Say farewell to retiring faculty, administrators

Publish Date: 4/25/2023

A retirement reception took place Friday, May 12 in Durnan Auditorium to honor Mindfulness Consultant Mary Agee, Admissions & Financial Aid Director Juliet Douglas, Lower School Art Teacher Stephen Douglas, USN Bookstore Manager Susy Gillette, Head of Middle School Jeff Greenfield, Business Office Controller Norma Miller, and Lower School Music Teacher Doni Princehorn.

By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist

As classrooms empty and textbooks close for the summer, Mindfulness Consultant Mary Agee, Admissions & Financial Aid Director Juliet Douglas, Lower School Art Teacher Stephen Douglas, USN Bookstore Manager Susy Gillette, Head of Middle School Jeff Greenfield, Business Office Controller Norma Miller, and Lower School Music Teacher Doni Princehorn will retire closing out seven extraordinary careers at University School of Nashville. Mark your calendar for a retirement reception honoring these retirees on Friday, May 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Mindfulness Consultant Mary Agee joined USN in 2007 as the Middle School’s darkroom photography elective teacher and started her current role in 2016. While she’s leaving 2000 Edgehill, her work to promote and teach mindfulness will not stop; Agee will be doing integrative mindfulness coaching with individuals, groups, and organizations on a consulting basis.

“I am so grateful for the love, time, and energy that teachers poured into my children when they were here. It has been a humbling and deep honor to be part of this community that nurtures creativity and independence in students and part of a faculty that gives more than 100% day in and day out,” Agee said. “I’m excited about my next chapter, but I will truly miss the camaraderie and friendships I have made over more than 15 years here at USN.”

Admissions & Financial Aid Director Juliet Douglas and Lower School Art Teacher Stephen Douglas joined USN together in 1996 and in their nearly 30 years at 2000 Edgehill both became integral members of the school community. In retirement, Juliet Douglas shared that she plans to spend more time with her grandson and looks forward to many mornings spent drinking coffee in her pajamas; meanwhile, Stephen shared that his plans are top secret.

Additionally, Stephen Douglas shared that the thing he’ll miss most about USN is the kind and generous community.

“I’ll miss the whole lovely place,” Juliet Douglas said. “Watching USN students dazzle us with sports, arts, and academics; meeting the world’s greatest families; having brilliant colleagues; loving every minute of my USN journey, it’s unfair to choose just one thing I’ll miss.”

After joining USN in August of 1993, USN Bookstore Manager Susy Gillette will fill her last orders and sell her final snacks this May. While she’ll deeply miss both the children and adults that have crossed her path the past 30 years, she’s looking forward to focusing on traveling, gardening, and working on home improvement projects in her free time.

“I have loved working at USN and the many friends I have made throughout the years,” Gillette shared.

A graduate of USN in 1984, Head of Middle School Jeff Greenfield returned to 2000 Edgehill in 1998 to shape a new generation of students.

“The thing I’ll miss the most about USN is the inspiration I get every day from my Middle School colleagues,” Greenfield said.

After leaving USN, Greenfield plans to take time to travel, visit friends and family, and do a deep dive into long-neglected hobbies while being open to whatever comes next.

An employee since 1977, Business Office Controller Norma Miller has had a prolific career at USN and was awarded the National Business Officers Association’s Professional Achievement Award in 2022 for her work.

“When I came to USN in June of 1977, I never imagined that I would spend 46 years here,” Miller admitted. “USN is indeed a very special and welcoming place. What a special blessing it has been to have my extended USN family over all those years too. And, of course, the wonderful memories I’ve collected over those years will not be forgotten.”

Miller has many plans for her retirement. She’s going to downsize over 40+ years of collecting and acquiring antiques and other items which will require multiple online auctions and potentially a few yards sales too. Additionally, she’s going to return to the farm life of her childhood as she maintains the two farms, totaling 180 acres, she owns in Rover, Tennessee. Between her collections projects and reinvesting in community life in Rover, she hopes to stay connected with her many USN friends as well.

