One Faculty Departure, Multiple Problems for Teachers and Students

Students, teachers and administrators are continuing to deal with changes unleashed by the unexpected resignation of Upper School math teacher John Meyers in December.

Meyers le Greenhill due to personal reasons, leaving behind four math classes and a senior advisory needing faculty coverage.

“It is really hard on the community when a faculty member leaves mid-year,” Head of School Lee Hark said. “Life changes and things sometimes happen, but it’s a very challenging thing for our student body and faculty who are le to pick up the pieces.”

roughout the rst semester, math teacher Jessica Chu taught a Vector Calculus class and an Advanced Placement AB Calculus class. However, a er Meyers’ departure, Chu took on his two sections of AP AB Calculus and math teacher Melissa Battis took over Chu’s Vector Calculus class.

Chu is in the process of transitioning from a math faculty position to a fulltime role as the Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement. Teaching one subject provides Chu with greater exibility in her schedule, said Head of Upper School Trevor Worcester.

“Previously [Chu] was teaching one AP Calc and one Vector Calc,” Worcester said. “So, even if she’s teaching more classes, at least she knows, ‘this is what I’m teaching on any given day.’”

Battis was also required to take an extra class from Chu, because Chu took on two extra classes. Vector Calculus and AP AB Calculus both con ict with her eighth-grade Honors Geometry class on some days, but because Vector Calculus students work independently more o en, it was better for Battis to take on that class, according to Worcester.

“It was really what was the best,” said Worcester. “ is was the best scenario that we could come up with that bene ted everybody and had the least amount of impact to any given class.”

Additionally, Dean of Students Jack Oros steps in to aid with the Honors Geometry course when Vector Calculus students need to be taught a lesson rather than work independently on assignments. Oros has taught Upper School math classes for years in addition to his other duties.

e adjustments have gone beyond scheduling con icts. Battis had never taught Vector Calculus before so, with Chu’s help, she spent her winter break learning the three units covered in the rst semester. She reviewed the textbook, homework, tests and watched videos, Battis said.

“I want to do the best I can for my students,” said Battis. “So, for a week and a half of my Christmas break, I was working on making sure that I could come in and try to teach as consistently as possible from where Ms. Chu le o .”

However, the period of winter break was not enough for Battis to learn the full Vector Calculus curriculum, so she has resolved to watch a video each night. One of these lessons lasted a full three hours, she said.

“It’ll be longer days,” said Battis. “But I love the kids and it’s been really cool to see how precalculus is getting used in vector.”

I want to do the best I can for my students. So, for a week and a half of my Christmas break, I was working on making sure that I could come in and try to teach as consistently as possible from where Ms. Chu left o .”

Despite the school’s best e orts to increase exibility for Chu and Battis, this extra teaching load has a ected the amount of time they have for things outside of teaching.

For Battis, having to learn Vector Calculus has a ected how she balances her free periods. is, along with testmaking and grading has changed where she works during her free time.

“By going into a classroom, it’s less likely that a student will drop by and talk to me so I can get a little bit more work done,” said Battis. “I think where [I lose the most time] is most noticeable each night, as I take more time to learn and understand Vector Calculus.”

Chu has also found it challenging to manage her time and balance her classroom and administrative roles.

“With this additional workload, it’s tricky to nd a balance between my role as a service director as well as a teacher and making sure I’m helping serve my students in the math classroom, but also servicing the school as a whole,” said Chu.

Chu knows she is di erent from Meyers; however, she hopes that each student will give her a chance and help her adjust.

“I am a di erent person, and my style of teaching is di erent,” said Chu. “But whether you have heard good or bad about me, I hope you give me a chance.”

“I’m the one who feels comfortable teaching [the geometry class], but Mr. Oros will step in and teach the geometry [class] if there’s a day where both of the classes are at the same time and both need to be taught a lesson in order to continue the curriculum,” said Battis.

