The outside of the Sage dorm decorated with red 50 Coed pennant banners on a sunny day

CoEd 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of Coeducation at Fountain Valley School

Women have been an essential part of the Fountain Valley story since the very beginning. In 1929, Elizabeth Sage Hare, alongside a group of women with extraordinary vision and compassion, helped found Fountain Valley School of Colorado, laying the foundation for the community we know today. In 1976, FVS welcomed its first female students, beginning a transformative new chapter in the School’s history.

Fifty years later, we proudly celebrate the impact of coeducation on the FVS community, shaped by generations of collaboration, leadership, friendship, and shared experiences on the Prairie. As we mark 50 years of coeducation from 1976–2026, we honor the alumni, faculty, staff, and families whose stories and contributions continue to shape the vibrant and inclusive spirit of Fountain Valley School.

“Everybody’s voice matters. When you have students from more than 20 countries—male and female, someone from a reservation and someone from New York City—you bring them together, and they start to understand each other. I don’t know how you can be more informed than by hearing all those different voices.”

- Sally Bailey, Former Director of College Counseling

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Celebrating 50 Years of Coeducation: Mary Crouter ’79 Finds Her Voice at Fountain Valley

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KATHY KARDOK ‘77 REFLECTS ON 50 YEARS OF COEDUCATION AT FVS

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Honoring Girls and Women in Sports at FVS

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50 Years of Coed: Julie Frost’s ‘83 Story

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50 Years of Coeducation: Pat Kule Reflects on a Pivotal Shift

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50 Years of Coed: Sally Best Bailey and the Women Who Changed the Prairie

Meet Our CoEd 50 Panelists

Education Panel

A smiling woman in a black blazer and a white shirt with a beaded necklace is in the foreground, with a framed artwork on the wall in the blurred background.

Ariane Balizet '96

Ariane Balizet is the inaugural Assistant Provost for Faculty Success and a Professor of English at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. After developing a love of Shakespeare at FVS through English classes with David Reynolds and Sheila Griffith, she completed her BA at Pomona College and Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature at the University of Minnesota.

Ariane's scholarly work focuses on Shakespeare, gender studies, and early modern drama. Her published books include Shakespeare and Girls’ Studies (2019), Blood and Home in Early Modern Drama (2014), and the collection Strategic Shakespeare: Transformative Leadership for the Future of Higher Education, co-edited with Marcela Kostihová and Natalie Eschenbaum (2025).

Since joining the faculty at TCU in 2008, she has taught Shakespeare to thousands of students at all levels. She is the recipient of a dozen recognitions for research, service, and graduate and undergraduate teaching, including the Deans’ Award for Teaching and the Women and Gender Studies Wise Woman Award for Teaching and Mentoring.

Before her appointment as Assistant Provost, Ariane served as Associate Chair of English, Chair of Women and Gender Studies / Comparative Race and Gender Studies, and Associate Dean for Faculty. As Associate Dean, she launched a nationally-recognized New Faculty Mentoring Program within the College of Liberal Arts, reflecting her deep commitment to faculty development, mentorship, and academic leadership.

Brittney Stroh '06

Brittney Stroh graduated from Colorado College with degrees in Psychology and Spanish before earning a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Early in her career, she worked with the United States Olympic Committee in Vancouver and later with the El Pomar Foundation.

Over time, Brittney developed a strong interest in marketing and communications and was excited to apply the skills and experiences she had gained to her work at Atlas Schools when she joined the organization as Director of Community Programs. As a first-generation college student herself, she deeply values the educational opportunities she was given and remains passionate about helping students realize their potential as successful, lifelong learners.

Now serving as CEO of Atlas Schools, Brittney brings her passion, skills, and hard work to create opportunities for students and the surrounding community. Beyond her professional work, she has volunteered as a board member for the Penrose St. Francis Hospital Foundation, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and a tutor with the Children’s Literacy Center.

Outside of work, Brittney enjoys traveling with her husband and two children, baking sourdough bread, and continuing to develop her pottery skills.

Dr. Sue Porter ‘81

Dr. Sue Porter graduated from FVS with two life-long passions: learning, and understanding grumpy teenagers. Having been a self-described grumpy teen herself during high school, Sue understood early on that kids need guidance, support, and people willing to meet them where they are. That understanding shaped a career devoted to helping young people navigate the challenges of growing up.

