A sense of calm and relaxation comes over Señora Carol D. Peery Ayers 1760 when she walks into her Spanish classroom on the third floor of the Upper School where her true home away from home awaits. Ayers has created a welcoming space for her students to learn, filled with books, posters, Spanish phrases, and a love of teaching. While love for her students, colleagues, and especially GA will never wane, Ayers has announced that she will be retiring at the end of the school year. She leaves behind a giant list of accolades, positions, and initiatives that, frankly, helped make GA the place it is today.

“Carol Ayers is a legend, an icon, a role model, and an inspiration,” said Head of School Rich Schellhas 1760. “One of the best language teachers I have ever seen in action, Carol has always been committed to immersing her students linguistically and culturally into the Spanish-speaking world. Whether in Spanish 1 or AP Spanish Literature, Carol’s students benefited tremendously from her enthusiasm and expertise; she helped well over 1,000 Patriots become functionally fluent Spanish speakers during her 26-year tenure. Both our esteemed Spanish Honor Society and intensive exchange with the Europa International School in Seville exist only thanks to Carol’s incredible dedication and desire to expand our students’ connections around the globe. On the DEI front, Carol has been a constant leader and changemaker in the most important ways, serving as a lifeline for hundreds, and bravely stepping forward to amplify student and faculty voices and representation. Her impact on life at the Academy is unbelievably deep, and her legacy must inspire each of us to continue her vital work.”

It all began when Carol was a student back in Ohio who had a phenomenal teacher that taught her the beauty of Spanish language. “I grew up in Columbus,” said Ayers, “and I had a great high school teacher, Mr. Steele. He was fun and he really inspired me. For example, he suggested that I not go to Spain because that’s where everyone goes! I ended up going to Costa Rica in my junior year of college. The language, the culture, and the people were wonderful. It was a fantastic experience.”

So began a desire to teach, to give back, and to make a difference in students’ lives. Her husband, Randall Ayers, was the head basketball coach at Ohio State and then took a job with the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach. Ayers interviewed at several independent schools, having taught at one in Ohio, and GA was the lucky choice. It also helped that when sons Ryan Ayers ’05 and Cameron Ayers ’10 visited GA they had a fantastic time. Ayers loved teaching at GA, even more once she became adjusted to teaching girls AND boys having previously taught at a girls-only school.

Ayers became part of the fabric of GA quickly, getting involved in student activities and bringing to GA a new AP class, AP Spanish Literature, which students still take. Yet one of the most important gifts Ayers gave to GA was leading the diversity program.

“I was the first Black Upper School teacher,” Ayers said. “Then Head of School Jim Connor 1760 asked if I would like to be the first Director of Diversity. My job was to support the African American students, and I did feel a calling to help them. There was a club called the ‘All Cultures Club’, but it really was for Black students. Now, we have a great group called the Black Student Alliance.”

Ayers continued diversity work by serving as a Diversity and Community Life Coordinator at GA and attending the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference many times. She thinks it’s even better that students can participate in the conference as well and has seen that return on investment immediately. “Every year I saw it,” she commented. “When the students come back, they see the world differently. They come back changed and it's a wonderful thing.”

 

Señora Ayers believes that teachers can change students’ lives; it’s about more than teaching them a second language. Seeing students embody the virtues of humility, empathy, and simply being good individuals is a testament to the positive influence teachers have on their lives. Ayers is grateful to GA for creating a phenomenal space for her family, and especially her children.

“I’m very blessed and fortunate,” said Ayers. “I am thankful for the community and for having great bosses, including Rich Schellhas. My children had such wonderful and supportive teachers along the way, like Glenda Daulerio, Peter McVeigh, Sara Goodwin, Sally Wolf, Jim Fenerty, Craig Conlin, Jeff Preston, Paul Savering, and Maggie McVeigh, just to name a few. I want to thank the GA community for making me and my family feel so welcome and for giving me and my sons our very best friends along the way. GA gave me the opportunity on many levels to make a difference in students’ lives. I appreciate that so much.”

Crédito Adicional (Extra Credit)

Mejor recuerdo (Best memory): Teaching her own children in Spanish Honors

Lugar favorito en el mundo para visitar (Favorite place in the world to visit): Coronado Island, off the coast of San Diego

Esperanzas (Things to look forward to): BOTH sons are getting married in 2024!

Lo que más extrañaré (What I will miss the most): "The students. I just taught such a sweet class and was thinking, this right here is what I’m going to miss."

Planes de jubilación (Plans for retirement): Traveling to my alma maters - University of Miami, Ohio and the University of Colorado, seeing my sons coach, watching GA Boys Basketball, and more!

Comidas Favoritas (Favorite Foods): I have two favorite Spanish dishes. My favorite dish comes from none other than fellow Spanish teacher and chef, Carlos Chubb–Tortilla Española. Mmmm... it has onions and eggs and potatoes and Spanish olives. I LOVE Spanish olives. My other favorite is a dish from Spain that has fried artichokes, ham, garlic, and olive oil. Those are my favorites!

Honores y roles de liderazgo (Honors and leadership roles):

2005 Distinguished Achievement Award
2008 Promotion to Level IV – Master Teacher
2015 Distinguished Achievement Award
2018-2021 Cressman Chair for Excellence in the Teaching of Classical and Modern Languages
2013 and 2015 Interim Modern Language Department Co-Chair
2016-2022 Modern Language Department Co-Chair
2022-2023 Modern Language Department Chair
1998 - 2023 Upper School Diversity Coordinator
2014 - 2023 Spanish Exchange Coordinator
2005 - 2022 Advisor to Black Student Alliance (BSA)
2007 - 2022 Advisor to Student Government (SGA)
1998 - 2005 Advisor to All Cultures Together Club

Send Carol a Note Carol would love to hear from alumni, parents, and colleagues. Share a memory with Carol using the NOTES button.   NOTES Honor Carol with a Gift to GA! Making a gift to the school in honor of Carol's retirement is a wonderful way to celebrate her tenure at GA.   DONATE