The Charlotte Gibboney Lower School Resource Center Dedicated in Honor of Beloved Teacher

On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 30, an intimate group of family and friends of former Lower School Principal Charlotte Gibboney gathered for a surprise room dedication ceremony to honor this beloved pillar of Indian Creek School.

Thanks to a generous gift from the Reilly family (Dan, Katherine '84, Daniel '17, and John Patrick '20), Indian Creek students will have the opportunity to learn and grow in The Charlotte Gibboney Lower School Resource Center for years to come.

As Head of School Booth Kyle shared, "Naming this important space on Indian Creek’s campus in honor of Charlotte Gibboney feels so very right in many ways.  Many of us gathered here know Charlotte and have seen the impact that she has had on Indian Creek School and its students for over 40 years." 

Working alongside founders Anne Chambers and Rebecca Randolph, Mrs. Gibboney played a pivotal role in carrying out the School’s mission to see each child as an individual and to help all students reach their full potential. She came to ICS in 1976, when the school was in its third year of existence, and served as a Lower School teacher, Reading Specialist, Principal, and Education Specialist during her tenure. Mrs. Gibboney raised her children, Amanda '93 and Matthew '99, at Indian Creek and mentored generations of ICS teachers.  She was instrumental in creating the community of friends, colleagues, and families dedicated to nurturing and celebrating children for which Indian Creek is known today.

While Mrs. Gibboney held many roles at ICS over her career, her work with emerging readers is often cited by alumni as having had an unparalleled impact on their lives. She often spoke about the “magic” she could see in children as they developed the connections needed to take off as confident readers.  During the room dedication ceremony, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Sarah Allen shared the way that Mrs. Gibboney created this magic for hundreds of children, truly changing their lives: "This was not done with a magic wand or spell, but with an extraordinary amount of knowledge, experience, patience, and care."

Colleagues admired the way that Mrs. Gibboney has always seen every student as an individual, and used her connections with the children to pull content that would excite them as learners and help facilitate the reading process.  Whenever she would work with a student - either individually or in a small group - it was consistently the best part of their day. Her students felt known and valued.

The Charlotte Gibboney Lower School Resource Center will create a home for this magic to happen for years to come. Current Creekers continue to receive this personalized care from Learning Specialist Valerie Orr and faculty are mentored by Instructional Coach Sarah Harris in this space.  

Indian Creek School thanks the Reilly family for making this fitting tribute possible. Indian Creek will always be grateful for the magic that Charlotte Gibboney has inspired for so many students.