Two Faculty Selected for Endowed Chairs in Teaching Excellence

April 29, 2020

Wheeler is proud to announce that its faculty and staff have selected two veteran faculty members as the latest recipients of two endowed chairs in excellence in teaching. The first, the Jason & Carly Siperstein Master Faculty Chair has been awarded to Megan O’Hara, 4th-grade teacher at The Hamilton School at Wheeler. The second, the Wheeler Endowed Chair for Excellence in Upper School Teaching, has been awarded to Ann Bruno, a member of the English Department.

Head of School Allison Gaines Pell said, “It is no surprise that these two fine educators were chosen by their colleagues to receive these awards. They are examples of Wheeler teaching excellence: unwavering love for working with students, passion for their discipline, and extremely high standards that yield astounding results.”

Two female teachers honored with endowed chairs.

Ann Bruno, Upper School English

Ann Bruno is in her 17th year of teaching at Wheeler, and has served as a Class Dean, advisor, technology integrationist and club advisor for Poets and Writers Club, The Quill literary magazine and Writing Mentors. She is the organizer for the annual Open Mic/Hope for Haiti fundraiser and has also directed students in the Providence Shakespeare in the City event as well as advised Wheeler’s Student Senate.

“I am so grateful to have received this honor and am especially thrilled to have been named alongside my amazing colleague, Edgewood neighbor, and friend, Megan O’Hara,” said Bruno. “As I near the end of my seventeenth year at Wheeler in the midst of this surreal moment, I am inspired every day by the passion, dedication, humor, and creativity of the teachers and students with whom I am so fortunate to work.”

Megan O’Hara, Hamilton Grade 4

Megan O’Hara began teaching at Wheeler in 2002 and is currently the Hamilton Lower School Curriculum Coordinator, a member of the English Department, the chair of the School’s Health & Safety Committee, and editor/photographer of the annual Hamilton “Mind Your p’s & q’s Party” commemorative photo book. O’Hara is also a founding member of a regional collaborative for schools serving dyslexic students, a frequent workshop presenter at various multi-sensory conferences and was one of Wheeler’s faculty representatives at the 2019 Wheeler Diversity Conference.

“Throughout the years,” said O’Hara, “I have always admired my colleagues who have been chosen for the Siperstein Chair. It is an honor to be selected by my peers this year. My commitment to teaching is fueled by the students who enter my classroom doors each year.  The Wheeler School has supported my development as a teacher and encouraged my commitment to excellence.”

Both Bruno and O’Hara are parents of Wheeler graduates and proud supporters of Wheeler Warrior Athletics. The pair will carry the honor of these two endowed chairs for three-year terms. Wheeler is grateful for their commitment to our students and to the many donors who have joined together to support endowments such as these teaching chairs.

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