Off to Ethiopia

By Mark C. Hale

 

Today, I'm off to Ethiopia for a one year appointment as the Interim Head of School at Haile Manas Academy in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.

So, how did this all come about you may ask.... Well, I was sitting in my office at home late one afternoon, minding my own business and enjoying some reading, when I received a call from Liz Duffy the Executive Director for ISS. I had met Liz when she and I participated in the Klingenstein Center Program at Columbia several years back. At that time, she was the Head of School at Lawrenceville. We had not spoken for several years, but she knew that I had left the headship at Greensboro Days School. She said that an interesting opportunity had just come across her desk and that she immediately thought of me. She wanted to know if I would be interested in taking on an interim headship position in Ethiopia. And... I blurted out, "Sure!" What was I thinking?! Well, she caught me off guard, and I tell folks that I really had nothing better to do... Retired, a bit of consulting, golf, golf, and more golf...

So, I went through the interview process and... they offered me the position! Who knew that an Acting Major from the University of Washington would end up having an incredible career in education ranging from teaching elementary and high school to coaching, directing theater productions, to more than 40 years of heading schools. And, I might add, each school was a completely different experience beginning with a small P-6 school in Rolling Hills, CA, to starting a school in Santa Fe, NM before heading an Episcopal school in San Mateo, CA, and finally a large, 900 student, P-12 day school in Greensboro, NC. Each provided different challenges for which I had no previous experience. And, now I'm off to head a newly developing 9-12 boarding school in Ethiopia. It appears that I've been appointed to run just about every different kind of major school in the US and internationally. What a life! (And, I might add, what an incredibly supportive wife!)



Comments

Ed Cone said…
What an opportunity. I know you'll have a great experience, Mark, and do good things for the school.
August 16, 2022 at 3:25 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Melkam Adis Amet!

By Mark C. Hale
Image
Happy New Year! The Ethiopian calendar divides the year into 13 months, with the last month of the year lasting 5-6 days, depending on whether or not it's leap year. This allows each of the 12 months to have 30 days. So, the last month is a 5 day catch up month for the year. New Year's day for Ethiopia (Enkutatash) falls on last day of the month of Pagume, which is September 11 on the Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated similarly to the way we celebrate in the U.S., only with more of a family and stay at home feel.  Here are two faculty children, Merherbert and Ebabe wearing traditional clothing, which is dominated by the color white. They bring a New Year's welcoming to your door on New Year's day and you're expected to give them a gift of money, which they can keep or donate to a favorite charity. On campus. We celebrated New Year's Eve at the home of one of our Ethiopian teacher's and her family. We drank Tej, which is a local drink, and ate tibs, a cook...
Read more

Meskel!

By Mark C. Hale
Image
(Our Meskel Bonfire) A brief History (According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, with some grammatical corrections by MCH) Meskel has been celebrated for a millennium in Ethiopia. There are two occasions on Meskel. The first is “Demera” which is celebrated on the eve (September 25), bonfires are built topped by a cross to which Meskel daisy flowers are tied, The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church orchestrates in a ceremony to light the bonfire at Meskel Square which is the heart of Addis Ababa. Smaller “Demeras” are built at individual houses or villages, next day of “Demera” there will be Meskel festivity. In the morning of Meskel, believers use the ashes from the Demera to mark their foreheads with the sign of the Cross.  The ceremony is accompanied by spiritual songs and dancing (Mezmurs).   The Jews who lived in those days became envious of the cross, so they buried the cross and turned the place into dumping ground garbage. Over time the garbage piled up...
Read more