On Thursday, May 21, 2026 Pike faculty and staff gathered together in celebration of their colleagues and their milestone years of service at Pike. It was an evening filled with connection and gratitude, showcasing the unwavering dedication of our amazing faculty and educators to our students and community.
Head of School, Honor Taft shared heartwarming tributes to some of our most beloved faculty and staff, reminding us all that Pike teachers truly are the heart of Pike.
Kacey King
Upper School Latin Teacher & Grade 9 Advisor
Milestone: 10 years
Ten years ago, a young Latin scholar fresh out of undergrad walked onto Pike’s campus to fill a long-term maternity leave position. What began as a subbing position evolved into a decade-long dedication to Pike. Kacey is not just a Latin teacher, she is a true champion for Latin! Her passion has taken her from the ruins of Pompeii to the study of female Roman authors in Florence—always bringing back stories that make her classroom a place where tangents are welcomed and discovery is the primary goal.
Kacey is a fierce advocate for her students, whether she is leading the Ninth Grade team, advising the Pike Press literary magazine, or coaching the Pike School Speech team, Kacey is always leading with her heart and the best interests of her students in mind.
Her colleagues used three words to describe Kacey: Determined, Empathetic, and Kind. To the Speech Team, she is the supportive coach who builds confidence. To her students, she is the mentor who encourages them to take the "driver’s seat" of their own learning.
Kacey, we are so glad that a random tip from a Tufts professor brought you to our doors ten years ago. Thank you for choosing to grow here, for advocating for our students, and for reminding us all that learning is, indeed, very cool.
George Philips
Upper School Music Teacher & Grade 6 Advisor
Milestone: 10 years
Ten years ago, George arrived at Pike to take over the Upper School music program, bringing with him a fascinatingly diverse global resume that included teaching music to 800 students in Arizona and building a curriculum entirely from scratch in India. Since that day, George has operated under a brilliant, boundary-breaking philosophy of education: everything is everything, and rigid subjects don’t need to exist.
George has revitalized the music department. He took Pikeappella and built its membership into a thriving group of vocalists. He created a musical home for Upper School string players by launching the Upper School Orchestra. He leads the Lower School Orchestra ensemble, ensuring that our youngest musicians have a platform to be seen and celebrated.
In the classroom George knows how to give students the technical skills they need, creating a safe space for them to take risks, problem-solve, and own the creative process, and see music as something they can pursue entirely on their own terms.
His colleagues describe George as “notoriously hilarious”, always willing to play devil's advocate just to lighten the mood, and famously generous with his legendary kitchen creations.
George, you have spent ten years proving to our students that school can be a place to find your rhythm and push the boundaries of what is possible. Congratulations, George, on 10 extraordinary, harmonious years!
Will Powers
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Milestone: 10 years
Over the past decade, Will has shattered the stereotype of the desk-bound business manager. He is as likely to be found at a sporting event, concert, or art show as he is in the business office, embodying a spirit of fun.
The true measure of Will’s character was revealed when Pike faced its most vulnerable moments. When the school needed a leader to step in Will didn't hesitate to step up as Interim Head of School. Stepping into this role is no small task and he fully took on and felt the weight of the responsibility for caring for the Pike community while quickly identifying and elevating the sources of joy and fulfillment of the work. Even more remarkable than his willingness to lead is the grace and kindness he showed when it was time to step back. As Honor Taft stepped in as the new Head, Will became her steadfast supporter. He has shared his deep institutional knowledge and his great sense of humor along with his genuine desire to take care of people and to see Pike thrive.
Whether he is animating a whiteboard in the Makerspace to plan bridge projects, volunteering his time to help out with Pre-K lunch and recess, listening to persuasive essays, touring the boiler room, or thoughtfully contributing in a leadership team meeting, Will sees Pike through a lens of infinite possibility. He has transformed our systems and our spaces - from the cafeteria to the courtyard - ensuring they foster connection.
Will, you have given us a decade of strength, humor, and brilliant leadership. We are a better, more resilient, and a more joyful place because of you.
