Stories from the Ridge, The McCallie Podcast: Recent Episodes
McCallie School
Welcome to Stories from the Ridge, where we share stories from our alumni, faculty, and friends. We'll hear about a variety of topics all anchored in honor, truth, and duty and the special bond of brotherhood shared amongst the McCallie family.
History was brought to life this spring when McCallie sixthgraders participated in the school’s first “Human Library” day. The brainchild of Middle School English teacher Weesie Cook and Middle School Learning Center Director Kelcey Watson, the “Human Library” brought community leaders inmedicine, education, law, and race relations to campus to share their life stories with the students. In this episode of Stories From the Ridge, which was recorded in mid-May 2024, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 talks with Ms. Cook andMr. Watson about the program, its impact on students, and plans for future “Human Library” events. A news story about the “Human Library” can be read here.
Dr. Cleve Latham, one of McCallie’s most popular, beloved, and effective teachers and administrators, has retired after 50 years in the classroom. Head of School Lee Burns ‘87, who was one of Dr. Latham’s students, shares a heartfelt and moving godsend to Dr. Latham in this uplifting edition of Stories From tThe Ridge. A news story about Dr. Latham’s retirement celebration dinner can be found here,.
There’s excitement on the Ridge as several of the springathletic teams are aiming their sights at state championships. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics, sits down with head coaches of five of the spring teams to discuss their perspectiveon the upcoming season. This podcast was recorded on March 20, 2024, just as the season was beginning. Here’s the timeline breakdown: Track and Field, Coach Rodney Stoker, 7:38; Baseball, Coach Tim Costo, 14:25; Tennis, Coach Jeff Clark, 21:53; Soccer, Chris Cushenbery, 31:47; Lacrosse, Coach Eamon Thornton, 41:58.
The Emmett Till Story Part II: Elder Parker Visits McCallie School
The Rev. Wheeler Parker, the last surviving member of the family of Emmett Till, who was with Emmett when he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, visited McCallie School on March 13, 2024 to share his story as a first-hand witness to history. He came to campus as a guest speaker as part of the Mandela Fellow Endowed Fund, a fund established by alumni to enhance students’ understanding of what it means to be an agent of hope, reconciliation, and social justice. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, the Rev. Parker – or Elder Parker as he is known – is joined by his relative, Jason Walker, class of 1991, and a member of McCallie’s Board of Trustees, as well as history teacher Casey Cook class of 2013, and student Max Hood, class of 2027.
The earlier podcast about Emmett Till and McCallie School that is mentioned in this podcast can be found by searching for “The Emmett Till Story: American History and McCallie Connections” on McCallie’s web site: www.mccallie.org/podcast or on most major podcast platforms.
The Michaels-Dickson Scholars Program, which has transformed McCallie School’s boarding programs into one of the top such programs in the nation, celebrated its 25th anniversary in late February, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joinedby other top administrators – including two who were involved at the very beginning of the program -- and by a Trustee who was one of the two the first Michaels-Dickson Scholars. They reflect on the success and growth of the program over the past quarter century, and share their thoughts about the future. A full story on the Michaels-Dickson Scholars program can be found on McCallie’s website: www.mccallie.org/news.
For the first time in 31 years, McCallie’s Wrestling team haswon both the traditional State of Tennessee title, plus the State duals. And ontop of that, the team under Head Coach Jake Yost beat cross-town rival anddefending State champion Baylor for the first time in 19 years. In this editionof Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns sits down with Coach Yostand two of the senior wrestlers, Carson Gentle and James Cross to discuss theexciting wins and the hard work and mental discipline behind them. And theylook forward to the upcoming National Preps to be held in Pennsylvania. Thefull story of the team’s championship season can be found at: www.mccallie.org/news .
The college admissions process is in the midst of perhaps the most profound and impactful series of changes in several decades, and navigating these changes is becoming more challenging for students, parents, and counselors, according to Abbie Roberts, who in August assumed the role of Director of College Counseling at McCallie. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Ms. Roberts is joined by Head of School Lee Burns ’87, in discussing the changing and complicated college admissions landscape and how it affects McCallie students.
A dozen members of McCallie’s Men’sChorus will perform on what many consider to be the world’s most important stage – Carnegie Hall in New York on February 18, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 talks with Dr. James Harr '92, Director of Choral Programs, about the upcoming concert, which will feature choral groups from several schools and universities in the U.S. and abroad (including from McCallie’s sister school, GPS). The two also discussMcCallie’s choral music program as well as the whole fine arts program at McCallie.
Tickets to the Feb. 18 concert can be purchased at https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2024/02/18/dciny-and-bluegrass-0200pm
McCallie’s Tornado Term – T-Term for short – has become aspecial part of the school’s culture and an important way McCallie boys expand their learning experience beyond the traditional classroom. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joined by Upper School Principal Hank Hopping and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie in adiscussion of T-Term, its role and purpose in the school’s curriculum, and its growing popularity among students. Stories from faculty and students about two of the T-Term offerings also are included (note: the recordings of the students and teachers are from the 2023 T-Term). More details about T-Term can be found in the News section of McCallie’s website at www.mccallie.org/news.
Head of School Christmas Talk, Candlelight Chorus, andKemmer Anderson Christmas Poem
In this special edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head ofSchool Lee Burns ’87 shares the Christmas talk he gave on Dec. 6, 2023, to the student body, and we hear the McCallie/GPS chorus sing O Holy Night from the 2023 Candlelight concert. Finally, Martha Anderson, wife of longtime English teacher and poet Kemmer Anderson, who died earlier this year, reads oneof Kemmer’s popular Christmas poems. We hope you enjoy this special Christmas podcast, and may your Christmas be merry and holy.
