Teacher Reflections on this Fall’s Direction

As summer comes to a close and the air picks up a slight breeze, school returns to the forefront of everyone’s minds. Many students regard the first day of school with dread—when scrolling through Instagram is replaced by flipping through flashcards, and gatherings with friends move from the beach to the fifth floor hallway. However, teachers’ feelings come the end of the summer are less simple: perhaps work from the school year has encroached on summertime as well, making September 5 feel entirely ordinary; perhaps teachers look forward to returning to classrooms brimming with fresh faces; or perhaps teachers, like their students, wish the summer sun could stretch a little longer over the horizon.

History teacher David Hanna had a summer divided between work and leisure. Hanna reported, “It was like, fortunately, 80% of going to the beach and gardening and being with my family and then like 20% other stuff.” This 20% consisted of a weeklong free speech workshop at the University of Chicago, promoting his new book, and learning more for his upcoming courses. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot this summer,” Hanna added. “I learned a lot about Manet [...] and some of this stuff I’m going to bring into my European History course. [...] I’d never taught this stuff before, and I learned a bit about it this summer and I really enjoyed that, so I’m excited to bring that into the course.” For Hanna, summer work can be exciting, enjoyable, and inspire material for the school year. In this way, teachers are never fully disconnected from what they teach, as their interests and passions remain central to them even in the summer months.

While Hanna enjoys the respite that summer offers, he looks forward to teaching. When asked what he was dreading for the coming school year, Hanna responded, “I don’t know. I’m not really dreading anything. I’m looking forward to it.” Hanna explained, “I always feel that way; once, you know, I start getting close to Labor Day, I can feel it in my blood. It’s time to start going back to being a teacher.” Despite the many luxuries that vacation offers, Hanna prefers a year punctuated by both school and free time, and is not tempted by the prospect of an infinite summer. He added, “I treasure [summer]. I jealously guard it, but, you know, yeah, it can’t last forever. That’s part of what makes it so special.”

With his extensive teaching experience, Hanna can think of one quality that he hopes to see in students come fall: engagement. Hanna reflected, “When students are engaged, they make you, they force you to up your game.” Hanna points out the mutually beneficial relationship that can exist between students and teachers. That is, when students are engaged in a classroom setting, they push teachers to educate at a higher level. Coming out of summer break, teachers are ready to lead a classroom of excited students motivated to make the most out of the year.

Music teacher Harold Stephan also described a summer divided between relaxation and exploration. He explained, “Summer is all about balance for me. I love to hang out with my family and spend time in our house upstate.” However, summertime is not completely rid of work and expectations. Stephan recounted, “I’m starting DJ-ing as a side hustle.” Stephan has also dedicated himself to building Stuyvesant High School’s very own media lab, which he finished this summer. Stephan detailed, “I’ve been working on getting this media lab completed since 2018. And I’m very proud of it.” This new lab is a massive accomplishment for the music department, the Parents Association, and Stuyvesant as a whole. Alongside pursuing his personal interests, Stephan used his talents to help build musical infrastructure for the school. 

Unlike Hanna, Stephan does not look forward to the fall in its entirety. He acknowledges that he does not enjoy certain aspects of teaching as much as others. Stephan said, “The thing that I dread the most is all the bureaucratic paperwork and stuff. [...] Those administrative details can be cumbersome sometimes.” On the other hand, Stephan continued, “Being an artistic person, [...] I think for creative people what’s nice about school is the structure that’s provided.” Although Stephan does not always love the tedium of a nine-to-five, he sees the value in a steady, structured job. In fact, he believes this regimented, albeit sometimes burdensome, routine fosters an ideal environment for artistic exploration. “Summer I like because it’s unstructured, but the school year I like because it’s structured,” Stephan summarized. 

Though Stephan willingly tolerates the occasional feeling of dullness in this job, he draws a line at career stagnancy. Stephan explained, “I’m kind of young enough in the school system that each year is still different. [...] If I get to the point where it’s all blending together then I don’t belong here anymore.” Stephan began teaching in 2015, and with only nine years of educating under his belt, each year still maintains a distinct identity. Stephan values the singularity of his time teaching and does not think that the alternative sameness would suit him. He added, “It’s important to keep growing. There’s a level of comfort that comes with being a teacher, but I also think that it’s important to keep pushing and developing myself as a human being and as an artist.” Stephan is ready to use each year as an opportunity for personal growth and artistic discovery. 

Some teachers use the summertime to decompress and rebuild a slower lifestyle. Art teacher Jane Karp spent the season in nature, which she described in an email interview. “It's more the everyday pleasures of being in my backyard, going for walks with my dog, enjoying my time in rural New Jersey,” she noted. She listed other fleeting yet memorable moments, such as seeing a bald eagle twice. However, like others, Karp’s profession also followed her into her summer vacation. Karp continued to make artwork and participated in a monoprinting workshop, which gave her some new techniques and ideas for her printmaking and mixed media art classes.

In addition, Karp took the opportunity to build habits in preparation for the new academic year. “For the first time in my life I took a yoga class twice a week, and I really enjoyed it. I plan to continue taking a class during the school year,” she wrote. Away from school’s hectic environment, summer provides ample time to find healthy hobbies that can be grounding during the work year.

Teachers have the luxury to spend their summer break on their own terms. Ultimately, their autonomy is what distinguishes their mindset towards the coming school year from those of students. While adolescents have very little choice in the roles they inhabit as students, teachers have designed their path for themselves. Their nine-to-five not only fulfills their rudimentary need for income, but also a desire for creative and intellectual growth. For teachers, September 5 will not mark the dreadful end of a coveted retreat. Devotion to one’s craft, whether it be history, music, or art, occupies all seasons of life.