ICS Legend, Bruce Crossman, Prepares for Retirement after 40 years of Service 4.7.2021

Dear ICS Community,

Today Indian Creek School announces the upcoming retirement of Bruce Crossman - a member of our community who has embodied the spirit of ICS for 40 years.  

      
A Humble Legend 
Over his four decades at ICS, Bruce has had an extraordinary impact on thousands of lives within the ICS community. To say that Bruce is an ICS legend would be an understatement. Bruce exemplifies the ICS mission and philosophy, always putting the best interests of our students first. He genuinely loves working with young people, demonstrates humility and selflessness, and motivates everyone around him to be their best, including myself.    

One of my first Indian Creek memories was in April 2019 when I had the honor of traveling with Bruce and former Upper School Head Eileen Mattingly to visit ICS founder Anne Chambers in Frederick, Maryland. I had just been appointed Head of School and visited from my then-home in Seattle, Washington. Having the opportunity to meet this power trio and learn about Indian Creek from them solidified that I had made the right choice. Spending time with Bruce, specifically, made the School come alive. His passion, belief, and virtue were all on full display.  

A Trailblazing Leader 
Bruce came to ICS in 1981 after teaching in Prince George’s County Public Schools and in West Germany with the Department of Defense Public Schools. He was a Middle School teacher for many years, engaging his students in the wonders of science through hands-on activities. Bruce was Anne Chambers’ natural choice as principal for the Middle School, which he led for 28 years with deep understanding of his students and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence.  

Today Bruce serves as Director of Campus Connections and Evergreen Alumni Philanthropy. He has delighted in the opportunity to connect with former students, and he enjoys touring the school with visiting alumni to show them the campus that will be home to the entire PK-12 school soon. He has visited alumni at home as far south as South Carolina and as far north as Massachusetts.  This winter and spring he has been hosting a series of virtual class reunions with the students he used to teach. The affection that these Creekers have for both the school and their former teacher and principal is clear from so many of the memories they share in these conversations.  

An Inspiring Community Builder 
Thanks to a generous donation from the Semans Family in Bruce’s honor, Indian Creek’s updated floor plan for grades 6-8 will be named the Bruce E. Crossman Middle School Wing. In addition to the Middle School carrying his name, Bruce’s legacy will include a commitment to building community, confidence, and character in our students and teachers for generations to come. We anticipate that Bruce will return to ICS often—to enjoy Grandparents Day festivities with his own grandchildren, to help his daughter Anne Crossman Engles ‘97 in her capacity as Director of Alumni Engagement, to visit his faculty colleagues, and to watch our progress as we expand to serve future generations. 

Indian Creek School will always be grateful to Bruce Crossman. He established a strong, student-centered Middle School, and led the faculty for years with clarity, wisdom, and dedication. He has provided the institutional knowledge that eased the transition from founders Anne Chambers and Rebecca Randolph to a new generation of administrators determined to carry on the mission of Indian Creek. You will be hearing more about Bruce’s contributions to the school this spring, as we celebrate Bruce’s lifetime of service to ICS leading up to his retirement celebration on June 8.  

All of us at Indian Creek wish Bruce, Patti, Anne, Liz ’02, and their families the absolute best in their next adventure, and we trust you will return often to share them with us.  

With respect, admiration, and thanks, 

Booth Kyle 
Head of School