Newly Named Powell Center Bids Farewell to Becky Shepherd
Becky Shepherd recalls as if it were yesterday her first morning as executive director of the E. Angus Powell Endowment for American Enterprise. The spring before, she had relinquished her post as a first-grade teacher at Collegiate, and, for the first time in many years, there were no little ones sitting before her awaiting her gentle touch and loving attention. Instead, she had only a chair, a desk, a small bookshelf, and three boxes of economics materials to keep her company.
As she surveyed her quarters on the ground floor of the now departed tri-level on North Mooreland Road, she also had one overwhelming thought. “I remember thinking, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” she said one day recently from the well-appointed conference room across the hall from her office in the Student Activities Center.
Of course, those who know Becky and are aware of the far-reaching success of a myriad Powell-sponsored programs know full well that she figured things out quickly. They also know that when she begins a well-earned retirement at the close of business June 30, she’ll leave with that familiar smile on her face and the inner satisfaction that she’s accomplished her mission.
As she surveyed her quarters on the ground floor of the now departed tri-level on North Mooreland Road, she also had one overwhelming thought. “I remember thinking, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” she said one day recently from the well-appointed conference room across the hall from her office in the Student Activities Center.
Of course, those who know Becky and are aware of the far-reaching success of a myriad Powell-sponsored programs know full well that she figured things out quickly. They also know that when she begins a well-earned retirement at the close of business June 30, she’ll leave with that familiar smile on her face and the inner satisfaction that she’s accomplished her mission.
“Becky has done so much to spread economic literacy, not only at Collegiate and in Richmond but throughout the country as well,” said Palmer Garson, chairman of Collegiate’s board of trustees. “The programs she’s designed are routinely oversubscribed and receive the highest evaluation by the attendees. It seems like everything she touches turns to gold.”
A Richmond native, Becky graduated from Hermitage High School and earned a BA in English (with a minor in French) from Mary Washington College and an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She taught at Brookland Middle School for five years and at Riverside School for three before beginning a 12-year stint in the Lower School in 1976. Along the way, she developed a passion for economics, took a variety of courses, participated in a three-week institute at UCLA, received her endorsement, and began incorporating economics lessons in her classroom. When the position at the Powell Endowment became available in 1988, she was a natural.
“Within the Collegiate community, Becky was the one who walked the walk and talked the talk,” said Bryce Powell, the son of Angus Powell and a board member for 26 years. “She was the logical successor (to Sarah Baird). Today she’s nationally recognized as a leader in her field.”
The guiding principle of the Powell Endowment (which, as of June 1, becomes the Powell Center for Economic Literacy) is based on the belief of its namesake, a former chairman of the board at Collegiate as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, that political freedom is closely related to economic freedom and that for young people to be effective leaders, they must be economically literate. Fulfilling his dream became a Becky’s calling.
“The board right away said that they wanted outreach,” she explained. “I made the decision to try new things, keep what worked, and not repeat what didn’t.”
Becky’s first venture was a workshop for elementary teachers to introduce economics concepts and share activities that she and her Collegiate colleagues had developed. “We wondered if anybody would come,” she said. “100 showed up.”
The next year, Powell began what has become a very popular global economics course for gifted area high school students. A year later, it started an intensive summer program for teachers which in recent years has focused on those involved with urban, at-risk students. Since 1995, it has sponsored the National Advanced Placement Economics Conference which the Educational Testing Service considers tops in the nation. Twice a year, Powell publishes the Econ Exchange, a magazine with a worldwide circulation of 10,000 which contains three lessons, one each for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, and an elite essay on a relevant economic topic. It also has a state-of-the-art website (www.powellcenter.org) which includes a wealth of lesson plans, information about programs, and resources for those interested in economic education.
Becky has traveled widely, written prodigiously, and received numerous honors for her leadership. In 1988, she was named the Milton Friedman National Elementary School Economics Teacher of the Year. In 1992, she became the first woman to receive the Freedom Foundation’s prestigious Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education. In 2003, she was a guest columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“If there’s been success,” she said, “it’s been because there’ve been such wonderful board members supporting our efforts, wonderful faculty members willing to take risks and implement economics lessons, and a great staff. It’s been a team effort all the way.”
