Alumni Return as Faculty, Staff, and Administrators

Following her spring 2022 graduation from the University of Delaware, Clapp Teaching Fellow Isabel Harris '14 knew she wanted to work in a school that recognizes the whole child and where teachers are encouraged and supported to do just that. "Kids inspire me," Isabel shared with a smile.

Returning to Calvert was Isabel's dream, and the Clapp Teaching Fellow position was the perfect opportunity to get her start as an educator. Established by the Clapp family in 2012, The Ann and Harvey Clapp III '51 Internship Fund provides an opportunity for a new or inexperienced teacher to join the team for a year under the guidance of mentors on the Calvert faculty. Among the necessary characteristics for this position are a commitment to tradition and innovation and a desire to "inspire students to learn, explore, master, grow, and develop a lifelong love of learning."

These are qualities that Isabel has in spades. She recognizes the impact teachers have on their students beyond academics. Independence and confidence come when students have teachers who genuinely know and care about them. "I want to be that person for my students," she said. "I want them to feel comfortable raising their hands in my classroom." 

For John Simms ‘09, teaching is also a calling. “I became an educator because of how much my teachers, especially some of the teachers that I had while at Calvert, helped me. During the pandemic, I realized how many unique challenges students are facing and felt a pull to help.” John is an Assistant Learning & Support Coordinator in the Middle School where he works closely with alumnae Kait Gentry ‘97 and Isabel Cooke ‘12 as well as Courtenay Groff Shure '91 who is a Learning and Support Coordinator in the Lower School.

Upper School Placement Coordinator Kathy Cole Liotta '79 is about as entrenched in the Calvert story as one can be. A third-generation Calvert student, Kathy continued the tradition by sending her daughters Maclean Liotta '10 and Liza Liotta '12. She served on the Board of Trustees, chaired the Board's Development Committee, and taught a Fifth Grade homeroom before stepping into her current role in upper school placement.

"Working at Calvert has been one of my greatest honors," Kathy said. "Calvert has had an incredible impact on me as a former student and on many members of my family, including our two daughters. It is so special to be part of that same life-changing journey for so many other students and their parents. Every day, I am so proud of our unique community and our graduates as we launch them off to their next phases of life." 

These alumni are Kiddie Calvert, lower and middle school teachers, admission and development team staff members, and Middle School Head Matt Buck '87, whose vision and leadership brought unprecedented growth in Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades. While there are indeed 16 different stories that brought these alumni back to Tuscany Road, one thing is the same: their deep affection for Calvert and their desire to provide the best elementary and middle school education to current and future students.

"Collectively at Calvert, we have had the gift of time with our students and their parents during the most formative years of their lives," said Kathy. "It is our passion and commitment to help them grow into the best humans they can be to go on and carry the Calvert legacy and to make the world a better place." 

2022-2023 Alumni Employees