The text of Mr. Burns’ talk can be found here and the 2023 Christmas video can be viewed here.
Winter Sports Preview
The winter athletic season is already underway and head coaches of the teams -- Basketball, Bowling, Climbing, Squash, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling -- are looking at one of the best seasons in McCallie's storied history of great seasons. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, the coaches are joined by Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, and Mark Wiedmer of Communications Staff, and talk about their teams and their approaches to coaching.
Ralph Potter and Lee Burns Discuss State Championship Game
For the first time in history, McCallie will face cross-townrival Baylor School for the State of Tennessee Division II-AAA football championship on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. As the excitement builds along the Ridge, Head Coach Ralph Potter ’81, sat down with Head of School Lee Burns ’87 on Monday, Nov. 27, in the Podcast Studio to talk about the game and Coach Potter’s coaching style, philosophy, and his perspectiveon competing for his fifth state title. For more details about Thursday’s game can be found on McCallie’s web site, www.mccallie.org.
McCallie’s Theater/Musical program is off to a great start for the 2023-24 school year, with its fallplays in both the Upper School and Middle School attracting record numbers of participantsand stand-room-only crowds. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, talks with Chelsea Padro, Director of Theater and Musicals, and Jared Eddy, Middle School Theater Instructor. Both are new to McCallie this year and they talk about their teaching/directing styles, their impressions of the talent in the student body, the enhanced McCallie/GPS partnership, and their plans for the remainder of the school year.
International Travel As Part of the McCallie Experience
International travel, especially mission and cultural tripsduring the summer, has long been an important part of McCallie’s curriculum. In this edition of Stories From the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie discuss the purpose of the travel program and hear from students and faculty who participated in several tripslast summer.
New Varsity Sports – Ultimate and Mountain Biking
McCallie’s varsity sports offerings have expanded by two. For the 2023-24 school year, Mountain Biking and Ultimate (formerly referred to as Ultimate Frisbee) have joined the list of 17 varsity sports. In this podcast, Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics, Special Assistant to the Head of School, talks to Jake Altemus, coach of the Ultimate team, and Jesse Teague ’00, coach of the Mountain Biking team.
The Coach and the Bear
For more than 40 years, Gordon Connell, McCallie’s longtimehead wrestling coach and Middle School science teacher, has regaled students with the story of how he, as a young man, once wrestled a bear. Now, with all the legendary embellishments and humor – and with some good-natured ribbing from Head of School Lee Burns ’87, Coach Connell shares the story on thispodcast.
Two Alumni Share their Stories -- Two prominent McCallie alumni -- Sam Balloff '41 -- who just turned 100 -- and Don Welch '58, share wonderful stories about their lives and their days on the Ridge. For more expanded versions of these interviews, visit McCallie's podcast page: www.mccallie.org/podcast
The 2023 fall sports season at McCallie is already underway and willget in full swing in early September with several of the varsity teams setting their sights on championship trophies. In this episode of Stories From theRidge, Mark Wiedmer '76 of the Communications Department is joined by Kenny Sholl in his new position of Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, as they talk with Football Coach Ralph Potter, Cross Country Coach Mike Wood, Golf Coach Rob Riddle, and Crew Coach Sean McCourt as they share their expectations and some of their coaching philosophies.
Head of School Lee Burns ’87 welcomes 977 students to the 119th school year at McCallie School.
Audrey Smith, who, as Director of Events – or as she calls it, Director of Fun – has worked with hundreds of alumni and friends of McCallie on events such as Reunion Weekends and class gatherings, has retired. Her last day at McCallie was June 30, but before leaving campus, she sat down in the podcast studio and talked about her career on the Ridge. Joined by Steve Hearn '74, Vice President of Advancement, Smith shares stories and her perspective on her job.
In the podcast, Smith and Hearn are joined by Chair of the Board of Trustees Gary Welch '87 and Nick Wilkinson '96 who have worked closely with Smith on special events.
Two of McCallie’s most prominent and respected administrators have announced that they will be transitioning to other posts for the 2023-24 school year. Kenny Sholl, who presently serves as Assistant to the Head of School, and Steve Hearn ‘74, Vice President for Advancement, have announced that they will step down from those positions at the end of this school year. Mr. Sholl will become Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, and Mr. Hearn will become a traveling ambassador for McCallie, visiting alumni and friends of the school, keeping them informed and connected to McCallie.
Although the two will still have important administrative roles, their transitions from their present jobs have given them – and Head of School Lee Burns ’87 – an opportunity to reflect on their storied careers at McCallie and to look ahead at the future they have set for themselves and their school.
That’s the theme of an uplifting conversation among the three – the latest edition of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series.
The podcast features a lot of genuine reflection on the character and soul of McCallie students and alumni, plus a fair amount of good-natured ribbing among the three colleagues, showing their friendship and comradery.
As access to new artificial intelligence (AI) programs, such as ChatGPT, make their way into the academic arena, many educators, especially those in middle and high schools, are becoming concerned about AI’s dangers to student learning and the threat of plagiarism. But McCallie School sees many positive benefits to the program for both students and teachers. That’s one of the many insights on the rise of AI programs that the school’s administrators discuss in the latest edition of Stories from the Ridge, McCallie’s podcast series.
