On favorite lessons…
I don’t have just one favorite lesson, but I believe that just about anything can be taught through story. I love books and stories, and I love teaching reading and discussing what we’ve read. I also love teaching children to write—to explore different forms of writing, how authors use language and story form to make their stories interesting and keep us reading. I love it when my students share their writing with others.

On teaching at Friends’ Central…
I grew up in the 1950s in south Alabama where almost all of my teachers were grim-faced, stern, and, I felt, always disapproving of me and my classmates. I love teaching in a school that fills each day with excitement, student empowerment, love of learning, concern for others, and fun. I appreciate my colleagues who are supportive, interesting, and always eager to work collectively to make our curriculum and our campus community better.  I appreciate my students who are such incredibly smart and kind individuals. I appreciate the administration that gives us a great deal of freedom while expecting the highest standard of teaching, provides us with wonderful facilities, and supports us in dealing with the problems that arise.

Outside interests…
reading, Japanese calligraphy, sewing, origami, drawing, cooking

I love teaching because it feels good to help young people develop. They give me as much as I give them. To teach is to plant a seed for the future. I also enjoy learning new things all the time. And no two days are the same.

On favorite lessons…

One favorite lesson is when the class surveys the labels on their clothing at home to see where their clothes and shoes are made. The results are tabulated and graphed by continent and region. The project leads to further study and discussion of geography, trade, global interdependence and workers’ rights.

This lesson is part of a wider thematic study of peacemaking and the United Nations.

In general my favorite lessons are part of a theme that integrates various subject areas, but it only works when the children are excited about it, when it somehow touches their lives.

On teaching at FCS…

One of the main reasons I look forward to coming to School in the mornings is the pleasure of working with such amazing colleagues. By colleagues I mean all the teachers, administrators and staff, but I particularly treasure the members of my fourth grade team. The four of us are old friends with a long history of working and laughing together. The laughing part is essential, but we also share a spirit of trust, understanding, and mutual respect that’s very rare. I can’t imagine a better working relationship. All the other teachers are also a constant source of inspiration, and I’m always learning from their creativity and insights.

Thanks to our administration, the School runs smoothly. There’s a sense of security and confidence in knowing that when problems arise, they’ll be resolved fairly and efficiently. The administration and board also strongly support both professional and personal growth in the faculty. I’ve taken advantage of several stipends for travel and other enriching projects. Friends’ Central’s core convictions provide a good common ground for discussions and decisions even if at times we interpret them differently.

Outside interests….

I enjoy oil painting, drawing, sculpting, and redeeming found objects. I like cooking, walks in the woods, on the beach, and in cities, and travel to out-of-the-way places. I read a lot, especially history. I also have a pretty good collection of books on jazz, blues, and southern culture and a record collection to match. I generally prefer the sound of my old LP’s to compact discs.

I like teaching because I can share my passion with children. I like teaching at FCS because of our diversity and emphasis on respect.

On favorite lessons…

My favorite lesson is to teach the tone poem Danse Macabre by Camille Saint Saens. It is a spooky poem told through music. The children really love it and I love watching their reaction to the sound of rattling bones and ghostly wind.

Outside interests…

I’m a classical singer who also loves to read and travel.

I enjoy teaching when my students get excited about learning. I thrive on seeing the wonder and magic of the world inspire their work. I love storytelling, and a great deal of what I consider good teaching is best done through stories. Stories of history, of math (why a google is called a google, for example, or why we don’t use Roman numerals to multiply), of science, religion (the story of George Fox) myths, legends. There is an endless store of human knowledge that is imparted in story. I especially love history and its stories and often build my thematic studies around eras in history and their cultures.

On favorite lessons…

I have no single favorite lesson, so I will tell you about the things I try to do every year that bring me the most personal pleasure and rewards. In addition to stories, much of what I consider great teaching involves providing experiences for children that expand their thinking in ways that reading cannot. I have taught American Indian cultures and history for many years, and within this theme my favorite lessons involve experiences with artifacts and materials: showing the buffalo robe from my grandmother’s attic and letting my students touch it leads into teaching about why the buffalo almost became extinct in the 19th century. Making fire with a bow drill and flint and steel never fails to thrill the children or myself. Teaching beadwork, working with rawhide, putting up a twelve-foot tipi, making stone-tipped arrows that we can shoot, and preparing feathers for craft work are examples of experiences that lead my students into deeper understanding.

