The Fall of 2022 will be Mr. Cairo’s last season with The Fieldston School. It will be our last time to catch him working his magic in the classroom. Robert (Bob) Cairo has been a Fieldston teacher and administrator since 2001. He now plans to make his departure from the community in January 2023 after 21 great years. Cairo is a beloved member of Fieldston who will be deeply missed by both students and faculty.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Cairo started his teaching career in 1970 at Fieldston’s neighbor, Horace Mann. At Horace Mann, he was the Science Department Chair, Upper School Head, Assistant Headmaster and faculty advisor to the school’s newspaper. After leaving Horace Mann, Cairo was a principal and division head at various other schools including schools in Columbus (Ohio), Fort Worth (Texas) and Boulder (Colorado). In Boulder, he was the director of a boarding school which later transitioned to a day school during his time there. Cairo is grateful that he had the opportunity to serve as an educator in a wide variety of communities. He said, “These positions allowed me to immerse myself in very different cultures within the United States and gave me a unique perspective on education when I returned to New York.”
At Fieldston, Cairo started off as a full-time teacher for 1 year. He was then the assistant principal for 13 years (working with principals Rachel Stettler, John Love and Laura Danforth), principal for 3 years, assistant principal again for 2 years (with principal Nigel Furlonge) and now has been a part-time teacher for 2 years. Cairo has taught a plethora of courses including Physics, Intensive Chemistry, AT Chemistry, Neuroscience, Chemistry of Food and many independent studies. Everyone agrees: he is a brilliant teacher and was the most humanistic of administrators. He has an encyclopedic grasp of institutional protocols and practices.
Out of the various roles that Cairo has gracefully taken on, his favorite has been his role as a teacher. He said, “My first love is teaching. As an administrator, I have always taught at least one course, so I have enjoyed every position because I have always been able to teach. Combining administration with teaching was particularly rewarding, as it gave me multiple perspectives that were helpful in both roles. It gave me insights into the needs and capabilities of both students and faculty as well as what expectations are reasonable for both groups within the mission of the school. I think teaching also gave me greater credibility with the faculty.”
When asked about his favorite Fieldston memory, Cairo noted that he doesn’t have just one, “I don’t have a single favorite memory at Fieldston. I have stayed at Fieldston longer than I have at any other school. From the beginning in 2001, it has been the school where I wanted to finish my career in education. That will be my memory of the school.”
Cairo values many aspects of the Upper School, but the top two that stick out to him are “the ease with which students connect with faculty and the inclusive and diverse community that we strive to build.” These were the “deciding factors in [him] coming to Fieldston and they were evident throughout [his] initial visit to the school.” Cairo then said, “I should add that as a teacher, every day in the classroom has been a highlight for me and has sustained me as an educator. Also, whenever I had a part, however small, in the effectiveness of a teacher or the success of a student, that was a personal highlight for me.”
Cairo has made the decision to step away from Fieldston because he feels as if it’s truly his time to retire. “I think one always knows when it is time to leave or retire. It’s time for me to start a new chapter in my life,” he wisely said. Cairo plans to spend more time with his daughter and her family in Indiana. In the future, he hopes to “do something that includes service to others.”
There are several things that Cairo will miss about Fieldston. Firstly, he said, “I will miss the interaction with students and faculty that I have come to know and respect, and the support that I have been able to give to students as a teacher and administrator.” Secondly, he said, “Over the years, I have realized that the most rewarding part of teaching is establishing a personal relationship with students, getting to know them and simply enjoying their presence. I will miss being in the presence of Fieldston students, especially those whom I have had the privilege of teaching or advising.” Thirdly, Cairo remarked, “I will miss teaching, especially neuroscience—a course that I created in 2011 and have taught every year since and the subject of many independent studies I have done with seniors.” Lastly, Cairo concluded his list by saying, “And of course, I will miss baking brownies for students, faculty and staff.”
In regards to future Cairo cameo appearances at the Upper School, Cairo said, “I look forward to coming back to visit. The frequency of those visits will depend on where I might be living, what I am doing and who is still at Fieldston that I know.” As a final remark to the Fieldston community, Cairo would like to sincerely thank the school for 21 amazing years!
I always felt, and stated, that my brother was the smartest person in our family of origin. After reading this bio of his time at Fieldston, I have no reason to think otherwise. Well done, Bob! Enjoy your retirement, and come visit me in Virginia!