Several beloved faculty members will be leaving the Chadwick community at the end of this school year, after decades of teaching, coaching, and leadership on campus.
Richard Babcock, Clarisse Cabrera-Dyson, Chris Calico, Ivan Cestero, Cotter Donnell, Ellie Donnell, Anne Franzen, Scott Joiner, Annie Spalding, Steve Stella, and Kindra Windish will be dearly missed as they begin their new chapters beyond Chadwick.
Director of Orchestras Richard Babcock is retiring after 39 years (!) of teaching instrumental music in the Village School and AP Music Theory in the Upper School and leading the Upper School Orchestra, the Jazz Band, and the Pep Band. During his nearly four decades at Chadwick, Babcock helped transform the Chamber Ensemble program into a vibrant youth orchestra and built a music program that has impacted generations of students (see Volume 76 Issue 6 Features).
Another music teacher departing this year is Scott Joiner, Director of Vocal Music, who is moving back to the East Coast after three years of teaching sixth through twelfth grade at Chadwick. Joiner has taught music composition classes, directed vocals in school musicals, and led the Sixth Grade, Middle School, and Upper School Choruses.
“Chadwick provides a lot of space for the teachers to improve at what we do,” Joiner said. “I’m definitely going to be a stronger teacher because of the different lessons that I learned here.”
This fall, Joiner will begin a new music teaching role while writing two musicals, a comedy and a historical drama. He will also release an EP this summer, continuing to push his musical frontiers.
K-12 dance teacher Kindra Windish will also be leaving Chadwick after 13 years of teaching, choreographing, and directing dance, as well as creating a nurturing environment in Upper School Dance Company.
Reflecting on her Chadwick experience, Windish says, “One great thing about Chadwick is not only the students and faculty, but also the leeway or opportunity [I’ve been given] to come up with ideas.” A favorite memory was connecting visual art with dance during a concert, with Art Teacher Meagan Segal drawing live in response to the movements she observed.
Windish has appreciated watching WOWs grow up and graduate in her 13 years, and hopes to “embark on new adventures” next. She wants to open her own community arts center with classes available for all ages and economic statuses.
French teacher Steve Stella will be departing after four years at Chadwick. Stella initially joined as World Language Department Chair before transitioning to teaching French, allowing him to become more involved in other areas of campus life.
In addition to teaching, Stella coached Middle School girls volleyball, JV boys volleyball, assisted varsity boys volleyball, and led student trips to French Polynesia and Quebec.
“I’ve always valued doing much more than just being a teacher in a classroom,” Stella said. “Being part of the life of the school means getting to know students in all these different ways.”
Next year, Stella will teach French and Spanish at Marymount High School in Los Angeles.
History and Social Sciences teacher Anne Franzen will depart after two years of teaching seventh-grade and ninth-grade history.
“Overall, I’ve learned way more about being a teacher in the last two years than I have in my entire career,” Franzen said.
Franzen said one of her favorite memories came from Mattias Holm ’28 jokingly asking if he should hire actor Morgan Freeman to narrate his Untold Stories video project.
Next year, Franzen will teach at Westridge School in Pasadena.
After three years at Chadwick, Upper School Director and English teacher Cotter Donnell and English and History teacher Ellie Donnell will both be departing this year.
“I think the people are what I’ll miss the most,” Mr. Donnell said. “The students are engaged, curious, and just a lot of fun to work with.”
Mrs. Donnell highlighted the Chadwick students’ enthusiasm as well. “Chadwick students are enthusiastic and engaged and fun,” she said. “I’ll miss being in the classroom with them every day.”
After a stop in Colorado, where Mrs. Donnell will work as a college counselor at a summer program for first-generation students, the Donnells will move to North Carolina, where Mr. Donnell will become the Assistant Head of Forsyth Country Day School.
A final shoutout goes to longtime First Grade Lead Teacher Annie Spalding. After 29 years of teaching reading, math, social studies, and life lessons to six- and seven-year-olds, she will be retiring.
Upper School WOWs will remember Spalding’s read-alouds of classic books such as The BFG, Wayside School, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which she has enjoyed reading each year.
Spalding’s biggest takeaway will be that “teaching is relational.” She explained, “It’s not about what I taught—it’s about how I made the kids feel.”
She looks forward to traveling to Morocco, Peru, Cambodia, and Japan later this year. In her newfound free time, she wants to learn how to juggle, read books, and spend time with friends and family.
As these faculty members close out their final weeks on campus, their impact on the community will remain long after they depart. Through music, language, history, literature, and guidance, each educator leaves behind an unforgettable footprint on the Chadwick community.
