Faculty of the Week: Ranila Haider

By ALEX LIM, ARYAN AGARWAL, MEGHAN TATE ZEE, and MARVIN SHIM

Instructor in Computer Science Ranila Haider is one of the sweetest souls at Exeter. Across campus she is known for her kind and comforting personality — students frequently approach Haider for her help and thoughtful advice. Her warmth takes many forms, whether it be allowing her 8 a.m. students to go to Grill for breakfast, or the genuine conversations she holds while on Friday duty in McConnell Hall. As an instructor, Haider teaches a variety of courses in the Computer Science Department, ranging from introductory courses to senior electives. She serves as a treasured dorm faculty in McConnell Hall, as well as an advisor to many students. 

Haider grew up in Jersey City, NJ, where she then received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Master’s degree in education from Wilmington University. She began her teaching career at Parable, MD, in 2005, before moving toNewark Academy in New Jersey. Haider then continued her journey abroad, taking the opportunity to teach in London for three years. Finally, she lived in Houston before finally arriving at Phillips Exeter Academy, where she has taught for almost 10 years.

Haider shared her thought process behind taking a position at the Academy. “It was an opportunity to teach computer science where it was not just a requirement,” she said. “It was more than that. I took more challenging courses and I love teaching a new course at least once a year. So every year since I’ve been here, I’ve taught something different, something new, which is exciting.” 

When asked about her favorite thing about teaching at Exeter, Haider reflected, “I like challenging myself and knowing that there’s so much more in computer science that I’m not going to always know. Sometimes it’s humbling when the students know more than me.” 

However, Haider also highlighted some of the challenges that she faced following her arrival on campus: “This was my first place where I did residential life. Living in the dorms, not knowing how it can be as a dorm parent. Just learning those pieces and enjoying it, to be honest, it’s hard.”

Outside of the classroom, Haider is also a beloved faculty member in McConnell Hall, her kindness reaching countless residents of the South Side dorm. “Ms. Haider is someone I would describe as loving, reliable, funny, and iconic,” said prep Aaliyah Salca. “As McConnell dorm faculty, she really cares for all of us individually, and always helps us out a lot. She really makes sure that you feel safe in the dorm.”

Naturally, Haider’s apartment has become a welcoming space for McConnellites to chat, practice compsci, and more. “When I was in Ms. Haider’s computer science class last winter term, I came knocking on her door, absolutely balling my eyes out because I couldn’t do the homework. She took me into her apartment and we sat on her couch with her cat while she helped me with the whole thing,” said lower Sam Crowley.

Senior Miyu Nakmura, proctor in McConnell, echoed that experience. “She’s warm, kind, and approachable. That’s for sure. She always welcomes us to talk, whether it’s about social life or academics. She always gives the best advice, and has helped me through a lot of things.”

Outside of the dorm and in the classroom, Haider continues to spread kindness to students. “I could tell that Ms. Haider was a very welcoming and kind teacher from the very first day of class,” said lower Aaryan Patel. “This kindness is what makes Ms. Haider such a great teacher, because students never have to be afraid to ask for help. It’s the type of kindness that shows up all over campus — on the paths, in the classroom, in Elm, and more.” 

Although Haider’s kindness is such a defining part of her character, her excellent teaching style and intelligence has also helped numerous computer science students. Patel, for example, said, “Ms. Haider also has a great balance of teaching and allowing her students to learn for themselves through trial and error. One of my favorite parts about her teaching style is how she focuses on real world comparison/application.”

Fellow Instructor in Computer Science Sean Campbell shared another insight on Haider’s approach to teaching. “She is particularly welcoming to students who are new to coding and who might be intimidated by the programming tasks,” he said. “I’ll say that even when there are challenges, she is always ready with a smile. As a colleague, she is also generous with her course materials. This term I am teaching a machine learning class for the first time, and she has been more than happy to share her assignments, notes, readings and everything else to help me enhance my course preparation.” 

Upper Peter Lee explained, “She’s a very nice and calm person, but still very helpful during class. Since many people have never taken computer science before so it would be very new and hard, she keeps the classroom environment relaxed so that people always feel comfortable  to reach out with any questions they have.”

“Ms. Haider manages to facilitate Harkness in our class even though it’s a very elementary computer science class. If someone doesn’t understand the material or if there’s a pause in the discussion, she always jumps in at the right time to push the conversation along. Maybe she adds another topic and prompts to keep moving us in the right direction,” prep Matias Yau noted.

“Her class had a lot of creative energy, and I liked how fun and engaging it was,” added lower Adu Ilangovan. “Her class atmosphere was super positive. She encouraged us to work together on our projects, which made the class so fun.”

Yau echoed that sentiment. “She’s a relaxed teacher, and I can tell that she has good knowledge in what she’s teaching. Although she seems very laid back, at the end of every class I feel that I’ve learned a lot, and I can understand everything,” he said. “I can tell she enjoys the subject she’s teaching and she’s always excited to help out whenever she can.”

Outside of her time teaching computer science, Haider balances her time with many engaging hobbies. “I love crochet. I did a lot of sketching, drawings, just anything that gets me away from a screen,” she said. “It’s fun because most of my day is on a screen, so it is very easy to just pick up a phone and do whatever. Sometimes it’s important to just take a break.”

Whether encountered hanging out with her cat, crocheting, or helping students with their codes, Haider is a joy to be around. In McConnell Hall, she is caring and kind. In the classroom, she is passionate and savvy. And as a teacher, she always encourages students to grow as well as herself. Haider stated that the most satisfying thing about teaching is “The growth that I see in all of my students as well as myself, with every single course that I teach and every single batch of students that come through.”