OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Paul & Erika Clavel

He was playing wiffleball with a friend one day when he spotted her across the street. Then a senior at Old Dominion College, Director of Athletics Paul Clavel ’88 knew Erika from psychology class. She was a sophomore, and they had friends in common. “When the opportunity presented itself, I took it,” he says, smiling at the memory. When the college sweethearts married in 1995, they began

tandem teaching careers that took them from the classrooms of Virginia’s public schools to obtaining their master’s degrees in education before an open position for math teacher and assistant wrestling coach led them to Blair in 2004. Returning to Paul’s alma mater, the Clavel family—Paul, Erika, Avery ’19 and Emma ’24— found a home at Blair, and since then, they haven’t looked back.

In the ensuing two decades, Paul and Erika have taught a generation of Blair students both in the classroom and on the field. Currently Director of Athletics, Paul taught Geometry Honors and Algebra 1 in the early years of his Blair career, getting to know his students as a math teacher, golf and wrestling coach, and dorm head in Mason Hall dorm. Erika presently serves as an associate in Blair’s admission office, but she has filled a variety of roles in the last 18 years, from studyskills tutor and LEADS teacher to yearbook advisor and director of Blair’s early healthand-wellness program, CHAT. One of her favorite memories, she recalls, stems from the time she served as dorm monitor for South Cottage. “It was such a nice way to get to know the students,” she says. “Those girls got me hooked on Vampire Diaries!”

Take a moment to learn more about Paul and Erika outside the classroom, as they reflect on their work, their time with students and how they remember raising a family at Blair as one of life’s sweetest experiences.

The Clavels in 2017 on a family vacation at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, one of their favorite summer spots.

The 2022 varsity girls’ golf team with Paul ’88 and Erika on their preseason training trip to the Dominican Republic. Paul ’88 with fellow math teacher and mentor Latta Browse at the 2014 Anja S. Greer Institute on Mathematics and Technology at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Questions for Paul:

Q: Who are the people who have most influenced you as an educator?

A: One of the reasons I became a math teacher was Latta Browse. He was my Geometry Honors teacher when I was a student here. [English teacher] Robert Brandwood taught me as well, but one of the reasons I love math is Latta. His daughter, Annelies ’13, was in my Geometry Honors class a few years ago, and that was such a good, fullcircle moment. I hope that I inspired her in math the way he did for me.

Q: You’ve served Blair as a math teacher and now as Director of Athletics. Those are very different roles. What have you enjoyed about each position?

A: As a teacher, I liked working directly with students, having touch points with students on a daily basis. Living in the dorm, coaching and teaching, have all been very rewarding for me. One of the reasons I initially came here was that the School was offering a math position and an assistant wrestling coach position. So, I’ve always been very involved with sports. My Director of Athletics role allows me to indulge my love of sports. I’m still supporting students, but now I am much more involved logistically, making sure our athletes have the transportation, equipment and scheduling to succeed. I’m still making the Blair experience the best that it can be for students, just in a different way.

Q: How have the last two years been for you in terms of managing sports during the pandemic?

A: The last two years have been a challenge. I’ve had to become an infectious-disease expert, counselor and, sometimes, a meteorologist, too. I welcome the return to normal!

Q: Your dad, Dr. Everardo Clavel, was Blair’s doctor for 35 years, a mainstay of the School and surrounding community. Many members of your family have also attended Blair. What has that experience been like?

A: I moved here in 1974. As the town doctor, my dad had an office in our house, and people would knock on the door at 1 a.m., at all hours, needing stitches or some kind of urgent care. You get to know a lot of people. A lot of families that are at Blair now went to my dad. My family, in terms of legacy at the School, is third or fourth with the most people who have gone to Blair. It’s such a benefit, that legacy. Our kids have grown up with a lot of family.

Paul ’88 giving a pep talk and advice to the 2022 golf team before the Swing Against Cancer fundraiser. Avery ’19 (second from left) with her Blair diploma and family after the 2019 Commencement ceremony. From left to right: Emma ’24 and Avery ’19 in front of the 2018 Peddie Day bonfire.

