The Work Never Stops, Part II

There is, though, a joie de vivre among those who consider that work a labor of love.

 

The tour that began earlier on this hot summer afternoon continued with a stop at the office of Upper School Dean of Students Mark Palyo, who was finishing up some business before heading home.

 

What does the Dean of Students do when there’re no students around? I asked.

 

“I’ve actually had individual meetings with a couple of students who have been proactive about their fitness requirement,” he replied.  “We talked about waiver options. That’s part of what I’m doing here. I have a Zoom meeting as well with students new to Collegiate. Then there’s the general work that I need to complete.”

 

So the work really never stops? I offered.

 

“Certainly, being here is perfectly fine with me, but it’s when the kids are here that makes the days better,” he said, echoing a familiar sentiment. “I try to prepare in advance, updating the new athletic waiver process, the new electronic form that the students will submit, preparing the parking for the juniors and seniors, issuing their decals. Compiling records from this past school year is also part of what I do.

 

But you don’t spend your usual 10 hours a day here like you do once the school year starts? I said.

 

“No,” he replied, “but I still get a lot done.”

It’s amazing what you can get done in a school when nobody’s around, isn’t it? I commented.

 

“That’s right,” he said. “I agree with that.”

 

With Palyo was Beth Kondorossy, the Upper School Director of Student Life.

 

What does your job entail when the students are on vacation? I inquired.

 

“I have a really hard time in the summer,” she replied. “I actually go out to Sports Performance [workouts] at [the] Robins [Campus] every day to see children.”

But you have four children of your own, I said.

 

“Not high schoolers who can take care of themselves, for the most part,” replied Kondo, whose eldest child is five years old. “I also work on the Upper School planner that all the students get. Then advisories, assembly schedules, and working with Big Dog (meaning Palyo) on a cell phone plan.”

 

What makes your job fun? I asked.

 

“Oh, goodness,” she replied. “Kids keep me young. The most fun thing is every day is so different.  What I enjoy about the summer is the pop-ins of some alums and going to the Lower School side of campus and seeing all the camps and having lunch over there. I enjoy spending time with colleagues that I don’t get to spend time with during the rat race of the school year. We can take those moments because we have them in the summer.”

 

Before leaving campus, I ventured into the South Science Building to the office of Dr. Leah Angell, the Director of the Fellows’ Program.

 

I began with two questions: What’s the Fellows’ Program? and What do you do during the summer?

 

“That means I’ve created and am now implementing a teaching fellowship program for people who are either brand new to teaching or brand new because they’re switching careers,” she explained. “In the summer, I’m still doing a bit of hiring but also preparing for the hiring process next year. And then, I’ve been designing the curriculum for the Fellows. I pretty much have that all in place now, but I need to plug each lesson into the right week following the order of the school year.”

 

Sounds like the work never ends, I said.

 

“That’s true,” she said. “I’m actually still fielding inquiries about the program from people who would like to start it next year but didn’t realize they missed the application window.”

Do you still have room in your schedule to teach? I asked.

 

“I teach one section of Upper School English,” she said. “Last year, it was English 9. This year, it will be English 10. I’m also an Upper School advisor. I still go to Upper School assemblies to stay in touch with the students and the school and because I like it.”

Sounds like you spend the bulk of your time directing a program designed to bring high quality people into the teaching profession, I said.

 

“Yes,” she answered. “From August until probably March, the hiring process is a major focus of my job. Last year, we had 72 applications for three positions. [That means] reading every single application and then, over time, working with the hiring committee to interview about 22 to 25 of those applicants over Zoom. Last year, we brought nine finalists to campus. That’s a whole day process.”

 

Must be an interesting job, I offered.

 

“Yes,” she replied. “You get to meet a lot of people who care a lot about teaching, which is exciting. Another big part of my job is staying abreast of all that is current in pedagogy because I need to impart that to the Fellows. I’m also designing a mini curriculum for their mentors so their mentors feel like they have support. And then this year, I’ll add weekly meetings, one-on-one, with each Fellow. And then a weekly meeting with the cohort of Fellows and every few weeks I’ll meet with the mentors. It’s so important to have those conversations.”

~Weldon Bradshaw