Over the course of her career, Sue served as a school counselor, administrator, and ultimately Head of School, spending decades working closely with students and families. After leading a small independent school for kids with Learning Disabilities through COVID, she transitioned to a private psychotherapy practice in San Francisco, where she now helps teens and their parents make sense of the chaos of adolescence.

Along the way, Sue earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Smith College, and Pacifica Graduate Institute, studying education, clinical social work, and clinical psychology. She is also the author of Relating to Adolescents: Educators in a Teenage World and Bully Nation: Why America’s Approach to Childhood Aggression is Bad For Everyone, both of which explore how to navigate being a teenager, the complexities of adolescence, and youth development.

She is grateful every day that she got to spend four glorious years at FVS. Sure, she was disgruntled much of the time, but now she knows that’s part of the magic.

Sarah Hautzinger ‘81

Sarah Hautzinger ’81 is an ethnographer and cultural anthropologist whose work explores power and (non-)violence across global contexts. A graduate of Reed College (B.A. ’85) and Johns Hopkins University (M.A. ’92, Ph.D. ’97), she is the author of Violence in the City of Women: Gender and Battering in Bahia, Brazil (University of California Press) and Beyond Post-Traumatic Stress: Homefront Struggles with the Wars on Terror (Rutgers University Press).

Her research spans gender-based violence and policing in Brazil, U.S. militarism, and, more recently, the slower, systemic "violence" of climate catastrophe. As a Professor of Anthropology at Colorado College, she brings together teaching, writing, advocacy, and public speaking.

Hautzinger finds particular fulfillment in mentoring students as they forge their own distinctive paths across fields including academia, media, administration, and advocacy. Since 2019, she has led student, alumni, and staff delegations to United Nations climate summits in Spain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil.

Entrepreneurship Panel

Alden Faust '96

Alden grew up in Wyoming and Colorado, surrounded by creativity and visual storytelling. With a photographer father, Willis Wood ’64, and a designer mother, she developed an early appreciation for compelling imagery and visual design.

At Fountain Valley School, Alden further cultivated her passion for photography, refining her darkroom skills and serving as photo editor for the yearbook before going on to study film and video production at Occidental College in Los Angeles. She has worked on production teams in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Napa Valley, and Jackson Hole for companies including MTV, VH1, FOX, and Teton Gravity Research.

After moving to Jackson, Wyoming in 2004, Alden founded Tower 3 Productions in 2010. She later became an FAA-certified drone pilot in 2021, expanding her expertise into aerial cinematography. Today, Tower 3 serves clients throughout the West and has grown into one of the largest commercial video production companies in Wyoming. In addition to her professional work, Alden serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area and Wyoming PBS. She and her husband, Ike, are parents to Hale and Willa, and together they enjoy traveling, skiing, biking, hiking, and camping as a family.

Cori Galles Faricy '92

Cori Galles serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Galles Motor Company, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1908. In her role, she leads the company’s financial strategy, oversees accounting and compliance operations, and partners with executive leadership to strengthen operations and drive long-term growth across the organization, including Galles Chevrolet, the largest family-owned dealership in New Mexico.

In addition to her professional leadership, Cori is deeply involved with Fountain Valley School, where she serves as Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Audit Committee. In these roles, she contributes to governance, financial stewardship, and long-term strategic planning for the School.

Cori lives in Colorado Springs with her husband, Luke, a graduate of Fountain Valley School, their two stepchildren, and the family’s Maine Coon cat, Sir Tweed.

A woman in a light blue shirt and black pants stands with her arms crossed in front of a softly lit window.

Emilie Hoyt '93

Emilie Davidson Hoyt is the founder and CEO of LATHER, a pioneering wellness-based skin and hair care brand offering clean, effective, and sustainably crafted personal care products.

Her journey into the wellness industry began through personal experience as a lifelong migraine sufferer, when she discovered that synthetic fragrances were a major trigger for her headaches. That realization ignited her passion for wellness, natural ingredients, and aromatherapy, ultimately inspiring her to create products designed to help others live healthier, more radiant lives.

