Our Fantastic Faculty and Stellar Staff
My first interaction with Mr. Aymar was when I was in JK, and he held a concert (either at his house or at Parker, I do not remember). Our class, a group of four-to-six-year-olds, sat down in a small courtyard-style space and listened to him perform. It was incredible. That was my first exposure to live music and performance. That concert and the wonder he brought to me was one of my earliest memories of Parker.
Later at Parker, I picked up the cello, playing for a total of nine years. I would learn that Mr. Aymar was an Upper School Latin teacher. In between class periods, he was known for playing his guitar as the students walked the halls. While I never took one of Mr. Aymar's classes, he must have remembered me from those early days. When I would walk by as he was playing his guitar, he would say to me, “Still playing cello, huh Danny? Good man.”
I never took one of his Latin classes, nor figured out how he knew I was a cellist, but what always stood out to me about Mr. Aymar was how he found ways to make an impact on every Parker student’s life. He helped inspire my love of live music. He was always a friendly face in the hallways. He finds ways to connect with you on a variety of levels. He was a cornerstone of Parker and what it meant to build a model home where every individual was worth building a connection with.
Mr. Aymar, you will be greatly missed. Thank you for all you have done. Best of luck going forward.
Danny Avila ’16
It’s been an honor and a privilege working with you throughout the years. It has also been a pleasure working with your wonderful grandchildren. They are extremely blessed to have you and Carol in their lives. You will be missed by me and the entire Parker community. God bless you.
Willie J. Banks, Physical Education teacher, parent emeritus
Congratulations on your retirement! You are and always will be one of my favorite teachers, not just of my time in high school, but of my entire school career. You allowed me to jump into Latin 2 as a freshman and always made me feel welcome in the fold. You went above and beyond in creating a new class so that I could continue to take Latin into my senior year, which would not have been possible otherwise.
You also, to me, are the epitome of a progressive educator. The way you would stand in the hall with your banjo was not just a way of being friendly, though of course it was friendly, but was also a kind of litmus test to see how kids were doing that day. You had a finely tuned understanding of the needs of your students, and every once in a while, that meant having a conversation about current events, or pizza toppings, before getting to the Latin. You expected students to put in the work they needed to do to learn, and you respected their potential and capability as learners.
You also knew how to interact with us as human beings, and that is not as common a skill as you might expect. You had kids bring in boxes of Dots if their phones rang in class. And once you even brought in White Castle because someone admitted to never having had it before. Your class, was without a doubt, one of my favorite things about Parker. And you are one of my role models for how to be a teacher. Thank you for being so completely yourself in the classroom, sharing stories about your life, playing music and getting us arguing about pizza toppings that work in omelets. And thank you for really seeing me, as a full human being, at a time when I sometimes felt less seen.
I have also truly appreciated our continued connection through the plays in the many years since I graduated high school. I love telling casts backstage that my Latin teacher is in the audience. I hope you will now have more of a chance to relax, make art and music and enjoy your wonderful grandchildren.
Warmly, Emma Brayndick ’10
Your kind, interesting, gentle yet strong presence will be greatly missed in the Upper School. You were a much beloved teacher and role model, especially for our boys. Jack brought home so many sayings, discussions, interesting tidbits that arose from your class. I am very sad that Paul will not get to have the Mark Aymar experience. I hope you enjoy every last thing about your retirement. Wishing you and Carol boundless adventures, quiet times, fun mixed with relaxation. You served your Parker community well and you will be greatly missed!
Warmly, Terri Abruzzo Callahan, parent emerita
I am so happy for you! Now you can truly join Carol in exploring Chicago and other parts of the country/world, eating long, relaxing meals together and listening to (perhaps even making!) music. Your even-keeled, concerned and thoughtful demeanor will be so missed at Parker and by me. You know what is important in life, Mark, and appreciate others. Here’s wishing you the best in knowing that you have many more fun-filled years ahead!
So happy for you,
Maureen Cuesta, 4th grade teacher, parent emerita
Maureen Cuesta, 4th grade teacher, parent emerita
Anne Marie, it has been an honor and a privilege working with you. I hope you find retirement a blessing. You will surely be missed by me and the entire Parker community. God bless you.
Willie J. Banks, Physical Education teacher, parent emeritus
Are you sure you are old enough to retire?? I can remember the day you started. Fred, Dick Holland and I had traveled all over the East Coast looking for a science teacher, and here we had the best in our own backyard. I have appreciated your good humor and flexibility over these many years, and I wish you a very enjoyable retirement.
My very best wishes, Harriett Cholden, former 5th grade teacher
You have been an amazing friend, mentor and colleague over the past 10 years. Your laughter and energy were a warm and welcoming presence from the moment I started to work at Parker. Your vision for developing happy, creative, inquisitive scientists and engineers in the students you work with is truly inspiring. Thank you for all of the hard work you put into kick-starting a robotics program at Parker that has grown into a mainstay of the institution. Your signature ebullient laughter should be recorded and not only put in the Library of Congress but etched into the next golden record that we send off into space. So many joyful memories and playful projects came out of your classroom. I look forward to hearing what your next phase brings and visiting you at your cabin in the woods.
With love, Adam Colestock, Intermediate and Middle School STEM and Coding teacher
Congrats Anne Marie! Didn't we have some great times celebrating Friday years ago. Remember the wing dings and the box of wine that you brought?
Fondly, Shirley Conant, former 1st and 2nd grade teacher
I am so happy for you! Now you can truly enjoy those grandchildren of yours and spend more of your time having fun, rather than commuting! Your effervescent personality and contagious laugh will be so missed at Parker and by me. The Cuesta family was so fortunate in you being both boys’ 8th grade advisor. You shaped Nico and Ale, mentored them and helped them in ways you probably will never know. Here’s wishing you the best and many more fun-filled years ahead!
So happy for you, Maureen Cuesta, 4th grade teacher, parent emerita
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.