The Teachers Who Made Us

The Teachers Who Made Us

For Staff/Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked Oakwood staff to share stories about the educators who made a difference in their lives. Read their first-hand accounts below. 

Kate Reardon, Team 6 Teacher

Dr. Jennifer Durham, Director of Learning Support, Potomac School. She was my childhood tutor who taught me to read and was the first adult to see that it was a Learning Disability preventing me from learning not intelligence. She used multisensory teaching, and found the ways that worked for me - I was at her house four days a week before and after school from second grade through sophomore year of high school- when she graduated with her PhD and started working full time at the Lab School and as a professor at American University. When I got to college her role in my life changed from a tutor and mentor to a professor. During my time with her as my professor, my whole class got to read a case study that was based on my learning as a child. For the first time as a professional, I was able to see just how much she changed my life, she is the reason I teach to help other students who don't feel understood. Along with making sure that no parent ever feels as though their kid will never read or graduate you just have to find the right instruction. *pictured below*

Cherie Jacobs, Team 2 Teacher

Ronald Bower. I was in Jackson Elementary School. He was in Eastern Lebanon County High School. He's my dad and he always told me I could do anything if I tried hard enough. He also taught me not to pay anyone to do a job I could do myself. I grew up riding dirt bikes, mowing yards, and changing the oil in my car myself. If I wanted to do something, I learned how and did it. I even taught myself to ride a unicycle because he bet me I'd never learn. Thanks, Dad, my lifelong teacher. *pictured below*

Dr. Susan Autry, Former Academic Supervisor

Margaret Shepherd at Oakland School near Charlottesville. I did my Master’s internship there and then worked in the summer program. She truly believed in OG and multisensory teaching. She created an amazing school. I admired her consistently positive attitude and her belief in every child’s ability to learn.

Matt Chambers, Team 4 Teacher

Dr. Gerald Wallace, George Mason University. He was realistic about the challenges of teaching while working on a Master's degree. He was patient and had good advice.

Liz Busovsky, Instructional Technology Resouce Teacher

I had a teacher named Mrs. Needle in middle school and she was as fierce as her name. She held the bar very high and even though it was tough at the moment I realized as I got older that she pushed me to be a better writer even when I didn't see it in myself.

Muriel Jedlicka, Admissions Director

Miss List, my first-grade teacher. She was warm, caring, and firm. At the same time, she had a wonderful knack for making each student feel special. I saw her years later when I was home from college. When I told her I was studying to be a teacher because of her, it was a special moment.

Madeleine Youngman, Team 7 Teacher

Dr. Patrick Bradley was my Latin teacher at Rockbridge County High School. When I was falling behind due to undiagnosed dyslexia, he was the one teacher who never gave up on me. He came to every IEP meeting and continued to support me through my diagnosis in a school when very little support was available. *pictured below*

Phallon Perry, Development Director

George Kessler, Baltimore School for the Arts. I attended Baltimore School for the Arts for high school where I studied Theatre Production. Because it is a performing arts school, there is a very heavy emphasis on arts-based curriculum. During my time at Baltimore School for the Arts, Mr. Kessler was my teacher for 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade Honors English. He knew me very well by the 3^rd year and allowed me to babysit his children a few times. I continue to reference lessons from his class throughout my career as a writer. His guidance gave me the confidence I needed to apply for the Spoleto Study Abroad program in Spoleto, Italy. At age 17, I was 1 in 5 students accepted into their Creative Writing program where I befriended other young artists from around the world, while also honing in on my craft as a writer. I went to high school as a curious theatre production student and graduated as a confident writer and it is all thanks to Mr. Kessler. *pictured below*

Leah Kocsis, Music Teacher

Mr. Michael Macelletti, Danbury High School, Danbury, Connecticut. Mr. Macelletti was the madrigals and choir teacher at my high school. I wasn't particularly comfortable singing but he had me enroll in the class to be the pianist. I LOVED it and learned so much from him. One day he spontaneously said "Leah, I need to leave. Here's the baton. Conduct the group." I was hooked! I have conducted numerous choirs and orchestras, musical theater, and youth orchestras since that day. I thank him for giving me that opportunity.

