Stories from the Ridge, The McCallie Podcast

There’s excitement on the Ridge as several of the spring athletic teams are aiming their sights at state championships. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics, sits down with head coaches of five of the spring teams to discuss their perspective on the upcoming season. This podcast was recorded on March 20, 2024, just as the season was beginning. Here’s the timeline breakdown: Track and Field, Coach Rodney Stoker, 7:38; Baseball, Coach Tim Costo, 14:25; Tennis, Coach Jeff Clark, 21:53; Soccer, Chris Cushenbery, 31:47; Lacrosse, Coach Eamon Thornton, 41:58.

The Emmett Till Story Part II: Elder Parker Visits McCallie School The Rev. Wheeler Parker, the last surviving member of the family of Emmett Till, who was with Emmett when he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, visited McCallie School on March 13, 2024 to share his story as a first-hand witness to history. He came to campus as a guest speaker as part of the Mandela Fellow Endowed Fund, a fund established by alumni to enhance students’ understanding of what it means to be an agent of hope, reconciliation, and social justice. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, the Rev. Parker – or Elder Parker as he is known – is joined by his relative, Jason Walker, class of 1991, and a member of McCallie’s Board of Trustees, as well as history teacher Casey Cook class of 2013, and student Max Hood, class of 2027.The earlier podcast about Emmett Till and McCallie School that is mentioned in this podcast can be found by searching for “The Emmett Till Story: American History and McCallie Connections” on McCallie’s web site: www.mccallie.org/podcast or on most major podcast platforms.

 The Michaels-Dickson Scholars Program, which has transformed McCallie School’s boarding programs into one of the top such programs in the nation, celebrated its 25th anniversary in late February, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joined by other top administrators – including two who were involved at the very beginning of the program -- and by a Trustee who was one of the two the first Michaels-Dickson Scholars. They reflect on the success and growth of the program over the past quarter century, and share their thoughts about the future.   A full story on the Michaels-Dickson Scholars program can be found on McCallie’s web site: www.mccallie.org/news.

For the first time in 31 years, McCallie’s Wrestling team has won both the traditional State of Tennessee title, plus the State duals. And on top of that, the team under Head Coach Jake Yost beat cross-town rival and defending State champion Baylor for the first time in 19 years. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns sits down with Coach Yost and two of the senior wrestlers, Carson Gentle and James Cross to discuss the exciting wins and the hard work and mental discipline behind them. And they look forward to the upcoming National Preps to be held in Pennsylvania. The full story of the team’s championship season can be found at: www.mccallie.org/news .

The college admissions process is in the midst of perhaps the most profound and impactful series of changes in several decades, and navigating these changes is becoming more challenging for students, parents, and counselors, according to Abbie Roberts, who in August assumed the role of Director of College Counseling at McCallie. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Ms. Roberts is joined by Head of School Lee Burns ’87, in discussing the changing and complicated college admissions landscape and how it affects McCallie students.

A dozen members of McCallie’s Men’s Chorus will perform on what many consider to be the world’s most important stage – Carnegie Hall in New York on February 18, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 talks with Dr. James Harr '92, Director of Choral Programs, about the upcoming concert, which will feature choral groups from several schools and universities in the U.S. and abroad (including from McCallie’s sister school, GPS). The two also discuss McCallie’s choral music program as well as the whole fine arts program at McCallie.Tickets to the Feb. 18 concert can be purchased at  https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2024/02/18/dciny-and-bluegrass-0200pm

McCallie’s Tornado Term – T-Term for short – has become a special part of the school’s culture and an important way McCallie boys expand their learning experience beyond the traditional classroom. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joined by Upper School Principal Hank Hopping and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie in a discussion of T-Term, its role and purpose in the school’s curriculum, and its growing popularity among students. Stories from faculty and students about two of the T-Term offerings also are included (note: the recordings of the students and teachers are from the 2023 T-Term). More details about T-Term can be found in the News section of McCallie’s website at www.mccallie.org/news.

Head of School Christmas Talk, Candlelight Chorus, and Kemmer Anderson Christmas Poem In this special edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 shares the Christmas talk he gave on Dec. 6, 2023, to the student body, and we hear the McCallie/GPS chorus sing O Holy Night from the 2023 Candlelight concert. Finally, Martha Anderson, wife of longtime English teacher and poet Kemmer Anderson, who died earlier this year, reads one of Kemmer’s popular Christmas poems. We hope you enjoy this special Christmas podcast, and may your Christmas be merry and holy. The text of Mr. Burns’ talk can be found here and the 2023 Christmas video can be viewed here.

Winter Sports Preview The winter athletic season is already underway and head coaches of the teams -- Basketball, Bowling, Climbing, Squash, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling -- are looking at one of the best seasons in McCallie's storied history of great seasons. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, the coaches are joined by Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, and Mark Wiedmer of Communications Staff, and talk about their teams and their approaches to coaching.

Ralph Potter and Lee Burns Discuss State Championship Game   For the first time in history, McCallie will face cross-town rival Baylor School for the State of Tennessee Division II-AAA football championship on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. As the excitement builds along the Ridge, Head Coach Ralph Potter ’81, sat down with Head of School Lee Burns ’87 on Monday, Nov. 27, in the Podcast Studio to talk about the game and Coach Potter’s coaching style, philosophy, and his perspective on competing for his fifth state title. For more details about Thursday’s game can be found on McCallie’s web site, www.mccallie.org.