The Francie Tidey Award

The Francie Tidey Award for Excellence in Education, established in 2001, is an alumni-sponsored faculty award named to honor longtime Head of School, College Counselor, and English Teacher Francie Tidey.

The purpose of the award is to honor a member of the faculty or administration who has made an outstanding contribution to the Sacramento Country Day School community during his or her tenure.

The award was founded as a tribute to those who gave and continue to give so unselfishly to the students at Sacramento Country Day School.

The annual award is presented at the end of the school year.  The recipient is presented with a cash award.  Additionally, the name of the honoree is engraved on a perpetual plaque displayed in Geeting Hall, and a book is contributed to the SCDS library of his or her choice.

The advisory committee for the Francie Tidey Award will review nominations solicited from persons familiar with the school community and will select the recipient.

Recipients

2011 – Jane Batarseh
2010 – Wendy Ross
2009 – Barbara Fackenthall Tash
2008 – Sue Nellis
2007 – Sheila Hefty
2006 – Kay Schweizer
2005 – Barbara MacAulay Ore
2004 – Frank Pignata
2003 – Daniel I. Neukom
2002 – Patricia Fels
2001 – Lauren LaMay

Committee Members

Jason Allen ’95, Sam Applebaum ’94, Katie Hammer Brown ’82, Toran Brown ’82, Elise Craig ’02, Steve Davis ’82, Sarah Gaither ’03, Quincey Tidey Grieve ’86, Tim Grieve ’82, Amy Johnson ’95, Steve Lesher ’92, Victoria Loustalot ’03, Emily Marmaduke ’04, Amy Nelson Wells ’98, David Russell ’99, Hannah Clayson Smith ’91, Joel Rickert ’83, Ashley Tidey ’83, Brandi Wertz Turner ’94, Jessica Vando ’92

Francie Tidey (1939-2003)

We can think of no person who better represents what we mean when we say “outstanding contribution to the school community” than the namesake of the award, Francie Tidey.

During her time at Sacramento Country Day School (1969-1986), Mrs. Tidey was the very personification of superior teaching.  An English teacher, college counselor and head of the upper school, “she taught us how to write and how to truly love literature; she labored over our college applications; she took us on field trips from Ashland to Yosemite to Ferndale and back again; she wrote and directed plays and films, began Brown and Gold Day (now Red and Black Day), and was the architect of our unique high school graduation ceremony.”  Many of the traditions Mrs. Tidey initiated remain a part of the school today.

After she left Country Day, Mrs. Tidey served thousands of young people in the Sacramento region by instituting academic support and college guidance for middle and high school students from low-income schools.

Nominations
Please submit the name of your nominee and share with us why you feel he or she is deserving.

  • What make this person memorable or noteworthy?
  • How does this person interact with students, parents, alumni and colleagues?
  • Cite one anecdote or personal experience that distinguishes this person.

    • Please send your nomination to the SCDS Alumni Office.
    alumni@saccds.org

    2636 Latham Drive ­ Sacramento, CA 95864
    916.481.8811 ­ 916.481.6016 fax