Alumni

If those of you who have been gone for a substantial period of time were to come back what differences would you find? Physically as you drove up you would notice a significant change in our appearance. No longer do we have the rows of Bradford Pear trees lining our lane. In place of the trees we have a white vinyl fence and a soccer field on the right. The old gym has been replaced with the Carroll Field House which has two practice courts, several offices, remote control bleachers, air conditioning and public restrooms. To the left of the lane is the Student Center Building built in 1999. It houses our Cafetorium and our central staff offices as well as 8 classrooms.

Yes, we do have some longtime committed educators who have been here for 20 or more years but we also have a second tier of relatively new teachers who are playing an important role in helping us maintain our high standards. The average tenure for a Sumner Academy teacher is approximately twelve years

Our students continue to excel in their academic work. While years ago the vast majority of our students went to a public high school, that has all changed. Now, most of our students (90%) go to a private high school such as JPII, University School, Montgomery Bell Academy, St. Cecilia’s and Harpeth Hall.

Anytime Mrs. Dillehay, Mrs. Whitsell, Mrs. Cude, Mrs. Pettit, Mrs. Rivera or I run into any of you there is always a wonderful exchange of memories about your Sumner Academy experience. Our alumni, down to the last one, are always quick to tell us how important Sumner Academy was to them in their formative years. With a history that goes back almost forty years, it is now high time for Sumner Academy to turn to you to help provide an excellent educational program for the next generation. I want you today to contribute to our Annual Giving campaign and help us maintain our high standards.

When you send in your contribution, share with us the experiences you have had since your days at Sumner Academy. We always enjoy hearing from you!

Dr. Hovenden