Villa Voice Summer 2019 VillaVoice Summer 2019 | Page 24

FACULTY NOTES
Dodd Smith’s 28-year
Villa career began as an
Intervention Specialist in
St. Ursula Villa’s Resource
Department providing
academic help and support to
students. She switched from
an independent contractor
to a staff position within the
Resource Department, ultimately moving to the 6th-
grade classroom six years ago to teach Science, Social
Studies, and Math. She says she “loves Math” but “being
a 6th-grade homeroom teacher was great. I loved having
a class of children and watching them grow over the
course of a school year – from September to the end of the
year. As 6 th graders, they come in as elementary school
kids and leave as Junior High students. It’s such a big
year of growth, change, and development.”
Diane Hopper’s
most recent role was St.
Ursula Villa’s Director of
Advancement, though her
family joined the Villa in 2001.
As a parent, she volunteered
with Villa Parents Organization
and Annual Fund, then joined
the staff as the Villa’s Director
of Development in 2007, later becoming the Director
of Advancement. Ms. Hopper says, “I have known and
worked with so many great people – faculty, parents, past
parents, grandparents, and others – who share the same
goal of making the Villa the very best it can be.”
Ms. Hopper states her 12-year Villa career was a
“tremendous experience to be involved in building a
culture of philanthropy and in the process forging lifelong
friendships with some of the most wonderful people in
our city. It was a blessing and privilege to work where my
children were at school, then staying on to get to know
these wonderful teachers, parents, and children even as
my kids had moved on from the Villa.”
Jeannine Blatt is concluding
13 years of service as St. Ursula
Villa’s School Nurse. Over the
years, Ms. Blatt has provided
wonderful care to Villa students
and staff and will be missed as
she leaves the Villa to begin a
new chapter.
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Reflecting on her Villa career, Ms. Smith says “My time
here has been wonderful. I’ve taught a lot of places in
different types of environments. This has been such a
great run – I really have loved it and the ability to make
an impact.” She will miss “my coworkers and having the
kids to keep me current on ‘what’s cool’ in fashion, sports,
and music.” She continues, "So much new happens in the
field of Science and a lot of reading is required to prepare
instruction and teach it - I will miss that intellectual
stimulation" but will not miss “getting up at 4:30 to go to
the gym and exercise before coming to school!”
Ms. Smith plans to spend time with her eight
grandchildren who live all over the country, garden, and
sew. She is excited to sleep in and stay up late to watch
late night TV!
A special personal moment occurred during this spring’s
Villabration: “I was surprised with an unexpected send-
off for my retirement - I felt lots of love from and toward
the Villa community! It was so moving to watch almost
every paddle go up to support the critically needed Villa
Family Emergency Assistance Fund effort when past
Villa parent Kent Wellington told his heartfelt story.
That is what the Villa community is all about!”
In her retirement, Ms. Hopper is “eager to start a new
phase of our life and spend time with my larger family
and our three children who live far and wide.” However,
she will truly “miss this Villa community and the Manor
House Second Floor Advancement Team - we put in a
lot of hard work, do a lot of planning, and have a lot of
laughs. I will also miss the Villa’s Administrative Team
and regularly discussing the opportunities and challenges
we face as an institution. Everyone here is rowing in the
same direction and wants to achieve the very best – it is a
privilege to work on teams that are so mission-focused.”