On May 21 students filed into the auditorium for this year’s Retirement Morning Ex. Bright lights shone on the stage per usual, but on this day the lights revealed a vast array of not only students but alumni and faculty members, about 80 strong in total, sitting side by side.

Behind the podium, a row of chairs held three speakers: Lower and Intermediate School Director of Studies Barbara Hunt, Upper School math teacher Chris Riff, and Lower and Intermediate School music teacher Kingsley Tang. Respectively, each honored one of the three retiring faculty members: Lower School drama teacher Christine Beh, Upper School math teacher Michelle Hirsch, and Co-Chair of the Music Department and Upper School music teacher Sunnie Hikawa.

After a few minutes passed, Principal Dan Frank walked up to the podium to open the MX.  Collectively, he noted, the three teachers have spent almost a century at the school.

The next 40 minutes were filled with speeches, tears, songs, and even some dancing. At the end of a medley from the musical “Hair,” sung by New Chorale, Special Chorus, and around 50 Grape Jam alumni, the entire audience gave a standing ovation to the three retirees. Amidst the applause, Hikawa brought her two grandchildren onto the stage, both dressed in purple.

Outside of the MX, each retiree reflected on her years at Parker.  “In some respects, the school has changed a lot, and in some respects, the school hasn’t changed at all,” Hikawa said. “What is a big constant is the students. They’re interesting, unique individuals, and inspire me to do as good a job as I can do.”

Hirsch remembered leaving her job twice before returning for an extended period of time. She initially left due to difficulties with a former math department head. “I first came to Parker in ‘81, so I have seen a lot of changes in the school–when I came, there was no middle school,” she said.  “All the math teachers taught sixth through twelfth grade… I learned a real lot about teaching.”

Beh said, “Most people remember me around Halloween, when I did all the stories… just getting to know my colleagues and friends that I’ve made here for life… I’m remembering that a lot.”

Why retire this year?

“I just felt tired this year,” Hirsch said. “I had open heart surgery two years ago, and I felt better– not the year I came back, but the year after that. It’s the parking and the traffic and the driving… the older I get, the harder that schedule is to maintain. It’s just stressful.”

For Hikawa retirement was delayed. “I had considered retiring several years ago,” she said. “Then we got some new members in our department, and I felt like a new breath of life… Mr. Denien in particular pushed me to be the best I can be. I have so much fun doing my job.”

Middle School Chorus Director Rob Denien credits Hikawa for the school’s warmth. “I’d say that Ms. Hikawa has made Parker feel very much like home for me,” he said. “She was a huge influence on my growth as a chorus teacher the four years I’ve been here.  In addition to our time in the classroom together, I’ll always cherish all the fun we had on the various adventures we’ve been on together… from the yearly Six Flags trip to Cookies weekend in Italy and everything in between.”

As for Beh?  “This was the first year I really thought about it,” Beh said. “I could’ve retired a while ago, but I still loved it. It wasn’t an easy decision for me.”

As for post-retirement plans, they all have a vague idea of what they’d like to do in their newfound free time.

“One of the obvious ones is travel,” Beh said. “I love to read, I love to garden, and I’m interested in theater. I used to do a lot of voiceovers. I’m thinking maybe of doing that again.”

Hikawa has similar plans. “I might like to get back into performing–I did a lot of movies and commercials, so maybe I’d try and start auditioning for things,” she said.  “First of all, I’m going to recharge and rest, and maybe clean my house. I’ve already got plans to travel–we’ve rented out all the places that we have.”

Hirsch plans to keep busy too.  “I’d like to work with dogs,” she said. “I love dogs. Dogs are just easier than people and more appreciative. One of the other reasons I’m retiring–I love theater, but I can never go cause I’m too tired… Maybe work on the next presidential campaign. The next year is a transition year, so I don’t wanna pack it too tight.”

Hirsch was hired as a consultant in the math department for the 2018-19 school year to continue working on a couple of courses she developed and to ease the transition.

Sven Carlsson, Middle and Upper School Director of Studies, reflected on his friendship with Hirsch.  “There are two ways in which I’m similar to Ms. Hirsch,” Carlsson said. “One is caring about how people treat people. The other would be love of pets… one of the biggest measures of a person’s heart is their ability to love furry creatures.”  He thought about it some more and added, “As a person, I’ve learned from her to be more passionate about justice. I’ve learned to get more upset at wrong things.”

At the Retirement MX, Tang spoke about Hikawa in the form of a letter to her grandchild, senior kindergarten student Atreyu Ribaudo-Hikawa. Tang read, “Even though she’s retiring as a teacher, she still has important work to do as an alum, a Parker parent, and most importantly, as a Parker grandparent–supporting you and your time at Parker.”

After the MX, Isobel Bender ‘18 spoke about Beh. “I credit my early confidence on stage and excitement for acting to Ms. Beh’s amazing drama class in lower school,” Bender said, “and in high school I always looked forward to the halloween MXs where I got to hear the same fun stories I loved when I was young!”

Also outside of the MX, the retiring educators spoke about the impact they hope to have on the Parker community.

“I want to have the memory of the students,” Hikawa said. “I want to live on in students’ memories. To inspire kids to appreciate music.”

Hirsch wants to be remembered as a seeker.  “I’ve always fought for what I believe is right for this place,” Hirsch said.  “Sometimes, people believe I’m too vocal… I hope kids got from me…a sense of thinking and enjoying the process, and not necessarily looking for answers.”

Beh wants to be known for her passion for theater and for her empathy. “Well, number one is my love of drama,” she said. “Not only that… but also learning how to understand other people.”
It wasn’t lost on Bender that Parker must say goodbye to three strong women.   “This year, I feel we have three extremely powerful and inspirational women retiring from Parker,” she said.  “Each one has influenced my path here at school in one way or another.”

For her part, Beh is grateful.  “Parker has been such a wonderful school,” Beh said. “I’ve been so lucky.”