Ten Minutes with Steve Bailey P’09

This fall, Steve Bailey P’09 began his 17th year as a teacher. Known for blending physics and fun (and for his science-themed ties, pins, and jokes), Bailey came to teaching later in life. It is his third career! After graduating from the State University of New York at Oneonta with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he joined the U.S. Navy and began a career in the U.S. Submarine Forces, earning both an ocean engineering degree and a master’s in naval architecture and marine engineering from MIT.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bailey constructed and maintained nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. “We were putting out SSN-688 Los Angeles-class submarines every six months. It was an incredible time back then,” he said. He also worked as a repair officer aboard the USS Emory S. Land, which the Navy describes as “a submarine tender and the lead ship of her class.” It supported a squad of 22 submarines, he said.

After retiring from the Navy, Bailey earned a master’s in physics education from the University of Virginia and taught for two years at Williamsburg. Then he got a call from a friend who worked at NASA about an open position. For the next five years, Bailey worked as a safety engineering consultant at NASA Langley Research Center. Part of his work took him beneath the wind tunnels depicted in the 2016 film, “Hidden Figures.” Bailey also worked as an engineer and as a maintenance officer for the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.

In 2005, he became the Science Department Chair at Gunn. In addition to teaching physics at all levels, he coaches Girls JV Tennis. During his tenure, Bailey has inspired his students to participate in the National Physics Bowl and the annual High School Photo Contest sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers. He has peered at the night sky from the Quad to view meteor showers, the moon, and the International Space Station, and keeps up with the many alumni who have gone on from his classes to scientific careers.

Q: What is your advice for students?

A: You just have to be open to changes. You can’t be in the same thing forever, particularly today, so move around. You can’t feel you are stuck in a rut somewhere. You can always do something else. And be able to write. You’re going to be the boss, you’re going to be the project manager, that person needs to be someone who can communicate. Know how to write, and write well. Also, be welcoming. You always feel comfortable when you are welcomed, so be a great welcomer.

Q: What is your favorite lesson?

A: One of my favorite lessons that I teach is in thermodynamics and kinetic molecular theory. It’s about particle motion. We model these particles in the room, in a box, using procedure and volume and dimensions, and in the end, you come up with a temperature. Avogadro’s temperature comes out of that. It’s been one of the lessons where the kids actually applaud at the end. Others that I like to do are some labs where we look at light and thin lens theory. We watch light going through very small crevices and how light behaves. That’s a great lesson. It’s very cool.

Q: What is your favorite expression?

A: “Shoot for your grade.” The students have to take their knowledge of a projectile and predict where it’s going to land. We put targets up and however close they get to the target is going to be their grade. There’s a lot of things in physics that go one way or the other. Some things are either in equilibrium, or not in equilibrium. It’s either one side, or the other. Everything falls from those two conditions. From that you get different equations, different ways to go.

Q: Who has been your greatest influence?

A: Peter Becker. He has been a tremendous influence on the school. I love the way he is bringing together the things that we do in residential life and sports and academics. These things are not separate; they’re related. We have these Core Values and the Pillars. And, of course, this was all influenced by Frederick Gunn and reading and going back to his purpose: becoming a responsible citizen. Peter has been able to articulate Mr. Gunn’s vision so well. I also think he’s assembled a great group of people to execute it.

Education

SUNY Oneonta — BA, Mathematics

Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Ocean Engineer (OE) and MS, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

University of Virginia — MA, Physics Education

Responsibilities

Teaching Physics and Head Coach, Girls JV Tennis

Accolades:

The Anne and Henry Zarrow Chair for Math and Science

The Class of 1955 Distinguished Teaching Award

2022 Alumni of Distinction Honoree, SUNY Oneonta

The

FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL BULLETIN FALL-WINTER 2022

Peter Becker Head of School

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS 2022-23

Patrick M. Dorton ’86

Board Chair

Neil Townsend P’18 ’20

Vice Chair

Wanji Walcott P’19 Vice Chair

Beth W. Glynn Secretary

Ashleigh Fernandez Treasurer

Stephen W. Baird ’68

William G. Bardel

Peter Becker, Head of School

Robert Bellinger ’73

Kevin Bogardus ’89

Sarah Scheel Cook ’82

Missy Cuello Remley ’87

Jon C. Deveaux

Natalie H. Elsberg P’25

Gretchen H. Farmer P’05

Adam C. Gerry P’21

Sherm Hotchkiss ’63

Thomas R. King ’60

Jonathan S. Linen ’62

Damien Marshall P’24

Paul M. McManus, Jr. ’87 P’21 ’23

Bonnie A. Pennell ’86

Krystalynn Schlegel ’96

Omar Slowe ’97

Richard N. Tager ’56

Robert M. Tirschwell ’86

Dan Troiano ’77

Rebecca Weisberg ’90

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Doug Day Chief of Enrollment Strategy & Marketing dayd@frederickgunn.org

Jennifer Clement P’22 ’25 Bulletin Editor clementj@frederickgunn.org

ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT

Sean Brown P’22 Chief Development Officer browns@frederickgunn.org

ADMISSIONS

Suzanne Day Director of Enrollment & Admissions days@frederickgunn.org

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Steven P. Bent ’59

Leo D. Bretter ’52 P’88

Jonathan Estreich P’06

Edsel B. Ford II ’68

Joan Noto P’97

Jonathan Tisch ’72

Gerrit Vreeland ’61

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Laura Eanes Martin ’90 P’20 ’23 ’25 President

Omar Slowe ’97 Vice President

Scott A. Schwind ’89

Krystalynn M. Schlegel ’96

PARENTS COUNCIL

Keith Gleason P’19 ’21 ’23 Co-Chair, Parent Giving

Ray Whitney ’87 P’24 Co-Chair, Parent Giving