Life Teachers Sharing Offices
The Burke Enterprises • Imani George
This power science duo has been making strides in physics together in the infamous basement corner of Glover for six years, since Jamison Smith first arrived at Thayer. Their quirks are key to keeping this relationship strong. “I admire his Zoolander-type good looks and respect his passions for Frisbee and trivia,” says Jamie Formato. “Your oddities are your strengths,” says Mr. Smith in response. They claim that the best thing about their officemate-ship is their mutual messiness, which helps them feed off of each other’s mad scientist vibe. “I’d say our office consists of about 25% me, 25% Mr. Formato and 50% science stuff,” says Mr. Smith. “If either of us were cleaner, we would feel some pressure not to be slobs,” adds Mr. Formato. He then rethinks that thought: “Should we be clean?” he asks. “Nah,” they reply at the same time. The scientists say that, what they refer to as “The Goldstein Era,” forged a strong bond between them during the years they shared together. “What’s that phrase? Weathered the storm?” asks Mr. Formato with a chuckle. “He gave off a sense of general despair,” adds Mr. Smith. On a more serious note, these colleagues of the same subject enjoy the benefits of bouncing ideas off each other for their science classes. They find solid suggestions from each other and even make new discoveries together. Another calling for which they gain knowledgeable advice from each other: their own children. “I’m about two years behind Mr. Formato, so I get great gadget advice on childcare from the tech cycle,” says Mr. Smith. Future plans for the office? They seek to burrow a hole to the “bio pod” for espionage purposes. Oops, may have spoiled that secret. Biology teachers, beware of the mad scientists at work.
The Bookish Buddies • Rebecca Brown English teachers Jim King and Joe Pelletier have been packed in side by side in 217-M, the tiny office wedged between the sophomore English classroom and the stairway, for around 15 years. Although Mr. King has had a few different officemates in the past, the current duo has been together since Mr. Pelletier’s arrival at Thayer. “We’ve been going steady for 15 years,” jokes Mr. King, “I have his sweater.” Although it isn’t the roomiest, the pair is happy with the office, and has developed ways to get around the lack of space. The two have a strict division between each side, partly to contain Mr. King’s mess of folders and books, and partly because there’s simply not that much room to share. “He’s allowed on my side,” says Mr. King, “but he doesn’t often choose to go there.” Mr. King puts their situation nicely – maneuvering in their office is “an intricate and delicate choreography.” Despite the narrow confines and Mr. King’s affinity for hoarding, Mr. Pelletier says that the office is “very much [his] home.” The two agree that there are many benefits to sharing an office with a teacher in the same subject, like the ability to discuss and share teaching methods or lesson plans. “I have learned an incredible amount from Mr. King,” says Mr. Pelletier, Mr. King’s junior. “Even since the opening days, when he gave me my first English II binder.” Mr. King agrees that they have formed a close friendship. “Usually, when I can’t find something, he can. You know, we’re like Siamese twins at this point. He thinks my thoughts, I think his thoughts.” As for the future, the two English teachers don’t have plans to split up any time soon. Mr. Pelletier claims that it would take a roomy office with a nearby bathroom to sway him into switching offices, whereas Mr. King is staying put. “I actually have no desire – zero desire – for a different office,” he says. “We’re in it for the long haul. I2 kind of like the idea of being here until I get dragged out at retirement time.” Mr. Pelletier agrees, “Till death do us part.”
Griffin Mansi Photos
The Mad Scientists • Rachel Goffin
“Everything they’re saying is a lie.” Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is the statement that kicked off my interview with Francisco Vega-Torres, Ken Burke, and Jake Diamond-- three of the four teachers that make up office 208M. After making his dramatic entrance, Mr. Vega turned the conversation towards what he refers to as an “issue, situation”-- the current exponential growth phase of ‘Burke Enterprises.’ “People need to know about this,” he says. Apparently Burke East, the half of the office that Mr. Burke has taken over, is expanding so rapidly that not only has Mr. Vega struggled to maintain a boundary, but Emma Lee was actually ejected from the property. “She’s a refugee in Glover now,” Mr. Vega explains. Mr. Burke cautions, however, that before accepting Mr. Vega’s viewpoint on Burke East, one needs to consider the concept of “subjective reality.” Despite this slight speed bump in the office dynamic, the three teachers explain that they do enjoy each other’s presence. On occasion they wander through the piles of books and other oddities stacked against the walls, finding random items such as 70s photos of Mr. Diamond with a large mustache. The office is also home to two “pets,” Felipe and Lupe, which any students of Mr. Diamond are rather familiar with. And despite their disagreements on the boundaries of Burke Enterprises, Mr. Burke and Mr. Vega have a rather close relationship. Mr. Burke served as Mr. Vega’s mentor teacher when he first got to Thayer, and he often refers to Mr. Vega as “Mentee.” Furthermore, Mr. Diamond notes that Mr. Burke has a lot of jokes -- which Mr. Vega claims he never understands. One of Mr. Burke’s famous jokes, known to every Burke alumni, is the inky-binky, a mini riddle that plays on words. Mr. Burke was even kind enough to leave an inky-binky for VOICE: a less clear Spanish teacher uttered by someone with a heavy Boston accent. The answer? A Vega-vague. “I still don’t get it,” Mr. Vega complains.
The Algebraic Allies • Griffin Mansi Maryam Lombardi and Vincent Cimmino have been sharing 224 Glover for three years, and that arrangement won’t be ending anytime soon. “He’s not leaving,” joked Ms. Lombardi. “I’ll chain him to the desk.” Yet their office relationship is a story that almost never was. Mr. Cimmino started working at Thayer the same year as Brendan McKiernan. Therefore, Ms. Lombardi could have been paired with either new recruit. After Mr. Cimmino used words like “beast” in class and students thought that he was related to Ms. Lombardi, the pair felt that their personalities would match well. In fact, in the first months that Mr. Cimmino worked at Thayer, students thought Mr. Cimmino was Ms. Lombardi’s son; Murph even thought that they were related. Weirder yet, Mr. Cimmino’s mom’s maiden name just happens to be Lombardi. Maybe their pairing was fate. During the past three years 224G has had a few “pets.” Ms. Lombardi and Mr. Cimmino talk fondly of the pet mouse that lived in Mr. Cimmino’s desk and ate all of his food. They also reminisce about the day when they came into school and said mouse was dead on the floor. Ms. Lombardi was forced to pick up the carcass since Mr. Cimmino would not. 3
Griffin Mansi Photos
The various offices that make up Thayer Academy are almost as unique as the teachers who occupy them. Here, we get the inside scoop on the partnerships (and resulting friendships).