Spark talks with teachers as they reflect on the year

TEACHERS' TAKE

What a journey this year has been. Throughout, the entire Collegiate School community has been squarely focused on our students. Daily, we prepared with teaming and problem solving to deliver the best possible experience to enrich the learning and growth of our nearly 1,700 Cougars. Faculty and staff went above and beyond to provide a remarkable academic and extracurricular experience. Parents, grandparents, alumni and friends gave support and encouragement in ways big and small. Our incredible students embraced new habits and shared their joy and gratitude for the gift of being together, learning throughout our beautiful campus. Now, one extraordinary school year later, our resilient teachers took the time to reflect on the endurance of the Collegiate community.

Jenny Linder

Middle School P.E. Teacher

From a student life perspective, I think of how normal the experience was — the kids were here with their friends learning in person, they had recess, they had their classes, they had their times where they could be social with their friends, they had athletics, they had the arts. There was so much that really was normal, because the planning and the work and the foresight that went in to making last spring and this year a reality and in person this year was just incredible.”

Stew Williamson

Upper School Science Teacher

The curiosity came out. I gave them [the students] more time to think and ponder about stuff. The idea that they could wonder what the world could be in a few years or in a few months. Those conversations were more meaningful for me this year because we were living in a different world.”

Liz Bowling

Upper School Spanish Teacher

I think that bringing together people from different pathways and in different ways in a shared experience that was difficult really was the biggest silver lining, which created those pop-up moments for me that I had not anticipated.”

Rives Fleming

Middle School Humanities Teacher

The students really drive everything we do, and they were the ones that made this work.”

Alex Dooley

JK Teacher

It was neat to see that school isn’t about the routines and what we think it should be. It’s about being together, and learning and growing and trusting each other, and loving each other.”

Suzanne Lewis

Upper School History Teacher

I loved that the students were all-in this year. They were willing to work with teachers, and they tried different things, and we took risks in classrooms as we tried our best to work within the masking and the social distancing rules. They were willing to jump in and meet the lesson where it was.”

Jermelle Dandridge

1st Grade Teacher

The parents have been phenomenal, and I think, even from far away, I could feel their support. I could feel their love. The emails, the cards, the letters — all of those were just little things that you could tuck in your heart for those really tough days.”

Collegiate School faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the successful 2020-21 school year.