CA Bids Adieu to Retiring Staff and Faculty Members
Jackie Decareau
At CA, a day doesn’t get off to a good start without a chat with Jackie Decareau. That widely shared sentiment has reflected Decareau’s approach to her role as assistant to the Student Life Office. Given her deep respect for students and families, her unwavering attention to detail, and the warmth and compassion she brings to every interaction, it’s no surprise that many students have thanked her in their senior chapels. Decareau has also left a lasting impression on her colleagues, who wish her well in retirement after 23 years at CA.
Annie Bailey P’25 ’27, director of residential life, calls her a “beacon of light.” To Renee Coburn, chief of staff, she’s been “the heartbeat of this school.” And Student Life Office Manager Georgia Cassidy says she “communicates with so much grace, kindness, and patience; she has truly inspired me and brought so much joy to our team.”
With a background in human resources, Decareau has always been focused on people. Before coming to CA in 2003, she administered benefits at a marketing company; previously, she was an employment counselor for a regional bank. She initially joined CA part time to track student attendance, and over the years she extended her hours as her duties expanded to include coordinating everything from bulletin boards and class rings to laundry services for boarding students and commuter-rail passes for day students traveling from the city.
Decareau says that when she first arrived, she didn’t feel like she was dealing with high school students: “They were so mature, they felt more like coworkers.” That hasn’t changed, she says. The check-in systems she initiated have adapted over the decades, thanks to her diligence in ensuring students were safe and their whereabouts known.
“She made sure that every student knows someone cares where they are—that literally every student at CA is seen, every day,” says Grant Hightower, assistant head for student life.
Decareau says she couldn’t have asked for a better job: “The kids kept me feeling younger. And getting to be here every day with wonderful, smart, educated individuals who are always learning—for me, that hasn’t felt like work.”
While she looks forward to a slower routine with more time for walks with friends, book group chats, and volunteering at her local food pantry, her quiet influence at CA can’t be replaced. And it won’t be forgotten.
“Jackie is a beautiful person, a beautiful soul,” Hightower says. “She is selflessly devoted to service and has been one of the most significant binding agents when it comes to the spirit of our institution. I’ll miss her dearly.”
Sue Johnson P’20
After more than a decade at CA and 40 years dedicated to sport and education, Athletics Director Sue Johnson P’20 has hung up her jersey. “Her impact on the CA community and the field at large has been significant,” says Head of School Henry D. Fairfax. “Sue was disciplined about making sure every decision was made through an equity lens. Not only did she support student-athletes of all genders at CA, but she was instrumental in ensuring that same equity in the Eastern Independent League (EIL). This is legacy work that will live on for many generations to come.”
Johnson evolved many facets of CA’s athletics program after arriving in 2015. She expanded the physical education, intramural, and subvarsity offerings and created a supervised, well-equipped fitness center. During her tenure, CA saw marked improvement in competitive success within EIL play and in New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) postseason tournaments. While serving on the NEPSAC executive board, Johnson also helped draft its original gender identity inclusion statement, and in her first year at CA, she guided the EIL’s transition of wrestling to an all-gender sport.
Under Johnson’s watch, the school amassed a fleet of banners and trophies, but she remained focused on raising the caliber of the athletics program in alignment with CA’s mission. Throughout her tenure, she prioritized the life skills and values learned through athletics and centered the transformative experience of team sport.
“Sue fostered a positive and supportive environment that made staff, coaches, and students feel valued,” says Laurie Baker, former assistant athletics director. “Her leadership will truly be missed.”
Nancy Boutilier and Christa Champion
Nancy Boutilier joined CA’s English Department in 2016 following a career teaching and coaching in independent schools on both coasts of the U.S., as well as at Oberlin College. Before long, she became integral to CA athletics and residential life as well. A poet, activist, and fierce competitor, Boutilier encouraged authentic engagement and expression, inspiring students and colleagues alike to approach the world with a sense of wonder. She helped establish CA’s Writing Center, laying a foundation for peer mentorship and writing feedback. And her famous “sophomore letters” have been a treasured delivery to senior students as they near graduation.
“Coaching is teaching, and teaching is coaching with Nancy,” says Sarah Yeh P’24 ’27, associate head for teaching, learning, and faculty. “In the classroom, everything she does is in the spirit of helping a student find their place, their confidence, and their voice. On the basketball court, she models what it means to be an athlete, a teammate, and a community member at every step of a practice or game.”
The CA community will also greatly miss Boutilier’s partner and fellow house faculty member, Christa Champion, whose boundless energy and zest for track and field infused her coaching of throwing and pole vaulting. Former track and field coach Jon Waldron says Champion’s expansive vision of sport and ability to integrate her experiences as an athlete, engineer, poet, and teacher made her a transformative coach and mentor at CA.