I always build a large-scale structure with the children and teach them about tools and construction. We have built the pirate ship from Treasure Island and Shakespeare’s Globe in recent years. This year we are building a stage in the room to put on scenes from The Hobbit. My favorite of all time was a half-scale replica of the Wright Brothers’ Flyer for the study of flight.

In conjunction with these structures I always do drama with my classes. Helping them bring a story to life is perhaps the biggest thrill of a year for them and for me. Staging a play is a very intense experience. Plays help children tap talents they may be unaware of and forge a strong sense of community in the class.

On working at FCS…

At FCS I am trusted to develop curriculum and strongly encouraged to experiment, learn, and grow as a teacher. I have had unfailing, meaningful support in these areas.

Of equal importance to me are my colleagues. FCS Lower School is a close community for the faculty. We work with each other often because there is a strong sense of collegiality and community at the Lower School. We constantly share ideas and materials. We undertake projects that cross classroom and grade lines. What’s more, people are there to support one another through both teaching difficulties and life crises outside of school.

Outside interests…

My hobbies include reading (mostly history and detective novels), writing, gardening, astronomy, and collecting and painting miniature historical figures.

I love teaching because my students are so much
fun. Every year is different and every day
unpredictable because I am always dealing with a different
variety of individuals each of whom brings his or her own special gifts
and attributes to my teaching and to the community. I feel that I
learn a great deal from my students, not just about academics,
but about life and matters of the heart.

In addition, I find that teaching is a nice union of creativity and
intellectualism. Through the research I do in preparation for my
teaching, as well as the process of constantly imagining innovative,
engaging ways to reach my students, I find that I am always learning
and growing. Teaching is interesting, energizing, challenging, and
deeply fulfilling.

On favorite lessons…

After so many years of teaching, it is difficult to choose a
favorite lesson. More so than individual lessons, I enjoy activities,
events and performances that are the culmination of what the children
have learned over a period of time.

On working at FCS…

The Friends’ Central Lower School faculty is a multi-talented,
generous and very supportive group of people. I am inspired daily by
their creativity, skill, and dedication to their teaching. I enjoy
the collaboration that reflects the culture of the school. I am
fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful team.

Outside interests…

I enjoy traveling, reading, art, drama, and going for walks and/or jogs.

Teaching for me provides a satisfying and fulfilling life. Notice I said life and not profession or job—the call to teach is a life-choice—for me to be in a position to influence the development of others is not something that one “turns on and off.” It is a constant from the moment that you rise each day until you rest your head on your pillow at night. For it is in teaching that we truly learn about ourselves and about others and in being part of the development of others we in turn develop ourselves, giving meaning to our existence. I feel truly blessed to have been led to this calling.

On favorite lessons…

I don’t have a favorite lesson—every lesson I teach is a favorite one, because of the possibility of opening new doors or shedding new light for a student or any person with whom I am working. The opportunity for those with whom I am working to offer a new insight or new information to me creates limitless possibility for growth and openness.

On teaching at FCS…

At FCS I know that any contribution I make to an individual student’s life is connected to my development as a human being, my spiritual development, and the life of the entire community. I also love that the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Service guide everything we do and that we must approach each day willing to see the light of God in one another.

I also value the sense of support one feels—teaching can be something that involves much self-criticism (I can always do it better)—what I have valued highly from the get-go, when I came twenty-nine years ago, is faculty support for one another—a feeling that we are all in this endeavor together and that we can help each other to become better teachers and human beings—no judgments, no one has the corner on being the expert—doors are always open to talk about both our successes and failures.

Outside interests…

I like to sing, read (history especially), ride my bike, model build (not too often anymore, especially railroads and ships)

I love the energy, creativity and intellectual spark of young people. It’s a privilege to teach them, but I also feel fortunate to learn from them every day. There have been many times when a student’s comment about a text or situation made me think about something differently.

On favorite lessons…

I really enjoy teaching Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Although the language can be difficult for 7th graders, we act out the play in class so that we can interpret it with each other’s help. It’s both entertaining and educational to watch a group of young people breathe life into the words on the page.

Outside interests…

I have become rather serious about yoga over the past year. I practice at home and at the Yoga Garden, in Narberth. In addition to being good for my health and physical conditioning, yoga has helped me in many other areas of my life.

