Two Icons Retire

At this year’s retirement ceremony, the La Jolla Country Day School community gathered to celebrate two beloved educators whose combined 77 years of service have helped shape the heart and soul of the school: Joanne Bradley and Terri Zimmerman. With humor, reflection, and heartfelt tributes, the event honored the profound legacies of two teachers who did more than educate—they inspired, mentored, and transformed generations of Torreys.

Joanne Bradley retires after 39 years of teaching English and serving as Upper School librarian at LJCDS. From her very first day, Joanne brought academic expertise, perspective, and a fierce belief in the potential of every student.

“This is bittersweet for me,” Joanne said. “I’ve spent most of my adult life at Country Day. These years have shaped who I am.”

Known for making literature come alive, Joanne’s classroom was a place where assumptions were challenged, ideas sharpened, and students seen. Former students described how she helped them become thinkers and participants in their world. A current student, Kelsey Lewis, echoed that same feeling, “Ms. Bradley didn’t just teach me to analyze literature—she taught me how to be an active participant in everything I do.”

To the students and alumni gathered, Joanne offered this reflection:

Her influence extended far beyond the classroom. Colleague Deborah Shaul described her as having “a generous spirit, attention to detail, and a tiny sprinkling of well-placed snark.” Beth Cross praised Joanne’s deep professionalism and her talent for turning book club gatherings into joyful moments of connection. Former educator Dave Jenkins called her “someone I could trust implicitly—someone who showed up, stayed engaged, and did the work with care.” 

Joanne’s farewell message was simple and full of gratitude: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to do something I loved for so many years. I’m ready for the next chapter in my journey.”

For 38 years, Terri Zimmerman has been synonymous with kindergarten at LJCDS. As Maria Curtis put it, “When is the number 38 not just a number? When it’s the number of years Terri has been teaching at Country Day.”

Curtis, Director of the Early Childhood Center, shared the magnitude of Terri’s impact: an estimated 1,000 students taught and nurtured, with many of those students’ children later sitting in the same circle-time spots. “She is a multi-generational educator,” Maria said, “and she remembers them all.”

Terri’s approach to teaching was anything but ordinary. One moment she’d be in character as George Washington or the Statue of Liberty. The next, she’d be leading a tea party with fine china and handwritten manners guides. “She’s an edutainer,” Curtis said. “She brings joy, play, and precision to everything she does.”

In her own speech, Terri’s humor and heart were on full display. She recalled joyful memories of former students, celebrated the long bond with her beloved horse Elvis, and spoke about the extraordinary journey that led her to LJCDS. But above all, she ended with sincere thanks:

“Everyone has been so supportive over the years. Thank you so much… I just want to say that I am fine. I feel good about my decision—don’t worry about me.”

Terri’s curriculum extended far beyond the basics: cooking with a puppet chef after traveling through France, visiting wolf sanctuaries, studying medieval times, and building connections to local artisans and farms. “She’s the Little Engine That Could of LJCDS—determined, confident, and full of heart,” Curtis said.

As Head of Lower School Briony Chown shared, “Terri has a magical presence in the classroom. Each nanosecond is intentional—students solve math problems to find their seats, recite poems, and research their passions. She inspires them to be their best selves.”

 

 

Together, Joanne and Terri represent the best of Country Day—brilliance and balance, tradition and imagination, purpose and joy. As they step into well-earned retirements, their legacies remain deeply rooted in the culture, curriculum, and community they helped shape.