The new school year is approaching, and along with the jitters, dread students may feel at the prospect of early alarms, homework and rigid schedules comes excitement about seeing faces old and new. In addition to the new students who will be joining the ECFS community this year, the Upper School has made some new additions to the faculty. These teachers are eager to get to work, meet their students, and become part of the Fieldston community.
“I am excited to work at a school that values social justice as much as Fieldston does,” said Juan Botella, a new Upper School physics teacher. “I grew up hearing refugee stories at home, since my dad’s family had to flee Spain during Spain’s Civil War in 1939. My grandparents talked about having to leave everything behind, everything but their education. Being educated allowed them to take the reins on their lives in a different land. I also emigrated from my country, Mexico, although, luckily for me, for different reasons. I arrived to a new country where I have lost privileges because I am seen as a person of color, because I have an accent, and a different cultural heritage. I am lucky to have a great education, like my grandparents did, that can help me navigate the complexities of our society. I believe I have the responsibility to help those who have not had the same opportunities.”
Botella decided he wanted to become a teacher when his father showed him a letter he received from the Spanish Consulate in Mexico City, addressed to his grandmother. Botella’s grandmother was a teacher in Spain in the 1930’s, and after fleeing Spain, she taught in Mexico for more than fifty years.
“The letter was written by a student whom my grandmother had taught seventy years ago and an ocean away,” Botella said. “In the letter, the former student thanked my grandmother for all she had done for him, and the impact that her teachings had had in his life. The letter made me think about the power and responsibility that teachers have to make a positive difference in people’s lives, so I decided to become one.”
Botella taught for two years at the American School in Mexico City, and then twelve years at Monona Grove High School, a public school in Monona, Wisconsin. Botella chose to teach at Fieldston rather than a school with a less privileged population because he says Fieldston gives him the opportunity to educate students “that are closer to helping shape and heal our world.”
Shawn DuBois, who worked at Fieldston from 1990 to 1994, is coming back to teach geometry, topics in precalculus and algebra II. She has taught middle school and high school math and science in four different states and two different countries, Nepal and Thailand.
DuBois wanted to come back because she, “was really missing Mr. Montera’s wit and wisdom.”
“I teach because I want to help students become successful, thoughtful, and engaged members of society,” DuBois said. “I love when students challenge my way of thinking, I enjoy learning along with my students, and I revel in the fact that each year brings new people, new experiences, new challenges, and new perspectives. The belief that education offers the best opportunity for people to reach their full potential made me want to become a teacher.”
Russell Marsh is joining the Fieldston diversity team as the Diversity Coordinator. In this position he will be working with students, faculty and staff on a variety of diversity-related curricula, events and projects.
“I’m excited to work at a school committed to progressive education and one that cultivates future leaders,” says Marsh. Prior to Fieldston, Marsh taught choral music at Brooklyn Friends School for a few years before transitioning into administration as the Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion.
“I’ve always included identity, diversity and equity work in all of my lessons as a music teacher,” Marsh said. “I’ve also been a resource for my peers as they’ve tried to enhance their curriculum or projects. So, becoming a Diversity Coordinator seemed like the next step for me.”
Katie Kartheiser, a Fieldston alum, is thrilled to return to a place she loves. She is excited to teach biology and work alongside Fieldston students and faculty. Before coming to Fieldston, Kartheiser taught ninth through twelfth grade immunology, genetics, and neurobiology at a charter school on the Southside of Chicago as a Teach for America corps member.
In and out of the classroom, these teachers live exciting lives. Botella was part of a 1980’s Mexican boy band called Magneto that became the most famous band in Latin America. DuBois suspects she was a Nepali mahout (elephant keeper) in a prior life. Marsh has been a classically trained vocalist since he was ten, and Kartheiser has dual citizenship in Brazil and the United States.
These are just four of the outstanding new faculty members that are joining the Fieldston Upper community. The others are Kara Dreher (ethics teacher), Marcia Lange (nurse), Catherine Elwood (librarian), Dr. Anne Kloimwieder (biology teacher), Daniel Soler (math teacher), Robyn Deakins (math teacher), and Ricco Siasoco (diversity coordinator). Make sure to look out for our new faculty and give them a warm Fieldston welcome.
