Seven Instructors Have Served 25 Years

Seven faculty members were recently recognized in Faculty Meetings this term for their 25 years of service at the Academy. Religion instructor Kathleen Brownback, science instructor Kathleen Curwen, Chinese instructor Ming Fontaine, English instructor Lark Hammond, science instructors Chris Matlack and Brad Robinson and director of Summer School Ethan Shapiro were all recipients of this honor.

Principal Tom Hassan read out a citation for each person at Faculty Meeting over the past few weeks, recounting highlights of their careers here.

"The Academy is indeed fortunate that we have so many employees who have been part of our community for 25 years or more. These individuals bring a wise and seasoned perspective to their work in and out of the classroom," Hassan said. They also exhibit a devotion to this institution that is remarkable. I am pleased that we are able to take time to recognize them for their contributions and to honor them for quarter century of service." Some faculty had declined to be recognized in Faculty Meetings, but they are profiled here.

Kathleen Brownback

Religion instructor Kathleen Brownback, in addition to teaching, has played various roles at the Academy. She was the Dean of Students from 1996-2001 and Associate Dean from 1991-1996. In the past she has coached swimming and tennis, taught yoga and advised the Middle Eastern Society club, and she currently runs the Assembly program.

Brownback expressed her love for the Academy and its people, including faculty and students. "The Academy is a fantastic group of colleagues, a wonderful collection of minds and hearts. A lot of us have known each other for decades," Brownback said. "It’s uncommon to have that kind of community and to have work that you love. Exeter never dries up; it is a rare combination of unusual stability and constant change."

"Ms. Brownback teaches the same way she does everything else: from a seat of compassion and genuine, unimposing involvement," senior Aaron Suduiko, who took Ethics of the Marketplace in the winter and is now taking Mysticism with Brownback, said. "She always lets us take our own way at the table and guides us along whatever road we choose to take. Even when she isn’t speaking, the quality of her silence exudes a keen interest in what we are saying or feeling."

Brownback revealed why she loves teaching and the questions she has with her students in class. "I feel a great synchronicity between questions I have had about religion and philosophy, and questions my students have," Brownback said. "I’m also really interested in the mind-body question and the nature of the self—what do we really mean by ‘non sibi?’ What is this ‘self’ we are not for? Is that even possible? These are questions students have and we share them."

Kathleen Curwen

Kathleen Curwen, who has taught chemistry at the Academy for 25 years, served as dorm faculty in Langdell and Bancroft Hall, Department Chair of the Science Department and Dean of Faculty. Currently, she works on various committees at Exeter, such as the Performing Arts Review Committee and the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee, and is also a faculty advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance.

Being a part of residential life and having advisees has been an important part of Curwen’s 25 years at Exeter. "I know that the boarding school life is not for everyone, but for me, it has been a perfect fit. I taught at the graduate school level and college level before Exeter, and I enjoy teaching here the most. Students at Exeter are talented, motivated, and they are a pleasure to work with," Curwen said.

"I love my subject matter—chemistry—and thoroughly enjoy working with Exeter students in and out of the classroom," Curwen said. "No two classes are ever the same, and I have the opportunity to learn something new and to be challenged on a daily basis."

Curwen’s love for teaching chemistry at Exeter is reflected in the reciprocal enthusiasm of her students. "Dr. Curwen is the reason I fell in love with chemistry in the first place, and now I'm thinking of

pursuing it outside of Exeter. She is so helpful and supportive, and cares a ton about her students," lower Sabrina Movitz, who has taken two terms of chemistry with Curwen this year, said. "She loves to employ that ‘mad scientist’ persona and loves to set things on fire in class, and she always keeps class fun. After two terms with her, I can say she’s one of my favorite teachers at Exeter."

Ming Fontaine

Chinese instructor Ming Fontaine started teaching at the Academy in 1988, and she was the only Chinese teacher at the school for many years. During her first years at Exeter, she taught all the Chinese courses, but now, with the addition of more Chinese teachers, she is teaching five courses: accelerated second-year, two third-year classes, fourth-year, and Chinese 999.

Apart from teaching Chinese at Exeter, Fontaine is also part of the overseas programs at Exeter. "I enjoy taking students to different places; both the students and I can learn new things," she said. "The past winter term I took eight outstanding seniors to China. We also traveled to Hong Kong, Taipei, Taichung and Shanghai…There is a Chinese saying, ‘Traveling ten thousand miles surpasses studying ten thousand books.’ I believe [my] students gained a lot of knowledge about China and that was also my happiest time."

