The school year is almost coming to an end. While this thought makes many people smile, we should appreciate the rest of our time at Groton this year since we won’t be seeing some familiar faces next year.

Mr. Hansen came to Groton this year as a physics teacher and coached cross country in the fall. He describes his experience at Groton as “unique and incredible.” He very much appreciates his opportunity to have worked with bright, dedicated students and supportive faculty in a great place that has amazing educational facilities.

When asked to describe Groton in one word, he chose the word “community,” due to the great support he felt from fellow teachers and staff, and the connections that he was able to make with students. He really enjoyed coaching cross country during the fall, looking at the amazing scenery, and shouting encouragements to runners. A runner himself, coaching was a special experience for him.

Moreover, teaching challenging Physics concepts to dedicated students have left him with unforgettable teaching moments such as taking his classes to the top of the chapel while studying free-fall motion.

Next year, Mr. Hansen will be teaching math at St. Andrew’s School in Austin, Texas. He will dearly miss all the wonderful people that he has met here, but he is excited for a new chapter in life as well.

Dr. Tumminio is also taking a new path in life. She is becoming a professor at the Seminary of the Southwest, which is a graduate school in Austin that trains future priests and counselors.

She believes that her time at Groton enabled her to be part of an amazing community, and that working together with both students and faculty has truly been a unique experience. She says, “The faculty and students here feel like family—you can’t say that for many places that you work!” Her goal is to become the best leader that she can be both in her job and in her life in order to make the world the best it can be.

Her best experience at Groton was whenever she was on dorm duty. She shared multiple stories with students, played Bananagrams, and ate undercooked raw brownies in Spring’s dorm. Perhaps the most memorable was taking out a mouse in a trash bin in Bradley’s. She will miss the vibrant energy of the Groton students and all the faculty and their families.

Ms. Klose will be moving to Boston, Massachusetts and teaching at KIPP Academy Boston next year. She made the decision after she got engaged over fall long weekend in October.

When asked to choose one word to represent Groton, she chose “rigorous,” due to the high academic standards that the students here strive to meet. Her time at Groton means “a time of growth” to her, since she has never taught before coming here.

Her best experiences at Groton have been getting to know the students both inside and outside the classroom. She has enjoyed not only teaching and getting to know her history students well but also coaching the girls 3rds squash team last year and coaching the track team.

She is excited to work with inner-city students in Massachusetts and further her career as a teacher. Her future goals are to get the Masters in history within the next couple of years.

Mr. Lyons plans on going to a town in Northshore, Massachusetts called Annisquam. In addition, he also wishes to travel and read a multitude of books. He is very excited about travelling and believes it will be an incredible experience and a relaxing break from life at Groton.

This summer, he is initiating the World War I and II Global Education trip in Europe, during which he will discuss important events with students on the trip. He hopes that this experience will be enriching for both the students and himself.

He enjoys hiking in Maine, which he will also definitely do more of during his sabbatical.

Moreover, he plans on developing a new course, doing more research on US history, and especially resting and recharging. He believes that it will be a good time in his life to stop and take a break while doing things that he enjoys. Mr. Lyons has taught at Groton for 21 years, since 1995. During his last sabbatical, he went back to Middlebury College, taught a course there and coached football. He also enjoyed time with his family.

During his sabbatical and time away from Groton, he will miss teaching his courses such as US history and Constitution Court, coaching varsity football, and his beloved students, but he says the year will go by very quickly and he will soon be back on the Circle again.

Ms. Wallace is taking her sabbatical next year, during which she hopes to expand on the research for both her personal projects and classes, especially her elective class called ‘America in the Philippines’. She plans on travelling to the Philippines and seeking out local sources that are only accessible in person. She also hopes to interview players in the EDSA Revolutions, which continue to affect US diplomatic and military capabilities in the Pacific.

Nonetheless, even though she will keep on pursuing academic topics next year, she is also looking forward to stepping aside from the busy life at Groton and recharge. This, she believes, will be a crucial part to help keep her fresh perspective in the classroom. She believes it will give her the freedom to expand further in ways that wouldn’t have been possible due to the constraints of her twenty years of teaching in a classroom. This is her first sabbatical, even though she has been teaching at Groton for twelve years.

When asked what she will miss the most, she answered without any hesitance: the people. She will most definitely miss her colleagues and the faculty, along with the students whom she often has intriguing conversations with both in and out of the classroom. “This is the reason why I teach,” she says, implying that the students and faculty are an essential part of her life. She believes her special bond with students, along with the promising sabbatical year, will be helpful in her teaching career.