50,000.
Joe always put students’ well-being and experience first; he knew that as members of a caring community, circumstances can arise for families where unplanned resources are required. At Beaver, we want to create a culture where we can proactively plan to be able to say ‘yes’ when a need arises or when a family requests help. Knowing we have the Joe Christy Fund to support our families will ensure that we can say yes to those requests.
— Shamikhah Baker, Director of Enrollment Management
Joe arrived at Beaver in 2004 as an Upper School math teacher and spent the last two decades in various roles in both the Middle and Upper Schools; most recently, Joe was the Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion. Director of Middle School Tiffany Smith shared: “Joe took his role as an educator very seriously. Every role was intentional, fueled by his desire to help others do their best and be their best. Joe was a math teacher because he understood the power math education could have beyond numbers and figures. Joe used his math classroom to educate his students about the world around them, especially topics where inequity was pervasive because folks did not understand how numbers could be manipulated in order to benefit some at the expense of others.”
Joe made the very natural transition into his role as Director of Engagement and Inclusion because he wanted to impact teaching and learning at the same time. Joe always presented himself as a partner. He worked with you while empowering you to take on more of the work yourself in the future. Joe would want this fund to support his commitment to empowering and equipping others to do more and be more.”
— Tiffany Smith, Director of Middle School
We are so grateful to those who have made a gift to this important fund, and we welcome your support in future years.
The creation of this Fund speaks volumes about Joe as a teacher and mentor; he aimed to create a sense of belonging and to help everyone feel included, and to also instill a sense of personal responsibility in his students to be the kind of person who creates an inclusive environment for others.
— Kim Samson, Head of School
For more information about the Joe Christy Endowment Fund, or to make a contribution, contact Erica DeRosa, Director of Philanthropy + Engagement.