Head of Middle School

Dear families, 

 

As we complete the first academic quarter and your children enjoy a day off, Tower Hill teachers convene for a day of professional development. While all industries have currencies of their own, the currency of education and in schools is surely time! Our teachers engage all day and all week with their students; they would not have it any other way. It is a well proven fact that the more time and resources a school invests in its teachers’ professional development, the better experience and outcome for its students. Tower Hill teachers need time to pause, reflect, collaborate, create, plan and take stock of the difference they are making day in and day out. This morning the senior leadership team and I are serving breakfast to all Tower Hill faculty and staff to thank them for their part in Centennial, the recent ADVIS conference, and most importantly, for their passion and dedication each day. 

 

And speaking of passion and dedication, I wanted to let you know that after 12 successful years, Mr. Paul Capodanno has decided to make this his final year at Tower Hill, departing at the close of the 2019-2020 academic year.

 

Mr. Cap, as he is affectionately called by students and teachers alike, joined Tower Hill in 2008 as director of summer programs. Under his leadership our Summer at Tower Hill program was enhanced, and in 2012 he became head of Middle School. Our Middle School has benefited from Mr. Cap’s leadership as he oversaw the creation of a new rotating schedule, curricular alignment between grades in academics and social justice, and the introduction of the IDEA Program for clubs in coding, robotics, rocketry, chess, school spirit and other topics.  

 

Mr. Cap is known for his unwavering focus on students. He champions their successes—whether in Math League, Science Olympiad, music competitions, athletics or service. He ensures that Field Day, parent coffees, Moving Up Day, disABILITIES Awareness and other programs are highlights of the Middle School experience, balancing student life with academic rigor. He also coached Tower Hill’s boys’ varsity basketball team for several years, and his son, Andrew, graduated from Tower Hill in 2015. 

 

First and foremost, Mr. Cap has been a true believer in Middle School students. He appreciates and understands their unique energy and passion, often giving a knowing smile as he describes an amusing student related anecdote. Anyone who has worked with Mr. Cap appreciates his no nonsense, pragmatic and warm hearted style. Our Middle School faculty are those who also find joy in the Middle School years, and Mr. Cap has taken great pride in supporting and championing Tower Hill’s Middle School faculty. We are truly grateful for his 12 years of service to Tower Hill.

 

Never someone to seek the limelight, I know that Mr. Cap wants most of all to focus his efforts on ensuring a great remainder of the year for our Middle School students and families. I am also confident that Mr. Cap will help us toward a smooth leadership transition as we determine and execute a plan forward for the leadership of the Middle School—about which we will certainly keep you posted. We wish Mr. Cap the very best in his next chapter, and we will certainly take time in the spring to express our sincere appreciation for his leadership. 

 

Head of School