Lifelong Educator Robin Ricketts Wins Cramer Award

At the annual Board, Faculty, and Staff Dinner on Thursday, February 23, several awards were presented to members of the Steward family. Robin Ricketts, longtime Steward educator and JK-12 Technology Coordinator, received the tenth annual Paul R. Cramer Award, given in memory of the former Steward headmaster to a faculty member who best embraces the characteristics of “balance, perspective, and humor.”

Mr. Cramer himself hired Ms. Ricketts as a Lower School teacher in 1979. After more than three decades of teaching, she pursued her passion for technology by joining the Technology Department in 2011. She gradually evolved her role into the position she holds today, for which she works with students of all ages to facilitate their learning of digital programs, software, and devices.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Ricketts has led several Lower School Enrichment courses after school, such as the Lower School Robotics Club. Ms. Ricketts is the mother of Steward alumni Edward “Ted” Benson ’01 and Alex Benson ’03.

In his introductory speech, Head of School Dan Frank spoke about Ms. Ricketts’ lifelong ability to master both technological and artistic pursuits. He compared her to philosopher, scientist, and mathematician Ada Lovelace, whom many argue was the world’s first computer programmer.

Mr. Frank highlighted Ms. Ricketts’s many unique accomplishments in the areas of science and art, ranging from her ability to weave cloth to make her own clothes (for which she grows her own flax and raises her own silk worms), her affinity for experimenting with circuit boards and Arduinos, and her love of working on ceramics and bronzing objects with her husband, Russ. Mr. Frank also included personal stories and comments from her family and colleagues.

“Her whole life Robin has done magic … She’s a poet scientist, or as Ted calls her, a super-nerd,” Mr. Frank said. “She doesn’t believe that a lot of the divisions in the world need to be made. She doesn’t see the difference between art and technology; they are tools of creation, tools for constructing things.”

During her acceptance, Ms. Ricketts said: “I’m so honored to be given this award. I look out there at all of you … I know so many of you work so hard, and I honor all of you for what you give to the students here.”

Previous Cramer Award honorees included Catesby Jones, Bonnie Anderson, Carolyn Brandt, Bev Fox, Gardner Mundy, Rugene Paulette, Janet Rice, Louise Robertson, and Chris Tickle, each of whom received a grant to use toward professional development as part of the award.

After Ms. Ricketts’s award presentation, six additional awards were presented to faculty and staff members to recognize their outstanding contributions to Steward. Each recipient was given an engraved plaque and a check.

The Board of Trustees presented three awards—one to a teacher in each division.

• The Lower School award is named for Debbie Hanger, a trustee and beloved member of our community who served as director of Lower School for a decade. The 2017 Debbie Hanger Outstanding Lower School Teacher Award was presented to third-grade teacher Jane Whitely.

• The Middle School award is named for Roger Coulombe, former director of Middle School and head of school who was known for being compassionate, caring, and deeply committed to Steward’s mission and community. The 2017 Roger Coulombe Outstanding Middle School Teacher Award was presented to science teacher Eric Latourelle.

• The Upper School award is named for Carolyn Brandt, who spent 32 years at Steward and was—and continues to be—an integral part of Steward’s growth and a champion of the school’s mission. The 2017 Carolyn Brandt Outstanding Upper School Teacher Award was presented to mathematics teacher Barbara Filler.

The Parents Association presented a staff recognition award named for former Director of the Physical Plant Bob Sanders, who spent two decades supervising the growth of Steward’s campus. The 2017 Robert Sanders, Jr. Outstanding Staff Member Award was presented to Receptionist Jenn Downey.

The Spartan Club presented two awards to coaches who have made a significant impact on their teams and at Steward, inspiring our players to be competitive athletes as well as respectful, engaged citizens. This year’s awards were presented to varsity boys lacrosse coach Jim Tyler and varsity girls volleyball coach Greg Young.