Reverend Lambelet:
Rev. Lambelet, our newest chaplain who taught New Testament Survey as well as Senior and Sophomore Ethics classes, will be departing from the Saints community this year. Looking back on her time at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, she said that “there are lots of good, fun, entertaining stories and moments with students. But I think that my best memory, whether it be in class or even on the track, has just been enjoying community with students and watching students who didn’t know each other in my class then become friends in other places and spaces around the school. And I think leaving those threads of community is probably the memory that is most significant to me.”
When asked what she will miss most about the school, she responded, “curious students, who aren’t afraid to speak to the questions or the irritations or the doubts they have about the world, about what they’re reading, about one another… Students sometimes struggle to differentiate in different ways, because there’s a social ramification that I think is present in a way that a bigger school might not experience in the same way. And so students who speak from a place of groundedness and courage about the uniqueness of who they are and their experience, I think, are really powerful. So I will miss those students who take those kinds of brave acts and are, I think, wanting to live deeply into the uniqueness of who they’ve been created to be.”
Profe Gluzman:
Profe Gluzman has been a beloved member of the SSSAS community for the past 6 years. At SSSAS, he is a Spanish and literature teacher, a student advisor, a coach, and a senior project coordinator, as well as helping to coordinate exchange programs. However, he was not only known for engaging Spanish classes but also for his ability to build relationships with students and colleagues alike. Whether he was leading his students through Spanish exercises or offering valuable advice to his advisees, he has surely made a lasting impression on those around him. Sadly, he recently announced that he will be leaving the school at the end of the year, entering a new chapter in his professional career. To reflect on his time at SSSAS and learn about his next steps, we interviewed Profe Gluzman himself along with some of his advisees, who shared their favorite memories and thoughts on the influence he had during his time at SSSAS.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the school?
“Some of my favorite memories that I had at the time at school were shared with my advisees on some of the activities we did, the games we played, the luncheons we had outside, celebrated birthdays, and stuff like that. And also with my students in the classes, the projects that the students present, even the cooking class we did during the pandemic, which was really fun.”
What will you miss most about the school?
“Things that I will miss about the school, definitely my pod, the colleagues in my pod, and all the students that I had, and my advisees as well.”
What are you going to be doing next?
“My next chapter is IB, teaching International Baccalaureate for the Diploma Program, which is something that I wanted to do for a while. And Spanish literature, which is an advanced level literature, because the students are bilingual at the school, Washington, which is an International School, so I’m very close to my house, and I’m very excited for this change and the next chapter.”
Ms. Russlle-Porte:
What was your favorite part about working at SSSAS?
“I think you guys, actually. Seems like an easy grab answer, but it’s true. I think you guys and being able to be in a position to support you all, and then specifically being a Black woman in this space, being able to be a mirror for other young Black girls who have been through this space. I have also experienced being in this space. And that also kind of was helpful in me being able to support you guys. But yeah, I would say getting to know you all and just the community has been my favorite part.”
What was it like working at a school that you graduated from?
“Oh, it was weird, it started out very weird. Last year, so I’ve been here two years, last year was probably the strangest, particularly. So my role took me to all three campuses. And the upper school was definitely the strangest one, because this is where I spent the most time. And then there were more teachers and admin here that I remembered from when I was a student. So being ably e to like, have these new relationships with people, and it’s like, ‘oh, wait, you’re not my teacher anymore. You’re my colleague. And you know, we are working together and we’re trying to, you know, solve whatever this problem is together as a unit. And I don’t necessarily have to ask your permission for something, I can just say ‘I’m the expert in this’. And so I got to say something was very, very strange. Saying people’s first names, didn’t like it. But this year definitely kind of came more into my own about that and had a couple of slips, but for the most part, it was, that was probably the weirdest part. But now it’s like, it’s a fondness. It’s a good thing.”
What teachers do you remember from when you attended SSSAS?
“So Mr. Doyle was not only my college counselor, but I started in seventh grade, and at the time, he was working in admissions. So he was my admin interviewer when I started. So seventh grade till now. Coach Koroma, who wasn’t married yet. Mr. Garikes was AP Gov, but also was head of school at the time.”
What are your future plans?
“So next year, well, this summer rather, I’m gonna move to North Carolina. My partner and I are moving to Jacksonville, North Carolina. And I, so outside of here, I work at a private practice. And so I will be continuing to do therapy work through private practice. But I’ll just be working virtually.”
As an alumnus of SSSAS, do you have any advice for students here?
“Just don’t peak in high school. Don’t, don’t peak in high school. Learn all that you can be, all you can be. Explore all that you can explore. Learn what your most authentic self is because that’s what’s going to help you attract the people that you want in your life and where you want to be in your life. That energy exudes. It just brings forth what you want in your life. And have fun. Like, life is too short. Be smart. Learn from your mistakes. You’re going to make mistakes, accept that you’re gonna make mistakes. You just gotta learn from them. And just, just have fun. And visit. Come back to visit. Especially if you’re a kid of color.”
