21. The Faculty

Facult and Staff assembled in the Martin Theater, Spring 2018

When I think back on five decades at Dalton, first as a student, and later as Head of School, it is the faculty I think of most — their strength in their disciplines, their eagerness to share their passions, and their commitment to their students in House, Assignment, and Lab.

My relationships with my teachers shaped me. Classes were all participatory and no questions were too silly. The project orientation reached students with all different learning styles. Certain teachers became my role models. I can name them all. I remember my fourth grade teacher Miss Jones; although she was sometimes scary, I knew she cared about each of us. I knew then that I wanted to be a teacher; that never changed.

Teachers pulled us in with interactive experiences. I vividly remember a class with Miss Losee. Three students ran into the room arguing until Miss Losee told them to continue their disagreement elsewhere. When we all wrote a description of the event, sixteen different accounts emerged. We learned that history is in the eye of the beholder.

Last year, I asked the seniors in my House what they thought was most distinctive about Dalton. They mentioned the remarkable courses, extracurricular activities, and most importantly, the extraordinary devotion of their teachers who support them to be the authors of their own education. While the faculty has grown and styles may have changed, the essential emphasis on empowering students, helping them to become independent thinkers and self- advocates, remain. The faculty dedication to students, whether as house advisor, classroom teacher, or coach continues to distinguish the Dalton faculty.
—Ellen C. Stein, Former Head of School