In this podcast, Head of School Lee Burns '87, Upper School Principal Hank Hopping and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie each offer their views on how AI can be a valuable resource for students and faculty, helping them expand and refine the learning experience. However, they also make it clear that lines must be drawn so that students and parents understand the appropriate uses of AI.
With a legacy of state and regional championships to live up to, McCallie’s 2023 spring athletic season is promising to be one of the best in many years. That’s the predictions of the coaches who will lead six varsity teams this season.
In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, the coaches – Mike Wood of Track and Field, Tim Costo of Baseball, Sean McCourt of Crew (Rowing), Eamon Thornton ’02, Lacrosse, Chris Cushenbery of Soccer, and Jeff Clark ’91, Tennis – discuss their upcoming seasons, their coaching philosophies, and share some thoughts on championship rings, after-game meals, and other insider details. The discussions are hosted by Mark Weidmer ’76, of McCallie’s Marketing and Communications Office.
For those seeking specific sports, the following is a rough timeline:
Mike Wood, Track and Field: 2:22
Jeff Clark, Tennis: 11:32
Tim Costo, Baseball: 20:22
Eamon Thornton, Lacrosse: 29:42
Chris Cushenbery, Soccer: 42:28
Sean McCourt, Rowing: 57:06
In the 1990s, at the 90th birthday party for Chalmers MacIllwaine ’21, a group of McCallie boarding alumni who had returned to Chattanooga as graduates to live and raise their families, started an informal gathering, which they called Boomerang Boarders. The group has grown to more than 100, and continues to gather on campus to catch up with each other, renew friendships, and welcome new Boomerangers.
In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, four of those Boomerang Boarders, Henry Hennegar ’57, Drew Read ’89, John Ashe ’91, and Peterson Hostetler ’02, share their stories about the Boomerangers and recall life as boarders in their various decades. They are joined by Steve Hearn ‘74, Vice President for Advancement.
McCallie's Dr Pepper Classic, now in its eighth year, has quickly become a wintertime tradition on campus and part of the school’s unique culture. In this podcast, former Head Basketball coach John Shulman discusses the history of the showcase and shares some of his favorite stories. He is joined by Audrey Smith, Director of Events, who has helped bring all the hundreds of pieces of the event together into a fun-filled weekend for players and spectators alike, and Mark Wiedmer, a member of McCallie’s Communications Department, who as a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press has written extensively about the event and the participants who have now moved on to NBA and elite college careers. More information about the Classic can be found here.
The changing role of men in today’s culture and how boys and men adjust to the challenges it presents is the topic of the latest edition of McCallie School’s podcast, Stories From The Ridge.
In this informative discussion, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, is joined by David Thomas, Director of Family Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, and Glenn Breazeale, Director of Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, Alabama, to discuss the issues boys and men are facing in the post-COVID world. They continue the conversation begun in a December 2022, podcast with Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institute, discussing his new book, “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to do About it.”
As Mr. Burns explains, the discussion with Dr. Reeves was the “30,000-foot view” of issues facing boys and men, and this latest discussion is from the ground-level. “These gentlemen have daily experiences dealing with boys and how they are struggling with – and yes, overcoming – the challenges of today’s world."
The winter sports season at McCallie is already underway and will get in full swing in early January with several of the six varsity teams setting their sights on championship trophies. In this episode of Stories From the Ridge, Mark Wiedmer '76 of the Communications Department talks with the six varsity coaches about the winter season. They share their expectations and some of their coaching philosophies.
When McCallie student Jonathan Manta ’23 began working on a history project on the 1954 murder of Emmitt Till last spring, he discovered how McCallie School “connections” can literally bring history to life. That’s the topic of this moving podcast discussion of how McCallie alumnus Jason Walker ’92, arranged an interview for Jonathan with Mr. Walker’s father-in-law, who was Emmitt Till’s cousin, neighbor and close friend. The podcast features Jonathan, Mr. Walker, and McCallie History teacher Dr. Duke Richey ’86 discussing details of the tragic murder of 14-year-old Emmitt Till, as well as details of how Jonathan’s award-winning history project was developed.
Not only is he the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is recognized as one of the nation’s top neurologists, Dr. Jay Wellons, a 1987 graduate of McCallie, is now a best-selling author.
His book, All that Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, And Their Stories of Grace and Resilience, was released to positive reviews and strong sales this fall.
In November, Dr. Wellons visited McCallie for the first time in several years, meeting students in English and Science classes as well as speaking in Chapel. He also took time to record a podcast with his fellow ’87 classmate, Head of School Lee Burns. The two talk about Dr. Wellons’ two careers as a surgeon and a writer and about how much Christian Grace has played in those careers.
The podcast is the latest episode of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series.
Also, Dr. Wellons’ Chapel talk can be viewed here and a news story on his visit to campus can be read here.
Dr. Wellons’ book, All that Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, And Their Stories of Grace and Resilience, published by Random House, is available from all major booksellers.
Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About It, by Dr. Richard Reeves, was released earlier this fall to strong positive reviews. New York Times Columnist David Brooks said the book “is a landmark, one of the most important books of the year, not only because it is a comprehensive look at the male crisis, but also because it searches for the roots of that crisis and offers solutions.”
Dr. Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, discusses the book and some of his recommendations in the latest edition of McCallie’s “Stories from the Ridge” podcast series.
Head of School Lee Burns '87 is joined by former McCallie administrator, Troy Kemp, who is now an administrator at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, in discussing issues facing boys and men in today’s world. The informative discussion ranges from how boys learn and how their minds develop to questions of “toxic masculinity,” the changing role of fatherhood, and why there is a dearth of academic research into issues of males and maleness.
