Three Munnerlyn Campus faculty were 2025 recipients of Lastinger Summer Scholar funds, an endowed fund that provides exceptional professional development opportunities for teachers. Carolyn Wells ’03, Director of Choral Studies, combined two experiences — one in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,  to experience Sight and Sound Theater’s production of “Noah,” and then attending Broadway Teachers Workshop in New York City. This included four days of workshops with Broadway professionals and eight Broadway shows. “My goal was to watch and learn from those at the top of their craft so that I would be able to gain experience and inspiration that would help me create the shows on stage at ESJ,” said Carolyn. “Every school year starts with a blank canvas and an empty stage. What and how we execute the material is up to us. We start with a sheet of music – and somehow, over months of class time and preparation, that turns into an audience’s experience. Experiencing what others have created helps me know what is possible to create.”

Maria Carter, College Counseling, attended the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) Blackberry River Retreat at Endicott College in late spring. “As college counselors, we attend various conferences and training throughout the year that are useful in our roles, but the majority of these sessions are technical in nature (writing effective letters of recommendation, understanding the nuance of applying to international schools, learning the data behind decisions, etc.),” said Maria. “The Blackberry River Retreat is one of the only retreats available through our professional organizations that focuses on deep listening, and is more nuanced in its understanding of the need to move between advising and counseling in order to be an effective college counselor.” At the event, faculty from the Stanley King Institute shared helpful contextual information about working with adolescents and where that age group is developmentally in terms of being able to express their feelings. Listening tools, helpful ways to keep a conversation going without changing direction, and what hinders listening were all taught. The structure of the retreat was large group sessions to learn about a concept or watch faculty in a role play scenario, and small group sessions throughout the day to unpack and practice. “I learned many things that I hope I can continue to put into practice as we head into the fall semester and dig into our work with the Class of 2026,” said Maria. 

Fine Arts Department faculty member Alex Hernandez, Middle School Instrumental Music teacher, attended a  premier retreat for saxophonists in the foothills of Tennessee in August. The Inside:Outside Retreat is a weeklong program for adult saxophonists hosted by Grammy-award winning artists Bob Reynolds, Bob Franceschini, and Bob Hemenger. The retreat is designed to inspire, inform and invert how the artist processes, practices, and performs music. The event is held at Wooten Woods, Grammy Award-winning bassist Victor Wooten’s music and nature facility. Attendees practiced and performed daily, surrounded by others eager to learn and to share what they had learned and created. Instructors – many of whom were Grammy-winning artists, had one-on-one interaction with attendees. Players were placed into smaller groups for instruction as well, based on skill level. Alex was able to work with 

Victor Lemonte Wooten: five-time Grammy winner and three-time Bass Player of the Year award-winner from Bass Player magazine. In 2011, he was ranked No. 10 in the Top 10 Bassists of All Time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. Alex had the privilege of working closely with some of the most respected names in jazz pedagogy; received consistent, constructive feedback on both his teaching approaches and his personal playing; collaborated with professional musicians and music educators from around the world, exchanging ideas and perspectives; and left with renewed energy, fresh insights, and practical tools to apply in his personal performances and as a faculty member in class. 

Established in 2000 through a gift from Delores and Allen Lastinger, the Lastinger Summer Scholars Fund provides professional development opportunities over and above those required, and benefits not only the faculty members’ educational needs but also the expanded community of Episcopal School of Jacksonville.