Passing the Baton
Blossom Beatty Pidduck officially takes over as head of school as Michael K. Mulligan and Joy Sawyer-Mulligan hit the trails.
Though summertime generally ushers in a quieter, sleepier couple of months here at Casa de Piedra, July 1 marks an exciting, momentous event: Blossom Beatty Pidduck CdeP 1992 is officially taking up her duties as the ninth head of The Thacher School.
In her 15 years at Thacher, Blossom has taught in the English Department, served as the department chair, worked as dean of faculty, led Extra-Day Trips, and served as the director of studies and the assistant head of school. Her appointment as the next head of school was announced on October 9, 2017, after a months-long search process by the succession committee and a unanimous vote by the committee and the board of trustees.
They wrote then: “A rising star, Blossom is a collaborative leader, an extraordinary communicator, and a gifted teacher with a lightning-quick mind and a bountiful sense of humor. In Blossom, we have a fearless forward thinker with large measures of open-mindedness, creativity, infectious energy, and optimism to lead the next generation of Thacher faculty and students.”
[Read Blossom’s initial letter to the community.]
Today, after closing the book on a year-long sabbatical adventure with husband Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992, a science teacher and director of the Outdoor Program at Thacher, and daughters Addie and Daisy, she finally steps into her new role.
That also means that Michael K. Mulligan, head of school since 1993, and Joy Sawyer-Mulligan, who has, at different times, chaired the English Department and served as director of admission and financial aid, will hit the trails after more than 30 years of devoted service to The Thacher School. For now, they are headed to their much-loved home in the Tetons, to catch their breath and envision what’s next.
At The Good Goodbye, a massive event to celebrate and give thanks to Michael and Joy, it was Blossom who was tasked with honoring and officially bidding farewell to Joy, her longtime friend and mentor. In saying goodbye, it seemed she was also saying her first hello as Thacher’s head of school:
An official investiture to mark Blossom’s transition into her new role will take place sometime during the fall board of trustees meeting on October 4-6. More details to come...may this be the best year yet!
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A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
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