Thank you for the commitment and dedication you have shown to Ellis girls over the decades. The Ellis community will miss you and wishes you the very best in your future endeavors!

 

Liz Altman departed Ellis as the Director of Alumnae Affairs after 10 years in the Development Office and a lifetime at Ellis. An Ellis lifer, Altman spent 13 years at Ellis as a student, 13 years as a parent, and 10 years as an employee. Although she will no longer be on staff, Altman will remain a vital part of the Ellis community as her two granddaughters, Annie and Kit, make their way through the Lower School. During her tenure in Development, Altman served as the beloved point of contact for alumnae across the country, organized countless reunion weekends and national events, sent volumes of invitations, conveyed ongoing congratulations and condolences, and provided priceless insights on behalf of Ellis—in short, she was one in a million! Her cooking and sewing talents will surely be revived in the next chapter and she looks forward to spending more time with her granddaughters, daughter, and husband.

 

Cathleen Callahan joined the Ellis faculty in 1979 and taught French for a mere 38 years! Her remarkable linguistic skills include the study of Spanish of which she looks forward to continuing in her retirement. Madame Callahan plans to add German to her arsenal of languages in the coming months, and will continue to serve as a part-time translator for the University of Pittsburgh School of Business. During her years at Ellis, Madame Callahan served as chair of the World Languages Department, as secretary of the Ellis chapter of Cum Laude, and as Student Council advisor. Her retirement plans include visits to see her mom in Washington D.C. and her brother and his family in Long Island, NY.  Félicitations et bonne chance, Madame Callahan!

 

Andrea Christian-Michaels provided learning support and guidance to Middle and Upper School students since her arrival in 2001. Mrs. Christian-Michaels organized, prompted, tested, advised, and assisted hundreds of students during her time at Ellis, and championed countless activities and events in the Middle School including Olympiad and Future Cities. She expertly assisted Ellis girls through the learning process with skill, patience, and compassion and she will be dearly missed. In every endeavor, Mrs. Christian-Michaels led with her love of Ellis and her abiding care for and understanding of children and how they learn best. In addition to Grandma duties, Mrs. Christian-Michaels plans to take time to enjoy other creative endeavors that she loves, such as quilting and traveling.

 

Beth Leu was a faculty member in grade 1 for 33 years. Mrs. Leu guided and enriched the lives of thousands of young learners with her love of teaching and her understanding of early childhood development. During her tenure, she witnessed a multitude of changes at Ellis and in the Lower School, including a move from her original classroom in Arbuthnot House to her current classroom in the Lower School building in 1986. Her depth of knowledge and experience, as well as her wonderful sense of humor, were so integral to her students, their parents, and her colleagues alike. In her retirement, Beth looks forward to having more time to visit her grandson Jack and his mom Jessica LEU Hoy ’00.  

 

After 36 years at Ellis, Robin Newham formally retired as the fourteenth Head of The Ellis School. Mrs. Newham taught Studio Art and Art History for 15 years before becoming Director of the Upper School, a role she held for 17 years. In 2013, she officially became Head of School and effectively worked to balance the budget, launch a comprehensive campaign, and build a first-class regulation athletic field, all the while steering the everyday operations on campus for students, faculty, and staff. She has known, loved, and made an impact on thousands of Ellis girls during her tenure. Her infectious laugh, can-do attitude, charisma, and passion for learning will be missed by all. In retirement, Mrs. Newham plans to spend as much time as possible with her family and her grandson!