The Mayfield Junior School community honored retiring Headmaster Joseph J. Gill with the distinction of faculty emeritus at an on-campus event attended by more than 600 people. Students and alumni, parents and grandparents, current and former faculty and staff, current and former board of trustees members, heads of area schools and community members were treated to a joyful Mass and affecting ceremony followed by an afternoon reception. It was a wonderful day in Pasadena, from the glorious voices of the choir and reflections of speakers to the overwhelming feeling of community.
After Mass, Middle School Director Bridget Kelley-Lossada and former board of trustees chair Geoff Bland began the celebration by talking about the impact Gill has had. Kim Wardlaw, the presiding board chair at the time of Gill’s hiring in 2008, and Alison Jones Gamble, Mayfield’s current board chair, jointly honored Gill.
“Joe Gill has shown great love to the Mayfield community,” Jones Gamble said. “Each of us … has felt the impact of his passion and commitment to Holy Child education and Mayfield Junior.”
Later, Gill shared his poignant thoughts about what being part of the MJS community has meant to him and his family.
“Over the past 43 years, I have worked with many excellent faculty and staff who have met the needs of the students in their care,” he said. “However, I have never been in the company of a group of professionals who were more intently focused on aligning their work with the mission of their school. The significance of this commitment has provided each student here at Mayfield a treasured education.”
According to an MJS statement, “Gill’s tenure as headmaster is best exemplified by his unwavering commitment to Holy Child education and dedication to every student. His influence on the growth and progress of Mayfield’s community is far-reaching because of his continual focus on creating and reinforcing a learning environment that first and foremost impacts the children. Gill’s first question and the one he consistently inspired so many to answer is, ‘What is best for the students?’
“Gill’s commitment to every student has been consistent throughout his more than 40 years in education. As a teacher, coach, mentor, adviser, administrator and leader, his impact has been felt by generations of students across the country. His many educational experiences led him to Mayfield Junior School in 2008 where his personal values and Mayfield’s Holy Child philosophy seamlessly aligned.
“For 11 years, students benefited from a thoughtfully crafted academic and faith-based program that prepared them for high school and beyond. All areas of the curriculum coupled with an emphasis on character development and service are stronger due to Gill’s focus on student-centric teaching and learning. Whether simply reinforcing what it means to be an MJS student in the student pledge, creating new and innovative faculty and staff roles or creating access for more families to experience Mayfield Junior School by expanding financial assistance, Gill’s vision has touched thousands. His desire to contribute to a welcoming, joyous and inclusive Mayfield community is noteworthy.”
Gill guided the community’s strategic design and master planning, setting the stage for Mayfield’s future success. He substantially grew the school’s endowment and financial resources, led the renovation of the Holy Child Chapel, built a state-of-the-art D-Lab as well as a playground, and guided the growth of a robust faculty and staff professional development program just to name a few.
“His love of his Mayfield students is truly what has driven Joe to lead Mayfield to new heights,” said Bland, board chair from 2011-15.
Following an extensive search, Mayfield Junior School trustees unanimously selected and then announced in November that Joe Sciuto, the head of school at Providence High School in Burbank, will succeed Gill. Sciuto begins in July.
After Mass, Middle School Director Bridget Kelley-Lossada and former board of trustees chair Geoff Bland began the celebration by talking about the impact Gill has had. Kim Wardlaw, the presiding board chair at the time of Gill’s hiring in 2008, and Alison Jones Gamble, Mayfield’s current board chair, jointly honored Gill.
“Joe Gill has shown great love to the Mayfield community,” Jones Gamble said. “Each of us … has felt the impact of his passion and commitment to Holy Child education and Mayfield Junior.”
Later, Gill shared his poignant thoughts about what being part of the MJS community has meant to him and his family.
“Over the past 43 years, I have worked with many excellent faculty and staff who have met the needs of the students in their care,” he said. “However, I have never been in the company of a group of professionals who were more intently focused on aligning their work with the mission of their school. The significance of this commitment has provided each student here at Mayfield a treasured education.”
According to an MJS statement, “Gill’s tenure as headmaster is best exemplified by his unwavering commitment to Holy Child education and dedication to every student. His influence on the growth and progress of Mayfield’s community is far-reaching because of his continual focus on creating and reinforcing a learning environment that first and foremost impacts the children. Gill’s first question and the one he consistently inspired so many to answer is, ‘What is best for the students?’
“Gill’s commitment to every student has been consistent throughout his more than 40 years in education. As a teacher, coach, mentor, adviser, administrator and leader, his impact has been felt by generations of students across the country. His many educational experiences led him to Mayfield Junior School in 2008 where his personal values and Mayfield’s Holy Child philosophy seamlessly aligned.
“For 11 years, students benefited from a thoughtfully crafted academic and faith-based program that prepared them for high school and beyond. All areas of the curriculum coupled with an emphasis on character development and service are stronger due to Gill’s focus on student-centric teaching and learning. Whether simply reinforcing what it means to be an MJS student in the student pledge, creating new and innovative faculty and staff roles or creating access for more families to experience Mayfield Junior School by expanding financial assistance, Gill’s vision has touched thousands. His desire to contribute to a welcoming, joyous and inclusive Mayfield community is noteworthy.”
Gill guided the community’s strategic design and master planning, setting the stage for Mayfield’s future success. He substantially grew the school’s endowment and financial resources, led the renovation of the Holy Child Chapel, built a state-of-the-art D-Lab as well as a playground, and guided the growth of a robust faculty and staff professional development program just to name a few.
“His love of his Mayfield students is truly what has driven Joe to lead Mayfield to new heights,” said Bland, board chair from 2011-15.
Following an extensive search, Mayfield Junior School trustees unanimously selected and then announced in November that Joe Sciuto, the head of school at Providence High School in Burbank, will succeed Gill. Sciuto begins in July.
