The end of the 2023-24 school year marks the departure of several Upper School teachers and faculty. Some departments that will change staff include Modern Languages, Mathematics, Performing Arts, and Computer Science. In addition, the Upper School is undergoing changes in its administrators.
With the departure of so many faculty members within the Upper School, there will be big shoes to fill. Faculty and teachers take on many responsibilities and are very involved in helping students thrive. As a result, they often make a big impact on students’ academic and personal lives. Teachers, being present with students for all four years of their Upper School experience, are essential in fostering an environment for students to develop to their full potential.
With that said, here are some qualities that we and other students believe make a strong teacher and what we hope the new faculty will bring.
Having teachers who are personable makes it much easier to foster a connection, allowing students to have an additional role model. For example, having teachers who make an extra effort to share pockets of their personal life or just say hello in the hallways allows us to grow a closer connection and make it easier to ask for help. Furthermore, talking to teachers who value having a real conversation helps make learning more enjoyable and digestible.
Students also have a strong desire for teachers to be organized. This would allow teachers to get grades back in a timely manner, specifically in one rotation, or seven school days. Many students really do care about getting grades back quickly.
“I think that organization is really important, especially when there is so much anxiety over grades,” Jazziah Manning ‘25 said. “I want to see what I got and the one rotation rule and not like three weeks later.”
Next, we want a teacher who is flexible and understanding. School is challenging enough, and many students are involved in extracurricular activities that make scheduling difficult at times. For example, we appreciate the teachers who make an effort to meet before and after school. This demonstrates a teacher’s desire to see their students succeed and help them understand a topic better.
In addition, missing a class period can be stressful for many students because you need to make up a lot of work or even an assessment. However, having a teacher who works with you to make scheduling easier is what differentiates a good teacher from a great teacher.