Thank you, Mr. Cornish

David Cornish—Director of Grades 7 & 8 and English and Classics teacher—retired this spring following a remarkable 47-year career in education, including 21 years of service to St. Sebastian’s.

Whether writing lessons on his blackboard, coaching from the sidelines, or offering sage guidance, David Cornish has been dedicated to helping students flourish both inside and outside the classroom. A highly respected teacher, coach, and advisor, he has set thousands of our youngest Arrows on the right path, helping them to grow into better learners and young men.

Prior to launching his teaching career, Cornish, a Harvard graduate, served in the Marine Corps for two years and earned his master’s in education from Boston College. In September 1974, he joined the faculty at the Dexter School where he taught and coached boys in grades 7 and 8 for 26 years. Cornish had gotten to know Bill Burke while they watched their sons play football on opposing teams and when an opening in the English Department at St. Sebastian’s became available in 2000, he decided he was ready for a change.

An expert in middle school boys, Cornish made a seamless transition to St. Sebastian’s. His focus remained on educating students in grades 7 and 8. He taught English as well as Latin over the years, and in 2006 assumed a leadership position as Director of Grades 7 & 8. Outside of the classroom, he built deeper connections with his students by coaching them in football and baseball and serving as moderator of The Dart, the middle school newspaper. He also served as Secretary of the Cum Laude Society and an advisor to many students over the years. Being able to watch his advisees develop all the way through senior year at St. Sebastian’s brought him great joy—a big change from Dexter, which at the time he left the school, ended in 8th grade.

Cornish was a demanding teacher, setting the stage for the academic rigors at St. Sebastian’s, but always with the same purpose—to help each student achieve success. “During their first day of class in September, I share with my English students two overall intentions for the year—to help them learn to read literature with greater understanding and appreciation and to help them improve their writing both in terms of accuracy and style,” shared Cornish. “I then tell them that my hope was that they would leave for summer vacation the next June confident that they were better readers and writers.” Cornish’s valuable lessons in grammar and essay writing, along with his thorough and thoughtful feedback on each paper and test, helped each of his students reach this goal.

Cornish instilled a sense of discipline in his 7th and 8th grade charges that prepared them well for their high school years. From taking better notes, to writing down every assignment and handing in homework on time, he kept students focused and on track, encouraging them when they were struggling and always making himself available for extra help. He made it a priority to get to know each student and was eager to celebrate their successes in all aspects of their St. Sebastian’s experience, listening to every Chapel Speech and attending as many sports games as he could.

Students get back to work after surprising Mr. Cornish with a party upon his return to in-person teaching in April.

When the world turned upside down during the pandemic, Cornish had to trade in his blackboard for video conferencing. Although teaching remotely presented many challenges, he never wavered in his commitment to his students, effectively replicating his classroom routine and lessons from afar. In April 2021, Cornish was able to return to campus and close out his teaching career in person, receiving an enthusiastic homecoming from his students.

Thank you, Mr. Cornish, for always modeling and demanding the best virtues. We treasure the many years we were blessed with your presence and remain forever grateful for all you have done to make St. Sebastian’s a better place.

Headmaster Burke gives David a handshake following remarks about the beloved educator at the closing faculty dinner.

PRAISE FROM DAVID’S COLLEAGUES:

“I had heard of David Cornish long before I met or worked with him. He was already a legend in the New England independent school world when I began teaching at St. Sebastian’s. After I arrived here, I was blessed to teach and work with David’s former students from Dexter. When I would suggest a slightly different approach with their Latin studies, they would defend their own way of doing things, telling me with great confidence, ‘That’s how Mr. Cornish taught us.’ Years later, working with David after he became a member of our faculty, I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the myriad reasons for his students’ love, respect, and even reverence. A consummate educator, a dedicated school man, David embodied for me the very best of the independent school tradition of knowing, loving, and taking good care of every boy in the School.” —Michael Nerbonne, Assistant Headmaster

“David has been a model for me and for all of his colleagues for the last 20 plus years. The way he approaches every day at St. Sebastian’s reminds us what is most important—our students. David always, always, always put the welfare of the boys first. He models thoughtfulness, scholarship, empathy. He treats everyone he encounters with respect and kindness. His impact on St. Sebastian’s—and on the many students and teachers he has inspired—will endure for many years.” —Chris Lynch, Chair of the English Department

“I speak for all of David’s colleagues of today and yesterday in proclaiming the truth that it has been a truly great honor to have served with him, to have learned from him, to have been inspired by him. And how I wish that I could recount even a fraction of the many wonderful things I have caught students, parents, and colleagues saying about him behind his back. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend, soul mate, and Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Cornish has lived the creed: ‘Let me serve them all my days and never count the cost,’ and do we ever love him for it.” —Headmaster Bill Burke

David with his wife, Cee-Cee, at a school event in Ward Hall.

TRIBUTES FROM MR. CORNISH’S STUDENTS:

“Mr. Cornish was a taskmaster, but also a loving, patient father figure and friend. He saw in each of us the potential within our young minds and was striving to get us ready for our futures. We were boys, and his goal was to put us on a path to becoming men—coincidentally, the theme of nearly all the books we read together in English class. His precision, his unrelenting focus, and his work ethic soon became what I loved best about Mr. Cornish. But it was during the pandemic months when I appreciated him the most. When it would have been easy to give up or wallow, Mr. Cornish and his ways kept us from giving in. He made things normal in a time that was anything but, and never let us get lost in our worry or fear of what was happening all around us.” —Jack Knight ’25 “Whether it was the daily check-ins to make sure I was on top of my studies, congratulating me after a big team win for hockey or congratulating me after scoring my first varsity goal, Mr. Cornish is someone that has been a tremendous support for me during middle school and high school, a key time in my life. He challenged me to work hard in the classroom and push myself to the furthest of my academic potential. I am beyond grateful for his remarkable commitment to my success and development at St. Sebastian’s.” —Michael Cataldo ’22

“Throughout my 10 years of schooling, never have I had an English teacher more dedicated than Mr. Cornish. When a portion of his year was entirely online, never once did he fail to educate and enthrall us. He’s always made sure to improve our writing, be it through new tools or imperfections to avoid.” —Seth Janchar ’26 “I honestly do not know where to start when it comes to reflecting on my years as an advisee of Mr. Cornish. The countless acts of kindness that stems from a passion of teaching is a rarity, and my Dad and I often say how a teacher like Mr. Cornish only comes once in a lifetime... Mr. Cornish not only serves as someone to go to when in need of academic help or advice, but he also genuinely wants the best for all his students.” —Tim Browne ’22

“Mr. Cornish helped me grow as both a student and as a person. He taught me the value of putting in the necessary time and hard work and that these two things are an integral part of success both in school and in life. I’m so grateful that I had him as a teacher, and even though our time together is ending, the memories and lessons will stick with me forever.” —Nolan Dunphy ’26