Rachel Rothschild Wins Laurel School's 2024-2025 Virginia Beidler Neff ’29 Award

Laurel School Faculty & Staff Awards are presented annually at the end of the academic year.

Rachel Rothschild | Director of Speech & Debate, Middle School Spanish Teacher

Ms. Rothschild has just completed her third year at Laurel, in which she oversees the formidable Speech & Debate team and other public speaking programs, as well as teaches Middle School Spanish. She has been instrumental in fostering success for the Speech and Debate team.

Ms. Rothschild is passionate about centering and developing the voices of her students, and she has a deep commitment to the mission and values of Laurel as she navigates her work with power and purpose. She has played a key role in guiding the Senior Speech program, Eighth Grade Promotion speeches and Changemaker projects.

She brings confidence and joy to her Spanish classroom and has the ability to navigate challenging conversations with clarity and compassion. At this year’s Last Chapel, Speech & Debate student Ella Witalec ‘25, a 2025 Presidential Scholar, chose to honor Ms. Rothschild with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s Educator of Distinction Award, signifying the impact she had on Ella’s academic and personal development.

The Virginia Beidler Neff ’29 Award

Edward and Virginia Beidler Neff ’29 established this award to recognize teachers within their first three years of teaching at Laurel who demonstrate excellence and potential in the classroom. This year there are two recipients.