Fontaine said that her favorite parts of teaching at Exeter are facing intelligent and highly motivated students and being surrounded by many supportive colleagues. "Teaching here is truly a joy and I am learning a lot from it," she said.

Students praised Fontaine’s caring style of teaching, with which she has taught Exonians for 25 years. "I think that Ms. Fontaine is one of the best teachers I have encountered here at my time at Exeter," upper Eugene Siegel said. "When I missed class, she was always there for me to catch up. When I had difficulty, she was there for me to go to. And even when I didn’t do so well, she could always be reached."

Fontaine will have a sabbatical term next spring term, during which she plans to go to inner Mongolia. "I want to study the Mongolian people’s living style," she said. "Going other place and learning new things is always my plan," she said. "I hope that when I come back, I can contribute my new knowledge to my students."

Fontaine encouraged students to go on any of the overseas programs. "They are real eye opening experiences. You will learn many things that need to be learned being submerged into the culture," she said. "I am happy to see more and more students interested in going on the overseas programs. This is the only way to learn the world."

Lark Hammond

Lark Hammond, who has taught at the Academy for 25 years and who will be retiring this June, has taught all levels of English and all senior electives, and also introduced the senior elective course "African and Caribbean Literature" in 1991. Hammond has received various awards during her time at Exeter for her extraordinary teaching and service to the Academy; her awards include the Rupert Radford award for service to the school, the Brown Family Faculty Award for teaching and the Thomas S. and Elinor B. Lamont Professorship in English.

Hammond also initiated the school’s physical education offerings in yoga as a club sport in 2003. "From one section, one term, as an ‘experimental add-on’ to the Courses of Instruction—for which I had 49 requests to join a 14-member class—yoga has evolved to a three-term, two-level offering with many instructors and sometimes three sections in a single term," she said.

Expressing her love for teaching at Exeter and the Harkness pedagogy, she plans to continue teaching a few courses at Exeter each year, even after her retirement.

"I feel blessed to have had the chance to interact with so many sincere, alert learners for many years," Hammond said. "The Harkness table has felt like home since I first walked into a classroom; if you love teaching, there is no better combination than bright, motivated and diverse students engaged in active collective inquiry. I used to say that going to class felt like going out to play when I was a girl."

Many of her students and colleagues appreciate her dedication to the school and her ability to use Harkness in the classroom. "Most of the faculty has long respected Ms. Hammond for her sharp analytical mind, her gift for literary analysis and teaching, her leadership of the math review, her commitment to diversity questions and her understated leadership and quiet assistance on so many projects," Brownback said. "I share all that, but what most stands out for me is her understanding, her ability to see how things fit together—the interconnection of the emotional, cultural and social dimensions."

Prep Tony Ryou agreed. "Ms. Hammond never loses enthusiasm for the class and also elicits it from her students," he said. "Her participation is also the best I’ve seen so far as a teacher—she provides us with major points which we may have missed such as background information and facts that we may not know of."

Hammond hopes to continue her service to the Academy, even after her retirement. She said, "I plan to leave somewhat gradually, staying in touch with other employees whom I have known for many years, and contributing where and when my assistance is needed, whether teaching or doing admissions or other work," she said.

Chris Matlack

Chris Matlack has taught biology courses at the Academy for 25 years, since September 1988. This year, in addition to being his 25th year at Exeter, marks his 29th as a teacher. Matlack taught at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y., his former high school, for four years before coming to Exeter in 1988.

Matlack expressed his love for the students, Harkness method, faculty and staff of Exeter. "I am very happy spending my time here at Exeter, as the students are great, and I feel that teaching biology around the Harkness table is the best way to teach," Matlack said. "In addition, I believe that living in a residential school such as Exeter and raising my children here has been a real gift. I have found the staff and faculty here at the Academy to be the best group of professionals that I have ever worked seen. It is a pleasure to work with them every day."

Both faculty and students recognized Matlack’s passion for teaching biology at Exeter. "Mr. Matlack is a respected teacher and interacts with students not only in the classroom but in the dormitory and on the playing fields," biology instructor Richard Aaronian, who has known Matlack since 1989, said. "His judgment is sound, and he is thoughtful in his approach to solving challenging problems. Mr. Matlack is always willing to work with students who are having difficulty with biology. His expectations are high and his students live up to those expectations."

Students described learning biology from Matlack as a great experience. "I love learning with Mr. Matlack. The two terms of prep bio that I have taken with him so far have been a blast," prep Yena Cho said. "He utilizes Harkness to the fullest. He never tells you the answer to a question, but rather waits and asks you questions that ultimately help you arrive at the answer. Bio was definitely my weakest subject, and his class made it so much fun that the work didn’t seem as difficult anymore."