David Magee, author of the national bestseller memoir Dear William, a nationally recognized motivational speaker and parent of two McCallie alumni, returned to campus in late October to speak to students and parents. His presentations recounted the death of William, class of 2008, to drugs, his other son, Hudson’s (class of 2010) struggles and recovery, and his family’s establishment of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi.
During his visit to McCallie and GPS, Mr. Magee sat down in McCallie’s podcast studio with Head of School Lee Burns ’87 and Director of Counseling Joel Coffman to discuss the death of his son and his family’s steps toward recovery and helping others who are struggling with addiction. His powerful story is now available as the latest edition of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series.
Trey Tucker '98, Associate Director of Counseling and English Teacher, recently surpassed one million followers on his TikTok account in which he provides short inspirational guidance on improving one's mental health and well-being.
In the latest edition of our Stories From the Ridge podcast, Mr. Tucker discusses with Upper School Principal Hank Hopping how he has used a social media site that often is criticized as a platform for well-being and growth. He also has branched out into Instagram and YouTube. In this discussion, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Hopping also discuss McCallie's counseling program and how students are coping with the stresses of the post-COVID school experience.
The podcast can be heard below or by searching for "McCallie Stories from the Ridge" on most podcast platforms.
Links for Mr. Tucker's social media accounts are:
TikTok
YouTube
In this podcast, Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, who administers the summer travel grant program, talks with three faculty members about their travel experiences last summer. Adam Tolar '96, Michael McCallie, and Will Givens share some wonderful stories, but more importantly, they share how the summer travel grants enabled them to return to the classroom this fall with new ideas and new inspirations.
The fall sports season is already shaping up as a strong one as two teams, football and cross country, are trying for record four-in-a-row state championships, and the other two, golf and rowing are promising strong, competitive seasons.
Coaches from the four fall sports recently sat down with Mark Wiedmer ’76, a new member of McCallie’s Communications staff, to discuss the upcoming season. Head Football Coach Ralph Potter '81, Cross Country Coach Mike Wood, Golf Coach Rob Riddle, and Assistant Rowing Coach Paul Marrion, share their perspectives on the season, which is already underway, and recall some past teams as well. And they share their coaching philosophies, as well as which restaurants the students like to visit after a victory.
Recent graduates David Dalton '22 and Rowdy Stephens '22 talk with Skip Brock '68 about their shared passion for cars and racing. The discussion is hosted by the Director of Digital Communications Deanna Luna, of McCallie's Communications and Marketing Department.
In August 2021, David and Rowdy expressed an interest in re-restarting a car club at McCallie, and serendipitously, alumnus and Board of Trustees member Skip Brock had expressed an interest in working with students on building a race car. Thus began a year-long collaboration. In the episode, the students discuss their process for building the car, including meticulously documenting each step, as well as their first foray into taking the car for a spin on a track.
In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, talks with two of McCallie’s most respected teachers, Chet LeSourd ’72 and Bob Bires. Mr. LeSourd will retire at the end of May after 43 years on the Ridge, and Mr. Bires retired two years during the first phase of the COVID pandemic when the school was in lockdown and it was impossible to give him a proper send-off.
Prior to recording the podcast on May 16, 2022, Mr. LeSourd gave his final Upper School Chapel talk as a member of the faculty, an event attended by many former teachers who worked with Mr. LeSourd over the years. A video of that Chapel talk can be viewed here.
The latest edition of Stories from the Ridge features the new Head of School at GPS, Megan Cover, in a conversation with McCallie’s Head of School Lee Burns ’87. The two discuss the special relationship of McCallie and GPS and share ideas for enhancing some coordinate programs in the future. And Ms. Cover shares with the McCallie community the story of her professional career, from a French/German teacher in Philadelphia to the head of one of the nation’s top girls’ schools.
With the varsity baseball stadium being named the Kenny Sholl Stadium, and the dugouts being named for Hank Hopping and Bill Eiselstein, the three titans of McCallie baseball sat down on a recent spring afternoon as the baseball team was practicing and shared their thoughts and stories about baseball at McCallie. Steve Hearn ’74, Vice President of Advancement, hosts the discussion, which is full of laughs and wonderful memories.
Ranked as the top high school team in the nation, McCallie’s Blue Tornado Tennis Team is off to a great start this year. Head of School Lee Burns ’87 and Varsity Tennis Coach Jeff Clark ’91 recently sat down to discuss the number one ranking and the team’s prospects, and that lively, informative discussion is available in the latest edition of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series. The two, who were both top-level tennis players at McCallie to discuss the 2022 team, its season so far and the prospects for the remainder of the season, and they recall other great McCallie tennis teams (such as the top-ranked 1977 team) as well as their own tennis careers.
The podcast was recorded on March 23, 2022.
McCallie School is a place in which boys are comfortable, and one of the duties of teachers is to make them uncomfortable. That is what creates learning and growth, and it is something done with care and intention. That’s one of the many observations about McCallie’s academic program made on a podcast featuring three top administrators – Head of School Lee Burns ’87, Assistant Head of School Kenny Sholl, and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie – that discusses the school’s faculty and academic program.
