Joan Gillette was one of the founding teachers and leaders of Common Ground. She co-built and co-taught some of what became the first Common Ground courses – about eggs and seeds, English and science, identity and sustainability – before Common Ground even existed. She was a visionary who could see something beautiful growing in an abandoned lot on Springside Avenue. She planted the first gardens here, and tended them. Common Ground would not exist, or be what it is today, without her. 

Upon the occasion of Liz Cox’s retirement from Common Ground, friends and colleagues donated money in her name to create a scholarship to be given to a graduating senior at the Graduation ceremony. The award is named the “You Got This” award as that was the message Liz passed to students and adults alike when they felt like they were facing a challenge. One of Liz’s great traits was her ability to help anyone she touched see things in themselves that they had not seen before. Her leadership style was one of constant encouragement. She helped us all believe in ourselves and this little place where we all can find Common Ground.

In 2023, upon her retirement after 20 years as a math and biodiversity teacher, Karen Climis created a scholarship for a member of the senior class. She decided to call it the Hawk Award, in honor of our school mascot, and the wildlife around our campus that Karen has helped so many of our students come to love. Karen’s generosity means that we can present a $1,000 cash prize to a Common Ground senior who plans to study math or science in college, and who shares Karen’s passion for nature, wildlife, and the environment around us.