Teacher and Staff Appreciation Spotlight | Kelly, Deborah and Kelsey Orchard's Development Team
Parents' Association interview with The Orchard School’s Development Team. Deborah Thornburgh, The Orchard School's Director of Development, Kelsey Schlarb Annual Giving Coordinator, and Kelly Miles the Technology Resource Coordinator who joined the Orchard family in January of 2018, took a few moments to share a little about themselves with the Orchard community.
Can you describe your role?
Kelsey: Anything that incorporates annual giving, alumni relations, development events, community building events, reporting and analysis. Educating our community about the importance of annual giving and capital gifts as well as donor stewardship.
Deb: Yes, stewardship is very important. We want our donors to know we appreciate all gifts of time, talent and treasure! I oversee all of the development responsibilities, as Kelsey mentioned, and work with both she and Kelly to ensure we secure the needed funds to meet the schools budgetary needs. I also serve as the liaison to the Parents' Association. In addition, I partner with our capital campaign consultant in the management of the campaign which is currently in its early stages.
Kelly: I keep track of all gifts, write thank you letters, help with events, keep track of all changes, update the database with information such as awards, obituaries, ...all are recorded and information is used for the annual report.
Why is Annual Giving important?
Deb: The budget is set and tuition is based on actual costs. Costs, however, exceed tuition revenues. Annual Giving serves to ensure we have funding for faculty professional development, financial aid, classroom resources…just to name a few of the costs that would need to be cut without funding from Annual Giving.
Kelsey: The Orchard model is expensive and tuition alone doesn’t cover the cost of an Orchard education. Annual giving, in addition to the draw from the endowment, helps cover that gap and helps to keep tuition at the lowest level possible.
Would you share a little about yourself with the Orchard community?
Kelly: I just moved to Indianapolis in December from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. I have five year old twins, Maggie and Hadley, in the Bradley/Lapworth-Kuehl Multiage class. Two of my brothers are Orchard alumni and they, along with my parents, live here in Indianapolis.
Kelsey: I have two kids, Hudson who’s four and is also in the Bradley/Lapworth-Kuehl class...
Kelly: Hadley and Hudson say that they are girlfriend and boyfriend!
Kelsey: Yes they do!
Kelly: One day at pick-up Hudson shouted “Hadley!” and they both ran and gave each other big hugs and I got it on video! [all smiles]
Kelsey: ...my daughter, Norah, is ten months old (future Orchard Owl!) and my husband is Brandon. I grew up in Indianapolis. My parents along with my sister and her family live here as well. I have a brother who lives in Columbia, South America where he is currently teaching English. When he visited this past December, he participated in Señora Matatall’s Spanish class with Hudson. It was great!
Deb: I’m married to Jack and we have three grown children, all Orchard alumni. Meredith’s (my daughter) oldest daughter Maggie is here in third grade and her sister Ruthie is three and a half. She’s a future Orchard Owl! My sons are John and Jake…
Kelsey: ...Three very successful Orchard alumni!
Deb: Meredith (White) and our oldest son John, are both attorneys. He and Jake, who’s a paralegal, live and work in Washington, D.C.
What is the most difficult part of the job?
Kelsey: I would say finding ways to educate the community about the importance of Annual Giving is the hardest part.
Kelly: Just being new is always a bit tricky. There are a lot of little details and steps to important procedures to learn but thankfully everyone has been very friendly and patient!
Deb: I think telling the story about why giving is so important. Helping parents to understand why they should support in any way they can.
What is the most fulfilling part of the job?
Kelsey: Getting to know the community through conversations. Everyone has a great Orchard story. Also, being part of a community that has such deep, wonderful traditions. Orchard is such a unique place.
Deb: I think Orchard has a unique approach to education that allows students to discover the joy in learning which then empowers them to believe they can be successful at anything they choose to do. Supporting a school that accomplishes that for children, and especially my children and grandchildren, is very rewarding.
Kelly: I agree - being a part of the Orchard mission and joining such a great community.
What is something that might surprise the Orchard community about you?
Deb: That’s a hard question!
Kelsey: You were the PA President!
Deb: Yes I was the PA President and the Coordinator of the Dignity Center and the Imagine Middle School Program. I was also an Orchard in Bloom Co-Chair. That was the year we had a tornado - that was not fun! Luckily it didn’t touch down!
Kelly: My degree is in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I focused on Commercial Studio Lighting because I loved really great food photography like in Food & Wine magazine.
Kelsey: I once caught a football from Tom Brady during a Colts game. Come find me if you would like to hear the rest of the story! I have two comfy chairs and a coffee maker in my office [smiles].
What advice would you give to the Orchard community?
Kelsey: Enjoy and appreciate all the great things Orchard is doing for our kids - even if they are coming home covered in mud! Don’t take it for granted, the teachers here are amazing. Take in all the stories and admire their joy for learning.
Deb: As a parent of grown children I’d say - don’t sweat the small stuff. Your kids grow up fast but from Orchard they take with them a strong sense of themselves, self confidence and a curiosity about the world that can last a lifetime.
Kelly: I agree. If someone is just starting in Early Childhood or finishing up in eighth grade - I hope we can appreciate all this school has to offer.
Deb: Stop by and see us anytime - we’re not scary!
Kelsey: Yes! We’d love to hear your story. We truly appreciate all of the ways our community gives back to Orchard - time, talent and treasure. THANK YOU!Letter Boxes are located in the Center; next to the Elementary School Art Room; in the Early Childhood hallway; and near the Middle School Administrative Office. Now you can drop off your letters of appreciation to all of your favorite SUPERHEROES disguised as teachers, administration, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and Kids Connect staff. Letters will be delivered during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, March 12-16.
Click here to read the previous Teacher and Staff Appreciation spotlight.