Lis Venetiou
Upper School Speech and Debate Program Director & Grade 7 Advisor
Milestone: 10 years
In the classroom and on the Speech Team, Lis is driven by a deeply held belief: communication is an essential life skill and has a gift for creating spaces where people feel seen. She recognized early on that Pike students are preparing for a future where they will have a "seat at the table," and she made it her mission to ensure they possess the clarity and confidence to articulate their thoughts when they get there. She has mentored our speakers with a "firm but fair" approach, setting high expectations because she believes so deeply in their potential.
Her leadership is defined by a rare combination of courage and composure. When the Upper School faced a period of transition and needed a steadying presence, Lis agreed to step forward into the Interim Head of Upper School, with a heart for service. During a remarkably challenging time, she acted as a vital guide and support for the Upper School, holding the division with dependable leadership and presence, ensuring that everyone felt supported and heard. Lis lives by bringing the "best energy for the good of all involved," a personal mantra that has guided her through every role she has held here.
Beyond the podium and the classroom, there is the Lis who finds her own voice in the quiet of the morning. A lifelong writer, she clears her head with "morning pages" before the day begins - a testament to her belief that it is always worth the work to discover who you are.
Lis, you have spent a decade helping our students find their voices and helping our colleagues find their footing. You have buoyed us with your kindness, inspired us with your work ethic, and steadied us with your friendship. As you prepare for your next chapter, please know that the echoes of every perfectly AND imperfectly delivered speech will remain a part of your legacy and of Pike’s story.
Stephanie Santella
Grade 3 Teacher
Milestone: 20 years
Stephanie came to Pike from Connecticut seeking a place that was truly child-centered, where kids were genuinely allowed to be kids, get their hands dirty, and explore. And for twenty years, she has centered that joy. Her classroom is a place of boundless curiosity where skills are built through such fun activities that students don't even realize they are learning. Whether she is leading word games at snack time, diving headfirst into science experiments, or sending her kids out into the winter snow to collect owl pellets on the nature trail, Stephanie connects children to reality. It's no wonder that it has happened that a student requested that they be placed with "the fish lady" for third grade!
This year, Stephanie took a major leap completely out of her comfort zone to join the school's AI committee, even taking an online university course to master the concepts. Now, she is working alongside Aaron, excited to help demystify technology for her peers with the exact same empathy she brings to a struggling third grade mathematician.
Because for Stephanie, math is personal. She openly shares with her students that she struggled with math as a child, using her own experiences to dismantle their anxiety. When a student looks up and says, "I can't do math," Stephanie throws every tool in her arsenal at the challenge until they look up at the end of a unit and realize, "I can."
Described by her colleagues as a compassionate, invested, and fiercely witty force whose unmistakable, booming laugh echoes through the Lower School hallways. She is the ultimate organizer, whether she's sorting the book closet, meticulously stocking the upstairs teacher coffee pods, organizing the annual Feaster Five Pike team, or crocheting custom holiday ornaments for her colleagues.
Twenty years ago, Stephanie, you found your home at Pike. Today, we are the ones who are profoundly grateful that you stayed to plant your roots, share your laughter, and prove to generations of children that anything is absolutely possible. Congratulations, Stephanie, on 20 extraordinary years.
Aaron Hovel
Director of Technology
Milestone: 25 years
Twenty-five years ago, Aaron Hovel arrived at Pike as an Upper School science teacher, fresh from a career as an outdoor educator. Today, as we celebrate his quarter-century milestone, it is clear that Aaron’s career has been defined by a desire to learn and grow and a relentless pursuit of what’s next, grounded in a deep commitment to our community.
Aaron doesn’t just keep pace with the industry; he fundamentally reshapes it. He has masterfully balanced the "big-picture" strategy—navigating the complexities of AI—with a meticulous attention to the "invisible" infrastructure. Whether it’s the robust Meraki network monitoring or the seamless device management, Aaron ensures our digital foundation is so resilient that we have the luxury of taking it for granted.
In a field that can often feel cool or transactional, Aaron is famously both warm and unflappable. He admits to being "task-oriented," yet when the pressure of the list builds up, he knows the best remedy: he walks the school. He grounds himself by seeing students in the classroom and interacting with teachers. That human side is evident in his 3rd and 4th-grade coding clubs, where he reconnects with the "energy of opening a door for someone."
