Setting The Stage For Success

One cannot recall a Middle School musical in recent years without Bonnie O’Leary right at the center. In her time at the helm of the Middle School theater program, she directed productions that created indelible memories for students at a time in their lives when they were discovering their talents and their passions. Some of the productions she led included “Music Man,” “Honk,” “Aladdin,” “The Wiz,” “Make A Joyful Noise,” “Free To Be You and Me,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Cinderella,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Peter Pan,” “Shrek,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “School House Rock.” Many of the students went on to pursue the arts throughout their years in the Upper School and even beyond as a result of Ms. O’Leary’s influence, including world-class violinists Jinjoo Cho ’06 and Caroline Goulding ’10.

 

Asked about her favorite memory, Ms. O’Leary fondly recalled the Middle School’s production of “The Wiz” in 2004. She described it as “magical” and said the kids and the parents were so proud of the production, as was she. At that moment, she just knew “this was where she should be.”

 

Ms. O’Leary joined Gilmour’s staff in 1999 after about 30 years at Shaw High School. After a semester-long substitute position, she was asked to take on the role of Middle School English teacher. Ms. O’Leary was equally impactful in her English classroom as in the theater and taught hundreds of students an appreciation for literature.

 

Ms. O’Leary also served as an assistant coach for the speech and debate team, serving as Ms. Janis’ right-hand woman. Her focus was critiquing the students competing in individual events, where she could be counted on to consistently “tell it like it is.” She also assisted Ms. Janis during the last week before Upper School plays, helping to keep everything in order.

 

Ms. O’Leary describes her favorite thing about Gilmour as the “feeling of community.” She has felt it most recently through the outpouring of well wishes after being sidelined with a broken foot. She has heard from colleagues from all corners of the campus and is appreciative of that feeling of belonging.

 

She looks forward to retirement, however, when she plans to continue to help Ms. Janis with speech and debate and drama, while fitting in plenty of relaxing and reading now that she won’t have papers to grade! She says the advice she would give to a brand new teacher is, "Embrace your special gifts and talents and use them to build a strong connection with staff, parents and students. And... HAVE FUN!"

 

We are all thrilled to know that Ms. O’Leary will continue to help our drama and speech and debate students hone their craft in the coming years, so it’s not goodbye, but, rather, stay tuned for the next act!