Our Wildwood, Summer 2021, Volume 46

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION New Teacher Insights

Leaning in to Lessons From Former Teachers

by Drea Hura, Middle School Humanities

TASSIE HADLOCK-PILTZ

Being new this year, I have been fortunate to experience the many facets of Wildwood School: a welcoming faculty and staff, supportive parents and guardians, and highly driven students continuing to grow as global citizens. curriculum, but being able to participate in it, firsthand, has been a highlight of my career thus far. I have hit the teaching jackpot! When I was asked to interview two veteran (and beloved) teachers of Wildwood, Tassie Hadlock-Piltz and Sherry Varon, I couldn’t wait to pick their brains about what kept them at our school for so long. Did they have any advice for a first-year Wolf? Tassie dedicated 17 years to Wildwood’s middle and upper school, and she remains highly nostalgic of her days as a “firm, fair, and friendly” teacher and advisor. Tassie remembers immediately embracing the positive culture of Wildwood, its focus on the Habits of Mind and Heart, and the rewards of student-led, project-based learning that exemplifies Wildwood’s pedagogy and purpose. She remains grateful that she was able to work in an environment that promotes and encourages the exploration of truths and realities, which challenged her in the healthiest of ways to grow and thrive as a teacher. All these reasons are what kept her around Wildwood for so many years. She even said if it wasn’t for the commute, she would have put in one more year! Sherry’s respect and adoration for Wildwood goes just as deep, having devoted 35 years to Wildwood’s elementary program. She remembers the constant support from the administration, and she felt they trusted her to deliver meaningful, student-led projects in which children learn best. She embraced Wildwood’s strong social-emotional curriculum and remains so grateful for the professional development opportunities offered I always heard that Wildwood was an inclusive community that offered a unique student-led, inquiry-based

DREA HURA

SHERRY VARON

to her. She referenced the annual trips to the Writer’s College Workshop, which she credits for helping her grow as an innovative teacher. Her fondest memories, besides working with the kids, was the strong sense of community and camaraderie she experienced each day on campus. Sherry made it a point to say how much she cherished the connections she made with the faculty and staff as they always shared “stuff” with each other. Her days at Wildwood felt supportive and safe, like a real family, and before she knew it, 35 years had passed. Our interviews ended with both teachers offering pieces of advice for a newbie like myself. Sherry advised that I continue to build on our anti-bias curriculum and project-based learning because it is so unique to our school. Tassie suggested I experiment every day with an open mind and continue to provide a safe space for everyone to feel both seen and heard. Hearing them speak about their undying love and adoration for Wildwood helped solidify the reasons why I joined this particular community. I feel as if I have been training all these years to work at a school like this. I hope my time here will be just as fruitful, meaningful, and memorable as it was for both Tassie and Sherry. Their enthusiasm and respect only confirmed my desire to keep adopting and honing Wildwood’s values.

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