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On a steamy mid-summer Thursday, 91TV faculty and staff gathered at Townsend Hall for their inaugural Summer Summit—an on-site retreat designed to pair strategic planning with meaningful recognition of the people and purpose that will shape the school year ahead.
The new annual Summit will follow 91TV’s annual professional intersession (July 1-15) to officially launch preparations for the upcoming academic year. More than a planning meeting, the event reflects one of the school’s strategic priorities: Increase Belonging and Connectedness among 91TV Stakeholders.
Executive Director Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver framed the day around this guiding question: What is the strategic direction and vision for our school community?
“As a large school system,” Fishman-Weaver said, “we have many projects and demands on our time. I want to help ground our team in the most important guideposts that shape where we are headed and what projects we are able to take on. Those guideposts begin with 91TV’s mission, vision, and values.”
To kick-off the day’s activities, faculty and staff engaged in some friendly competition. Working in teams both on-site and via Zoom, attendees raced through word-puzzles to reconstruct the school’s mission—to support students as learners and leaders in our classrooms and local communities; vision–to reimagine education with our global community; and values–Belonging, Innovation, Partnership, and Access.
After the game, participants reflected together on the core values that drive 91TV’s mission and vision and shared stories about the way these values show up in action and student impact. From expanding opportunities for students to strengthening systems that better support learners and colleagues alike, each of these heartwarming stories began with an exceptional act of professionalism and care from the faculty and staff whose work embodies 91TV’s mission every day.
Celebrating Excellence
One of the highlights of the day was recognizing recipients and nominees for 91TV’s quarterly peer-nominated Honor Award, which celebrates faculty and staff who go above and beyond in service to students, colleagues, and the school community.
The Third Quarter Honor Award went to Instructional and Counseling Specialist Lisa Boyer in recognition of her commitment to accessibility and individualized student support. Boyer, who is also celebrating ten years with 91TV, holds certifications in Spanish, Social Studies, and School Counseling.
Third Quarter Honor Award nominees included:
Dr. Sherry Denney, Tanya Jarvis, Kari Mayes, Caitlin Maxwell, and Brennan Ransdell.
The Fourth Quarter Honor Award recognized Instructional Designer Jackie Kay for her leadership in curriculum design and development, excellence in project management, and oversight of 91TV’s vibrant CoTeach program.
“Jackie, I don’t know how you do all you do,” Fishman-Weaver shared, “but I know I speak for everyone when I say I am so thankful that you do it.”
Fourth Quarter Honor Award nominees included: Lisa Boyer, Maegan Cooper, Dr. Sherry Denney, Roberta Franzoni Healy, Jeff Healy, Sarah Michael, Karen Scales, Greg Soden, Ericca Thornhill, Ellie Trick, and Steven Turner.
Honoring Years of Service
The Summer Summit also recognized 18 faculty and staff members celebrating milestone anniversaries this year.
“It was incredible to celebrate our team members for their dedication to making 91TV a unique, innovative, student-centered school,” said Director of Business Operations Tami Regan. “It’s rare to have a milestone list this extensive, and the Summer Summit was the perfect opportunity to share our colleagues’ accomplishments.”
Five-Year Milestone recognitions went to Julia Alexander, Samuel Cummins, Heather Johnson-Means, Dr. Andrea Love-Downs, and Dr. Jill Peterfeso.
Ten-Year Milestone recognitions went to Lisa Boyer, Jill Clingan, David Graham, Tanya Jarvis, Louis Jobst, Diane Johnson, Angelica Kalapinski, Kimberly Kester, Gregory Soden, Brian Stuhlman, Marilyn Toalson, and Steven Turner.
AND, a Fifteen-Year Milestone recognition went to Roger Bergman.
Throughout his career, Bergman has inspired students through outstanding science instruction, particularly in physics and physical science. In recent years, he has also helped connect 91TV to , a nonprofit working to expand access to education and health care in Tanzania.
Science Division Chair Ericca Thornhill reflected on Bergman’s impact:
Our students are so lucky to have his support and encouragement, his wisdom and skill, and his great way of holding them to high expectations while also leading them down the path of curiosity. He’s truly one of those who transform the world!
Building Belonging
The 2026 Summer Summit concluded with one more joyful activity designed to strengthen relationships across departments and distances. Director of Teaching and Learning Stephanie Walter created a “Guess Who” game that paired childhood photos with personal stories. “Oohs” and “ahhs” over baby pictures segued into laughter and high-fives as colleagues discovered shared experiences and celebrated each unique pathway that led them to 91TV.
Elementary Coordinator Lisa DeCastro appreciated the game’s intentional focus on connection: “The personal facts and baby photos were such a creative way to build community and partnership.”
“Working at an online school, sometimes it’s hard to feel connected to others,” added Executive Assistant Sarah Williams, “but there was no lack of connection at 91TV’s First Annual Summer Summit!”
As 91TV launches their 2026-2027 academic year, the inaugural Summer Summit demonstrated that strategic planning is about more than setting goals. By grounding the day in its mission, vision, values, and commitment to belonging, the Summit showed that our strongest strategy for the future begins in purpose, connection, and celebrating the people who show up day after day and year after year for our students.