Sue began her longtime affiliation with Hamden Hall in 1969 as a freshman. In high school, Sue discovered her passion and love of the fine arts, and she pursued her enthusiasm at Hobart and William Smith College where she majored in art and education. Throughout college, Sue worked at Hamden Hall’s summer camp as the arts and crafts counselor.

In 1977, she accepted the Upper School art teacher position at Hamden Hall and has never looked back. Sue helped implement the AP art component in her curriculum, and she served as department head of fine arts for several years. Sue taught a large number of students who pursued a profession with their artistic talents including Jay Lender 1987, one of the writers and illustrators of the original SpongeBob. While teaching Upper School, Sue earned a master’s in art education. She was the first director of the after-school and extended day programs and the architect of the enrichment program, a title she stills hold today. She led numerous trips abroad, helping to expose students to the world around them. In the 1980s, Sue was the assistant director of Hamden Hall’s summer camp, along with coaching the varsity tennis team. Back in the classroom, Sue also taught Middle School and eventually found her way to the Lower School, where today she instructs over 200 students annually in a continually dynamic curriculum. She has contributed to the melding of cross-curricular collaboration with grade level social studies teachers. In her 36 years of teaching at Hamden Hall, Sue’s enthusiasm, energy and love of Hamden Hall flourishes, and she continues to find inspiration from her students. Sue and her husband, David Bennett (also a Hamden Hall faculty member), have two children—both Hamden Hallers! Their son, Ross, is a 2006 alumnus, and their daughter, Sara, graduates in June 2014.