Stories From The Ridge, The Mccallie Podcast

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 s

 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 joined by 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 web site: www.mccallie.org/news.

For the first time in 31 years, McCallie’s Wrestling team has won both the traditional State of Tennessee title, plus the State duals. And on top of that, the team under Head Coach Jake Yost beat cross-town rival and defending State champion Baylor for the first time in 19 years. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns sits down with Coach Yost and two of the senior wrestlers, Carson Gentle and James Cross to discuss the exciting wins and the hard work and mental discipline behind them. And they look forward to the upcoming National Preps to be held in Pennsylvania. The full 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’s Chorus 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 discuss McCallie’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 a special 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 a discussion 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, and Kemmer Anderson Christmas Poem In this special edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School 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 one of 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-town rival 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 perspective on 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 participants and 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 trips during 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 trips last 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 longtime head 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 this podcast.

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 will get 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’

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