Passing on the Golden Shovel - Congratulations, Jessi!

At the schoolwide assembly on January 27, Shelley Joslin passed on the Golden Shovel to Jessi Brown, World Languages Department Chair, Teacher, and Humanitarian Service Coordinator. Here's an explanation from Dr. Stuart Grauer about the The Grauer School's "Golden Shovel" Award: "In 2000, when we embarked upon construction of our Great Hall Building, our board members lined up with shovels to turn the first earth. We shoveled in dirt and pebbles from many countries all over the world, forever a part of the school foundation! At the conclusion of the ceremony, board member Mike Branon donated his shovel to our faculty. Since then, several times a year, the staff nominates one person to receive 'The Golden Shovel'. The recipient of the Golden Shovel exemplifies the core values of our school, but a wide variety of related values come into play: hard work, perseverance, loyalty, and teamwork all are deeply held values of our faculty."

In nominating Jessi for the Golden Shovel, Shelley said, "I am delighted to pass the Golden Shovel to someone who truly embodies what it means to show up for this community, day in and day out. Students describe this person as determined—someone who puts their head down and gets things done. Passionate. Fun to talk to. Someone you always walk away from having gained more than you expected. They take the time to truly understand their students, to relate to them, and to use that understanding to make learning more engaging, more relevant, and more human. This person consistently creates opportunities for students to step beyond themselves and into the greater world. Whether it’s organizing countless expeditions, helping welcome international visitors to campus, or most recently bringing our entire school together for a meaningful day of service, their impact reaches far beyond the classroom. This is someone who doesn’t just involve students—they connect with them. And because of that, students feel seen, motivated, and inspired to participate fully in their learning and in the wider community. So, with deep appreciation and a lot of gratitude, I’m honored to pass the Golden Shovel to Jessi Brown."