In 1999, Emilie opened the first LATHER store in Pasadena, California, marking the beginning of a movement toward natural beauty and wellness. Since then, LATHER has grown into a trusted industry leader, with products offered in hundreds of luxury hotel properties and many LATHER retail locations nationwide. The company proudly serves as the Official Bath and Body Provider for Forbes Travel Guide, ensuring that discerning travelers experience the luxury of natural care at its finest. Emilie has also emerged as a respected voice in the wellness industry, speaking at events including the Natural Products Expo, Global Wellness Day, and Health magazine’s Wellness Summit.

As an avid traveler, she draws inspiration from diverse cultures to source high-quality, unique natural ingredients for LATHER products. Her belief in transparency, sustainability, and thoughtful formulation drives her mission to create products that prioritize wellness and environmental consciousness. Emilie resides in Pasadena with her husband, Rob, while their children pursue college studies. In her free time, she enjoys refining her piano skills, exploring local art scenes, experimenting with new recipes, and hiking the trails near her home.

Laurie Peterson '96

Laurie (Wilson) Peterson is the Vice President of Marketing at Etherdyne Technologies, a Silicon Valley startup focused on wireless power. A graduate of the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Laurie has built a career launching startups and consumer products. After contributing to five startup exits, she now advises founders through her consulting practice, The Founder’s Sidekick, while continuing her work as a toy and game inventor.

Her proudest accomplishment is founding the toy company Build & Imagine, where she brought a line of magnetic building sets from concept to acquisition and was recognized as Rising Star Toy Inventor of the Year. Most recently, she co-invented the family party game Sneaky Scallywags.

Laurie credits Fountain Valley School’s outdoor education program with teaching her the most important entrepreneurial skill: being afraid and doing it anyway.

Law Panel

A woman in a black blazer and a white shirt in front of a dark background.

Lain Leonaik '91

Lain Leoniak is the First Assistant Attorney General for the Federal and Interstate Water Unit in the Natural Resources and Environment Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Lain’s practice focuses on federal and interstate water matters in the Colorado River Basin. Lain also supervises the Unit attorneys and staff working on federal and interstate water matters across the State. Previously, Lain served as the Colorado State Court Water Referee for Water Division No. 5 in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Lain is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Montana, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Colorado Federal District Court. Lain received her J.D. from University of Colorado School of Law and was an Associate Editor for the University of Colorado Law Review with the published Comment: The Last GASP: The Conflict Over Management of Replacement Water in the South Platte River Basin 75 U. Colo. L. Rev. 597 (2004).

Myra Young '86

Myra is a nurse practitioner based in Denver who has spent the past 25 years in clinical practice focused on reproductive health, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and HPV-related diseases. She graduated from FVS in 1986 and studied liberal arts at Sarah Lawrence College, where she became involved in the early days of the AIDS crisis. During her time there, she created the college’s AIDS education program, worked at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and was an activist with ACT-UP New York. Those experiences sparked a lifelong passion for HIV advocacy and sexual and reproductive health education. She later earned a master’s degree in human sexuality and health education from New York University and spent several years working in medical research in San Francisco before returning to Colorado to study nursing at the University of Colorado. She became a Nurse Practitioner in 2001 and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2009.

Today, Myra coordinates the HPV malignancy prevention program within the HIV clinic at Denver Health. She remains passionate about facilitating open conversations around sexual health and reducing stigma through education and advocacy.

Outside of work, Myra enjoys live music and can often be found at concerts — especially if there is a Grateful Dead cover band playing nearby.

Alden Faust '96

Annie Overlin '92

Annie Overlin serves as eastern Colorado’s Regional Range Specialist for Colorado State University Extension. Her program focuses on managing healthy rangelands through improved soil health practices, the use of annual cover crops for grazing, and financial farm and ranch management education for women in agriculture.

Annie comes from a sixth-generation ranching family in south central Colorado and continues to work closely with her family on issues related to land preservation and water management in the Arkansas River Valley. Her deep connection to the land and commitment to stewardship are rooted both in her upbringing and in the experiences that shaped her during her time at Fountain Valley School, where she focused much of her time exploring the natural world.

Ariane Balizet '96

Brittney Stroh '06

Outside of work, Brittney enjoys traveling with her husband and two children, baking sourdough bread, and continuing to develop her pottery skills.

Cori Galles Faricy '92

Cori lives in Colorado Springs with her husband, Luke, a graduate of Fountain Valley School, their two stepchildren, and the family’s Maine Coon cat, Sir Tweed.

