The following is a letter written by Head of School Kim Samson announcing Debi Ellman’s retirement from Beaver after 40 years. Included are several anecdotes from long-time colleagues, underscoring the impact Debi has had on the Beaver community.
Dear Beaver Community,
I am writing to share that Debi Ellman—Associate Director of College Counseling and US English teacher—will retire at the end of this year.
In Debi’s 40 years (!) at Beaver, she has occupied many roles: Director of Upper School, English teacher, college counselor, and Jewish Cultural Club advisor, to name a few.
We’ve just begun gathering quotes and anecdotes from long-time colleagues about Debi; here are a few early highlights:
Imagining Beaver without Debi is something I dread. Imagining Debi in retirement writing, creating art, seeing family, and finding treasures in Brimfield is something I celebrate. Debi is a treasure and has given so much love to our community.
Lesley Colognesi, Director of Academic Services
Debi’s adventure at Beaver has included being the Upper School Director and teaching students about writing (which is her secret passion). But really, all the many fun anecdotes I have about Debi are about her soul and character.
Peter Gow, former Director of College Counseling
When I came to Beaver in 1992, the school was not effective in communicating and partnering with parents. Once I asked Debi to be Upper School Director, that changed immediately. She is a compassionate listener who earned the trust of parents and played a major role in creating a culture that we remain proud of.
Peter Hutton, former Head of School
Debi’s accomplishments are many, and her warmth, generosity of spirit, and sense of humor with students, families, and colleagues in every role make her so incredibly special. She will be dearly missed at Beaver, and we will have plenty of time to celebrate her throughout the remainder of the school year. Please join us in congratulating Debi!
A quick note about what’s next!
We are going to be extremely intentional about the hiring and transition process, posting our open position for a College Counselor by the end of the year with the goal of hiring early in 2025. We are taking a proactive approach with the utmost care to find the best candidate. Junior families who will officially begin working with College Counseling in January will also receive a more detailed communication specific to their process shortly. The BVR College Counseling team will work diligently to ensure a seamless transition, which will include overlap time between Debi and the incoming college counselor.
Once again, a big congratulations (and thank you!) to Debi! Your impact on Beaver has been immense.
Sincerely,
Kim Samson