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News & Photos
Prestigious Teaching Chairs Awarded to McDonogh Educators
At the annual opening faculty and staff meeting on Monday, August 18, Head of School Dave Farace '87 presented two of McDonogh’s most prestigious honors: the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair and the Raymond B. Oliver Teaching Chair.
The presentation, a highlight of the meeting, was not only a celebration of two outstanding teachers but also the spirit of dedication and joy they bring to the classroom every day. Their passion, humility, and care embody what it means to be a McDonogh educator—and their students are the true beneficiaries.
Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair Award Presented to Christy Etchison
The Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair, established in 1998, was awarded to Middle School science teacher Christy Etchison. Etchison began her teaching career at McDonogh in 2006 after working as a clinical nurse in an oncology center. By 2011, she had transitioned from substitute teacher to full-time faculty member, where she has humbly set the standard for excellent teaching.
Farace said, “Right away, she demonstrated her ability to teach and adapt lesson plans as needed—sometimes at a moment’s notice. Additionally, she learned a great deal about various learning differences and the teaching methods necessary to address them. She used her knowledge to provide targeted support to students in need.”
Colleagues note Etchison’s ability to quickly assess a situation and determine the best solution, while also listening carefully and considering everyone’s perspective. They describe her as firm, caring, and holding students accountable.
Before presenting the award, Farace said, “Every teacher should have a colleague like her.” The audience of her peers couldn’t agree more.
Raymond B. Oliver Teaching Chair Awarded to Eric Conn
The second teaching chair presented during the meeting was named for Raymond B. Oliver ’40, a devoted teacher-coach who built meaningful relationships with countless students and colleagues over four decades. The award was given to Upper School science teacher Eric Conn.
Farace spoke about Conn’s teaching style, which often includes fun, loud, and bright demonstrations to vividly illustrate his subject matter. He said, “His students can’t get enough of him and sometimes sit in wrapt attention even after the class period has officially ended.”
Farace also noted that Conn teaches the most challenging course offered on campus, and students—who consider it a “badge of honor” to survive it—attribute their success to his patient assistance, a hallmark of his teaching. “He is fully committed to the success and growth of each of his students and is selfless in devoting whatever time is needed to support them in reaching their goals,” said Farace.
One Upper School colleague who observed Conn’s leadership as faculty supervisor of McDonogh’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program was quoted as saying, “He guides the students but does not do the thinking for them. He is there to support and offer ideas or a different perspective, but he lets the students lead and take ownership of their robot. It is theirs.”
Farace quoted another colleague who described Conn as “not only an excellent teacher but a wonderful man. He is smart, hardworking, and always looking to get better.” His peers’ admiration echoes Conn’s own words—he has often shared that he simply enjoys “standing in front of a classroom discussing the most interesting things in the world.”
At the annual opening faculty and staff meeting on Monday, August 18, Head of School Dave Farace '87 presented two of McDonogh’s most prestigious honors: the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair and the Raymond B. Oliver Teaching Chair.
The presentation, a highlight of the meeting, was not only a celebration of two outstanding teachers but also the spirit of dedication and joy they bring to the classroom every day. Their passion, humility, and care embody what it means to be a McDonogh educator—and their students are the true beneficiaries.
Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair Award Presented to Christy Etchison
The Rollins-Luetkemeyer Teaching Chair, established in 1998, was awarded to Middle School science teacher Christy Etchison. Etchison began her teaching career at McDonogh in 2006 after working as a clinical nurse in an oncology center. By 2011, she had transitioned from substitute teacher to full-time faculty member, where she has humbly set the standard for excellent teaching.
Farace said, “Right away, she demonstrated her ability to teach and adapt lesson plans as needed—sometimes at a moment’s notice. Additionally, she learned a great deal about various learning differences and the teaching methods necessary to address them. She used her knowledge to provide targeted support to students in need.”
Colleagues note Etchison’s ability to quickly assess a situation and determine the best solution, while also listening carefully and considering everyone’s perspective. They describe her as firm, caring, and holding students accountable.
Before presenting the award, Farace said, “Every teacher should have a colleague like her.” The audience of her peers couldn’t agree more.
Raymond B. Oliver Teaching Chair Awarded to Eric Conn
The second teaching chair presented during the meeting was named for Raymond B. Oliver ’40, a devoted teacher-coach who built meaningful relationships with countless students and colleagues over four decades. The award was given to Upper School science teacher Eric Conn.
Farace spoke about Conn’s teaching style, which often includes fun, loud, and bright demonstrations to vividly illustrate his subject matter. He said, “His students can’t get enough of him and sometimes sit in wrapt attention even after the class period has officially ended.”
Farace also noted that Conn teaches the most challenging course offered on campus, and students—who consider it a “badge of honor” to survive it—attribute their success to his patient assistance, a hallmark of his teaching. “He is fully committed to the success and growth of each of his students and is selfless in devoting whatever time is needed to support them in reaching their goals,” said Farace.
One Upper School colleague who observed Conn’s leadership as faculty supervisor of McDonogh’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program was quoted as saying, “He guides the students but does not do the thinking for them. He is there to support and offer ideas or a different perspective, but he lets the students lead and take ownership of their robot. It is theirs.”
Farace quoted another colleague who described Conn as “not only an excellent teacher but a wonderful man. He is smart, hardworking, and always looking to get better.” His peers’ admiration echoes Conn’s own words—he has often shared that he simply enjoys “standing in front of a classroom discussing the most interesting things in the world.”