Dr. Sue Porter ‘81

She is grateful every day that she got to spend four glorious years at FVS. Sure, she was disgruntled much of the time, but now she knows that’s part of the magic.

Emilie Hoyt '93

Emilie Davidson Hoyt is the founder and CEO of LATHER, a pioneering wellness-based skin and hair care brand offering clean, effective, and sustainably crafted personal care products.

Jessica Meiris '00

Jessica Meiris is based in Colorado Springs and is one of the few female helicopter pilots in the nation. She currently flies for air ambulance and utility operations after transitioning to aviation later in life following a 16 year career as a rock climbing guide. During that time, she coached the competitive climbing team at FVS to six State Championships and guided the Outdoor Ed program.

In 2014 she became the first woman in history to climb the 3,000-foot El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, CA, alone in a single day, a follow-up to another women's team speed record in 2012. In 2018, she pursued a second career that would be physically sustainable, mentally engaging, and rooted in the mountains: helicopter aviation proved to be the perfect fit, and she has embraced life in the skies ever since.

As a public speaker, Jessica has inspired hundreds of people through her stories of perseverance, emphasizing that extraordinary achievements are possible without extraordinary talent or genetic predisposition. Her groundbreaking accomplishments continue to encourage others to challenge themselves, pursue ambitious goals, and redefine their own limits.

Lily Wilson '91

Lily Wilson is a Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter and recording artist whose music blends folk, Americana, and soulful acoustic influences. Raised on her family’s farm in Napa Valley, she developed an early connection to music, nature, and storytelling that continues to shape her work today.

Her songwriting journey began while living in Spain, where she was inspired by the flamenco traditions of Andalusia and started performing in cafés, clubs, and on street corners. Since then, Wilson has independently released five albums and collaborated and performed with acclaimed artists including Melissa Etheridge, Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, and Philip Sayce. She has also contributed vocals to film soundtracks and worked with Academy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

Wilson was honored with the L.A. Music Award for Best Female Vocal Performance in the Adult Contemporary category. She credits her years at Fountain Valley School with encouraging creativity, independence, and artistic exploration.

Maggie Hanna '07

Maggie Hanna serves as Director of the Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative (CGRI), where she leads efforts to coordinate large-scale grassland conservation across North America. Her work focuses on building durable partnerships, advancing policy and funding strategies, and strengthening collaboration among landowners, agencies, NGOs, and Indigenous communities.

Maggie brings a background in conservation, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to CGRI, she served as Director of External Relations at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT), where she facilitated conservation easements, supported annual monitoring, led fundraising efforts, and managed the Leopold Conservation Award program. Earlier in her career, she was an El Pomar Foundation Fellow and an AmeriCorps volunteer in central Oregon, where she helped develop the Agora Platform to better connect rural communities with funding opportunities.

A Colorado native, Maggie grew up on her family’s ranch on the eastern plains, where she continues to live and work, grounding her leadership in the realities of working lands conservation. Her time at Fountain Valley School (FVS) instilled in her the value of relationships and networks, a deep care for place, and a lasting appreciation for the impact of experiential education, which continue to shape her approach to collaborative conservation today.

Robyn Simms '99

Robyn Simms was born and raised in northern New Mexico before moving to Colorado as a freshman to attend Fountain Valley School as a boarding student. A third-generation FVS graduate, she followed in the footsteps of both her father and grandfather, graduating in 1999.

After FVS, Robyn attended the University of Redlands in Southern California, where she majored in History and graduated cum laude with departmental honors in 2003. Unsure of her long-term career path, she ultimately chose to pursue law, earning her Juris Doctor, cum laude and with honors, in 2010. She returned home to New Mexico shortly afterward, passed the Bar Exam, and was licensed to practice law in April 2011.

Robyn began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Eighth Judicial District in her hometown of Taos. After a period in private criminal defense practice in Albuquerque, she realized that private practice was not the right fit and returned to public service in 2019 with the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, where she continues to serve today. She began as an Assistant District Attorney and later advanced to Supervising Deputy District Attorney in 2021.

