Farewell and Best Wishes!

Farewell and Best Wishes! Alumni play many important roles within the Potomac School community. Some return to campus as guest speakers, some serve as mentors to current students and fellow alums, and many provide generous philanthropic support that helps our school achieve its educational mission. In addition, a few alumni serve as Potomac faculty and staff. After many years of dedicated service and leadership, two such individuals left our school at the close of the 2021-22 academic year. We salute Annabelle Redway Dunn ’85 and Rob Lee ’78 for their contributions to Potomac and wish them well in their next adventures.

Annabelle Redway Dunn ‘85 was hired as a kindergarten teacher in the fall of 1994. In the following years, she filled a variety of roles, teaching second grade and fifth grade, and serving as a Middle School language arts resource teacher and a Lower School reading specialist. In 2016, Annabelle became Potomac’s first Lower School academic dean, providing valuable support to the division head, faculty, and students. Two years later, Annabelle stepped up to meet another need by serving as interim K-12 director of teaching and learning. She then returned to the Lower School, continuing her work as both a reading specialist and the division’s academic dean.

Annabelle’s dedication to her students and skill in the classroom were recognized in 2017, when she received Potomac’s Bill Cook Excellent Teaching Award. All who know Annabelle attest not only to her professionalism but also to her kindness, patience, and compassion. A caring teacher, a supportive colleague and mentor, and an exemplar of Potomac’s core values, Annabelle leaves a lasting legacy at Potomac and in the lives of the hundreds of students who benefited from knowing her.

This fall, Annabelle embraced new challenges and opportunities as director of the upper division at National Presbyterian School. She departs with our deep gratitude and best wishes.

Rob Lee ‘78 joined Potomac in 1989 as a part-time coach. After completing the school’s internship program, he taught seventh and eighth grade history while coaching a variety of sports. In 1992, Rob was named to serve as athletics director for Potomac’s new Upper School. Later, as separate boys and girls athletics programs emerged and grew, Rob provided leadership for our boys program. For 25 years, he played an instrumental role in shaping Potomac athletics.

A dedicated educator, Rob was also a strong role model, leading by example with his unfailingly positive attitude, can-do spirit, and genuine kindness and concern for others. In the fall of 2020, he took on a new challenge. Working in our Advancement Office, Rob leveraged his people skills to strengthen relationships between Potomac and its supporters. In fall 2021, Rob was back in the Athletics Office, serving as an assistant director and coach. As always, he went where he was most needed and always did fantastic work. In 2021, in recognition of his character and contributions to the life of the school, Rob received Potomac’s Generosity of Spirit Award.

This fall, Rob returned to teaching and coaching at Landon School. Rob has told us how excited he is to be returning to the classroom and to be able to spend more time with his son, a student at Landon. Rob is well loved and highly respected by generations of Potomac students. We join his many friends and admirers in wishing him continued success!