On teachers at FCS…

As a teacher, I appreciate the passion and devotion that FCS teachers have to their craft, their subject areas and their students. As a person, I appreciate the comradery we have and the genuine kindness of my colleagues.

Teaching is my best self. It is a real rush being in the middle of a great class and to know I am partly responsible for it. That sounds obnoxious though…so how about this, it is in teaching that I fully realize my responsibility for engaging young citizens on issues that deeply matter. I see wisdom amidst their collective innocence which is sometimes deeply inspiring.

FCS is so full of awesome, self-motivated, curious, and thoughtful students. All I have to do is to tap into what is already there.

On favorite lessons…

I like lessons that leave room for ambiguity, lessons that challenge students to make up their own minds. One lesson I have done for a good half dozen years is a lesson in which I put Harry Truman on trial for the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In this lesson, students truly take leadership roles. For more than a week every year, I simply sit back and watch students wrestle with moral, ethical, and political questions that have relevance to this day.

Outside interests…

I really enjoy gardening, also all things Irish, reading, and playing and watching sports. Also I’m very much involved in my local neighborhood’s civic association and on the parish council, a leadership role, at my church, a Roman Catholic church in Germantown.

On FCS teachers…

Egos come second. Kids come first.

I truly feel that we put the kids first. This is our biggest strength…for all my disagreements and differences with other teachers over the years, I have always felt that most people really do what they think is best for the kids. And though I have very strong feelings about pedagogy, I have come to believe that there is no one correct way to teach all children. I still believe that my approach is still best for most kids…but as long as adults truly try to do what they think is right for children then students will be truly very well served. We put kids first.

I love teaching because I enjoy learning. It’s GREAT to be with kids doing what I enjoy!

On favorite lessons…

Too many to name!!! My students and I both enjoy the unit on ancient Rome, which is taught through a simulation of history and culture of ancient Rome. Its a game (so to speak) where students learn about and participate in many aspects of ancient Roman life that have subtly and significantly influenced our present institutions and way of living.

On teaching at FCS…

The environment both in and out of the classroom, the students, the faculty. I do enjoy coming to work everyday! Plus I know that I can go to my colleagues at any time for support, no matter what!

Outside interests…

Running, yoga, and reading (not necessarily in that order)

Whether I am teaching in the classroom or coaching, I am very lucky to be able to share my passions with Friends’ Central students. Our students are very interested in developing their understanding, knowledge and skills. They love to learn, and it is what makes being a member of this community so valuable. Our diverse students are bright and motivated, and help to make me a better teacher and person. They come to class ready to learn, interact with the material in thoughtful and critical ways, and will even say “thank you” as they leave the classroom. It always makes me smile when students come back to the Middle School feeling excited to tell me that what they are learning in the Upper School they remember learning for the first time in my science class. I appreciate their memory of the material as well as their desire to share their excitement with me. I believe it is our students that make FCS such a special place to teach.

But FCS teachers are pretty special too! They bring a wealth of knowledge and varied interests into classroom. I have learned a great deal about teaching and the needs of students from my colleagues. They have inspired and helped me to create a curriculum that is both challenging and interesting to students. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to share ideas with people who care so much about teaching and the well-being of students. I work in a very special place and feel lucky everyday.

On favorite lessons…

While one particular lesson does not stand out as being my favorite, some lessons are particularly enjoyable and rewarding. Due to the receptivity of our students, I have often felt that almost any topic could be of interest. Students are insightful, ask wonderful questions, and have a lot to add to classroom discussions. Over the years, the lessons that have given me the most satisfaction have been the ones that challenge students. This is especially true when they are introduced to a new chemistry concept that seems too difficult at first. Many students have an “ah hah” moment, and become quite pleased with themselves, after seeing the patterns and making connections. These are the lessons that are particularly memorable.

A hobby that I have been able to share with those at FCS is my interest in gardening. At home, I have been able to create a colorful and healthy perennial garden along with a small vegetable garden. A few years ago, I had a desire to add both color and interest around the Middle School. I created a service group that planted bulbs, shrubs and native plants around the School. An issue that we have been trying to manage is the water run-off from the buildings and impervious surfaces. We have installed rain barrels and created gardens to capture rainwater and allow it to filter slowly back into the soil. It is rewarding to be able to share my interests outside of the classroom with the Friends’ Central community.