Amory Parker Chair & Differentiation - Head of School's Letter; October 17, 2025

Dear Families,

Every so often, a gift comes along that quietly changes the life of a school. The Amory Parker Chair is one of those rare endowment gifts where the impact extends well beyond its origin—enriching the teaching that shapes our students’ daily experiences and honoring a legacy that continues to inspire Brookwood today.

Established in 1998 by the Parker and de Lacvivier families in memory of Amory Parker—one of Brookwood’s founders and father of alumni Fanny Parker de Lacvivier ’70, Ollie Parker ’71, and William Parker ’72—the fund was created to ensure that Brookwood teachers would always have the opportunity to grow, explore, and innovate. The endowed funds generate slightly over $20,000 annually and are restricted to faculty professional growth. Every two years, two faculty members are selected by their peers as the Amory Parker Chairs. Each receives a portion of the funds for their own professional development, while also helping determine how the remaining funds can best serve school-wide learning initiatives and the professional development of their colleagues.

The aim has always been clear: to invest in the people who make Brookwood exceptional. By supporting teachers’ curiosity and initiative, the Amory Parker Chair ensures that new ideas—whether in curriculum, pedagogy, or student support—continue to flourish. Over the years, this fund has fueled work in project-based learning, social-emotional development, outdoor education, and other innovations that now define Brookwood’s approach to teaching and learning.

This year’s Amory Parker Chairs, Director of Learning Skills Mayumi Morash and Learning Skills Specialist Jamie Hyland, are devoting their two-year term to deepening Brookwood’s collective expertise in differentiated instruction. This year, they’re listening carefully—gathering feedback from colleagues across divisions to understand where additional support and tools would be most valuable. Next year, along with outside experts, they'll lead a series of mini-workshops that are responsive to the feedback they receive from faculty, ensuring every teacher feels equipped to meet the needs of all Brookwood learners. 

Their work embodies the spirit of our Horizon 75 Strategic Plan: a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, and to the belief that each child thrives when teaching is responsive and relationships are strong. The Amory Parker Chair makes that possible—not just for Mayumi and Jamie, but for every student who benefits from the creativity and expertise of Brookwood’s teachers.

We remain deeply grateful to the Parker and de Lacvivier families for their vision, their trust in Brookwood’s mission, and their enduring belief in the transformative power of great teaching. 

Warmly,
Jon Bartlett