Ed note: During Convocation on September 15, 2017, Head of School Robert W. Hill III made the following remarks recognizing 25 years of service of two faculty members.
It has been our tradition at convocation to honor teachers who have committed 25 years of their lives to Williston by presenting them with a Williston chair. This year we have two recipients. Jen Fulcher began her career at Williston back in 1989, and she has been a psychology teacher, civics teacher, dorm parent, and coach. Her career here was interrupted by a stint coaching women’s soccer at Middlebury College, only to return Williston after a handful of years. Currently, she serves as the director of the Middle School and is well known for her phenomenal record as the varsity coach of girls lacrosse and soccer. Ms. Fulcher is, as everyone who knows her will agree, a Coca-cola-fueled force of unparalleled energy—and I know that she’s always been this way, since I did some digging before writing these remarks. With that boundless energy comes an equal focus on student achievement, on her students and players being better every day, whether on the playing fields or in the classrooms. If anyone doubts her competitiveness, then just watch Ms. Fulcher in the Middle School volleyball tournament. Jen, if you ever run for Congress, you have a ready-made slogan. Thanks for setting the bar so high and for all you have done for Williston.
Allison Marsland has been an admission officer at Williston for 25 years and currently serves as Director of Middle School Admission and Senior Associate Director of Admission—so she and Ms. Fulcher are joined at the hip when it comes to our 7th and 8th grade students. Moreover, every student who joined Williston as a ninth grader also knows Ms. Marsland as co-founder and director of the 9th grade CORE. If you remember your first day at Williston, you will recall Ms. Marsland moving among the pews of the chapel taking pictures of everyone
smiling—she even invented the selfie before that was a thing. Ms. Marsland insistence that smiling makes you feel better and invites others to engage you forms the basis of friendship and community. Those who have seen Ms. Marsland in action, whether coaching soft ball or heading 194 Main Street, know that she practices what she preaches. Allison, please accept our thanks for your 25 years of community building and modeling Williston’s mission.