Our Wildwood, Summer 2018, Volume 43

Whether it was a warm smile, a nod of encouragement, a word of advice or a gentle—but firm—nudge in the right direction, she always had something wonderful to offer, and the Wildwood community was inevitably better for it. Hope had a rare quality, one that many people lay claim to but few actually achieve: authenticity. She was fully present in conversations and would go out of her way to catch someone’s eye and call out to them by name. She was a teacher’s teacher—a consummate leader who understood the value of mentoring and always went to bat for her team. And no matter how much she accomplished (the list, of course, was long), she was perpetually ready to do more. That drive was on display when she embraced the board’s decision to expand Wildwood in the late 1990s. One of the first women of color in a leadership role at an independent school,

Hope had already set a high bar for achievement and could easily have decided, at her stage of life and career, to step away from the challenge. Instead, she tackled it with gusto, a testament to her strength, energy, and vision. Hope was indefatigable, and she kept her eyes on the horizon, at all times ready to champion innovation. On so many fronts, Hope was ahead of the curve. She helped put Wildwood on the map as a model for globalism in education; the school was among the first in the region to hire a director of multicultural affairs, and its workshops on best practices are in high demand across the country. She was also an early advocate for fostering kids’ resilience, empowering them to confront adversity and to move beyond it on their own—a school of thought that currently holds sway today. When she passed away in February 2018, Hope left a rich

legacy at Wildwood. Her presence is felt everywhere: in the halls and classrooms, in the lives of countless people she touched and in the Hope Fund, an endowment named in her honor to support Flexible Tuition and ensure a diverse student body for decades to come. She will be missed but not forgotten. W

“Hope was a teacher. She viewed the world with curiosity and compassion, always looking for new ways to see things. Her book recommendations were always on point. Before becoming a head of school, she was an English teacher, fascinated with the impact of words and delighted by their origin. When she retired, we gave her the Oxford English Dictionary complete with a stand. The freedom to read when she retired was something she would talk about often. I worked with her for over a decade, and her endless gifts of wisdom and story are now woven into my own family. Hope always put the child first. She made sure they were comfortable and seen. She demanded that they use conventions, like saying ‘hello,’ and having good manners while letting them be themselves—the people they were meant to be. She would always ask teachers and administrators, ‘Is this good for children?’ Hope preferred the company of children when she was at school. Their wonder, honesty, and depth brought her great joy. She taught us to always ask the essential question, ‘Is this my story to tell?’ It prevented uncomfortable situations and brought out our best selves. I think the world would be a more decent place if people asked themselves the ‘Hope question’ more often.”

— KATIE RIOS, DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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OWW SUMMER 2018