EMMA in this ECONOMY
ost of you know that I am an alumna of Emma Willard. I am also the daughter of an alumna and the granddaughter of a woman who taught here for many, many years. My family’s association with this school goes back more than eighty years. I grew up down the street on Maple Avenue; as a child I learned to play tennis on the EW courts and learned to ski on in back lawn of Cluett. I have served on the Alumnae Council and the Board of Trustees for more than sixteen years. Emma Willard is in my blood. I also come from a long line of teachers—grandmother, mother, father, brothers, and sister. A passion for education is also in my blood.
I believe in the mission of this school and hold its welfare very dear. As I lead the Board of Trustees, I know that it, too, is dedicated to preserving the unique excellence that Emma Willard provides in the education of young women. We the board know that the faculty and staff are at the heart of that excellence. But the board is not only the keeper of the school’s mission; as important, it is also the entity that bears the responsibility for the legal and financial well-being of the school. Hard times require hard choices. But you should all trust that as we partner with Trudy and her administration to work toward solutions, everyone is cognizant of the need for caring and compassion for the wonderful people who make this school great.
As Trudy Hanmer reminded us, our founder saw her school as the best school for girls that had theretofore existed. There is no doubt in this alumna’s mind that we will continue to be that school as we responsibly address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Wendy Pestel Lehmann ’64