Aaron is an administrator who is steady and deeply rooted in Pike’s values, and an educator who sees limitless potential in every child and colleague. He has weathered the "surreal" moments—like a high-pressure parent meeting about iPads—with the help of mentors and a community that cares as deeply as he does.
Aaron, whether you are finding your "flow state" catching a ten-second wave at Nahant Beach, skiing a fresh trail, or solving a complex network puzzle, you bring a sense of calm and vision to everything you do. You once asked to join the leadership team just to see "how it worked," and today, it is impossible to imagine that team - or this school - without you. Congratulations, Aaron, on 25 extraordinary years.
Ed Santella
Upper School Science Teacher and 5th Grade Advisor
Milestone: 25 years
For a quarter of a century, Ed has been a masterful keeper of that joyful, authentic school spirit. He spent his early years on the third-grade team before transitioning to fifth grade in 2008. It was during that transition that Ed pushed his learning edge. Recognizing that the technology curriculum was traditional and maybe a little flat, he approached leadership with a bold pitch to bring the department into the modern era through robotics. Armed with a $10,000 grant and an adventurous spirit, Ed built Pike's legendary robotics unit. Over the past 18 years, this has become an Upper School staple, inspiring students annually.
When it is time for fifth graders to head down the hall to Ed's room, the hallway fills with shouts of "Yay, science! We get to test our robots today!" He makes learning an absolute joy. Families across the community know his success is rooted in deep and unwavering mutual respect between teacher and student. That deep respect creates bonds that refuse to break when students move up through the grades. Ed claims to protest when older students continuously crowd his doorway, but the truth is, he adores them. He thrives on the subtle waves, the hallway high-fives, and the secret handshakes they share.
Described by his colleagues as a mix of the imaginative, the insightful, and the witty - a professional who brings a genuine sense of integrity and light to Pike every single day.
Ed, for 25 years you have been our straight shooter, our robotics pioneer, and our constant reminder to never squash a child's spirit. Congratulations, Ed, on a monumental 25 years of visionary teaching and laughter!
Carolyn Tobey
Grade 1 Teacher
Milestone: 40 years
Forty years ago, in August of 1986, a 24-year-old Carolyn Tobey arrived on campus for a last-minute interview. Having just bought her very first car, she walked into an environment that felt like a universe away from the underfunded daycare center she had been working at in Boston. She was hired to teach half-day "nursery" -a term she famously lobbied to change to the more respectful "Pre-K" -and to spend her afternoons teaching art to first and second graders. Carolyn openly admits she felt like a fraud teaching art, having not taken an art class since her own elementary school days.
By 1993, Carolyn found her professional home in first grade, marking the beginning of a beautiful, lifelong partnership with Pike. Recognizing her incredible potential, the school wrapped its arms around Carolyn and invested fully in her dreams, sponsoring her through a four-year graduate reading program at Wheelock College. That investment sparked a cycle of reciprocity that would shape the school. Carolyn served for over 25 years as a master mentor and coordinator for the Lesley University intern program. By personally guiding and nurturing the careers of more than 25 student teachers, Carolyn created a profound, lasting ripple effect, passing along the love and expertise she was given down to generations of educators.
According to her colleagues: Carolyn is a level-headed anchor in any crisis. Often referred to as "The Teacher, the myth, the legend," not only bringing out the best in her students, but also bringing out the best in her fellow educators. Whenever a peer is facing a classroom conundrum, the response is to ask, "What would Carolyn do?" Yet, despite her status as the exemplar of Pike excellence, Carolyn possesses a profound humility. She has never shied away from vulnerability, regularly asking her peers for advice, and continues to learn and grow.
Most teachers hope to plant a seed for a tree whose shade they will never sit under. But watching Carolyn beam with pure pride as she watches generations of former students succeed, it is clear we all sit with her beneath a magnificent canopy of her making.
Her colleagues all echoed the same truth: Pike is the institution it is today because of your heart, your soul, and your wit. Carolyn, congratulations on an unparalleled, legendary 40 years of excellence!