New Endowed Chair Holders
In what is a planned rotation of holders of endowed faculty chairs, Head of School Andy Abbott recently named Dr. Ellie DesPrez as the new holder of the Mark Neville-Martin Parry Chair in English, Sandra Mueller as the holder of the Charles "Doc" Sibley Chair in Science and Mark Nicholas (History) as the Alice Snodgrass Chair for Excellence in Teaching.
DesPrez (on right), joined the Burroughs English Department in 1998 and is the current chair of the department. She teaches seventh-grade English, tenth-grade English and an honors English senior seminar, as well as yoga classes for JBS students and employees. She is a member of the steering committee of the faculty Diversity Committee and she sponsors the Middle School Creative Writing Club and its magazine, Works in Progress. Prior to coming to Burroughs, DesPrez taught at Gallup High School (New Mexico), Ladue Horton Watkins High School, Clayton High School and Washington University. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and philosophy from Vanderbilt University and master's degrees (in English and American literature and in teaching) and a doctorate (English and American literature) from Washington University.
Chemistry teacher Mueller joined the Burroughs faculty in 1989 and is the current chair of the Science Department. She teaches Chemistry Achievement and AP Chemistry. Mueller serves as the AIM Coordinator and as a member of the steering committee of the faculty Diversity Committee. She also is faculty sponsor of the Chemistry Club. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Mueller taught at Clayton High School, Bishop DuBourg High School and St. Mary's High School. She holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a master's degree in education from Washington University.
Nicholas joined the JBS faculty in 1982. He currently teaches American government, World Civ II and a senior elective, Literature and History, and coaches varsity football. In addition to his teaching and coaching responsibilities, Nicholas served as chair of the History Department (from 1989 to 1993 and again from 2002 to 2005), and he was principal of grades 9 and 10 (from 1993 to 2002). He holds a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and taught at several high schools in Michigan and Colorado prior to coming to Burroughs.
Appointed by the head of school, endowed faculty chairs reward and recognize excellence in teaching. Chair holders carry a full teaching load and are expected to open their classrooms for observation by other teachers, advise the head and the faculty and make a contribution to the profession outside of the school. They receive a stipend to be used for professional study, travel and special projects.
The three new endowed chair holders join four others. Math teacher Anne Rossi holds the Leonard D. and Madeline H. Haertter Chair in Mathematics, classics teacher Dr. Jim Lowe holds the Edwin McClellan Johnston Chair in Classics, history teacher Christopher Hinshaw holds the Robert A. Sortland Chair in American Studies and painting and drawing teacher Howard Jones holds the Fred Dreher-Joanna Collins Chair in Fine Arts.
