b'R E T I R E M E N T SRuthie Tutterow, Director ofof Instruction Committee for Fine and Performing Arts and5 years, and was instrumental longtime theatre, drama, and finein organizing entertainment, arts teacher at Greensboro Dayfood, workshops, and nationally School, retired at the end of thisknown speakers such as school year. Ruthie began hersyndicated columnist Leonard transition into retirement at thePitts and former Triad Business end of the 2018-19 school yearJournal Editor, Justin Catanoso, moving into a part-time positionMusic Director for our Middlehire that year and has beenfor an in-house conference on during the current school year.School musicals will retire at thea fixture in and around theMaking Sense of Media. Ruthie plans to stay connected toend of the school year.community for 30 years. Her GDS through Winter Term andprevious teaching positionsSome may remember Mama other future opportunities. Pam received her BM and MAinclude two in RockinghamP for her words of wisdom from Furman University in musicCounty where she was awardedand sayings (Its May yall), A Bengal since 1999, Ruthie haseducation and previously taughtBethany Elementary Teacher ofbeing a talent show judge, or for served our community as theatrein the Charlotte-Mecklenburgthe Year and Rockingham Countysing-a-longs. She may also be instructor and Department Chair.Schools, Greenville CountyGifted Education Teacher ofremembered for her craft clubs In her illustrious career withSchools in South Carolina,the Year. Mary Beth came to usduring activities period that Greensboro Day School, RuthieRockingham County Schools,from Lincoln Magnet School ofranged from jewelry making to has directed over 50 shows. Sheand at Wesleyan ChristianScience, Math and Technologyquilt designs. Above all, Mrs. has fond memories of all of these,Academy. She began working(now The Academy at Lincoln),Phillips will be remembered for but a few of the standouts includewith the GDS theatre departmenthaving been hired as Guilfordcreating fast-paced and exciting Les Miserables, The King and I,in 2004 as a choreographer forCountys first magnet school mathmath classes to help students The Addams Family, The Drowsythe Middle and Upper Schoolspecialist. Her first involvement atof all abilities reach a level of Chaperone, and A Chorus Line. theatre productions. In 2016 sheGDS was an invitation to judgeunderstanding, confidence, and began working with the Lowera math fair from Nancy Teague,efficiency.During her tenure, RuthieSchool on their productions, and received numerous awards andformer long-term Lower SchoolMary Beth was twice the accolades, including the Brookswas hired to teach Upper SchoolMath Specialist.chorus in 2017, followed byrecipient of the Alumni Extra Sabbatical in 2008 and the ExtraMiddle School chorus in 2019. While at GDS, Mary Beth servedYard Award in 2011 and 2015.Yard Award in 2014. Under heron the Academic Committee,As a GDS parent, Mary Beth leadership, our Upper SchoolAll of Bengal Nation has enjoyedEnrollment Committee, andcould often be spotted cheering drama program received thethe impressive work of thethe Middle School Leadershipat an athletic event for one or Outstanding School Awardstudents in our choral programTeam. She was active (Chair andboth of her children Will 08 from the Educational Theatreand the heights they have attainedCo-chair) in the Improvementand Maggie 13.nAssociation in 2009. In addition,under Pams direction. She has Ruthie started the Music Arthad a long and successful careerSONNY WILLIS 96 RETURNING TO Drama (MAD) Society, a groupas a choral instructor, and she of dedicated parents who supportGREENSBORO DAY SCHOOLwill be missed on our campus the theatre program by sponsoringboth during the regular school guest artists, managing receptions,day and in our co-curricularSonny Willis 96 is returning to Bengal and assisting our teachers withprogramming.n Nation as our new Middle and Upper School programming and special events.Choral Teacher and PreK-12 Musical Director. An advocate of experientialMary Beth Phillips began herSonny is a GDS alumnus from the class of education, Ruthie led GDStransition into retirement at the1996 and received his bachelors degree in students to numerous theatreend of the 2018-19 school yearMusic Performance from UNCG in 2002. competitions and experiencesand assisted part-time in theHe previously served the GDS community off campus, including the NCmiddle school this fall. She willwith distinction from 2002-2015 as a choral Thespian Festival and severalofficially retired at the conclusioninstructor and music director for numerous theatre productions. performances at Lincoln Centerof the school year. Sonny returns to us from New York City where he has spent the last in New York City.n five years as the Choral Conductor at the Young Peoples Chorus of Mary Beth began working atNew York City and drama director at the Academy of St. Joseph. Pam Wheeler, Middle and UpperGreensboro Day in the fall ofWe are thrilled to welcome Sonny, his wife Roslyn, and son, School Chorus teacher, and the1990. She was the only newBrice 25 back to GDS for the 2020-21 school year.nGDS Magazine | 19'