Upper Nand Sophonpanich praised Matlack’s skills as a teacher to explain complex subjects in biology well. "Mr. Matlack has the ability to make complicated things look simple due to his great analogies and teaching skills," he said.

Prep Soren Blomquist Eggerling agreed. "Mr. Matlack’s teaching style is very informative, but also laced with a quirky sense of humor. It took time getting used to, but now I really appreciate it," he said.

Brad Robinson

Since arriving at Exeter in the fall of 1988, physics instructor Brad Robinson has taught various classes, including Introduction to Physics, Principles of Physics, Advanced Physics, Electronics and Astronomy. This spring term, Robinson is teaching the 201/202/203 Introduction to Physics sequence.

Robinson created the Physics 201/202/203 sequence in the early 1990s, in response to student complaints that there needed to be a physics course that was not geared for the mathematical heavy hitters.

"One particular student felt like she really liked science, loved learning physics, but did not feel like she was being well served by the math-intensive part of the course, so I tried to create something that would have been good for her," Robinson said. "Over the years, the class has evolved a lot, and many of my colleagues have adjusted how and what is taught in this course, but the original premise still exists."

In addition to teaching physics, Robinson has coached the prep crew program every year since he arrived 25 years ago. "Being out on the river during the spring is an incredible privilege, and I absolutely love watching spring unfold out there in a boat," Robinson said. "I adore bringing a group of kids, many of whom have not ever been on a team of any kind, from complete novice rowers to a solid bunch of oarsmen. They develop great skills and a lot of camaraderie, which is an almost miraculous transformation."

During his time at Exeter, Robinson has also served on various school committees, including those on agenda, discipline, housing and curriculum. In the early 2000s, he served on the Curriculum Review Committee, which tried to overhaul the Exeter curriculum in a significant way, according to Robinson. "Though none of our proposals were passed, I do think that the process of talking about our proposals did change the school at some fundamental level," Robinson said. "We have gradually become more aware of our place in the larger global context: we now take community service much more seriously, and we have more courses that address environmental issues."

"I pretty much love teaching all the classes I teach here," Robinson said, expressing his love and enthusiasm for teaching physics at Exeter. "I adore my preps, and I love the challenge offered by the advanced courses."

Robinson also spoke about his love for the courses that he teaches. "Electronics is like my baby, and it is wonderful to have a class where I get to pretty much do whatever I want to do. It is a class that is very project-oriented and almost feels more like a shop class than a regular Exeter experience," he said. "Electronics is a class I inherited from Dudley Taft, the retiring faculty member whom I replaced back in 1988, and I have taught it every year since my first year here."

Students had only praise for Robinson’s ways of teaching physics. "Mr. Robinson is a great teacher," prep Rex Bone said. "He has been very hands-on in teaching physics this term, using interesting labs and experiments to liven up subjects other teachers might teach blandly."

Prep Sang Park agreed. He said, "Mr. Robinson’s passion and love for the subject can be clearly seen through his teaching. His lab experiments are unique and learning physics conceptually, which is the way he teaches, and he helped me learn a lot."

Ethan Shapiro

Ethan Shapiro, Director of Summer School, Russian and history teacher, and coach of the Exeter wrestling team, arrived at Exeter in 1988. He accepting Exeter’s job offer based on Exeter’s reputation and the fact that teaching Russian language and history was what he had always wanted to do.

Despite Director of Summer School now being the bulk of his job at Exeter, Shapiro still pursues his passion of teaching the Russian language and history at Exeter, and currently teaches the senior elective 20th Century Russian History.

Shapiro described his work as Director of Summer School as about three-fourths of the work he does at Exeter. "Summer School is a school close to 800 kids now, so that has grown quite a bit over the years. It is a big program and takes a lot of time."

"The other quarter of my current job at Exeter is teaching class, doing dorm duty, being a wrestling coach, and doing admissions work in the fall," Shapiro said. He is currently a dorm affiliate of Webster Hall South and a teacher of Russian history.

Many of Shapiro’s students, at the Harkness table and on the wrestling mats, praised him for his involvement with his students.

"Coach Shapiro is a very involved coach. He talks to us personally every day at practice about things besides wrestling. He jokes around a lot too," upper and wrestler Curran Sullivan said. "Shapiro inspires hope. For me, during my first year of wrestling, he pulled me aside after I lost and told me to not get discouraged, and that I could be as good as I make myself."

Shapiro fondly reflected upon his 25 years at the school. "My time here has been absolutely terrific. I don’t regret one minute of it. I love working at the school, and I love everything I did at the school. I really feel blessed and honored that I had the chance to work at the school and be a part of what this school is all about."