Six recent graduates assist Lower School and kindergarten teachers through Carter Associate Teachers program

The Carter Associate Teachers are recent college graduates who want to pursue a job in education but lack the experience needed to run a classroom, according to Head of Lower School Michael Simpson.  

Three Greenhill administrators oversee the program: Associate Head of School for Mission, Community and Culture Tom Perryman ’81, Michael Simpson and Assistant Head of Preschool and Lower School Lindsay Stenberg. 

“So, I think that it feels good to know that when we’re sending these people to other jobs or keeping them here, they’re ready to teach. And I think that’s great.” Michael Simpson 

The program was launched in 1991, when then-Head of School Peter Briggs proposed the idea of hiring young adults to become sports coaches and part-time teachers. Later, the program was renamed the Carter Associate Teacher program after former Middle School language arts teacher and Head of Middle School, Lucinda Carter, a Greenhill Legend. Faculty members earn this status after being at Greenhill for 25 years.  

During Carter’s retirement ceremony in 2006, after over 30 years of service to Greenhill, that the part-time coaching and teaching program at Greenhill was renamed in her honor. 

“It is named after Lucinda Carter, who had many roles at Greenhill early in the school’s founding.” said Stenberg. 

Diya Ramhtullah is a Carter Associate Teacher in the kindergarten. She says she has always had a love for education and supporting people. 

Ramhtullah graduated with a degree in education and says she applied for a position after hearing about the Carter program. 

“I love the people that are here, the people I’ve been able to interact with, and the education that has been provided to students here,” said Ramhtullah. “The support that I’ve gotten as a first-year teacher and employee. Greenhill has been amazing.” 

Wilson is a third-grade Carter Associate Teacher. She is from St. Louis and attended college in North Carolina. In college, she studied sociology and education. 

Wilson says she loves Greenhill students and the overall environment. 

Outside of school, Wilson says she enjoys crocheting, baking, and visiting different restaurants with her friends. 

“I really liked Greenhill because of the values,” Wilson said. “It’s really about people and hearing about people. Administration, teachers, they love you guys. They love the kids. So that’s always really important.” 

Isabel Simmons is a new kindergarten Carter Associate Teacher who graduated from Brown University. 

She is originally from Chapel Hill, N.C., and she loves children and believes in their power to make the world a better place. 

Specifically, she says she enjoys working with kindergarten students because they are fun and dynamic. 

 ”When I was reading up on Greenhill, I could tell that I shared a lot of value alignment with the school,” said Simmons. “People here really love it and embody the mission: they are invested in being better versions of themselves as citizens in the world.”  

Grace Orth is a Carter associate teacher in the kindergarten Carter Associate Teacher program at Greenhill. 

Orth attended Lower School at Greenhill and says she enjoys the environment and the community. She attended the University of Denver, where she majored in communications and minored in theater. 

She also participated in a program known as a “4 plus 1” to get her master’s degree in teaching. 

Outside of teaching, Orth says she enjoys baking, theater, and spending time outdoors. 

“There’s this established community that is very welcoming,” said Orth. “I think it’s exciting how it’s a fast-paced experience.”