A poet, a teacher, a mentor, a friend.

After 25 years, Julia Blumenreich’s tenure at GA will come to an end.

A fourth-grade teacher since ’97-’98,

A warm and caring educator,

with the passion to innovate.

Industrial Revolution Town Hall to The Constitutional Convention,

to Ellis Island to learn about immigration…

She took on roles to make the history jump off the page,

All of this to help the students engage.

Governor of Walden, Michigan and a strict forewoman in a factory…

 …that employed children.

An immigration officer tasked to decide,

if children entering America would be allowed to reside.

Let’s not forget Julia’s passion––poetry,

a way to teach her students lessons in literacy.

Another passion project has been embryology.

A tool to teach fourth-graders how animals come to be.

From chickens to turkeys to ducks to quail,

Now, each class has an incubator to hatch eggs without fail.

Her innovative teaching and ideas didn’t come without rewards.

She is the recipient of Distinguished Teaching, Mission, and Milken National Educator Awards.

Julia is also a member of the Class of 1760,

And served as a Faculty Speaker and delivered words in front of many.

While she’s regarded with high esteem,

She gives thanks to everyone on her GA and Lower School team.

She also wants her colleagues to know:

“…the respect I feel for the administrators, teachers and staff who are always innovating, encourage me to change and grow.”

There are so many things she loves about GA,

But here are some reasons that inspired her to remain:

“First, the opportunity to teach in the most supportive environment I could imagine.

Second, the children: their wonder, their talents, their enthusiasm.”

A woman who stands by the GA civility pledge and mission,

her next stages of life will come as an easy decision:

As a poet, she’s working on her next book.

She plans to read and write daily, pastimes she won’t overlook.

Traveling and volunteering are plans for Mrs. B.,

As well as helping children and adults with literacy.

She can’t forget the parent community who have entrusted her with their children each and every day.

 “With every cell of my being, I am so lucky to have spent most of my teaching career here at GA.”

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A NOTE FOR MRS. BLUMENREICH

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A GIFT TO GA IN HONOR OF HER

From Head of School Rich Schellhas :

“Julia Blumenreich’s excellence as a teacher is matched only by her excellence as a human being, mom, friend, and writer. What I would have given to have been fortunate enough to have had her as a teacher! Julia’s ability to create an extraordinary culture in each of her classes, year after year, stems from her gift of connection––her uncanny talent for understanding what makes each individual child tick and how to blend each of these unique students into one perfect montage. Julia teaches with and from her heart, every day. Julia inspires imagination and creativity, every day. Julia’s love for language, for the written and spoken word, has been passed down not just to decades of GA students but also to those of us lucky enough to work alongside her, to bask in her mesmerizing poetry, her brilliant talks, her perceptively perfect contributions in any setting. Julia is love and light, care and creativity, intelligence and insight, all wrapped up in one sublime sonnet.”

Memorable quote to live by:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

–Margaret Meade

What she will miss the most:

The huge heart of the GA Community as well as the privilege of teaching children in such a supportive environment and finally my colleagues who continually inspire me with their brilliance.