Friends Academy honored the contributions, achievements, and career milestones of faculty members during the school’s recent Convocation ceremony.
At the final all-school gathering of the year, Head of School Mr. Paul Stellato presented two prestigious awards: the Fahey Master Teacher Award, and the Fred Smith Memorial Coaching Award.
The Fahey Master Teacher Award is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional talent and a deep commitment to students; is widely recognized by peer colleagues for mastery in teaching; embodies the highest standards of the school through character and action; and has been a member of the Friends Academy community for at least seven years.
This year’s recipient is Middle School math teacher Mrs. Brie Kraska (pictured below), a 1993 graduate of Friends Academy who has taught at the school in multiple divisions since 2004.
During the ceremony inside the Field House, Mr. Stellato shared a note from Mrs. Kraska’s file that a parent had written nearly two decades ago. It read, in part: “Her strength lies in her ability to go outside the classroom walls to help a child. Knowledgeable in her field, she has great patience, a desire to help every child that is so genuine you can see it on her face. She is well loved by her students, and her love for her work transcends classroom business. I remember when my son was in her third-grade class. He had an asthma attack and recovered very slowly. As I was working in Manhattan, I could not get to him fast enough, so she generously offered to stay with him, take him to my home, and wait there until I arrived. I have never seen anything like it.”
The Fred Smith Memorial Coaching Award is given annually to recognize excellence, guidance, and leadership in the realm of athletics.
This year’s recipient is Mr. Owen Kassimir (pictured below), who has served as the boys’ and girls’ tennis coach since 2019. In seven years at Friends, Mr. Kassimir has won the girls’ Long Island Championship once and the boys’ title three times. In 2025, the boys also won the New York State championship, leading to Mr. Kassimir being named the Nassau County High School Coach of the Year by the USTA and Long Island High School Coach of the Year by Newsday.
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Several colleagues were honored for their length of service to the school.
Cesar Dos Santos, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “You have seen him each and every day, poised on a ladder or a chair, painting a column, a cornice, or a classroom. For ten years, he has quietly, dutifully, and efficiently moved around the campus to ensure that our hallways and rooms look their best. In that pursuit, he has been singularly successful, for the spaces to which he turns his attention look as if they have just been built and installed.”
Jaclyn Wirth, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “There is a Yeats poem that begins with the line: ‘I have seen them coming at the break of day.’ That line reminds me of Mrs. Wirth, who takes up her seat in her classroom very early each morning to await and welcome the flood of Middle and Upper School students in need of a little attention and confidence. Mrs. Wirth provides both, as her optimism is married to her gentle prodding. Her students walk away from those encounters believing in themselves.”
Bill Rueger, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Though he is formally celebrating his 10-year milestone, Mr. Rueger and Friends Academy have enjoyed a long, prosperous friendship. Indeed, for the purpose of describing his long association with our school, friendship is the appropriate word, for whether he is touring a prospective family, refereeing in the library, or roaming the sidelines at a basketball game, he does so with the kind of spirit and energy that makes each of those experiences memorable. His knowledge of the school is profound, and to sit with him and talk about Friends Academy is to appreciate both the vast scope of our school’s history and his deep love of it.”
Tye Burris, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “In just about every way possible, Tye is the man behind the curtain, framing — in literal and figurative ways — the scenes we see when the curtain is drawn back. His is a genius for stagecraft, as he imagines and creates sets that evoke the strongest sense of the moment on stage and complement and enhance the efforts of our actors. And when the curtain rises, we may feel that we are experiencing theater for the first time. Unseen and often unsung, it is time to bring him forward and sing his praises.”
James Liverani, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “I mentioned to Mr. Liverani a couple of weeks ago that I came to understand the truest measure of his success and impact in a moment when he did almost nothing: at a recent concert, when he stood on stage with the jazz ensemble as they — not he — led themselves through one stirring piece after another. In truth, he could have stepped off stage for a cup of coffee while they were playing, for so well and fully had he guided them that they emerged as both students and artists. You know that wherever there is music to be made, Mr. Liverani is there, moving from one instrument to the next in support of our students. And if you want a real treat, stop by a home Varsity Baseball game to watch both the team and the coach who just can’t sit still.”
Erin Nolan, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “I had the great pleasure of coming to know Mrs. Nolan last year, when we were both members of the 9th grade advisory team. Herded onto the bleachers in the gym our advisories sat next to one another, and I had the opportunity to eavesdrop on her conversations. Joyful, engaging, and uplifting, she greeted each student as might a dear, devoted friend. Having worked with them all in their study of health and Quaker practice, she sometimes seemed as if she knew what each of them was thinking before they did. Teacher, dean, advisor, and parent of two, she has found no small number of ways to engender confidence and courage in students whose start in the Upper School might lead them to question both. Thank you, Mrs. Nolan.
