Acting as much more than just a lower school director, Mrs. Sue Thomas created an environment in the Saint Stephen’s Lower School during her 30+ years of constant generosity and love, leaving behind a legacy and a huge space to fill. But new leadership has taken place, and Mrs. Jennifer Helbing is ready to continue bringing the same energy and enthusiasm to the Lower School. While Mrs. Thomas’s adoration of cats and warm smile will be deeply missed, we all should be excited for what Mrs. Helbing has to offer.

The general consensus of past and present student bodies has been that Mrs.Thomas’s aura of kindness followed them throughout their entire Lower School experience and even after, one could always expect a nice “hello” upon every meeting. A role model for students and teachers alike, Mrs. Thomas saw the best in everyone and every situation and came out of it with smiles all around. This quality of the infectious smile was one of the myriad of reasons for her 30+ successful years here at Saint Stephen’s as both a teacher and a director.

Second grade teacher Mrs. Jean Hamilton had known Mrs. Thomas for the majority of her time here. Hamilton said, “she was always positive and had a wonderful way of teaching faculty and children with respect and sincere kindness.”

Her love certainly touched the hearts of all in both a caring way and because of her humorous outlook on challenges or mishaps. Despite daily trials like crying over spilled milk or losing the class pet hamster, she combated each Lower School challenge with humor and love. One of her finest qualities was that she was a constant for her lower school. Any tummy ache or bad day lower schoolers endured, Mrs. Thomas was always one to help me through it. Whether it was Falcon Friend Events, IQ week, or fun projects in class, she was always the first to help all ages.

Mrs. Amos, yet another teacher and long time friend of Mrs. Thomas, comments on some of the fun lower school activities the two of them would do together: “I remember showing her how to make sombreros out of huge sheets of paper and tape, being picked up in a cardboard  “jeep” to go on an African safari, and later as a Lower School Director, seeking her guidance and support.”

While we may have lost a great director in Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Helbing brings a rejuvenated spirit, ready face new challenges, and attack the new opportunities. Mrs. Helbing’s arrival first right into the school’s theme of #change and she has worked herself seamlessly into our school’s system. Her counterpart in the Intermediate School, Director Sallie Ivin, commented on how much “her kind, caring, and warm personality has been well received by students and parents alike.”

Mrs. Thomas has now moved on from Bradenton, FL, and is now living the northern life in North Conway, NH, and running a small Montessori school. She is now able to live near her family again, Mrs. Ivin reports, “she moved into a condo overlooking the most beautiful mountains ever. She sounded incredibly happy!”

Saying goodbyes are always tough, especially with the loss of someone as vital to our school’s history as Mrs. Thomas.

As Mrs. Amos quoted, “Her departing gift to each member of the Lower School faculty was a small glass heart. Doesn’t that say it all?!” But with every goodbye there is the opportunity for a new hello. We welcome Mrs. Helbing to not only our Lower School, but our entire school community.