So what does one who has been active and productive for so long remain active in retirement? She’ll do consulting work in economic education and continue to volunteer at St. Giles Presbyterian Church. She’ll see more of her two daughters and three grandchildren. She and Bowie, a retired high school math teacher and her husband of 39 years, will spend quality time at their cabin on the Cow Pasture River in Bath County. Without a doubt, she’s earned the right to kick back, slow the pace, and watch the Powell tradition of excellence continue.
“Becky blended a collaborative spirit and tenacity to establish Collegiate as a model school for economic education, and she extended her influence to literally thousands of children,” said Rob Hershey, headmaster of Episcopal High School and the head of Collegiate from 1988 – 1998. “She is largely responsible for bringing the Powell Endowment to its present position of strength. We owe her a debt of gratitude.” Weldon Bradshaw
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A Richmond native, Becky graduated from Hermitage High School and earned a BA in English (with a minor in French) from Mary Washington College and an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She taught at Brookland Middle School for five years and at Riverside School for three before beginning a 12-year stint in the Lower School in 1976. Along the way, she developed a passion for economics, took a variety of courses, participated in a three-week institute at UCLA, received her endorsement, and began incorporating economics lessons in her classroom. When the position at the Powell Endowment became available in 1988, she was a natural.
“Within the Collegiate community, Becky was the one who walked the walk and talked the talk,” said Bryce Powell, the son of Angus Powell and a board member for 26 years. “She was the logical successor (to Sarah Baird). Today she’s nationally recognized as a leader in her field.”
The guiding principle of the Powell Endowment (which, as of June 1, becomes the Powell Center for Economic Literacy) is based on the belief of its namesake, a former chairman of the board at Collegiate as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, that political freedom is closely related to economic freedom and that for young people to be effective leaders, they must be economically literate. Fulfilling his dream became a Becky’s calling.
“The board right away said that they wanted outreach,” she explained. “I made the decision to try new things, keep what worked, and not repeat what didn’t.”
Becky’s first venture was a workshop for elementary teachers to introduce economics concepts and share activities that she and her Collegiate colleagues had developed. “We wondered if anybody would come,” she said. “100 showed up.”
The next year, Powell began what has become a very popular global economics course for gifted area high school students. A year later, it started an intensive summer program for teachers which in recent years has focused on those involved with urban, at-risk students. Since 1995, it has sponsored the National Advanced Placement Economics Conference which the Educational Testing Service considers tops in the nation. Twice a year, Powell publishes the Econ Exchange, a magazine with a worldwide circulation of 10,000 which contains three lessons, one each for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, and an elite essay on a relevant economic topic. It also has a state-of-the-art website (www.powellcenter.org) which includes a wealth of lesson plans, information about programs, and resources for those interested in economic education.
Becky has traveled widely, written prodigiously, and received numerous honors for her leadership. In 1988, she was named the Milton Friedman National Elementary School Economics Teacher of the Year. In 1992, she became the first woman to receive the Freedom Foundation’s prestigious Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education. In 2003, she was a guest columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“If there’s been success,” she said, “it’s been because there’ve been such wonderful board members supporting our efforts, wonderful faculty members willing to take risks and implement economics lessons, and a great staff. It’s been a team effort all the way.”
So what does one who has been active and productive for so long remain active in retirement? She’ll do consulting work in economic education and continue to volunteer at St. Giles Presbyterian Church. She’ll see more of her two daughters and three grandchildren. She and Bowie, a retired high school math teacher and her husband of 39 years, will spend quality time at their cabin on the Cow Pasture River in Bath County. Without a doubt, she’s earned the right to kick back, slow the pace, and watch the Powell tradition of excellence continue.
“Becky blended a collaborative spirit and tenacity to establish Collegiate as a model school for economic education, and she extended her influence to literally thousands of children,” said Rob Hershey, headmaster of Episcopal High School and the head of Collegiate from 1988 – 1998. “She is largely responsible for bringing the Powell Endowment to its present position of strength. We owe her a debt of gratitude.” Weldon Bradshaw
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