Killington
posted
Nov 12, 2012
To recognize and remember her dedication to and passion for
teaching, education and the future success of student-athletes, the
community at Killington Mountain School will dedicate a chairlift
"bench" and new hiking trail off River Road in Killington in memory
of Hasse Halley on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m.
Halley passed away unexpectedly just more than a year ago, when
she was hit by a motor vehicle while walking to the Woodstock Town
Hall for post-Tropical Storm Irene volunteer work. Halley was an
English teacher at KMS and the interim director of academics at the
time of her passing.
The new Hasse Halley Path begins at the end of Valley Park Road
off of River Road in Killington and meanders at the base of the
ridge to its end on Thundering Brook Road. The trail is part of the
town's initiative to add more hiking and walking trails to
encourage outdoor recreation, and it will be maintained by KMS in
perpetuity. The chairlift "bench" was a gift from the KMS Class of
2012 and will be placed at the approximate halfway mark of the
trail.
Halley's husband and family will be present at the dedication.
Guests are requested to park along Valley Park Road or at the
Sherburne Library. Those at the library will then be shuttled to
the trailhead.
Guests are asked to meet at 2:30 p.m. to prepare to walk to the
dedication site.
"Hasse was only at KMS for a few, short years, but her passion
for the school, her deep care for our students' well being, and a
strong desire to leave a place better than she found it had already
had a profound impact on our community," said Tao Smith, head of
school. "She was deeply enthusiastic about education and learning.
She is sorely missed at KMS."
Anyone who wishes to join in the ceremony may do so. Please
contact Smith at tsmith@killingtonmountainschool.org if
interested.
From the Burlington Free Press obituary, "Dr. Halley taught high
school English, helped developed a statewide portfolio assessment
for teachers of English and was actively involved in many statewide
and national associations relating to teaching and education.
She held many professional titles including Teacher, Dean of
Students, Principal, Assistant Principal, Associate Professor and
Director of Learning Opportunities. She authored numerous
professional and freelance articles. Dr. Halley's many awards
include Teacher of the Year at Woodstock Union High School, 2005,
NEH Grant Recipient, Summer 2004, Fullbright Memorial Fund
Recipient, 2002, University of VT Outstanding Teacher Award. Dr.
Halley's spirit and energy touched people everywhere she went,
throughout her over 50 years of teaching English in public schools
to her many community service projects locally and across the
world, including those in Cambodia, Africa, Israel, Thailand, Great
Britain and South America."