The informative and entertaining discussion of the academic program is the conclusion of a series of podcasts that examine McCallie’s eight academic departments. (Those podcasts can be found below.) Mr. Burns, Mr. Sholl, and Mr. McCallie discuss the departmental podcasts, play short clips, and tie them into the objectives and practices of teachers on the Ridge. They discuss how the curriculum and the teaching styles of faculty members are balanced between the strong traditions of McCallie and the changing global environment in which McCallie boys will enter as adults.
Here are the 14 Habits of Mind, as discussed in the podcast.
McCallie’s innovative Tornado Term, which allows Upper School students to take a deep dive into special interests or topics over a two-week period every January, has become one of the most popular parts of the school’s curriculum. In the latest episode of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series, that topic is discussed, especially the most recent T-Term (as it is informally called).
In the podcast, Chris Carpenter ’96, Dean of Student Academics, who oversees the T-Term program, discusses the concept and implementation of T-Term with Spanish Teacher Chip Arnold ’90, who leads a T-Term course on Southern rock music, and students Joseph Mason ’22, who served an internship in cybersecurity, and Harry Carter ’24, who participated in the Horsemanship class.
Stevie Ray Dallimore, Director of Theater at McCallie, will head to New York in the next few days where he will be the understudy for actor Daniel Craig in the upcoming Broadway production of Macbeth, directed by Sam Gold.
In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Mr. Dallimore discusses his role as understudy, what it entails, and how he got the offer. He also reflects on his nine years leading McCallie’s theater department and how that experience has helped him as an actor. He plans to return to the Ridge once the show ends its 15-week run.
The many and varied music offerings, from the pep band to private vocal lessons, is the topic of the latest in a series of podcasts examining McCallie’s academic departments. Michael Ake, Chair of the Music Department sits down with Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, to discuss the various offerings and objectives of the department. Mr. Ake uses the annual Christmas performance known as Candlelight to highlight the many aspects of the Music Department, and how practice, practice, practice, results in outstanding performances by groups as varied as handbells, the McCallie/GPS Chorus, and classical guitars.
Classes that are fun, flexible and filled with humility is the objective of McCallie’s History Department, say three of the school’s history teachers in the latest podcast series that examines McCallie’s academic disciplines. The podcast is part of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge growing podcast series and can be found by searching for “McCallie Stories from the Ridge” on major podcast platforms. In the podcast, the teachers let us in on some of their professional secrets they use to keep students engaged. Joining Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie for the timely discussion are Department Chair Randy Odle, Dr. Duke Richey '86, and Bart Wallin '99.
McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series that has focused on the academic disciplines continues with a look at the Fine Arts Department. Three of the school’s arts teachers discuss how arts are taught at McCallie, how creativity is nurtured, and how arts are used as a springboard for self-discovery and problem solving for McCallie boys.
The podcast, featuring Department Chair Paul Merrion and teachers Suzanne Mortimer and Will Givens, is hosted by Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie.
Math at McCallie is not an exercise in learning numbers and equations, but instead, it is “a philosophy, a practice of logic” and a “way to think.” And it is fun. That’s the message of four of McCallie’s math teachers as they discuss their academic discipline in the latest edition of McCallie’s podcast series examining the various academic departments at the school.
Hosted by Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie, this podcast features Department Chair Rob Lyons and teachers Cary Hubbard, Andrea Odle and Byron McCague.
As the McCallie community prepares for the Blue Tornado football team’s game Thursday, December 2, for the state championship, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 sits down with Coach Ralph Potter ’81 to discuss the upcoming game, the legacy of football at McCallie, and the prospects for the game against Montgomery Bell Academy. Coach Potter shares his coaching philosophy, and the two stress the importance of the McCallie community cheering the team on as they play for the championship in Chattanooga’s Finley stadium.
A new book (his fourth) by Dr. David Eastman, the Sherril Chair of Bible and head of the Bible Department, is the topic of the latest in a series of podcasts examining the various academic departments of McCallie. In this episode, Dr. Eastman is joined by Dr. Sal Musumeci, one of McCallie’s history teachers, as well as Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, in a discussion of the book, North African Christianity, Turning Points in the Development of the Church. They also talk about the Bible Department, how McCallie teaches Biblical subjects to students of many different faiths, and why teaching about religion, faith, and ethics is an important part of McCallie’s pedagogical philosophy.
This is the fourth in a series of podcasts examining the academic departments at McCallie. Other podcasts in this series will be posted throughout the remainder of 2021.
McCallie’s goal is for students to not simply “learn” a second or third language, but to “acquire” it, and by doing so to understand the cultures and personal perspectives of people in other parts of the world. That’s one of the themes touched on in a podcast discussion among four language teachers at McCallie. The discussion is part of McCallie’s Stories from the Ridge podcast series on academic departments.
The latest podcast features Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie talking with the language teachers about their teaching methods and the importance of language proficiency in today’s global world. Joining Mr. McCallie are Frank Watkins, Spanish teacher and chair of the department, Paul Cudd, German teacher, Jason Jones, Latin teacher, and Carson Murphy, Chinese teacher.
The way in which McCallie students learn to write and to appreciate and understand literature has changed over the years, but the objectives remain the same. That’s the message of three of McCallie’s English teachers in this wide-ranging discussion of many themes related to how English is taught.
The discussion is hosted by Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, and features Sam Currin ’03, Chair of the Department who is in his 11th year at McCallie, Erin Tocknell, in her 14th year and who teaches sophomore-level courses, and legendary teacher Bill Jamieson, in his 40th year teaching eighth graders.
An earlier a podcast featuring the science Department can be found here. Over the next two months, all other academic departments will be featured in this series.