Liz Servino, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “When I congratulated Mrs. Servino last week on reaching this milestone, she looked at me with a sense of great joy and great disbelief: joy for the students, parents and colleagues with whom she has worked; disbelief that 15 years has moved so quickly. But with her, things move quickly and slowly at the same time. Working with some of our youngest students, she knows that time and patience are her greatest allies, even if they are eager to rush forward. So, she slows things down as much as she can, ensuring that they soak up every morsel. And when it’s time to move quickly — such as when she opens the outside door to her classroom to let her overcharged kids run off some steam — she is doing what she does so well: matching the method to the moment.”
Kristen Minuto, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Like some of you here, I have known Ms. Minuto in only one of her Friends incarnations: that of Associate Director of Admissions, charged with the responsibility of working with Lower School families and students. In that role, she is truly exceptional. Many of you, however, remember her brilliant career in the Lower School, teaching some of our youngest students. To both responsibilities, she has brought the same, simple understanding: that every child possesses the spirit, will, and desire to grow and learn; that success is measured in lifetimes, not in minutes; and that joy and belief are the most powerful complements to one another.”
Alexia Walka, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “As is the case with a small number of colleagues we celebrate and recognize today, we may not have the opportunity to see Mrs. Walka’s good work. In her role as learning specialist, she has devoted her time and considerable talents to a smaller number of students for whom she has opened a world of possibilities. Still, though she works with a few, all students in the Middle School enjoy the benefits of her work, for the skills and approaches she instills in her students are the very same ones she shares with her Middle School colleagues. Best practice is just that, and every colleague, regardless of role or responsibility, can learn and grow in their craft. In that way, Ms. Walka has taught every student and colleague who has come through the Middle School.”
Christine Botti, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “In Mrs. Botti’s 20 years at Friends, she has distinguished herself for the quality of her service, the clarity of her vision, and the strength of her resolve. Having worked closely with her for many hours and in challenging circumstances, I came to rely on her wisdom, compassion, generosity, and decency. With Mrs. Saunders and Mr. Dugan – and scores of colleagues — I have turned to her often for guidance and straight talk. She offers both without bias or blame, seeking only to ensure that students are treated fairly and kindly. As a coach, dean, and classroom teacher; as one of the authors of our recent report to the Friends Council on Education; and as my friend and a friend to scores upon scores of colleagues, parents, and students, Mrs. Botti has been an unshakeable, compelling advocate for the students she serves and the school she loves.”
Polly Duke, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Scholar, teacher, writer, board member, thinker, traveler, Dr. Duke has encouraged a generation of us — students, colleagues, and parents — to do the most difficult thing we can do: look within ourselves to find those things that connect us to one another, to the larger world, and to something transcendent and eternal. Though she would admit that her search for those things continues, we must allow that we could not ask for a better guide. In a classroom, during an assembly or colleagues meeting, in the Meeting House, or in any venue where we gather, Dr. Duke’s voice rises to both challenge and inspire, challenging us to be better and stronger by drawing on our own strength and the strength of those around us. And everything she does is informed by one thing: her faith and belief in who we are, what we can accomplish, and who we can become.”
Andrew Geha, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Mr. Geha has asked a generation of students to look within themselves and use what they find there to fill the stage with wisdom and wonder. As a playwright, he has charted paths that lead out into the world and return home again; as a director he has done the same, conjuring journeys that may seem fantastical and familiar at the same time. As chair of the Arts, he has proved a steady, clarion-clear advocate for his colleagues and for the essential importance of study and exploration in the arts. Early in his teaching career, he helped to establish Friends as a mecca for the arts; decades later, he is leading our school’s return to its rightful place as a destination for the richest, most powerful experience. Thank you, Mr. Geha, for the many roles you have created for others and played yourself.”
Marika Knight, of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Anchoring the math corridor, Dr. Knight holds a place in our school today that is rivaled by very few. She is an experienced, dedicated, and highly effective teacher; an outstanding advisor whose advisory is among the most popular in the school. As the Upper School advisor to TASQUE and the voice and vision of Community Groups, Dr. Knight has taken on roles that share the core of our experience as members of a school that stretches across grades and divisions and that strives to reach beyond the daily duties and responsibilities to understand how we are connected to one another. As an Upper School advisor, she gathers an eclectic, devoted, engaged group of students, all of whom she guides, supports, and encourages; and for each of whom she sets high expectations. Her impact in all of these areas is undeniable; and whether we are first graders or veteran colleagues, we have benefitted from her wisdom and care.”
