Sandy Scott Mraz P’09, AFSA retired last school year after 26 years as a Lower School teacher at AFS. She was an extraordinary second grade teacher, whose creativity constantly advanced curriculum. Major studies like the Egypt study became renowned milestones for children and families making their way through the Lower School. Sandy has been a well-known voice of clarity and wisdom to her colleagues and her immense teaching experience—a total of 43 years in the classroom—is an amazing accomplishment.

Last school year also saw the retirement of Frank Benner P’05 P’09 G’35, AFSA after 28 years as Director of Facilities at AFS. During each and every of those year, his deep care and knowledge of every inch of the AFS grounds showed in profound ways. Frank was a fearless leader of our dedicated facilities team, ushering them through a revolutionary time period in this pandemic. Prior, he aided in the growth and transformation of the campus as project manager for the construction of the Henry Faulkner Library, Student Street and the  Richard N. Berman Athletics Center.

Another colleague, Ann Botel-Barnard P’98, P’06, AFSA also retired this past year after more than 20 years of teaching at AFS. Her expansive career in Language Arts education made her an integral part of the lower school faculty as a Language Arts Specialist. As Lower School Director Andrea Emmons wrote, “Ann has shaped our language arts instruction in innumerable ways, and it is hard to think about any text used by our students, writing that has been displayed in the hallways, or units of study without recalling Ann’s role. She has been a dedicated teacher and community member, who has embraced teaching as a lifelong learning process.”