Collaboration, moving around, not expecting teachers to know all the answers, even learning to appreciate failure ... those are some of the characteristics of new methods of teaching science that members of McCallie’s Science Department are using to educate a new generation of scientists and citizens. And they are topics that are discussed in this edition of McCallie’s Stories From the Ridge podcast series.
The Science Department podcast is hosted by Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, and features Michael Lowry, in his 28th year on the Ridge, and who serves as department chair, Dr. Karah Nazor, in her 10th year, and Matt Allen, in his third year. It includes lively discussions of how and why science is taught in both the Upper and Middle Schools and conveys the passion that the teachers bring to their profession.
This is the first of several podcasts featuring the academic departments at McCallie. Other podcasts will be released throughout the fall of 2021.
Squash, McCallie’s newest varsity sport, is the topic of this edition of Stories from the Ridge. Head of School Lee Burns ’87 introduces the new head varsity squash coach, Dan Sharplin, who discusses his reasons for coming to Chattanooga to lead this growing part of the school’s athletic offerings. Mr. Sharplin, who comes to the Ridge via his native New Zealand and Boston, shares his vision for McCallie’s squash program and how he sees it as a way to introduce squash to other high schools in the Southeast. He and Mr. Burns also share their vision for a squash facility on McCallie’s campus (the squash currently uses a club squash facility in Downtown Chattanooga).
For the many McCallie alumni and friends who are unfamiliar with squash, Mr. Sharplin gives a brief explanation on how it is played.
In this podcast, leaders of The Ed Johnson Project, along with a McCallie history teacher, discuss the story of Ed Johnson, who was lynched on Chattanooga’s Walnut Street Bridge more than a century ago, and the five-year effort by community volunteers that has resulted in a memorial being placed near the bridge to commemorate Mr. Johnson and the attorneys who defended him.
The podcast also discusses the role the Rev. T.H. McCallie, one of the founders of McCallie, played in trying to prevent the lynching and how he offered shelter on the school’s campus to one of the attorney’s families. And it discusses how McCallie history teachers use the Ed Johnson story to inspire McCallie students to be responsible citizens in their communities.
Participating in the podcast are:
Donivan Brown, president of the Ed Johnson Project;
Eleanor McCallie Cooper, great-granddaughter of the Rev. T.H. McCallie, and a member of the Ed Johnson Project;
Mel Cooper, former McCallie Vice President of Development, and a member of the Ed Johnson Project;
Bart Wallin ’99, who, with David Levitt ’94, teaches the Ed Johnson story as part of their 8th-grade history classes.
Links mentioned in the podcast:
The to documentary video on Ed Johnson by Linda Duvoisin: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1730677540326112
PDF of anti-lynching sermon delivered in 1883 by the Rev. Dr. T.H. McCallie (courtesy of Eleanor McCallie Cooper): https://www.mccallie.org/fs/resource-manager/view/05341ae6-0c51-44d0-86e4-52b7c148c9de
The Ed Johnson Project website, with a schedule of events for the weekend of the memorial dedication: https://www.edjohnsonproject.com/
The book, Contempt of Court: The Turn-of-the-Century Lynching that Launched 100 Years of Federalism by Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips Jr., published 1999 by Faber and Faber, Inc., New York, available through most booksellers.
For the past eight years, students in Dr. Duke Richey’s Advanced Placement U.S. History classes have been collecting stories from family members, friends, and acquaintances about the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. To mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks, the students have launched a website that will be updated weekly throughout the year. That website can be found here: https://www.mccallie.org/911project
Four of those students sat down with Dr. Richey to discuss the project and share their perspectives of the tragic attacks on America. The students are Vihaal Vellanki '22, a boarder from Minnetonka, Minn., Luke Gilbert '22, a boarder from Charlotte, N.C., and Nathan Smartt '22, a boarder from Austin, Texas. In addition, Nelson Eiselstein, a 2016 graduate of McCallie who participated in the project when he was a student, joined the discussion. Mr. Eiselstein now teaches math at McCallie.
Former McCallie teacher Darren Moorman is receiving worldwide acclaim for the latest movie he produced, Blue Miracle, starring Dennis Quaid, and now streaming on Netflix. Mr. Moorman, who taught Bible in the early 1990s under the guidance of John Strang, left the Ridge in the late 90s for Hollywood, where he gained fame as an actor before becoming a successful movie producer, concentrating on faith-based topics.
In June, Mr. Moorman visited McCallie and hammed it up with his old friend John Marcellis ’85, Director of Weekend Activities, talking about their time on campus and Mr. Moorman’s early ventures (at times with Mr. Marcellis in tow) into acting and producing, and about Mr. Moorman’s latest accomplishments, including the highly acclaimed Blue Miracle movie. The two were joined by Steve Hearn ’87, Vice President of Advancement.
That’s the sound being heard more across campus often as student anticipation grows for the annual Duck Day, in which students are dismissed from classes to enjoy the campus, the formal opening of the Lake, organized games, and just generally enjoying the springtime.
Duck Day, along with another McCallie springtime tradition, the senior prank, are the topics of this edition of Stories from the Ridge. In early April 2021, Assistant Head of School Kenny Sholl sat in the Quadrangle with Upper School Principal Hank Hopping, Vice President of Advancement Steve Hearn ’74, and Dean of Admission Jim Daughdrill ’05 to share stories and laughs about Duck Day and senior pranks over the years.
