Each year at Graduation, the headmaster honors faculty members for distinctive achievements in nurturing students, not only through their work as teachers, but also as coaches and advisors of activities beyond the classroom.
Since Graduation has been postponed this year, Headmaster Dennis Manning announced the award winners at the final faculty meeting, which was a Zoom event.
The James B. Massey Award is given annually to one faculty member in each division, who has taught at Norfolk Academy for no more than six years. The award salutes “professional development and personal growth as a teacher." The award is named for James B. Massey Jr., who served as headmaster from 1950-1978.
Lower School: Mr. Reggie Cole, fifth grade teacher, assistant director of Breakthrough at Norfolk Academy, and football coach
Middle School: Mr. Nick Rahall, math teacher and coach of wrestling and football
Upper School: Dr. John Lindbeck, history teacher and tennis coach
The Waitzer Master Teacher Award is presented annually to a faculty member in each division who has taught at Norfolk Academy for at least six years. The award, endowed by former Trustee Leah Waitzer and her husband, Richard, and selected by a faculty vote, recognizes faculty who have “demonstrated a consistent love of teaching and influence on students." The award “signifies the highest degree of dedication and service to the profession."
Lower School: Mrs. Stephanie Cress, Lower School technology coordinator and softball coach
Middle School: Mr. Chris Runzo, math teacher, head coach of varsity wrestling, and football coach
Upper School: Mr. Ed Patterson, director of academic technology, film teacher, and coach of NA-TV, three-season broadcasting team
The Excellence in Coaching Award, which was announced earlier in the spring, was awarded posthumously to Mr. Ken Lampert '72, who served as head coach for cross country, winter track, and track and field teams for 44 years -- 130 straight seasons. He passed away this spring. (Read a tribute to his influence on generations of student-athletes.)