Master Teacher Appointed

The 2019–2020 school year came to a close with the traditional final Faculty/Staff Meeting, albeit in a new virtual setting. More than 200 faculty and staff tuned into a Zoom meeting where year-end awards were announced, and members of the administration delivered their final reports. Before ending the meeting, and concluding the school year, Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini had one more announcement to share: Scott Gonzalez will serve as the next holder of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Master Teaching Chair.

 

“Scott Gonzalez is the quintessential teacher, colleague, and mentor,” David Dini said. “Inspiring in the classroom and constantly striving for improvement, Mr. Gonzalez teaches boys not just to love learning, but he also helps them understand what it means to be a good man, a good leader, and a meaningful contributor. Scott is humble, kind, compassionate, a consummate servant-leader and a great role model for the boys.”

 

When first presented with the position, Gonzalez thought back to all the faculty and staff members who have held or currently hold the endowed positions and is honored to be a part of this list.

 

“As an educator, I always honored these individuals because of their expertise in their selected fields, their excellence in the classroom, their professional relationships and leadership in professional organizations, their undying support of the students outside of the classroom, and their willingness to represent the best that St. Mark’s has to offer,” Scott Gonzalez said.

 

Throughout his 25-year career at St. Mark’s, Mr. Gonzalez has fulfilled myriad responsibilities, including Provost and Dean of Campus, Middle School Humanities and Upper School English teacher, Acting Head of Upper School, Interim Assistant Head of Upper School, Director of Scheduling and Studies, Director of Intercultural Activities, Interim Chaplain, Assistant Community Service Director, and Director of Faculty Recruitment and Training. Mr. Gonzalez now serves as Senior Master, an honorary title held by one of the most senior faculty members.

 

During his career in education, Mr. Gonzalez taught at Greenhill School for four years and was a board member for three years. He taught English and chaired the English and Spanish Departments at The Winston School for seven years and served as Head of Upper School for two years.

 

“It’s my hope that I’ll be able to return the gift of this appointment to those who made it possible: the visionaries who founded and continue to lead the School, the alumni who support our work through their giving, the parents who allow us to work with their children, the faculty who work alongside me daily and the students whose inquiring minds and zest for life keep me laughing and young,” Mr. Gonzalez said.

 

The Cecil H. and Ida Green Master Teaching Chair was given by Cecil and Ida Green in 1977, who instructed that the position “be occupied by a meritorious teacher of the School’s selection.” The Chair was previously held by Marsha McFarland from 2016 until her retirement at the end of the 2019–2020 school year.

 

Established by generous gifts from alumni, parents, and friends of the School, endowed chairs are one of the ways St. Mark’s recognizes excellence among the faculty. The current number of endowed positions stands at 22, including 16 Master Teaching Chairs, five endowed Department Chairs, and the Headmaster’s endowed position.