Throughout her career, Robyn has prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases, from DUI offenses to homicide. Today, she primarily handles "high-profile" cases involving crimes against children, homicide, drug trafficking, and other major offenses. She has spent nearly fifteen years in the criminal justice system and was recognized as the prosecutor of the year for the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office in 2013, received the Wayne Jordan Jurisprudence Award for outstanding public service in 2021, and was recently named New Mexico’s Senior Trial Prosecutor of the year in 2025. She credits Fountain Valley School with providing the academic foundation that shaped her success in college, law school, and throughout her legal career.

Aside from practicing law, she is raising her five-year-old daughter who is about to enter first grade. Robyn continues to engage in extracurricular activities and spends considerable time outdoors and at her family ranch in northern New Mexico. Additionally, Robyn has taught the clinical internship program at UNM Law School and volunteers for many activities for the benefit of the community where she currently lives and prosecutes.

Sally Garrison '91

Sally holds a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where she later returned to serve as an adjunct professor. She is the CEO of The Mortgage Law Firm and is licensed to practice law in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

A graduate of the Stagen Leadership Academy Integral Leadership Program, Sally earned Black Belt recognition for her work in communication, influence, and motivation. Her leadership and professional accomplishments have been widely recognized, including being named a finalist for the Women in Housing Keystone Award for Cultural Leadership, receiving the USFN Member of the Year Award in 2020, and earning repeated recognition as a Top Real Estate Attorney by 405 Magazine. She was also named a Leading Real Estate Attorney in Oklahoma in the 2023 Real Estate Lawyers Guide.

As President of USFN, Sally focuses on advancing collaboration, education, and leadership across the mortgage servicing industry. She credits her time at Fountain Valley School with shaping her belief in inclusive leadership, meaningful community, and the importance of strong relationships — values that continue to guide both her career and leadership philosophy today.

Diana Gray '84

Diana Wilson Gray ’84 is the owner and operator of Bull Pen Creek Ranch, a cow-calf operation she has managed since 2009, continuing a lifelong connection to agriculture, ranching, and land stewardship. Born into a multigenerational family rooted in farming in the Arkansas Delta and ranching in Colorado and Nevada, Diana developed an early appreciation for hard work, service, and community leadership.

A graduate of Lyon College with a bachelor’s degree in media arts emphasizing photography and journalism, Diana earned national recognition early in her career, receiving two first-place awards from the National Agri-Marketing Association for corporate public relations film and video projects.

Throughout her career, Diana has combined creativity, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. She spent more than a decade producing bull riding and country music events, later worked as a jewelry designer, and has remained deeply committed to advocacy and philanthropy. She served on the Arkansas State University Foundation Board and dedicated more than ten years to serving as both a CASA advocate and board leader, supporting abused and neglected children within the foster care system.

Diana credits Fountain Valley School with deepening her appreciation for service, creativity, the outdoors, and the broader perspective that comes from experiential learning and meaningful community engagement.

Environmental Panel

Arts Panel

STEM Panel

Sarah Hautzinger ‘81

11:56 AM

Laurie Peterson '96

9:38 AM

Laurie credits Fountain Valley School’s outdoor education program with teaching her the most important entrepreneurial skill: being afraid and doing it anyway.

Gleason Bauer '87

11:20 AM

Gleason Bauer (they/them) is a director, designer, and educator currently serving as Artistic Associate at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College and as Associate Artistic Director of square product theatre in Boulder.

A theater maker specializing in devising, adaptation, and ensemble physical theater, they have won multiple awards for their creative work, including the True West Award for their direction and design of SLAB, which they adapted from the novel of the same name. They also received multiple LA Weekly Awards through their work with Zoo District, an ensemble theater company they co-founded and led for more than a decade in Los Angeles.

Gleason is also a somatic theater educator, certified Moment Work teacher, and mindfulness instructor. Having served as Producing Artistic Director and Performing Arts Department Head at Marlborough School in Los Angeles, and held faculty positions at Pomona College, Colorado College, and now Naropa University, their pedagogy integrates psychophysical performance training, contemplative practice, and embodied social justice. Gleason holds an MFA from Naropa University and a BA from Sarah Lawrence College.

JoAnne Kim '95

9:49 AM

JoAnne is a production technologist with nearly 30 years of experience, having worked on major projects including Dune and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Most recently, her work at Apple focused on immersive media experiences for the Apple Vision Pro.

JoAnne specializes in bridging the gap between technology and creativity, working with artists and creatives to develop smarter, more efficient productions by creating a symbiotic relationship between tech and creative worlds. JoAnne's experience in production and post-production as an editor, engineer, producer, and technology executive includes tenures with 20th Century Fox, Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros., Comcast NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Amazon Studios, and Apple.

