Guiding Light

It was August of 1982, and Missy Herod was at a crossroads.
What’s next? she wondered as she pondered her options.
 
She’d been a multi-sport star at Collegiate where she earned the 1972 Reed Athletic Award and at Ursinus College (Class of ’76) in Collegeville, PA, a western suburb of Philadelphia, where she played on national championship field hockey and lacrosse teams.
 
She’d been a jack-of-all-trades for five years at Kimberton School (near Valley Forge) where she’d taught, coached, headed the health and wellness program, and served as athletic director.
 
She’d traveled to South Africa and Great Britain to (among other roles) coach hockey and teach physical education.
 
She’d directed international tournaments in both hockey and lacrosse.
 
She’d studied sports medicine at Temple University and business at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and hoped one day to start a sporting goods company that would provide gear designed specifically for female athletes since many in her day wore ill-fitting men’s equipment.
 
She reveled in the connections, challenges, and opportunities to serve, and at this point she strongly considered returning to Philly, finishing her MBA, pursuing her business dream, and coaching at the college level.
 
She’d also been offered a one-semester position at Collegiate filling in for a newly hired teacher from England who was unavailable until she received her visa.
 
So, yes. What to do?
 
That’s when her mother Jacqueline Herod, the executive director of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools and a longtime community volunteer, provided wise counsel.
 
“I thought my job would be to go out in the world and make a lot of money and take care of myself and my family,” Missy recalled one day recently as she reflected upon her 40-year Collegiate career, which will come to an end with her retirement in June.  “She’s the one who said, ‘Teaching will be the most important thing you’ll ever do. You might be poor, but you’ll be happy, and you’ll love going to work every day.’ She was right.”
 
From the time Missy returned to North Mooreland Road, her career has been a case study in skillfully multi-tasking at NASCAR speed.
 
Early on, she taught, served as assistant girls’ athletic director, and coached field hockey and soccer until the mid-2000’s when she stepped back to devote her time to administration and teaching health and physical education. Eventually, she became director of student activities, and in recent years, as the landscape  shifted and the demands of the position expanded, she’s assumed the role of associate director of student life.
 
Among a host of responsibilities, she serves as an Upper School advisor and oversees a cornucopia of clubs and activities. She directs Pageant, baccalaureate, and graduation, the prom, countless dances, homecoming, and myriad other extra-curricular opportunities. She coordinates Special Olympics and year-in, year-out finds joy in watching Collegiate sophomores interact supportively and thoughtfully with special needs kids. She has also served as a trusted confidante for students who seek her out for her wisdom, insight, sensitivity, and compassion.
 
Despite the complexities of each endeavor, she manages to make everything look so easy.
 
“I’m just trying to keep students motivated and involved and find an activity for everybody,” she said. “I want everyone to feel included. I truly believe that’s one of the benefits of this school: there’s something here for everybody.”
 
What’s kept you here all these years? I asked.
 
“The students, for sure,” she replied without hesitation. “Learning from the students. They’ve kept me young. I love coming to work every day just to see the students. The job has helped. It’s changed almost every year. There’s so much going on. I need that stimulation. There’s no way to get bored here. Every day, I think, What am I grateful for? What student walked in here, spilled their heart, and left feeling better? I’m the luckiest person in the world because I’ve loved coming to school every day.”
 
You’re still young, I reminded her. If you love the job, why stop now?
 
“I feel young at heart,” she replied. “I feel like I can keep going, but I want to be involved in Richmond and go out and help other people. I’ve done what I can do here. It’s time for new blood. It’s time for people to come in with new ideas.”
 
Missy will hardly remain idle in retirement. Foremost on her long to-do list is training Jaxx, her medium goldendoodle and third therapy dog which she’ll take to local hospitals and wherever else the need arises.
 
“I want to help with things I feel sad about,” she said. “When there’s been a national catastrophe, a hurricane, or a tornado, I’d like to be able to load up my dog and go and do therapy work at a site. I just feel like I have so much more to give in that area.
 
“I’ve seen the benefits of dogs helping patients and helping students. I’m an introvert, a behind-the-scenes person. I’m quiet. If I have my dog, people will talk to the dog and ignore me. I feel like I can do something valuable, but my dog’s helping me do it.”
 
Missy’s heart, though, will always be at Collegiate, where she’s transformed that temporary gig into a distinguished career defined by doing right by students and colleagues, perpetuating time-honored traditions, and paying forward the gifts of her mentors: her coaches Gwen Donohue and Mary Grubbs, the venerable Catharine Flippen, and Julia Williams, who succeeded Mrs. Flippen in 1972 as head of the Girls School.
 
“Mrs. Flippen was a big influence,” Missy said. “I think that’s a big part of who I am. She emphasized doing for others without expectation of reward or approval.  That’s why I think it’s important to be in the background. In all of her talks to us, she emphasized doing the right thing.  If someone needs help, you give it. Sit with the person who’s sitting alone. A kind word never hurts anybody. She made a big difference in my life.”
 
 
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