“And, of course, travel,” Miller added. “I have three more U.S. states — Vermont, North Dakota, and Hawaii — to visit in order to complete my goal of seeing all 50 states and Washington, D.C.”

Since joining USN in 1980, Lower School Music Teacher Doni Princehorn has left an unforgettable mark on the school’s history and culture having written numerous songs and choreographed many routines that will live on as beloved school traditions.

“What a ride it has been,” Princehorn exclaimed as she looked back on her time in the Lower School music room. “Thanks to all who made this journey with me all these years.”

In her retirement, Princehorn is excited to spend more time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

In addition to those retiring, Assistant Director of College Counseling Jesse Chavez, Annual Fund Associate Meagan Hall, Library Assistant Catherine Lemaire Lozier, Development Office Administrative Assistant Lucy Liautaud, Second Grade Teacher Nabilah Rahman, and Communications Specialist Sierra Smith will depart from USN in pursuit of other professional endeavors.

Assistant Director of College Counseling Jesse Chavez joined USN in 2019 and expressed that he’s grateful for the time he spent here and the people he’s had the opportunity to work with. Chavez will move to Salt Lake City this summer to join Rowland Hall as the Associate Director of College Counseling.

Annual Fund Associate Meagan Hall joined the Alumni & Development Office in 2021. After leaving 2000 Edgehill, Hall will return to her passion doing conservation work as the Director of Development and Communications at the Cumberland River Compact. She’ll continue teaching natural dye and textile classes through a summer workshop at Belmont University and a monthly series at Mill Ridge Park in Antioch also.

“I'll miss getting to hear about and participate in so many activities across the school. It's been wonderful to meet so many people with fascinating stories, passions, and skills,” Hall shared.

Library Assistant Catherine Lemaire Lozier began working in Hassenfeld Library in 2016 and will depart to be more available to her family and focus on her pottery business full time.

“I will miss this wonderful community,” Lemaire Lozier said.

Development Office Administrative Assistant Lucy Liautaud will depart after a year of supporting USN Alumni & Development Office.

“I have greatly enjoyed my role within the Alumni & Development Office and working at USN, but I want to see what else is in store for me while I’m young in my career,” Liautaud shared. “In the immediate future, I plan to travel, spend time with friends and family, and stress over my wedding.”

Though Liautaud was not at USN for long, she was quick to acknowledge the many things there are to miss about this special school community, listing the bright, smiling faces of students and her talented colleagues as highlights.

“Last and not least, I’ll miss overhearing the hilarious, most random conversations between Middle Schoolers whenever they walk past our office, Liautaud said with a smile.

Part of USN faculty since 2014, Second Grade Teacher Nabilah Rahman and her children are relocating to Michigan where her husband lives. She’ll join the faculty at Cranbrook School for the 2023-2024 academic year. During her time at USN, Rahman became engaged in the Hassenfeld Library, which was decorated by her students, and was a leader in curricular innovation as one of the driving forces in the creation and implementation of Lower School’s identity curriculum.

“I will miss how loving and supportive my colleagues and families have been throughout the years. It has been such an incredible place to work, and I will truly miss the ‘special sauce’ of USN,” Rahman shared. “I have grown so much as an educator and have my colleagues and students to thank for that.”

Communications Specialist Sierra Smith joined USN in 2020. Smith will move to Raleigh, North Carolina at the end of May where she'll join the communications team for the state's Office of Human Resources.

"I've been incredibly lucky to get to know students across all three divisions during my time at USN," Smith shared. "The way they've shared their lives, their personalities, and who they're on the path to becoming with me feels like such a privilege. They've been the highlight of my every day here, and even though I won't be here to capture their every move for social media, I can't wait to see where they end up."

Business Office Associate Kyle Turner '15 and 19th Avenue Receptionist Brooklyn Whittington left University School of Nashville earlier this spring also.

Please consider sharing USN job openings with your network. View and apply for all remaining positions for the 2023-2024 academic year at usn.org/jobs.

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