For well over a decade, Susan Reilly and her fellow third grade teachers have inspired their students to find joy in learning and to build confidence as public speakers through their annual Bagels ’n Bios unit.
Katie Balun ’17 discovered her passion for filmmaking in Shipley’s Middle School, thanks to the influence of a couple of her teachers. Now, she’s ready to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Learn more about Katie and the role Shipley has played in her life.
Shipley Coach and PE teacher Bruce Nkala and his wife were initially drawn to Shipley because of the baby blue color worn by the School’s sports teams – the color of their home country Botswana’s flag. But the Shipley community, small class sizes, and individual approach to each student have solidified their affinity for the School. Read the Nkala family’s Shipley story.
Each year, Shipley parent and alumna Jennifer Flint Panetta ’88 and her son, Chris ’24, visit Shipley’s Development Office, where Chris makes a contribution to the Annual Fund. “It’s important that students understand, starting right away, that it’s more than just tuition that makes their experience possible,” says Panetta. Learn more about why Jennifer and Chris Panetta give back to Shipley.
Edie Harding ’71 has spent her career ensuring a quality education for others. As Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she focuses primarily on early childhood development, particularly for low-income students and students of color, and is a strong supporter for integrated social-emotional curricula such as Shipley’s own SEED program.
“I teach because I love the children, the families, and the teachers,” says Kindergarten teacher Claire Grillo. “At Shipley, I love the warmth of the community. While we have a solid curriculum, teachers have latitude, so we can explore learning with the kids.” Learn more about Claire and why she loves teaching.
It’s an important topic that’s sparked legal battles, political debates, and philosophical divides in communities across the country. Our roundtable explores the role of schools in navigating this complex subject. How are Shipley and other schools responding to the issues surrounding gender identity and sexuality diversity? Shipley’s Head of School and a national expert weigh in.
Prashant Bhuyan ’96 is a digital entrepreneur and cognitive data scientist who specializes in developing artificial intelligence solutions to help financial enterprises make better informed decisions. Shipley provided him with a “foundation to be introspective,” while also pushing him towards exploration that ultimately fostered his entrepreneurial spirit.
The Ilyases were looking for something more than just an excellent academic education when they explored independent schools for their children. They wanted a school where their kids were going to be free to define themselves and feel a strong sense of community. Learn more about the Ilyases and how Shipley’s environment supports each child’s sense of identity.
Andy Shepherd has been teaching at Shipley for 17 years, and for 17 years, he’s been giving back to the School. As the recipient of financial aid to attend private school, he says he gives to Shipley “to create opportunities for kids out there like me, who want a better opportunity.” Learn more about Andy Shepherd and why he gives back to Shipley.
You’ve probably seen Dana Veraldi ‘02’s t-shirts on friends and in magazines. Her brand book is a portfolio both of her products and her art. With fans like Justin Bieber, Orlando Bloom, and Mark Ruffalo, DEERDANA has achieved a cult following. Read about how this artist and Shipley alumna got her start and how her success has grown.
“I think writers are writers from the beginning,” says Roxana Barry Robinson ’64, who has enjoyed a decades-long career as a critically acclaimed journalist and author of fiction and biography. In her role as president at the Authors Guild, Robinson looks after the future of the writing profession. Read more about this award-winning author and Shipley alumna.
In our rapidly-changing world, there is a lot of uncertainty about the future. What skills, knowledge, and experiences will our students need in order to thrive professionally and personally? How can Shipley and other schools ensure that students are future ready? Shipley administrators and alumni weigh in on the topic.
Traditional exams and testing have climbed the ranks of what’s trending in education. Across all disciplines and grade levels, Shipley teachers are exploring new and more effective methods of assessment to broaden the spectrum of their students’ understanding of the material being taught in the classroom. Learn more about how Shipley students are making the grade beyond testing and learning more in the process.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.