As students converse about their core classes and various electives, it’s not uncommon for teachers to be interested in what’s happening in those classes. When students receive their class sign-ups, teachers are forced to remain silent as they daydream of what magic could be happening outside their own classroom, because before they were teachers, they were students too.
When it comes to participating in opportunities that his childhood self passed by, faculty member Michael Pulsinelli says he would take “Wilderness [Studies]. Well, [when] I was younger, I did not appreciate [the] outdoors and nature nearly enough. I only got into hiking and camping and all that when I met my wife in college. So it would be nice,” he says.
Dean of Students William Whipple agrees: ”Wilderness [Studies] for sure, [because] that was always something I was passionate about in high school.”
Faculty member Amanda Lovett says, “I would love to take World Religions; that would probably be my very top choice … because it’s so interesting, and I love the videos that Mrs. Bajorek uses. I think they’re really funny and they gain my interest. I did not learn a lot of mythology when I was younger, so it would be a good opportunity for me to learn things [that] I never got exposed to … I would love to get more knowledge and information about World Religions, but do it in the way [Mrs. Bajorek] teaches it because she does so many fun projects and videos, group work.”
Similarly faculty member Eric Neuteboom also shares in interest in the English department: “I was never a big English [class] fan, but I think Mr. Pulsinelli’s class would be really cool. He’s a good teacher.”
Head of School Don Schawang says, “I would take Physics because I don’t remember taking Physics in high school, and I’m fascinated by it.”
Secretary Betsy Alfred says, “Maybe Journalism. I never did that in high school, but I dated guys in high school that did.”
Some faculty reveal interests in subjects far from their own. Faculty member Kara Schrader says, “I think U.S. Government [and Politics] because I am not a social studies person, but I think Mrs. Czarnecki would help me like it better, with all the daily relevance and cool field trips.”
Faculty member Sonja Czarnecki says, “I’d probably take [Strength and Conditioning] … to workout, get it over with during the day.”
In addition to Physics, Schawang explains that “Wilderness [Studies] kind of interests me because it’s so out of character for me,” he says.
Whipple says, “I would be in Mr. Pulsinelli’s English [class], not because I wanted to be but because I know it would be good for me.”
Faculty member Vanessa Eicher says, ”I’m not even that sciencey, but I think Genetics [and Biotechnology] sounds really interesting.”
Faculty member Sarah Asher says, “I might take Wilderness [Studies], just so I can learn how to do some of those cool things, and I never had a chance to learn how to fly fish.”
Other faculty would like to stay in their area of expertise. Faculty member Haley Bajorek says, “I really like my mythology class … I’m excited about the Asian Studies class and my African Studies class.”
Czarnecki says, “I would definitely take the Art History independent study with me. I would take U.S. [Government and] Politics … I’d take all my classes, and I would take Asian Studies with Mrs. Asher and African Studies with Mrs. Bajorek.”
Faculty member Laura Porter says, “Well, of course, I would take Art class; it’s the most fun class.”
Asher says, “All the history classes … I’m super biased, but I think the history classes are really great.”
Faculty reveal admiration for their co-worker’s classes and teaching. Whipple says, “I would be interested in taking Chem. I think Mr. Nelson would be an interesting teacher to take that from.”
Eicher says, “I think if I were taking Latin, I would hang out and take it to the very end ‘cause I know when Mrs. Meyers gets her more advanced students, they get to read some very cool and interesting stuff.”
Lovett says, “I also happen to really love love love all the pieces I’ve been reading in Dr. Eicher’s [high school] class. I love all the short stories, and I think she comes up with really fun writing prompts, even when she has a test … She does a fantastic job at explicitly teaching how to write well. So if you take a class from Dr. Eicher, you’re gonna step out of that class with more literary knowledge and a better writer.”
Schawang says, “I would like to take the Dante[‘s “Inferno”] section from Mr. Pulsinelli because I hear he’s very passionate about it.”
Faculty member Jenny Baker-Powers says, “I would definitely take Mrs. Czarnecki’s [United States Government and] Politics class … she presents good topical issues in a balanced way … Mr. Pulsinelli’s ninth-grade English class … I like the vocabulary aspect … I think Mr. Pulsinelli is really good at teaching and reinforcing good writing skills.”
Seabury is lucky to have such fantastic faculty and classes. We cannot thank you enough for all your hard work and care.
