Cummins retires after 44 years

Paul Watkins, Science & Technology Editor|May 30, 2014

After+44+years+and+multiple+positions+at+St.+Paul+Academy+and+Summit+School%2C+Judy+Cummins+is+retiring.+%E2%80%9C+I+think+an+important+quality+in+a+new+Dean+is+an+exitement...+for+your+discipline+and+being+a+good+role+model+for+the+students%2C%E2%80%99%E2%80%99+Cummins+said.+

Paul Watkins

After 44 years and multiple positions at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Judy Cummins is retiring. “ I think an important quality in a new Dean is an exitement… for your discipline and being a good role model for the students,’’ Cummins said.

Upper School Dean of Students Judy Cummins, faculty at SPA for 44 years, has, not surprisingly, had her fair share of students come through her offices.
“I started as a French and German teacher in 1970. I went to school in Germany where I learned French [instead of the required English]… I actually was hired before I got my diploma!” she said.
Cummins later went to graduate school where she obtained a master’s degree in Psychology and started teaching the upper school Psychology elective at SPA. In 1992, she was made Dean of 12th Grade and became Dean of Students in 1996.
“I think an important quality in a new Dean is an excitement… for your discipline and being a good role model for the students,” Cummins said.
“This year with so many teachers leaving SPA, it will be an opportunity for new perspective and… new ideas… The connection between students and adults is special and that’s something we would like to preserve,” she said.