Lower School Division Chair Lisa Nochumowitz with her husband, Ross, and their sons, Hank ’34, and Mack ’37.
Jaleh Goodale, 2025-2026 Upper School Division Chair, with her four children: sons Andrew '26 and Matthew '22, and daughters Alexandra (RPCS '23) and Elizabeth (RPCS '20).
Volunteer Spotlight: 2025-2026 Class Representative Chairs
Gilman’s Class Representative Chairs (Division Chairs) help guide the parent volunteers who serve as class representatives (class reps) in each grade. Through monthly meetings and ongoing collaboration, they support class reps in their role as ambassadors — strengthening connections among families and fostering a spirit of engagement across the Gilman community.
This year’s Division Chairs — Lisa Nochumowitz P’34, ’37 (Lower School), Assata Peterson P’31 (Middle School), and Jaleh Goodale PP, P’26 (Upper School) — have brought remarkable creativity, energy, and care to the role. In particular, they have expanded efforts to recognize the faculty and staff who play such a meaningful role in the lives of Gilman students.
Lisa and LS volunteers introduced new initiatives designed to celebrate teachers throughout the year. Drawing on her own experience as an educator, Lisa shared that she understands “how meaningful it is to feel genuinely celebrated, appreciated, and cared for.” One such initiative allowed teachers to “Take Off Lunch Duty,” with parents stepping in to supervise lunch periods so faculty could enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted break.
“The initiative was truly a win-win. Parents appreciated the opportunity to see firsthand how lunch operates and to spend time with the boys, while teachers were gifted the simple but meaningful luxury of an extra peaceful lunch period."
–Lisa Nochumowitz
LS volunteers also organized a thoughtfully arranged treat and pampering bar in the faculty lounge — small gestures that were met with big smiles.
Volunteers in the MS adopted a similar approach to expressing their appreciation. In a series of gratitude events timed around holidays, parents elaborately decorated the faculty lounge, complete with festive posters, balloons, and streamers, and doted on teachers through plenty of sweet treats and warm smiles.
In the US, Jaleh and fellow parents focused on helping students express their gratitude directly. Blank note cards were placed in communal spaces around campus, inviting students to write messages of appreciation to their teachers. The response was overwhelming: more than 350 handwritten notes were collected and delivered to faculty members. Every US teacher received a note!“The notes of gratitude were authentic, personal, and heartfelt,” “The teachers truly appreciated hearing directly from their students — and their families — about the impact each has had on their Gilman experience.”
Beyond faculty appreciation, Division Chairs also encourage class representatives to help build community among families. “Our LS class reps have done an outstanding job cultivating a strong sense of community this year,” Lisa said, noting that many grade levels have hosted well-attended “Parents’ Night Out” gatherings at local restaurants — several at one owned by a Gilman alumnus. MS parents have also enjoyed a series of lively adult-only events, including a recently held a "paint-and-sip" in the MS library!
US parents have been equally enthusiastic, particularly among senior families. Parents of the Class of 2026 have gathered frequently throughout the year — at restaurants, in homes, and even during Gilman football games. “Parents enjoy spending time together and feel more connected to the Gilman community when there are more opportunities to get together. While the boys make lifelong friends by attending Gilman, the parents do, too.”
–Jaleh GoodaleDivision Chairs are also helping coordinate special traditions for students preparing to transition between divisions. In the LS, fourth graders from the Class of 2034 have chosen to present a mural — painted by local artists — as their class gift before moving on to MS.
Meanwhile, seniors have been enjoying a series of celebrations throughout their final year — a Chinese food luncheon, a candy bar, a TopGolf outing, an ice cream truck, etc. — many of which occur on or around the 26th of each month.
Through their leadership, creativity, and dedication, Lisa, Assata, and Jaleh have helped strengthen the connections that make Gilman such a special community. By bringing parents and students together to celebrate the faculty and staff who guide our boys each day, they have nurtured the spirit of gratitude and camaraderie that lies at the heart of this wonderful community and reminded us all that the Gilman experience is shaped in large part by the care and connection shared among families, faculty, and staff.
Learn more about the parent volunteers serving as Class Representative Chairs (Division Chairs) this School year and the families behind their dedication to the Gilman community.
Lisa Nochumowitz P’34, ’37, Lower School Division Chair
Lisa Nochumowitz is the proud mother of two Gilman students: Hank (fourth grade) and Mack (first grade). She and her husband, Ross, feel deeply grateful to be part of the Gilman community, which their sons joined in pre-kindergarten. When she is not on campus, Lisa enjoys spending time at the beach, reading, gathering with friends, and cheering from the sidelines at her boys’ many sporting events.
A former elementary school teacher turned homemaker, Lisa welcomed the opportunity to return to a school environment when her family joined Gilman. Over the years, she has become a familiar and enthusiastic presence on campus — touring prospective families, helping in the Lower School library, assisting with class celebrations, and serving in volunteer roles across the Lower School Parents Association. She has also stepped into the classroom as a Lower School substitute teacher, an experience that has allowed her to build meaningful relationships with both students and faculty.
As Lower School Division Chair, Lisa most enjoys collaborating with the division’s dedicated class representatives and Director of Parent Engagement Maria Tilley. One of her goals this year has been to create more opportunities — both big and small — for parents to step into the Lower School and feel connected to the community.
“A major goal of mine was to create more opportunities, big and small, for parents to step into the Lower School and feel connected.”
Lisa is proud of the strong parent engagement she has seen grow this year and looks forward to building on that momentum as the school year continues.
Jaleh Goodale PP, P’26, Upper School Division Chair
Jaleh Goodale’s family has deep ties to the Gilman and Roland Park Country School communities. She is a mom to four children. Her younger son, Andrew, is a current Gilman senior in the Class of 2026, while their older son, Matthew ’22, is a senior at James Madison University. Her daughters, Elizabeth and Alexandra, attended Roland Park Country School; Elizabeth graduated from the University of Delaware in 2024, and Alexandra is currently a junior at Syracuse University.
Professionally, Jaleh works in Admissions and Tuition Assistance at Roland Park Country School. Outside of work and volunteer commitments, she enjoys traveling, attending her children’s games and activities, and spending time together as a family.
As Upper School Division Chair, Jaleh values the opportunity to bring parents together and help strengthen connections within the Gilman community.
“My favorite part of being a Division Chair is meeting so many of the parents in the Gilman community and finding ways to make families feel connected.”
Through gatherings and shared events throughout the year, she enjoys helping families build relationships that extend beyond the classroom — friendships that often last long after their sons graduate.
Volunteer Spotlight: 2025-2026 Class Representative Chairs
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