Ms. Mazur:
Unfortunately, we will be losing our beloved Human Sexuality Education Teacher next year, Mrs. Mazur. Mrs. Mazur has worked at the school for six years and it is safe to say that the school will miss her. Mrs. Mazur has a background in health and wellness, before working at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School she owned her own health and wellness coaching business. However, she sold her business so that she could focus on working at SSSAS.
During her time here, Mrs. Mazur has touched the hearts of many. The Upper School Counselor, Mrs. Harrison, described Mrs. Mazur as a “warm, generous person.” When asked what her favorite things were about Mrs. Mazur, Mrs. Harrison responds that she admires the way that Mrs. Mazur “supports the kids without judgment, and I don’t think she ever makes her students feel like they can’t come to her for fear of being judged in some way.”
Director of Health Services and Physical Education Department Chair, Dr. Stanton said that she loves how Mrs. Mazur is, “very down to earth…She’s very creative. She’s friendly and approachable.” Dr. Stanton also said that she will miss Mrs. Mazur’s “calmness and her presence.”
When asked what her favorite part of working at SSSAS was, Mrs. Mazur responded: “I love the students, the community, and my colleagues. I love all of it.” She shows this touching sentiment through her interest in student feedback after class and her involvement in organizations such as Challenge Success, which focuses on student wellness.
Despite Mrs. Mazur’s love of her job, she said she struggled with the pandemic, “Covid was by far the most challenging.” The first year of COVID, she had a freshman advisory, and the isolation the pandemic caused made it difficult for Mrs. Mazur to form those early bonds with her advisees. However, later on, Mrs. Mazur has definitely had time to build those relationships and bond with the Saints community.
The whole Saints community can agree that she will be missed. However, as Mrs. Mazur puts it: “As this chapter closes, the next chapter has not been written yet.”
Ms. Etherington:
This fall, we welcomed Ms. Etherington to our Saints community as she joined the Academic Center Department, but this spring, we say our goodbyes as she flies back to the United Kingdom. Before she was part of the faculty, she was an SSSAS parent. Her two kids were attending the lower school for four years when the opportunity opened up at the upper school. She recalls, “I had to go for it” as soon as she heard about it.
Being a teacher at SSSAS has been a memorable and rewarding experience for Ms Etherington. Some of her favorite memories include singing with the faculty band, the “fabulous” alumni events, but most of all singing Pink Pony Club for everyone. As she looks back on these special moments she smiles and adds “I’ll remember that forever.”
Working with American students has been a unique adventure, but sometimes it gets tricky. She noted that “even though we speak the same language, there is a language barrier.” She didn’t know all of the American versions of certain words before teaching, so it has caused a moment of confusion between her and some students. She specifically remembers saying “revising” without knowing we call it studying, so she had to remember to say studying to avoid a mix-up. The American school system is also very different from the UK’s system, and learning more about how American schools work helped her understand what her kids were being taught as well.
Ms Etherington mostly expressed her grateful feelings towards the school community, but her co-worker, Ms Canfield, observed her hard work and dedication to improving the department altogether as well as the positive attitude she brought to work each day. Ms Canfield, who is the Director of Academic Support, noted, “One of the things I really appreciated about Miss Etheherington is that she has brought a new set of eyes because she came from the British school system.” Ms Canfield explained how nice it was to have a unique perspective and background with academic support in the first year of teaching Academic Center classes in the new space. She added, “It feels sort of like a fresh start.” Ms Canfield explained, “During her time in the Academic Center, Ms. Etherington kind of took the lead on revamping some of our ninth-grade curriculum,” and she even worked on an executive functioning curriculum, which was really robust and helped students reflect on their own executive functioning, strengths, and challenges.” The department’s dynamic will be missed by all the Academic Center teachers, especially. Because there are only three faculty members in the department, they work closely with each other and approach classes as a team. Ms Canfield noted it was “really wonderful.”
Ms Etherington will be missed next year by the whole Saints community, but we wish her the best of luck as she continues to support students across the globe. And despite the Academic Center’s British history, the top candidate for the new teacher is American.
Mr. Kunz:
How long have you been working at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes?
I’ll be finishing my 20th year at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes.
What’s your favorite memory here at SSSAS?
Oh, goodness. There are so many memories. It would probably have to be something to do with my daughters, since my daughters go here as well. I would say it was seeing my daughter’s graduate from the lower school and make their way up to the middle school. But to be honest, I love every day here, so there’s always a moment that happens during the day when I’m here that just provides me with joy.
Anything that you’ll miss here at school?
I’m gonna miss the students so much. I think that’s probably the hardest part of leaving a place like this. The relationships that you build with students over time and it also just goes back to all the past students. So the relationships are so important to me with the students and watching them grow and thrive here in the Upper School will be something that I won’t be able to see firsthand anymore.
Do you have any advice for any students or faculty?
My advice would be to make an effort every day to see the good in yourself, and to also see the good in people around you.
Any future plans outside of SSSAS?
I’m not yet ready to retire as a couple of students thought, and I want to continue watching my daughters thrive and doing what they love to do. I’ll be close by at another school and I will be working in a similar role that I’ve had here for the last 20 years, so that’ll be fun. I’ll be coming to campus several times a week.