Questions for Erika:

Q: You are originally from Richmond, Virginia. What was it like when you first moved from the South—from tidewater Virginia—to a school in the Northeast?

A: It wasn’t unfamiliar, because we always came up here to visit Paul’s family. Paul always maintained connections with wrestling at Blair, and, for years, when we would come up and visit, we would always wonder, “What would it be like to live and work there?” I was always impressed by Blair, and the people were very welcoming, so that eased the transition that we had.

Q: You have also held a variety of positions as an educator at Blair. What appeals to you about the work that you do now?

A: There is something to like in every role that I’ve had. I have a side to me that likes the arts, so I really enjoyed the process of designing the yearbook when that was my responsibility. Within the admission office, I am the parent ambassador liaison, and I travel a good bit for school fairs and presentations and to meet prospective families. I do like travel, as it’s fun to get off campus and out of town to different areas to talk about Blair and meet new people! It’s fun work talking to students as they think about their next steps and consider boarding school. I also enjoy talking to the parents and reflecting on what’s important for them as they consider boarding school as an educational option.

Q: What has it been like to raise your daughters, Avery and Emma, at Blair? Questions for Paul & Erika:

A: Raising them here has been really wonderful. Even though Blair is their school, it’s also their home. They carry pride in the traditions here. Even before they were old enough to attend class, the kids were part of the community, dressing up for Peddie Day, attending the bonfire, picking their own team for Headmasters’ Week. They traveled with this crew of faculty children who called themselves “The Bike Gang” because they rode everywhere on their bikes.

I remember, all the faculty families used to sit in the family dining room and Avery would eat with some other family, because that’s how comfortable they were. All the adults would end up on the front porch of Insley Hall after dinner, and the kids would just run and play tag on the front hill. The adults would watch them, talk and drink our coffee while the sun went down. It’s just so sweet. Really good memories.

Q: As much as you enjoy campus life, where do you go when you need to recharge?

Paul: The golf course. I love to play golf. I’m very passionate about the game, even though it drives me crazy.

A 2019 family portrait in Blair’s “secret garden.” From left to right: Avery ’19, Erika, Paul ’88, Emma ’24 and Bogey. Paul coaching math teacher and current Blair head wrestling coach Ross Gitomer ’05 in the 2005 National Prep Wrestling finals at Lehigh University.

Erika: My getaway is nature—the Outer Banks (of North Carolina) and the beach.

Q: As you think back over your 18 years at Blair, what are your favorite memories?

Paul: I had so many running the dorm and coaching. I built a lot of great, close relationships there. I don’t think I have a one, specific, favorite memory since I’ve been here at Blair. Years of preparing wrestlers before they entered the heat of battle, watching golfers make a putt for the win and having “life lesson” conversations during dorm duty are memories that I fondly think about. And, how could I forget the time my fellow faculty members did the “Single Ladies” skit during a pep rally.… Erika: My mind goes to our parenting years and all the different people whom we’ve met here, who are really special people. A young faculty member named John Padden taught math at Blair, and my older daughter would play pranks on him. She would play “ding-dong ditch” on him, and he would prank her right back. Once, Avery stole his flip-flops from under the table, and he dumped a bucket of ice on her!

We’ve had a whole community— of students and adults—supporting one another over the years. Former English teacher Charles Danhof was like a young, cool uncle for years to our kids. He was always up for anything, and when asked if he’d like to come to Avery’s carnival game birthday party, not only did he come, he put trash bags over his whole body, wore a hat and goggles, and sat in a chair and let the kids throw pies at him for a pie-throwing contest—a real trooper!

Paul is also really good at off-thecuff random things that kids love. On our spring training trip with the golf team to the Dominican Republic in March, we were at this poolside café with students, and Paul told them to get their phones out and “Send the funniest picture you have of someone.” They called it the “No Hard Feelings” game. In no time, 10 of us were howling at the table. Those little moments like that. I remember those. ■