This year, Fieldston gave sabbaticals to two teachers: Jose Cury and Blake Rowe.
Every year, the administration awards sabbaticals to teachers who have been at the school for at least ten years so that faculty may pursue interests outside the ECFS community. This opportunity allows teachers to seek “individual, academic, or professional development.” The sabbatical application process is headed by Assistant Head of School, Noni Lopez. Shortly before winter break, Ms. Lopez sends guidelines to faculty for the sabbatical process. Interested teachers write their plans and goals in an application. Three weeks after teachers submit their applications, Dr. Damian Fernandez informs the school of his decision. “The sabbatical is intended to provide the recipient with a special opportunity to engage in some professional development that will result in learning, growth reflection, and ultimately have a positive impact on the school upon the recipient’s return,” Ms. Lopez stated. “The expectation is that sabbatical recipients will spend the year engaged in professional development that will result in a positive and palpable impact on the school and the recipient’s students and colleagues. How this looks is up to the recipient.”
Cury intends on leaving a lasting impression on the students
Next year, Jose Cury will do just that. He will be volunteering at a public high school in the Dominican Republic’s capital and largest city, Santo Domingo. Though he will only be there for a year, Cury intends on leaving a lasting impression on the students by improving both their problem solving and technology skills.
“Although I’m proud to be an American, there is definitely a part of my being after living here for 30 years that has longed to go back,” Cury said. “This place has a special place in my heart, where family and friends reside.” Cury, who was born in the DR, wants to contribute to the growth of his birth country.
“As an educator, I feel that my life’s calling is to impart knowledge,” Cury said. “I want to offer all I’ve learned to children who attend a broken, dysfunctional public education system. I feel I need to recharge my batteries by giving something back.” Students and faculty alike will miss Mr. Cury’s presence at the school. His new students next year will undoubtedly benefit from his willingness to help, his creativity, and his passion for mathematics. Will Landis, (V) has been in Mr. Cury’s class for the entirity of junior year.
“[Jose Cury] has definitely become one of my favorite teachers at Fieldston,” Landis said. “Every single day is a new mathematical journey. The entire math department and school will miss him next year.”
Blake Rowe, who has been teaching at ECFS since 1989, plans to work on his music. Aware of his ambitious goals, Rowe want to focus much of his time on his main instrument, piano. Recently, his friend wrote a musical that Rowe says has a lot of potential, so Rowe plans on writing its score. He will train at the OrffSchulwerk music pedagogy system, which focuses on improvisation, movement, and pitched percussion instrument skills. In addition, he will spend
time learning how to use computers to compose music, a skill that he claims has eluded him. “I probably have an unrealistic idea of how much I can accomplish,” Rowe said, “but this kind of opportunity only comes once.”
When asked what he will miss most about Fieldston, Mr. Rowe said, “ The awesome students at ECFS, of course! I realized the other day that this is my last year with my fourth graders, and I won’t have the chance to see them be the oldest grade at Fieldston Lower. I’m glad to be taking the sabbatical now,” Rowe said, “so that I can return full of energy and new ideas to share for many years to come.”
I probably have an unrealistic idea of how much I can accomplish, but this kind of opportunity only comes once.