Meyers also taught two sections of Advanced Geometry, and those responsibilities have been assumed by Tracey McElroy in a long-term substitute role. Additionally, the senior-class advisory overseen by Meyers was taken over by Upper School Counselor Amanda Frederick.

McElroy has been substituting at Greenhill for many years now and agreed to help out, said Worcester.

“She was gracious enough to say ‘yes,’ and it helps to have [Math Department Chair Darryn] Sandler and [math teacher Steve] Warner, who teach the other sections of Advanced Geometry,” said Worcester. “She’s able to lean on them to really understand what’s going on and work on the syllabus and tests.”

Along with the teachers, students have had mixed opinions about the adjustments.

With this additional workload, it’s tricky to nd a balance between my role as a service director as well as a teacher and making sure I’m helping serve my students in the math classroom, but also servicing the school as a whole.”

Freshman Nora Ahearn, one of McElroy’s students in geometry, said that the change hasn’t a ected her learning and that there are always other math teachers willing to help if needed. However, freshman Aiden White is still adjusting to the change in teaching styles from Meyers to McElroy.

“Since Ms. McElroy’s teaching style is di erent from Mr. Meyers, even though they have the same curriculum, it throws people o when we’re doing a lesson,” said White. “Since she did a problem a di erent way, none of us knew how to do it and so she had to reexplain the whole concept to us.”

On the other hand, students who have had Battis or Chu in previous years felt the transition was much smoother since they have had time to adjust to those teaching styles.

“It’s di erent, but it wasn’t too bad for me,” said senior Kevin Han. “I’ve had Ms. Battis already for two years, so getting her as a teacher was not a problem with me.”

As students and teachers cope with the fallout of a midyear faculty departure, Hark hopes that the a ected students will be able to enjoy the semester.

“I agree [that the change] was tough and disruptive,” said Hark. “But as always, I [hope] every student at Greenhill [has] an awesome and special year.”

On Saturday, Jan. 21, Greenhill held the annual Winter Dance at Cristi’s Banquet Hall. e dance began at 9 p.m. and ended at 11:30 p.m. Less formal than the Homecoming Dance, many students wore casual dance attire and, following tradition, many seniors wore costumes.

Upper School students dressed up and competed in Color Wars games for the inaugural Winter Spirit Week from Jan. 23-27. e week, modeled a er Homecoming Week in October, celebrated winter athletes as they prepare for the Southwest Preparatory Conference championships in February. Dress-up days included Pajama Day, Holi-Day, Winter Olympic Sport Day, Jersey Day and Green and Gold Day. Color War games included dodgeball, “Do You Know Your Date?” and tug of war. e turnabout games originally scheduled for Friday during advisory were postponed due to scheduling issues. A pep rally in the Phillips Family Gymnasium capped o the week, featuring performances by the Winter Cheer squad and the Drumline.

Winter teams had their Senior Night home meets and games on Jan. 26-27 to honor senior winter athletes. Swimming’s Senior Night was on Jan. 26, while boys and girls soccer and basketball had their Senior Night on Jan 27. Girls swimming won their meet against Hockaday the previous week for the rst time since 2011. Boys soccer and girls basketball also won their games against St. Mark’s School of Texas and e Hockaday School, respectively.

Due to a winter storm, Upper School students were dismissed early on Monday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. to avoid slippery roads. e icy weather continued, forcing Greenhill’s campus to stay closed from Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

Winter Southwest Preparatory Conference championships will take place Feb. 9-11 at various locations. All winter teams will compete for Greenhill: boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, and swimming.

On Sunday, Feb. 19, seniors Campbell Scheer and Emily Kim and juniors Anisa Walji and Susie Fagelman will run the 12th Annual Greenhill Charity Fashion Show at Sewell Lexus of Dallas. e show will feature student models from various grade levels. All proceeds will bene t the Grant Halliburton Foundation, a North Texas organization that aids children and adults struggling with mental health issues.