If you have a Duck Day or senior prank story you would like to share, please let us know. We’ll even try to record as many as possible (provided they are fit for a general audience) for a follow-up podcast. All you need to do is give us a call at 423-493-5019, and when prompted, simply record your message, being sure to give your name, class year, and a phone number where we can reach you. Or, if you prefer, simply send us a note at info@mccallie.org and we’ll contact you to arrange a time to record your story.
We’ll save all the stories in our archives and possibly will gather some for a follow-up podcast.
But remember: our attorneys tell us that the statute of limitations does not apply to senior pranks, so you might be required to return to campus to face the Disciplinary Committee. 😉
How have boys – specifically McCallie boys – fared during the COVID pandemic and all the social and educational changes that have occurred over the past year? Five McCallie teachers and administrators sat down recently to talk about that question, and the discussion was surprisingly upbeat – and it led to a broader discussion of how McCallie boys have changed over the past couple of decades. Boys, they concluded, are resilient, adaptive, and appreciative. They’ve learned to grow in adversity, and have become nicer . . . and taller. Joining Head of School Lee Burns ’87 and Assistant Head of School Kenny Sholl in this enlightening conversation are English teacher, coach and former dorm head Chet LeSourd ’72, Learning Center Director and science teacher Suzie Howick, and Upper School chaplain, counselor, and coach the Rev. Josh Deitrick.
The “super-formative” high school years are challenging to all teenagers, but for those who are also recognizing an emerging identity of being gay or bisexual, the anxiety can be significantly increased. During a Zoom webinar with faculty and staff in late February 2021, Alumni Alex Hostetler ’09, of New York, Boyd Jackson ‘09 and Scott Woods ’02, both of Washington, discussed their experiences of being gay at McCallie. They shared their struggles to reconcile their sexual identity with their religious faiths, their families, their fellow McCallie students, and their teachers. This panel discussion was part of McCallie’s “Belonging at McCallie” initiative which is designed to ensure that all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, can experience and participate in the fullness of the McCallie brotherhood. They also offer advice to current students on how to live full, happy, and successful lives at McCallie and beyond.
McCallie School has made a lot of progress in fully embracing and including its students of color, but more work remains. That’s one of the assessments delivered by three members of the school’s newly formed Black Alumni Steering Committee who joined Head of School Lee Burns ’87 for a conversation about the school’s Moving Forward Together As Brothers initiative. The alumni – Johnny Graham ‘95, Charles Green ‘06, and Keenan Hale ‘11 – provide focused perspectives on the issues facing the school. The alumni also speak with pride about the new mentoring program that they all participate in which pairs Black alumni with McCallie students. Also included in this podcast is a short segment of an interview of David Chatman ’75, who was the first Black student to enroll and graduate from McCallie.
“I would say there’s no school in the country that has had a musical history that McCallie has had . . . as far as having all these great performers come to campus,” says John Marcellis ’85, Director of Weekend Activities at McCallie. Steve Hearn ’74, Vice President of Advancement, agrees: “When you think about great music venues, places where great musical acts come together, . . . people don’t think of an independent school on Missionary Ridge being such a place where great acts perform. It is pretty amazing when you can go from the Dismembered Tennesseans to Luke Bryan and all the great acts in between.” Mr. Hearn and Mr. Marcellis recently sat down with another longtime faculty member, Dr. Duke Richey ’86, to discuss McCallie’s star-filled history of musical performances, from the early days of big-band dances to the legendary Otis Redding, to more recent performances from of Luke Bryan and George Clinton and the P-funk All-Stars. They share stories, have a lot of laughs, and appreciate “all the stars that glitter all the way” through McCallie’s history.
Heads of three of the nation’s top independent schools – Lee Burns, of McCallie School, Kate Windsor, of Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, and Greg O’Melia, of The Buckley School in New York City, discuss the challenges they face as they lead their schools through a period of social and political unrest -- as well as a pandemic that forced the closing of their campuses. They share their insights into how school heads must continuously work to express the mission, values, and traditions of their schools while at the same time adjusting to the realities and demands of the modern world.
That seems to be one of the major societal questions today for parents of teenage boys, and it is a question that McCallie teachers and counselors get asked frequently by parents. In this podcast, Headmaster Lee Burns '87 talks with Upper School Counselor Will Honeycutt and Middle School Principal Scotty Jones about this question and other questions that it spawns: how to set limits, how to have difficult conversations, how to “enter into their gaming world,” and how to find moderation and balance.
The late Senator Howard Baker Jr. '43 would tell current Senators to “listen eloquently,” during the upcoming Senate trial of President Trump, Pulitizer Prize historian Jon Meacham '87 says in this timely discussion of Senator Baker. “Baker once said, ‘One of the keys to life is to listen eloquently . . . because it is just possible that the other guy might have something to offer,” Mr. Meacham said. In this discussion, he joins Dr. Duke Richey '86, Senator Howard Baker Jr. Chair of American History at McCallie, and McCallie Headmaster Lee Burns '87. They offer compelling insight into Senator Baker’s role in the Watergate hearings and speculate on what advice Senator Baker would offer Senators today.
Developing a whole new generation of eaters for MoonPie, a nostalgic snack treat from Chattanooga Bakery, is a challenge shared by Dooley Tombras ‘00, President of The Tombras Group and Tory Johnston ‘83, Vice President of Marketing for Chattanooga Bakery. In this podcast they share the storied success of the “Out of This World” marketing campaign that has received national attention with Steve Hearn ‘74, McCallie Vice President for Advancement. Wacky and weird social media, as well as no-permission-needed pop culture sponsorships and memes, have resulted in record-breaking sales for MoonPies and national recognition for The Tombras Group’s branding approach. Dooley and Tory reflect upon the success factors they gained from McCallie as well as the immediate trust in their working relationship born from their common McCallie bond and values. Anyone interested in creating more customer engagement, learning relevant social media strategies, or getting an inside look at a favorite snack treat will enjoy this podcast.