Janet Geerdes, Chief Financial Officer

My 7th grade homeroom teacher in Seoul, Korea. I can't remember her name. She knew I was being adopted at age 12. She wrote me a personal note to encourage me knowing that my upcoming transition would be rough. She also gave me a Korean doll and a book. I still have them. She took time to show me that I mattered to her and to my family (birth and adoption).

Jenny Sanborn, Team 8 Teacher

Mrs. Wincelowicz was my math teacher for 2 years in a row; I had her for Algebra 2 and Geometry at Leonardtown High School. Not only did Mrs. Wincelowicz make math fun, but she opened her classroom to my friends and me during lunch during our junior year so we would have somewhere quiet to eat and work on homework. She also fostered a love of math in me and explained things in a way that clicked; then she encouraged me to help my classmates who were struggling. Getting practice explaining complicated mathematics to my peers provided me an opportunity to see that I enjoyed teaching others. Even more than that, Mrs. Wincelowicz saw my love of math and my drive and encouraged me to jump up to AP Calculus the next year. She said that it was rare for people to make that jump and provided materials to help prepare me for the more challenging math class.

Jeremy Zukas, Team 11 Teacher

Mr. Ward at South Lakes High School. He helped develop my appreciation for literature and language.

Mara Heflin, Team 2 Teacher

Ms. O'Sullivan--Algonkian Elementary-3rd grade--Her kindness and positivity radiated each day she came to school and she wanted to make a connection to each student that was in her class. She even invited me and a friend to help her during the summer to get her classroom ready for the next school year.

Sarah Blair, School Nurse

Mr. Conlan was my 5th-grade teacher and then my soccer coach during my Junior and Senior year of high school. I remember him being a kind, fun, and engaging teacher. As a coach, he helped inspire us to be a better team, beating our record from previous years. He instilled leadership and wasn't afraid to have us take a lap when we weren't paying attention or messing around. He would hand out MVPs at the end of the game and stressed the importance of being a good sideline teammate, even if you didn't get in the game. At the end of the season, he gave us each a handmade Christmas ornament that read 'Tradition starts here'. It still hangs on my Christmas tree 20 years later. *pictured below*

Guy Spagnoli, Team 6 Teacher

Teaching at Oakwood is such a collaborative process...it is impossible to pinpoint an individual as so many people here have impacted my craft (and continue to do so!). In my early years at Oakwood, Susan Autry, Erin Morgan, Judy Brown, & Emily Brazelton stand out as important influences in my development as an educator.

Sachi Rosenbaum, Substitute Teacher

Sally Smith at American University and The Lab School of Washington. She was my mentor, who inspired me and countless other students with her deep knowledge and understanding of Learning Differences and her unwavering belief in every child's ability to learn when given proper guidance. *pictured at top of blog*

Rachel Knowles, Team 3 Teacher

Miss Ross The Boss was my 4th grade math teacher. She had a sign above the door that said "Rule #1 Miss Ross is always right. Rule #2 if Miss Ross is wrong please see rule #1." I remember it to this day.

Tricia Stock, Team 8 Teacher

Jamie Gannon - former instructional coach and supervisor- Jamie taught me how to incorporate multisensory learning into my lessons in new and creative ways. She also taught me how to utilize organizational systems in my planning and materials management. I still hear her voice in my head saying, "What kind of system can we put in place for this", or "How can we incorporate some movement into this lesson?" *pictured below*

 

Thank you to all the teachers, coaches, and school staff who have made a difference in the lives of our team at Oakwood School. Your influence continues to resonate, shaping the next generation and inspiring our team as they carry Oakwood's mission into their classrooms and offices each day.