By Monica Chan (V)
Lower School Spanish teacher Ms. Matty Yorkshire will be leaving Pingry after a 25 year stay at the Short Hills campus. Her passion for teaching Spanish language and culture to Pingry’s youngest students has remained an integral part of Lower School students’ memories, as she taught students to love and appreciate the language.
Before her work at Pingry, she taught Spanish at Archbishop Keough High School in Maryland, Staten Island Academy, and Princeton Day School. She also taught at Raritan Valley Community College. Ms. Yorkshire attended the University of Maryland for her Bachelor’s degree and Towson State University for her Master’s degree. Her inspiration for teaching was her love of sharing her native Cuban culture and language.
Her favorite memory of Pingry was when she was awarded the Albert W. Booth Chair for Master Teachers Award by former Headmaster Mr. Conard. The award commends the teacher “who reflects those qualities of honor, integrity, idealism, dedication to students, and reverence for scholarship,” which “defined Mr. Booth’s life and work.” Ms. Yorkshire stated that “when you can be around long enough to witness the fruit of your earlier labors, it does not get any better than that.”
When asked about her future plans after departing the Pingry community, Ms. Yorkshire says she is “looking forward to reconnecting with my family, living within and outside of the country, and enjoying ministry with my husband.” Undoubtedly, Ms. Yorkshire’s presence in the Pingry community will forever be marked in our minds, and we wish her all the best in her new adventures!