GDS Magazine | 11 English teacher, the middle school musical director, and the assistant director for the musical in upper school. During her 26 years, Beth oversaw the middle school drama program directing a show each school year and also many musicals during the summer programs. She chartered and sponsored the Jr. Thespian Troupe 88085 in 1993 which recognizes each year middle school students for their participation and excellence in the theater. She also sang with the Mixed Review, a group of faculty and Upper School students, for fifteen years. Beth assisted for many years with the middle school cross country team and became the head coach in 2009. This year the Middle School Girls won the PACIS championship. Beth has always been a strong advocate for the middle school student. She served on the board for the North Carolina Middle School Association from 1992 to 2009. She has presented at many local and national conferences. She then became the Teacher Representative to the North Carolina Association for Independent Schools, serving in this capacity for eight years. She was the recipient of the Brooks Sabbatical in 2009, traveling to Maine to study poetry. She has also received TEEF Grants to participate in the Broadway Teaching Lab in New York and the Zap Running Camp in Blowing Rock. MADAME CAROL ALBERSON graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in French from UNC- Greensboro where she also earned her MA in French. She began her 47-year teaching career in 1971 at Dudley Senior High School where she taught French and remained an enthusiastic Dudley Panther until 1994 --- 23 years she describes as full of outstanding experiences, amazing students, and wonderful memories! In 1988 she was awarded the Greensboro Public School Fund Teaching Excellence Award for the City of Greensboro Schools. Carol found her home at GDS in 1994, when she was hired as our Upper School French teacher. During her 24 years here, Carol has devoted her time to teaching every level offered in French --- four and five different ones per year, including AP French Literature and AP French Language. She is especially grateful to GDS for providing an excellent teaching atmosphere where professionalism is respected and where teachers are afforded the autonomy they need to make decisions. She considers herself lucky enough to have had most students in her class from their freshman to senior years, and therefore having the unique opportunity to see them grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Quel plaisir! She has served as class advisor, prom chair, French club advisor, member and officer of IOI, Cum Laude committee, yearbook advisor, and she learned how to say no when necessary. She presented at National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (in Montreal); she received a TEEF Grant; and she made hundreds of chocolate cakes. Her numerous travels to France with students are among her fondest memories of her work at GDS. However, her most joyful and proud moments with her crème de la crème students have been in the classroom - where she has always said she belongs. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé. SENORA KERENSA WOOTEN earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French from UNC-Greensboro where she also minored in African History. She went back to school to study Spanish and received her Teaching License from UNCG in 1996. She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher at Greensboro Day School in in 1995. She was a student teacher in 1996 at Ragsdale High School under current GDS faculty member, Don Lahey. She continued her teaching career at Northeast Guilford High School from 1996-98. Kerensa found her home at GDS in 1998, when she was hired as a Middle and Lower School Spanish Teacher. During her 20 years, Kerensa has taught French and Spanish. She led the World Languages Department for seven years, and she taught 4th-12th graders at GDS. Outside of the classroom, Kerensa has presented at the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina and the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools. She attended the Gordon School Institute on Multicultural Practice twice, as well as various other workshops on multiculturalism and inclusivity. Kerensa participated in and led various efforts to support diversity at GDS. She served on a number of cross-divisional committees and middle school committees. Kerensa looks forward to spending more time training her young dog, Dobbins, cooking, working in the garden, traveling, and supporting her family members. These teachers will be missed, and we wish them all the best upon their retirement!