By Lauren Henry '99 - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H TEnglish Teacher Kelley Roberts worked toward her master’s degree at Middlebury’s BreadLoaf program in Rowe, New Mexico.A Season ApartFaculty Break with Routine and EnrichTheir LivesThe tables were turned for Taft’s teachers this September as I askedthem to write a paragraph or two about their summer adventures.Some were so enthusiastic about their projects that they e-mailed methe details before school even started.Summer is an interesting time formost of the faculty. Besides the obviouschance to recharge or simply winddown, teachers have that precious opportunityto shift gears for a coupleof months. Some remain on campus,working with Penny Townsend andthe Summer School. Others joinDavid Hostage for one or more weeksat the Taft Educational Center, teachingor studying with colleagues fromother schools, both public and private,around the world.The opportunity for enrichment ishighly accesssible at Taft, where graduatedegrees, curriculum development,and conferences are often fully fundedthrough professional developmentgrants. “Worthy” proposals (roughly 95percent of those made) have received atleast 80 percent funding over the lastten years. But travel is high on the listof priorities as well, reaching beyond theverdant acres of our “little city, beautyclad,” as the old alma mater said.What many faculty say they treasuremost—but don’t always feel is interestingenough to write down—is the chanceto savor a new book, to connect with theirspouse, to rejoice in their children, andto get outside.Not every teacher spelled out thedetails of his or her summer exploits, butthose who did will give you an indicationof their variety of interests andtalents, as well as their devotion to thesubjects they teach. And now, you’ll knowwhat they did last summer.—Julie ReiffTaft Bulletin 15