We were proud to induct retired Board of Trustees chair Deborah Bertoletti and retired teacher Claire Concannon ’85 into the Morgan Park Academy Hall of Fame as part of our Alumni Celebration on September 20, 2025, celebrating their uncommon dedication to our school and its students over many decades.

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Bertoletti (right) with retired teacher Lynda Pariso

Deborah Bertoletti

Board of Trustees Member, 1992-2004
Board of Trustees Chair, 2000-2004

Deborah Bertoletti has been a steadfast champion of Morgan Park Academy through decades of dedicated leadership.

As a parent of five MPA students — Joe, Jon, Sheila, Susan, and Pat — she became deeply involved in the life of the school. Her commitment reached its peak during her service for 12 years on the Board of Trustees, including an indispensable tenure as Board Chair from 2000 to 2004.

In those leadership roles, she helped steward the school through key transitions and strategic initiatives, always with a steady hand, thoughtful perspective, and an abiding belief in the value of an MPA education.

Bertoletti was able to ask the tough questions and to listen carefully, pushing for excellence in all areas — from academics to facilities to financial stewardship. Her efforts helped ensure that future generations of students could benefit from the same rich educational experience that her own children enjoyed.

She led with intelligence, grace, and heart — never losing sight of the students at the center of every decision.

Her legacy is not only visible in the continued strength of the school, but also in the example she set for what it means to serve a community with purpose and passion.

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Concannon (center) with former colleagues Catie McAlister and Meg Carey

Claire Concannon ’85

Upper School Humanities Teacher, 1990-2025
English Department Chair, 1998-2010

Claire Concannon taught English in the Upper School for an extraordinary 35 years, shaping the minds and hearts of Morgan Park Academy students across generations.

A proud MPA alum herself, Concannon graduated in 1985 and returned here in 1990 to begin what would become a tremendous career in education — what one former student called “35 years of pure awesomeness.”

In her classroom, students encountered not only the great works of literature, but also a teacher who brought passion, insight, and humanity to everything she did.

We will remember her exacting standards, her deep love of language, and her gift for helping students find their own voices as writers and thinkers. Whether guiding students through Shakespeare, Baldwin, or Morrison, she never stopped asking them to think deeply and engage critically with the world around them.

Beyond the classroom, she advised student clubs, coached cross country runners, and served as chair of the English Department from 1998 to 2010, helping to shape the Upper School experience for both students and colleagues alike.

One former student recalled, “Humanities meant so much to me and still does! I am so lucky to count Claire Concannon as one of my teachers. I am forever grateful.”

Or as another alum succinctly put it — “I still talk about her class.”

Concannon’s parents — Shawn and Janet — started a family legacy when they chose Morgan Park Academy for Claire and her three siblings — Hope, Leah, and Ellen. That legacy continued through her daughter, Tess, also attending MPA.

We have missed having her here on campus since her retirement last spring, but the Concannon legacy continues to be felt throughout the halls of the school she once walked as a student — and later helped define as a teacher.

SEE MORE PHOTOS  >>  ALUMNI CELEBRATION 2025