James Harr '92, McCallie's director of choral programs, talks with former McCallie Music Department Chair Lew Cisto about Candlelight — McCallie's musical celebration of Christmas and the holiday season. McCallie will be celebrating 35 years of Candlelight in 2019 with performances December 6 and 7 in the McCallie Chapel. Lew and James discuss the origins of Candlelight and how it helped spark the growth of the McCallie music program over the next three decades.
Matthew Merritt is a senior boarding student and a member of the Class of 2020, and he is passionate about history and environmental issues. Listen in as Matthew hosts a conversation about Chattanooga's industrial history and efforts to clean up in recent years with alumni Allen McCallie '73 and Rick Montague '64, board members with the Southern Environmental Law Center.
After earning his degree from George Washington University and working as a teacher for Teach for America, Hardy Farrow, a member of the class of 2009, founded the Let’s Innovate through Education program in Memphis. LITE helps Memphis-area minority and low-income students identify their skills and improve their city through entrepreneurial opportunities. Hardy’s work with LITE resulted in his being named to the Forbes magazine 30 Under 30 list in 2017. In this episode, Hardy speaks with Ricky Thomas, McCallie’s Dean of Community and Brotherhood, as they discuss what it takes to help students from all backgrounds learn and succeed.
Sam Sims was a day student at McCallie and a member of the Class of 1980. He began performing music at McCallie and as a student at Morehouse College before making the move to build a career in music. Sam has performed for over 20 years with major artists such as Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, the Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson, Boney James, George Duke and many more. In this episode, Sam and McCallie Director or Instrumental Music Brent Alverson discuss what it takes to build a career in music as well as Sam’s memories of making music at McCallie and throughout his career.
Patrick Sholl, member of the Class of 2004, and John Brock, member of the class of 2009 were both part of the Blue Tornado’s epic 11-game winning streak over Baylor, and they will share their memories of that amazing run of success playing for coach Ralph Potter in a conversation with Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Three members of the Class of 1984, John Green, Peter Hunt and Greg McGuire recall one of best Blue Tornado teams ever to take the field for legendary coach Pete Potter, in a fun conversation with Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
The McCallie-Baylor football game is a rivalry with more than a century of history and the highlight of Reunion weekend each fall.
In this episode we feature alumni Mark Brock, Ellis Gardner and George Robinson, three former football players from the Class of 1979 as they share their memories of Blue Tornado football and stories from this big rivalry.
Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, leads this conversation as these men recall the fun, tradition and lessons learned playing football on the Ridge.
McCallie School Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie talks with his uncle, former Headmaster Spencer McCallie III '55, about his time leading McCallie and his memories of life on the Ridge.
Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie and Librarian Margaret Wadley discuss the 2019 Summer Reading program for McCallie students. Sumner and Margaret put particular emphasis on the all-Middle School book, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba, and the Upper-School book, "Educated: A Memoir"by Tara Westover.
2019 Graduate Jesse Felker is joined by Middle School Principal Scotty Jones as they talk music education, performance, and even play a little music for us.
Join Emory University history professor and author Joseph Crespino '90 and McCallie English teacher Bill Jamieson as they discuss Atticus FInch, the topic of Crespino's book "Atticus Finch: The Biography" about Harper Lee's famous character from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Go Set a Watchman."
McCallie's own Caldwell Chair of Christian Ethics, Jim Suddath, talks with Senior (and student broadcaster) Patrick Warren about his time playing basketball at Duke University. Jim played (and scored in) a Final Four and a Championship game, and was part of Coach K's first team at Duke. Get in the March Madness spirit by listening to Jim and Patrick's conversation - complete with some NCAA Tournament predictions!
Join McCallie Director of College Counseling Jeff Kurtzman as he talks with Georgia Tech Director of Undergraduate Admission (and former McCallie Admissions team member) Rick Clark. Together, they'll talk about how to successfully navigate college admissions - sharing some truths and debunking some myths.
National Center for the Development of Boys Executive Director Troy Kemp and NCDB board member Alison Lebovitz discuss the importance of teaching empathy to teenage boys and the ways that the NCDB is working to spread that message.
Join Civil War history buffs Assistant Headmaster Kenny Sholl and Research Coordinator Patrice Glass as they talk about The Battle of Missionary Ridge and how the historic events that happened on McCallie's campus helped shape the lives young men - from 1863 until today.
Upper School Chaplain Josh Deitrick and Director of Counseling Joel Coffman discuss wellness and the ways that the Counseling Center at McCallie approaches wellness with our students and faculty.
Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie and Sen. Howard Baker '43 Chair of American History Dr. Duke Richey '86 discuss teaching history through examining character, using 1917 McCallie alumnus Ralph McGill as an example. Hear from Dr. Richey about teaching AP US History at McCallie. Many thanks to the Landon Lecture Series at Kansas State University for the use of the recording of Ralph McGill from the 1967 lecture he gave as part of the series. For more information about the Landon Lecture Series, please visit https://www.k-state.edu/landon/.
Headmaster Lee Burns '87 interviews his classmate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham in a conversation about McCallie and what's next for Jon.