In the corner of the Lower School woodshop lies three pie tins. Inside, cement has been poured to the brim and on two of the tins are tiles of various colors cut into non-symmetrical shapes.“Debbie Cole” and “1949-2019” are engraved on the third stone, surrounded by shards of tiles. These stepping stones, once completed, will be placed outside of the school to honor Parker’s beloved art teacher, Deborah Cole.  

Each year, the graduating senior class creates their “Senior Gift” — a gift to the school as the students part their separate ways. “It’s always been that particular grades expression of how they want to thank the community,” Senior Grade Head Leslie Holland Pryor said. “Various groups see it differently. It’s always been an expression of gratitude and thankfulness, being appreciative, and wanting to give back to the school they feel has given them so much.”

A part of this year’s graduating class gift was to create something to honor Deborah Cole, who passed away in January this year. Seniors Beatrice Turner and Pilar Grover designed an art tribute in her honor.

The tribute is comprised of three stepping stones, based off a design found by Grover. While the exact location is still being determined, its general location is known. “It’s outside because we know that she liked being outside and in nature,” Grover said. “We made the location intentional.”

Grover obtained the mosaic tiles from a neighbor who did not have space for them, and Turner purchased the cement. “It’s kind of from our own pockets,” Turner said.

The tribute was made by Turner and Grover after school. “It was completely on the spot,” Turner said about the design. “We just wanted to make something kind of abstract. We cut up a bunch of tiles, so they are kind of scattered in different colors, and they look really nice.”

According to Turner, within the senior grade there as a “Gifting Committee,” comprised of seniors who volunteered to be involved, and Grover came up with the idea to honor their gift to Cole.  The other portion of the graduating class’s gift is a scholarship fund for a student on financial aid to

Travel on trips offered at Parker.

Turner, a student of Cole, knew her outside of school as well. “I’ve known her literally my entire life, since I was born,” Turner said. Turner reflects on the purpose of the tribute.

“I think it’s going to be a small little impact where, its little stepping stones, so wherever it’s going to be, I think if someone sees it they may ask questions such as, ‘who is Deborah Cole?’” Turner said. “I think that’s what she would want. Something just small and something just nice, a little simple thing.”

“I think she really embodies Parker in creativity and kindness and exploring her passion,” Grover said. “I think it’s important to remember her because she has given a lot to my grade and to the community.”

Like Turner, Grover was also a student of Cole, and she was impacted by her teaching. “She was the one who inspired me… to discover what a cool medium it is,” Grover said about ceramics.

Similarly, Holland-Pryor believes it will honor Cole. “I think it will provide me, and people who knew her, with something to remember her by,” Holland-Pryor said. “There is a physical expression of the outpouring of love and appreciation and influence and impact that she had on the community.”

“It’s just something small, just to commemorate a teacher who has had a big impact on some individuals at this school,” Turner said.