Bobby Capiello (pictured below), of whom Mr. Stellato said: “Even before I knew what role Bobby played, he made a promise to me: that he would help me at any time and in any circumstance. What I learned quickly is that Mr. Capiello is a man of his word — a good, dedicated, gentle ambassador for Friends Academy. I have seen him almost every day since that first conversation, and I have come to understand that Bobby’s promise to me is the same one he has been making to all of us for 30 years. Kind, funny, and generous, Bobby regards his service to Friends Academy as a pleasure, a privilege, and an honor. Eager to be of help and constantly on the move, this genial, gentle colleague has offered the same warm welcome that I remember to this day. In truth, to spend even a few minutes with him is to feel better about the world and yourself; and in coming to know him is to understand what we as a school value and hold dear. Thank you, Bobby, for 30 years of unwavering service.”
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Other colleagues were honored for their upcoming retirements.
Tatine Kimmick (9 years at Friends), of whom Mr. Stellato said, “Mrs. Kimmick — or Tatine, as she is better known — is among a cohort of colleagues in whom great responsibility is invested and yet may be unknown to many of us. Tatine sits at the front desk in Frost Hall from noon to one and three to six each day. She welcomes visitors, forwards calls, signs for packages and, in the long spaces between those several things, reads voraciously. She has a sweet voice and gentle disposition; and hers may be the only voice a caller or visitor ever hears. And yet in that voice — and in the attention she gives to these fleeting moments — is everything we need to know about her and her belief in Friends Academy.”
Marilyn Del Rosso (10 years at Friends), of whom Mr. Stellato said, “Mrs. Del Rosso is one of two colleagues to leave Withington House this year. Together with Mrs. Bruen, they have given more than 35 years to our school. For Mrs. Del Rosso, so much of that time has been placing others in the most enviable position, for as the office administrative assistant, her keen eye for detail and her enthusiasm for hard work and long hours has allowed many of us — including me — to be better and more effective in our roles. Within and beyond the office, she is known for her focus, foresight, and dedication to her colleagues and to our school. She carries with her invaluable institutional knowledge. We will miss all of these things, as we will miss her.”
Marian Tobia (18 years at Friends), of whom Mr. Stellato said, “Though we celebrate Mrs. Tobia’s 18 years of service, her relationship with Friends Academy began in 1988, with her three children — Lauren, Drew, and Derek — all of whom graduated, have gone on to successful careers, and have carried with them the values and connections fostered here. A teacher of art, Mrs. Tobia served as the school’s first artist-in-residence and, in 2003, was named the Visual Arts Director for The Artist's Institute. She founded Middle School Arts Week and taught classes there and across divisions. In 2008, she moved into her current role, where she has counseled and supported students, parents, colleagues, and school leaders. I count myself among those who have benefitted from her guidance. Thank you, Mrs. Tobia, for your commitment to our school and its people.”
Joan Bruen (26 years at Friends), of whom Mr. Stellato said, “Mrs. Bruen joined the Friends community in September 2000, and served for a decade as an accountant in the Business office. In 2011, she was named Assistant Controller before moving into the Advancement office as a Development Associate. She has served in that capacity for more than a decade; and from the Annual Fund to Fall Fair to the Auction, she has graciously and generously shouldered every responsibility that has come her way. Deeply committed to our school and its students — and seemingly possessed of endless energy — she has taken on duties large and small beyond her office: as assistant coach of both girls and boys golf, and scorekeeper and supervisor at athletic contests. Our school has been better and richer for her commitment and involvement. Her example of kindness, decency, integrity, and compassion are those we can all strive to emulate.”
Kathleen Schalk (27 years at Friends), of whom Mr. Stellato said, “Though Ms. Schalk does things quietly; and while she never seeks recognition or praise, it is a good, important thing to shine a light on her now and thank her together. Her charge to new colleagues — to lead with empathy, to work tirelessly through challenges, and to keep students at the center of every decision, initiative, and idea — might well become our mission statement. A colleague remarked that Kathleen is both a diligent free spirit and a model of organization, discipline, and patience. Her students wait eagerly for her classes to begin; her colleagues seek her out on every possible topic, for her counsel is rooted in care and compassion. Thank you, Ms. Schalk, for all you have given us and made possible for us.”
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Before the close of the ceremony, Lower and Middle School principal Mr. Alfred (Rik) F. Dugan III took the microphone and feted Mr. Stellato for his three years as Head of School at Friends Academy and his impending retirement at the end of the month.
Mr. Stellato was gifted a yearbook from the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School — each having been signed by every student within the respective division.
He held them close to his chest as Mr. Dugan, who will become the new Head of School, said, “I have known Mr. Stellato for quite some time and our friendship is something that I will cherish forever. You have been with the most magnificent schools in our country throughout the duration of your career — and you have devoted your entire life to being an educator, a teacher, a coach, and a school leader. How blessed we are at Friends Academy to see you off into your retirement. Our promise to you is that we will live your legacy by striving to lead with your example always. Thank you for everything.”
Photos by Alvin Caal / Friends Academy