In addition to her expertise in creative technologies, JoAnne has extensive experience in production infrastructure, studio operations, and production management. She currently works at Netflix as Director of Production Pipeline Services and Technology for Animation Series and Kids & Family Television.

Myra Platt '80

9:40 AM

Myra Platt (’80) is an artist, writer, director, and arts educator. She is Founding Artistic Director of Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle, owner of Myra Mae Studios on Whidbey Island, Guest Lecturer at the University of Washington's School of Drama, and co-host of a podcast entitled Just Before We Go. Myra has spent 35 years championing Book-It’s mission - transforming great literature into great theater and inspiring audiences to read. Her adaptation and/or directorial credits include literary titles such as Howl’s Moving Castle; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Brothers K, and The House of the Spirits. She also founded the company’s highly successful arts education program - serving over 50,000 students in Washington State. Born and raised at FVS, Myra’s love of the arts and adventure began when she was very young. Influenced by her father, Walter Blakelock Wilson, Myra also credits all of FVS for encouraging her to test her personal limits and ‘go for it all.’ As she likes to say, “It’s where I learned to appreciate and value the beauty of the natural environment, world cultures, sports, and the fine arts.” Myra is the proud mother of Wilson Platt. She and her husband Dave Ellis (‘76) live on Whidbey Island.

"[The girls] were spunky. They just arrived, blended in, went to class; they were ready, ready to be part of Fountain Valley School. There was no question, there was no hesitation on their part, and it just became the new normal."

- Pat Kule, Former World Languages Faculty

Fountain Valley Women Over the Years

From the Yearbook

Class of 1976

Class of 1977

Class of 1978

Class of 1979

Class of 1980

Black and white photo of the hacienda from 1929

1926

FVS land purchased by Jack Bradley in 1926

Casa Serena / Hacienda built by Bradley

Elizabeth Sage Hare at a Corner of the Hacienda

1929

With support from Julie and Spencer Penrose, Elizabeth Sage Hare (Founder & first female board member) purchased land from Bradley in 1929 with the intent to turn it into a boarding school.

1929

Dec 1929: School establishes Board of Trustees

1930

Sept. 22, 1930: First faculty meeting

Francis M. Froelicher and Elizabeth Froelicher

1930

First Headmaster: Francis Froelicher (Head years: 1930 - 1950) and wife Elizabeth Froelicher

Elizabeth Froelicher (l) _ Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms (r) small

1930

Elizabeth Froelicher (left) and Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms (right)

The first daughters of Fountain Valley School attend, including Betty Froelicher Smith ’34 (graduate) and Debby Froelicher Howe, Joan Perry, and Susan Littel (attended, did not graduate).

1930

Laura Gilpin is hired as the School’s photographer

L. Gilpin by Myron Wood--1973

1931

Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms joins the Board

1931

Lucile Alsop & Avery Coonley acting as unofficial Board Members

Marsou Perry in the French Classroom-1964-1965

1937

First Female Teacher: Marsou Perry, French

Marsou Perry in French classroom, est. 1964-65

1941

WWII Years see an increase in female faculty members

WWII Years:

Hazel Brown takes over F. Martin Brown "Brownie’s" biology classes while he served in WWII
Marsou Perry takes on an increased teaching load as other faculty served in WWII
Dorothy Jones hired for pre-aviation course

Gazette and Telegraph report on Jones calling her a "commercial pilot and one of the state’s most skilled and enthusiastic women flyers"

Dorothy Jones Aviation Class Instructor and her aviation class

1941

1941-42: Dorothy Jones teaches an aviation course, bringing her experience as a commercial pilot to the classroom.

Aviation Class 1942-42 - by Loyde Knuston

Dorothy Jones, Aviation Class Instructor for FVS Students

1942-43 Board of Trustees - Mrs. Carlton, Julie Penrose, Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms

1942

1942-43 Board of Trustees: Includes Ruth Simms, Julie Penrose, & Mrs A.E. Carlton

1944

1944-45 Faculty: Featuring Hazel Brown & Marsou Perry

Faculty Photo 1951-52 - Henry Poor's first year as Head

1951

Francis Froelicher resigns as Headmaster: Henry B. Poor and wife Mary Poor replace Froelicher as Headmaster (Head Years: 1951 - 1958)

Faculty Photo 1951-52 - Henry Poor's first year as Head

1954

Completion of Penrose Gym (Old Gym), named for benefactor and board member Julie Penrose

Lew and Mary Perry - Summer Bulletin '77

1958

Poor replaced by Lewis Perry, Jr. as Headmaster (Head Years: 1958 - 1978), later joined by second wife Mary Perry.

