Longer-serving staff who left during 2008

Woodstock School gratefully acknowledges the service these and other staff who left during 2008.

DILIP ALEXANDER (5 years)

Dilip Alexander joined the Hostel team in April 2003. He left us briefly for the US to be married to a former Woodstock staff, Lindsey Abend in January of 2007, but came back to fulfill his commitment for another year before leaving to join his wife in Arizona. Dilip's rugged appearance - camouflaged jeans, boots, shades and Enfield motor bike - belied his gentle nature. He was well liked by the boys, who always referred to him as "Sir Alex". He had a good rapport with staff and students alike. He was thorough in the work assigned to him and contributed positively to Hostel life. A man of few words, whenever he spoke, his words were thoughtful, clear and to the point. Dilip loved outdoor activities and helped plan and organize many overnight camping trips, in and around Mussoorie. The boys loved it and those who have graduated still remember those trips.

KAREN TAMMINEN (6 years)

Karen Tamminen (class of '69) completed six years at Woodstock where she has taught ESL students. As the Head of the Department for ESL she was responsible for consolidating the ESL curriculum which is now adequately and appropriately resourced. Karen's outstanding contribution to the CARE programme in the Middle School was also greatly appreciated. As the staff advisor for the programme, she single-handedly planned and organized activities which provided valuable learning experiences for our students. The CARE program included a range of activities such as seed collecting, playing with visually challenged children, collecting and disposing of non- biodegradable trash and tutoring children from less privileged backgrounds. She strongly supported one of Middle School's main goals - she helped students to learn to care for others and for nature while developing leadership skills.

KAYE AOKI (6 ½ years)

During her six and a half years at Woodstock, Kaye Aoki served in a number of capacities from Guidance Counselor to English teacher to Deputy Principal and for the last 18 months as Principal. To all of these positions, Kaye brought her exceptional talents and skills as a professional educator, her understanding and love of young people and her deep commitment to their education. As Principal from February 2007 - June 2008, Kaye actively supported the Christian character of the school and was involved with a broad spectrum of the school community to ensure that the religious life policy of the school was adhered to. She initiated a strategic planning process that engaged all sectors of the school community. With her commitment to an inclusive leadership style, she flattened the organizational structure of the school, holding the members of the Administrative Cabinet accountable for implementing the school's priorities and goals through their respective areas of responsibility. A highly visible principal, Kaye was regularly seen around campus, interacting with staff and students and frequently visiting classrooms and residences. With a commitment to excellence in education, Kaye provided direction and support to staff in the continued improvement of the school and its academic, residential and extra curricular programs. Recognizing that a school is only as good as its teachers, she took an active role in the recruitment, employment, evaluation and termination of staff and employees. In matters of school governance, Kaye worked diligently toward achieving a shared understanding, particularly with the President and Vice-President, of respective roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors and Administration of the School.

PHILIP JACOB (7 ½ years)

Philip Jacob came to Woodstock seven years ago because he was seeking a pleasant environment in which to pursue early retirement near his family in the Hills. In this relaxed frame of mind, he took a position at Woodstock because he thought he might be of service, drawing on his years of experience in business management all over India and the Middle East. What he soon found was that heading the various functions over which he had responsibility during his tenure at Woodstock was a far more demanding and complex job than he had imagined, but he tackled them all with dedication, rigorous standards of professionalism and aplomb-pulling all of this off with characteristic wry humor, charm and that element of gravitas which lent dignity to the office. Though his disclaimer at the beginning was that he did not have a finance background, he was instrumental in introducing broad improvements in the financial operations of the schools, from purchasing to the budgeting process to our accounting procedures, urging the Board to consider bringing in statutory auditors of international standing and, by doing so, increasing his own workload manifold. He gave leadership and direction to Projects, Estates, Maintenance, Security, Travel and Liaison functions, in addition to his role with the employee community, working with the employees' personnel committee and introducing better benefits and emoluments across the community. An avid gardener and flower-lover, he was largely responsible for the "greening" of the campus and takes great satisfaction in the fact that the possibilities he saw for reviving the orchard land on his first visit to the campus have become a reality through the Turner Organic Garden Project.

MEG MUCKLESTONE (9 ½ years)

Meg served Woodstock School for nine years with lots of energy and enthusiasm. In her capacity as Health Centre Coordinator she led many, many initiatives to promote good health: health spots in assemblies; health teaching in all the residences; health and safety checks in the residences; kitchen health and hygiene audits; health tips and teaching for new staff; first aid training for staff before activity weeks; first aid training for the residence personnel; publishing medical pamphlets for the Woodstock community; arranging hygiene teaching for ayahs and household helpers; vaccination programs for the kitchen employees; vaccination checks for students; arranging & chaperoning monthly orthodontist trips for students; arranging visits to Dehra Dun specialists; special evenings to give information concerning women's health; and liaising on behalf of Woodstock School with Landour Community Hospital.

Although Meg worked long hours at the Health Centre she also led a full life outside the Health Centre. Staff and students enjoyed many invitations to have dinner in her home. Meg was generous with her home-made goodies, which were always in great demand. Meg cared deeply for the spiritual life of the students; every Wednesday she helped with Friendship Club and she opened her home on Sunday afternoons for students to come to Discipleship Group. She loved to help out at school retreats. Meg also led the Winter tour in the Winter of 2006-2007 much to the students' delight and pleasure. Woodstock School will miss Meg's boundless energy and her heart of service that we have enjoyed for many years.

SUSAN DATT (16 ½ years)

Susan joined the Woodstock staff in June 1991 and completed 16 ½ years, the last six months of which being an added bonus, when she kindly agreed to help with what can now be called a very successful transition to a newly-staffed Science Department. At the same time she agreed to do some more teaching and when the need arose, assumed even more teaching responsibility. During her time at Woodstock, she served briefly in the Middle School and then in the High School in a variety of subjects including all the Sciences, Mathematics and Religious Education. In 1999 she became Head of the Science Department, a post which she held until June 2008. Susan's ability to teach students of varying ages and abilities has been a great asset to the school and her thoughtful and always thorough approach has enabled her to meet students at their level, work with them, develop them, and help to instill in them a love for the subject. As Head of the Department she oversaw and was intimately involved in many curriculum reviews, including the introduction of Biotechnology modules into the Advanced Biology curriculum and developing and introducing the very popular AP Environmental Science curriculum. Susan displayed an amazing flexibility in the face of an ever-changing and sometimes quite transient science department. Susan was involved in many other activities, including serving as an advisor to students from grades 9 through 12 in the graduating classes of 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008, and she organized many successful field trips.