About A-S

Faculty and Staff

Allen-Stevenson considers the basic building block in its educational program to be the relationship between teachers and boys. There are many ways in which the School endeavors to recognize this fundamental link and to encourage and strengthen it. The School looks for ways to help teachers develop, both personally and professionally, and commits a variety of resources to this purpose.

Faculty Highlights

Our #ASpotlight Interview Series showcases members of our faculty and staff. We look forward to growing our collection and highlighting even more of our wonderful educators. Click below to read more!

Kellner Great Teacher Award

The Kellner Great Teacher Award was initiated by a gift from George and Bicky Kellner, parents of Peter ’84. It recognizes outstanding achievement by an Allen-Stevenson teacher. The 2019-20 recipient of the award was Ben Neulander, Assistant Middle School Head and Sixth Grade History Teacher. For a full list of past recipients, please click here.

Assistant Middle School Head and Sixth Grade History Teacher Ben Neulander instructing a lesson

On the morning of the Upper School Closing Exercises, I was sitting in Carl Schurz Park, socially distanced from another A-S family, wrapping up my 20th year of teaching at Allen-Stevenson. After sharing the building with my son for 9 years, he was graduating from A-S, and we had just finished two and half months of remote teaching. For so many reasons, it was a bitter-sweet moment. With all of these things running through my head, the Kellner Great Teacher Award was not on my mind, so hearing my name read by Mr. Trower was unexpected to say the least. After receiving the congratulations from the people I was with, sitting on my Allen-Stevenson picnic blanket, all of it – the 20 years, my son leaving, the exhaustion of teaching remotely – came flooding out in a wave of tears.

I am truly humbled and honored to have my name added to the list of those who have been granted this award. I owe so much to the people who took chances on me, those who directly helped me grow along the way and those who simply provided examples of what great teaching looks like. Being recognized by people I hold in such high esteem is a wonderful feeling, but winning this award also is a challenge to continue to learn and grow and teach in a way that will demonstrate that I truly am worthy of the honor, and I will continue to do so as I move forward at Allen-Stevenson, strongly and rightly. ~ Ben Neulander

Professional Development

Teachers and staff are encouraged to visit other schools, join professional associations, attend conferences and workshops,
give workshops and pursue academic study.

Faculty Groups

Faculty and Staff of Color (FSOC)

The Faculty and Staff of Color group is intended to strengthen unity among the faculty and staff members of color and provide meaningful contributions to the entire school. Since its inception in 2009, and ongoing, its meetings have provided an informal setting for members to connect with peers, share mutual concerns, and gain insight into issues of common interest. Members of the group also educate one another on how better to assist students in understanding the importance of diversity awareness. The group meets officially 5 times per year, and ad hoc as needed.

Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA)

The Parent and Employee GSA provides a space for members of the community to discuss the ways in which we may further the school’s Statement of Inclusion with regards to the needs of our LGBTQ faculty, staff, students, and families. The GSA also provides a space for those who want to develop ally behavior and resources within our community. We hope the work of the GSA will provide a point of intersection with the other affinity groups so that we can make our school as diverse and unique as the city in which it resides.

Critical Friends Groups (CFG)

A Critical Friends Group is a professional learning community: a group of school individuals with common interests in improving teacher practice toward increasing student achievement and who are committed to pursuing those interests through continuous learning. CFGs generally consist of six to ten teachers and/or administrators who meet regularly for a sustained and focused period of time.

Professional Development Group (PDG)

The Professional Development Group is composed of all teachers who are not in CFGs. The PDG meets to pursue a variety of appropriate topics intended to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of each teacher.

Faculty Mentors

Mentors are assigned to all new faculty members when they begin work at Allen-Stevenson. The mentor's overall role is to promote the growth and development of a new teacher to ensure the teacher's successful transition to teaching at Allen-Stevenson. Mentors help orient new teachers to the school community and to teaching at Allen-Stevenson in general. Mentors also serve as collegial and emotional supports for the new faculty as they join our community. Each mentor is provided with a Mentor Users Guide, which clearly sets out the position's role and responsibilities.

Riklis Grants

Each year, the Riklis Grant, a professional opportunity from the Betty and Pinhas Riklis Faculty Fund, provides faculty with a chance for pleasure, renewal or refreshment. Additional Faculty Professional Development Grants have been made possible by generous contributions from members of the Board of Trustees. Grants may be used during any of the school vacations and/or the following summers. The 2019 recipients can be found by clicking here.

PA Special Staff Grant

The Parents Association initiated the PA Special Staff Grant for rest, renewal and professional development for staff in the following non-teaching departments: admissions, business, communications, food services, maintenance, nurse, security and technology. The 2018-19 grant recipients can be found by clicking here.

Allen-Stevenson’s distinctive “enlightened traditional” approach educates boys to become scholars and gentlemen.