This year, Nancy Clark, Head of Upper School, is collaborating with Joel Young to co-teach sixth grade history. Mr. Young and Ms. Clark worked together throughout the summer, planning and exchanging ideas with growing enthusiasm for the new school year. Sue Collentine, Head of Lower School, recently sat down with Ms. Clark to talk about her return to the classroom. As some of you may know, Ms. Clark was a history teacher before she came to SFDS. In fact, she has been teaching in one way or another for the past thirty years. Of course, Ms. Clark continues to focus on her responsibilities as Division Head, reinforcing what we already knew – she is a woman of many talents.
Sue: First, what prompted your decision to return to teaching?
Nancy: When I was first presented with the opportunity to take on an administrative position here, one of the questions I asked myself was ‘what would I miss most?’ And my immediate answer was “Teaching.” So having the chance to come back is so exciting. Of course, the right timing has a lot to do with it too – before, my teaching would have meant taking a position from someone else. Fortunately the stars aligned this year due to scheduling and class sizes, so I was able to take on this role.
S: Have you taught 6th grade before?
N: I have taught this age group in segments before, but a whole class for an entire year…this is the first time.
S: For you, this is looking at our Day School students in a brand new way. What are your initial impressions?
N: First of all, it’s history – a subject that I’ve always taught. I taught 7th and 8th grade at Burke’s for 19 years and high school history at Lick for 12 years, including an AP European history class. My greatest impression so far is of how well prepared the kids are, coming out of fifth grade. When you’re studying a culture or civilization, there are certain concepts or lenses that you want to examine. For example you look at how a country governed, you examine the family and sociological structure, and how they express themselves artistically, and so on. Now, our students not only know the answers to these questions, but they can name the lenses and cite specific examples. They are engaged and ready to learn – there is no ‘glazed over’ look when discussing history; instead, they just have this level of interest that I love.
S: On day one, what was it like to find your “teacher voice” again?
N: Effortless – it’s unbelievable. Teaching is the most authentic part of me, and sometimes I think, ‘Where did that come from?’ There are not a lot of things that I will say come naturally to me, such as playing the piano, but I definitely know how to teach.
S: How do you think this will inform your work with students and other aspects of your job?
N: Already I have noticed that I have a different connection with students walking down the hall. There is a mass of kids that know me in a more human way, with a sense of who I am. During photo day, I was having my picture taken, and there was a group of sixth grade girls who were smiling at me through the window, urging me to smile for the camera. In past years, that would not have happened that way. When speaking with parents in my role as Upper School head, I now have this whole other perspective about their children with first-hand knowledge, which is a great thing.
S: Talk to us about some of the highlights in your classroom, so far this year.
N: For the record, there are three students in my class whose parents I taught years ago. They came in and said, “You were my mom’s teacher!” And I’m really lucky, because…their parents liked me. It easily could have gone either way.
S: Are there any other thoughts you’d like to share with us?
N: Yes. I’ve learned that the relationship that teachers develop with their students is really built on mutual respect. As a teacher, you recognize that students have valid thoughts, ideas and interests, and that bond goes on forever. I can still describe the handwriting of just about every student I’ve had. Teaching is such a joy, and that joy stays with you, no matter how much time has passed.
