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For faculty and staff, one of the most gratifying parts of the back-to-school meetings on Thursday and Friday, August 22 and 23 was the announcement of the recipients of two of McDonogh’s teaching chairs. Both selections were well deserved and came as a complete surprise to the honorees.

Merritt Livermore Earns Raymond B. Oliver Teaching Chair

On Thursday, with the faculty and staff gathered in Tagart Memorial Chapel, Headmaster Charlie Britton described The Raymond B. Oliver ’40 Teaching Chair. “Ray Oliver is a legend, a devoted teacher-coach who built wonderful relationships with countless students and colleagues over four decades. To date, there have been five recipients of this award,” he said.

Then, Britton began to describe the qualities of the sixth recipient. He shared that she arrived on McDonogh’s campus in fourth grade, has a deep love for people, and is a gifted listener. When he revealed the jobs she has held at McDonogh, the audience gasped with delight as they realized Associate Head of the Middle School Merritt Livermore was being presented with the award.

Livermore was recognized for her leadership skills in the Middle School and school-wide. Britton specifically noted her role in managing the AIMS committee report and the school’s forthcoming strategic plan with Kevin Costa. Both projects involved meetings with members of every division at McDonogh as well as parents, trustees, and alumni.

“Anyone who has been in these gatherings now understands what the Middle School has always known: our recipient is eminently professional, she truly cares about people, and her work has again created a positive impact on the life of the entire McDonogh community,” Britton said.

Sharon Hood Honored with Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair

The following day, Britton revealed the recipient of The Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair, one of six endowed chairs awarded to faculty or staff members who have demonstrated consistent excellence for the benefit of the McDonogh community.

As the unsuspecting winner sat in the audience among her colleagues in the Horn Theatre, Britton said, “Having this teacher on our faculty has been a dream come true for McDonogh and for the hundreds of students and parents who have been part of her classroom family for almost 15 years. She teaches with boundless energy and sparkling creativity, committing herself with each new day to giving her students everything she has.”

It became apparent that the honoree was kindergarten teacher and Roots Farm Manager Sharon Hood when Britton said, “She can finish a day of tending to ‘young and tender things’ and then go out to plow, plant, and weed at the Roots Farm until dark.”

He continued, “This incredible teacher is committed to helping things grow...her family, her students, her colleagues, her school, her garden, herself. She teaches us, more by example than explanation, what it means to give of one’s self completely.”

Both Livermore and Hood received standing ovations from their colleagues and congratulations from family members who were in attendance.