The Hidden Lives of Teachers: Part 2
Writer: Radhika Goenka
Editor: Isabel Snare
Welcome, Gators, to the second edition of the Hidden Lives of Teachers! As stated in the previous article (go check it out here if you haven’t yet had the chance), students often consider their teachers to exist as authority figures whose sole purpose is to teach course material and mark tests. However, whether we realize it or not, every one of our teachers at Havergal have passions, talents, and lives that we don’t always get to learn about in our classrooms .
In order to give our teachers the spotlight they deserve, while highlighting the importance of developing student-teacher relationships beyond coursework and grades, , I went behind the scenes to interview five of YOUR teachers and ask them questions designed to reveal the aspects of themselves that students rarely get to see. These were:
What’s a hidden talent you have?
Is there something about you your students never would’ve guessed?
What would shock your younger self the most if they could see you now?
If you weren’t teaching, what would you be doing instead?
Once again, I will share the responses from your teachers without revealing their names. This means that it’s up to you to guess which responses belong to which teachers! So, without further ado…
Our first teacher never thought they’d be doing anything related to math when they were younger, but then they realized how much harder writing papers was for them compared to solving equations. After completing their major in math at university, they joined the Peace Corps and worked as a teacher in Namibia! Namibia is a country located in Southern Africa, and many of the children they taught there only spoke Oshindonga, which is the native language. As a result, this teacher learned and can still speak some Oshindonga! Teaching math made them realize how much they enjoyed it, so they moved to the US and eventually to Canada to continue doing so. This teacher enjoys crocheting and listening to audiobooks in their spare time, and also attends a drawing art class. They also have two cats called Stormie and Elphie, names chosen by their children.
Fun Fact: This teacher had green hair and an eyebrow ring in high school!
The second teacher has taught at Havergal for 21 years, having taught nearly every grade except for grades 10, 11, and 12. They didn’t originally plan on becoming a teacher, and were initially enticed by architecture, then interior design, before ultimately deciding to attend teacher’s college. If they weren’t teaching today, they’d likely be a landscape architect. This teacher’s father was a gardener, and so they were surrounded by plants and nature from a young age. Now, they have a garden they enjoy tending to, where they like to plant various vegetables and fruit trees! Alongside their passion for landscape architecture, this teacher enjoys creating 3D sculptures from unusual and creative materials. Something this teacher’s younger self would be surprised to learn about them is how much confidence they’ve gained since they were a child. From hating public speaking to teaching children full time, they’ve grown into a self-assured educator.
This teacher’s favorite part about teaching is… the excitement of her students when they learn something new!
Our third teacher was fascinated by meteorology as a child, and studied environmental sciences in university with the intention of becoming a consultant or policy analyst. Even when completing their masters degree, they still didn’t see themselves becoming an educator until a job for a teacher at an independent school was posted at the University of Waterloo, where they were attending, and their friends encouraged them to apply. It was only after getting the job that this teacher realized how much they enjoyed teaching, and decided to pursue it as a career. This teacher claims that their one and only special talent is their sense of direction. Place them anywhere, and they’ll be able to orient themselves and tell you which way is north and south in no time. They enjoy putting this skill to use by exploring local cities, and are an avid traveler, having visited every continent except Antarctica. Across their travels, this teacher has climbed five volcanoes, trekked the Himalayan mountains, and rafted the Amazon River, and is now setting their sights on summiting Mount Olympus. When not traveling, they enjoy reading non fiction and historical fiction, especially early in the morning with a coffee in hand, as well as listening to their favorite band, Blue Rodeo.
Fun Fact: This teacher was named after a French medieval saint from Montpellier, France!
Our fourth teacher wasn’t always set on their current path. This teacher’s career has taken them far beyond Canada, something their younger self would have never expected. They spent 23 years living and teaching internationally, including in Thailand and Tanzania in East Africa, where they worked as both a PE teacher and a librarian. This teacher enjoys playing sports whenever they get the chance, and has a particular affection for pickleball that may stem from playing tennis when they were younger. They also love reading, and though it’s hard for them to choose a favorite, some of their top picks include The Poisonwood Bible, A Fine Balance, and Stargirl. If not teaching, they would likely pursue journalism or be a news anchor on a radio show.
Something you might not know about this teacher is… that they’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro! And not just once, but twice!
Our fifth and final teacher always knew they wanted to teach. They fondly remember coming home from school as a child and reteaching everything they’d learned that day to a lineup of stuffed animals. In high school, they worked at day camps and taught swimming lessons, further developing their passion for working with young people. From early on in their life, they enjoyed the idea of being able to positively shape people’s experiences in a school setting. Before teaching at Havergal, this teacher previously taught English. They still enjoy reading fiction novels today, with The Great Gatsby being their favorite. This teacher also has a deep love for music, and enjoys seeing live performances whenever possible. With an appreciation for all genres, they often turn towards music as a source of comfort, energy, and relaxation. Outside of school, this teacher is an avid surfer! They started learning around six years ago, and since then have surfed along many coastlines, including those of Australia, Hawaii, Barbados, and Indonesia. If not teaching, they’d likely pursue another dream of theirs, which is to work in sports management and help to plan major events like the Olympics.
Despite their adventurous nature, this teacher is terrified of… snakes! Their fear is so intense that they can’t even watch cartoon snakes on screen without catching a chill.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations; you have reached the end of the second segment of The Hidden Lives of Teachers! The stories featured in this article remind us of how our teachers are much more than the subjects they teach and the assessments they grade. I hope you have learned something new about one of your teachers, and if you have a guess about one’s identity, don’t forget to leave your guesses in the comments! Teachers will be revealed on the Behind the Ivy Instagram (@behindtheivyhc). Thanks for reading, Gators!