Mary Butcher Wins the Pennypacker Prize

The Pennypacker Prize is a special way for us to recognize a Winsor teacher of great promise. Created in 2002, the award is “given annually in the name of Henriette Pennypacker Binswanger ’52, with respect and admiration for the educational excellence of the Winsor School and the memory of an extraordinary experience.” Henriette attended Wheelock College after graduating from Winsor and went on to earn her M.Ed. From Harvard. A fervent advocate for women’s rights and environmental preservation, she loved classical music, dragonflies, and mid-coast Maine, and was described as having a “sense of absurd humor.” 

The Pennypacker Prize is awarded each year to a teacher who is in at least their third year of full-time teaching at Winsor. It’s intended to encourage the recipient’s continuing educational growth and development. This year’s winner joins impressive company: our list of past recipients includes Josh Constant, Theresa Evenson, Jeremy Johnson, Maren Kelsey, Denise Labieniec, Andrew Marshall, Dana Martin, Ken Schopf, Samantha Simpson, and Lisa Stringfellow, to name a few.  

The following award presentation—which remains a surprise until awarded!—was given by Head of School Sarah Pelmas during the faculty, staff, and trustee dinner on Monday, February 3, 2025, and announced to students during all-school assembly on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Ms. Pelmas’s remarks are excerpted below:

This year’s winner stands out for a variety of reasons, and not simply because of their pink hair, or their rock star flair, or their accent which suggests a non-New-Englander. In fact, the words everyone uses to describe this teacher and their classes are “magical” and “authentic.” As History Faculty Annie Huntoon says, “They are the most kind and compassionate person and so calm—no pretension, and an authenticity the kids really appreciate and gravitate toward.

Colleagues quickly identify this award winner as a truly talented differentiator in the classroom, someone who meets every single student where they are and perhaps has a special place in their heart for the ones that might struggle a bit more. They see the talents in these struggling students, even when those students don’t see it for themselves, and inspires those students to trust themselves and dive right in.

Or, as Mathematics Department Head Laura Cohen says, “Simply put, [this teacher] is a gift.” Laura goes on to comment, “[This teacher’s] classes are magical. They are full of energy and life and happiness, and they are meticulously planned out, though you never see the heavy hand of structure in the way they play out. The perfect example can be found in the class that I observed where [this teacher] had the students complete an activity where they needed to figure out which horse of the numbers 2–12 would win the race by throwing a pair of dice. A perfect way to introduce the idea of probability to the students. They would roll the dice to advance a particular number horse. And they wondered, ‘why is 7 doing so well?’ It was easy and fun and such a quick way to understand the concepts.”

Colleague and Mathematics Faculty Jessica Wang comments, “I was lucky enough to have a free block during one of [their] Class I math classes last year. In the times that I covered their Class I students, I always walked away feeling inspired by their thoughtful curriculum design and exhausted by the thought that, ‘if I was this tired after spending just 65 minutes with a group of 10 year olds, how did they handle it each and every day, with such a positive, cheerful attitude?’ In particular, I remember one lesson on statistics, like mean, median, and mode, where [this teacher] had the students collect all sorts of personal data. The Class Is spent the entire period racing around the classroom, measuring things like their height, number of siblings, reaction time, etc., while learning important measurement skills, how to enter data into a spreadsheet, and having the best time while doing it. It is clear to me how much their students adore them, and how much they take away from each thoughtfully constructed lesson.”

Mathematics Faculty Jodi Kerble notes: “[They] can meet any student where they are with whatever they need. They are flexible, collaborative and kind.”

And Mathematics Faculty Caitlin Miles adds, “[They are] a joy to work with and a wonderful member of the department—not just because they bring treats back from the UK. They hold their students to high standards, but always with a gentle and supportive approach that helps them truly thrive.”

Always ready to share an article on the latest pedagogy, or on adolescent development, or new approaches to teaching math, this teacher is always ready to learn and grow, modeling the very excitement and flexibility that they ask of their students. Though it took a good downpour to teach this teacher that anyone biking to school should probably have an extra set of dry clothes in the office—just in case!

And, finally, Head of Lower School Sharon Jones Phinney sings their praises: “[This teacher] is an exceptional math teacher who creates a comfortable atmosphere for their students. Empathetic and compassionate, they understand the importance of building relationships and ensuring their students feel good about themselves. [They boost] students’ confidence and help them exceed their own expectations in math. They combine fun and guidance with care and candor, going to great lengths to support their students. Their genuine concern for each child is evident, and their colleagues recognize that they are dedicated to providing the resources and support needed for their students to succeed both in and out of the classroom.”

But what you didn’t know? They are a trained organist! Yes, foot stops, multiple keyboards, big pipes. They teach summer school “band camp” and can play a wide variety of instruments. And, as Ms. Huntoon notes, “OMG just stand next to them during the singing of Jerusalem. No one at this school sings it better or more beautifully.”

This teacher is kind, calm, thoughtful, and deliberate, meeting students where they are, inspiring joy in learning and joy in math especially. They bring an honest, open authenticity to whatever they are doing, and the school is better, kinder, and more joyful because of them. Please join me in congratulating this year’s Pennypacker Award winner, Mary Butcher!