Lew and Mary Perry - Summer Bulletin '77

FVS & CSS production of “Oliver!” in 1967

1966

1966-67 School Year: Colorado Springs School (CSS) girls become regular participants in FVS theater productions.

FVS & CSS production of “Oliver!” in 1967

1971 - FVS English class exchange with CSS

1970

Beginning of “experimental coeducation” with Colorado Springs School (CSS)

Senior boys from FVS & senior girls from CSS could “exchange” English classes - boys take classes at CSS, vice versa

1970

Spring 1970: Introduction of ISP

1972

Coeducation committee formed

1973

A preliminary report is presented to the Board of Trustees in support of coeducation.

1973

Fall of 1973: First year of Interim

1975

Girls Arrive on Campus: Beginning of coeducation at FVS

In September 1975, Fountain Valley School welcomed its first class of female students, with 35 girls admitted. This group included 16 boarding students and 18 day students, among them five Black scholarship recipients, reflecting an early step toward building a more diverse and inclusive community.

1975

Three female faculty members join the School to support the transition to coeducation.

Pat Kule (left), Kathy Kuss (right), and Chelsea Kesselheim

Field Hockey - 1978:79 - Barbara Ball '79 in back

1975

Introduction of Girls’ Athletic Teams

Field hockey becomes the first interscholastic sport, with 13 students participating. Early standouts include Nelly Higgenbotham ’78, Ann Rowsey ’78, and Sue Williams ’77.

Athletic opportunities expand to include volleyball, basketball, tennis, and swimming. The riding program sees strong interest, with more girls participating than boys.

Field Hockey - 1978:79 - Barbara Ball '79 in back

Two female students working in a classroom

1976

Girls’ enrollment reaches 77 students

1976 Varsity Football team photo in black and white

1976

Final season of men’s football

1976 Varsity Football Team

Dwight and Marsou Perry on their 50th wedding anniversary - 1975

1976

Dwight and Marsou Perry depart FVS

1976

Construction begins on the Mountain Campus, expanding opportunities for off-campus learning and outdoor experiences

1976

The Outdoor Education program is formally established

The Outdoor Education program forms, building on decades of informal programming and the legacy of Walter Froelicher. Early offerings include rock climbing, camping, cross-country skiing, and survival skills.

Janet (Edwards) Dulin ‘77 - first female gymkhana captain

1977

Janet (Edwards) Dulin ’77 becomes the School’s first female gymkhana captain

1977

Dominique Dunne ’77 is inducted into the Arts Guild and Kathy Kardock ’77 is inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame

Dominique Dunne ’77 (pictured)

Mary Nickerson, 1981 - Director of Admissions

1977

Mary Nickerson is hired to lead the girls’ athletic program and serve as Director of Admissions, while also teaching English and assisting in the art department, becoming a key leader and role model for female students.

1978 - Peggy Hirsch & Morley Ballantine (first female trustees since B Hare & R Simms) - Marcia Strickland in center (board member in 1977)

1977

Women return to the Board of Trustees for the first time since the mid-1950s

Peggy Hirsh (left - elected Oct. 1974), Morley Ballentine (middle, 1975), & Marcia Strickland (right, 1977)

1978

Tim Knox takes over as Head of School with wife Elizabeth Knox (Head Years: 1978 - 1987)

Elizabeth “Liz” Knox teaches English and contributes to student life on campus, including involvement with The Dane.

1978

Mary Crouter ’79 is elected president of the newly established Shared Governance Council, replacing the student council and marking a final step in Fountain Valley School’s transition to a fully coeducational community.

1978

Morley Ballentine, in partnership with Norma and John Danaher of the Development Office, establishes the Casa Serena Society

Morley Ballentine serves as President of the Casa Serena Society in its early years, helping to shape and grow what becomes one of the School’s most impactful major gifts programs.