Jun 7, 2020 | Faculty Departures, Noah Bergam
By Noah Bergam (V)
After 41 years at Pingry, beloved Upper School German teacher and former Head of the World Languages Department Norman LaValette is retiring this year. Mr. LaValette (often referred to by students as “Herr LaV” or simply “LaV”) is known for his unorthodox but effective teaching methods, which, as his students can attest to, involve countless mantras, exquisite vocabulary, speed dialogue, and sometimes even jumping on tables.
LaValette is a born teacher, but the way he ended up choosing German and Pingry requires a bit of background.
In terms of the former, the story starts back when he was in 7th grade, when he had the choice at his public school to learn either Latin or German. He liked both languages; Latin piqued his interest in toy soldier collection, while German had interesting connections with his native Dutch. He chose Latin, only to receive his schedule and find it had German on it. Apparently there were not enough signups to fill up a Latin class. “The rest is history;” he studied German through high school, college, and grad school.
When LaVallette entered the teaching world, Pingry was not his debut job. After four years teaching at three separate high schools, LaValette stumbled upon Pingry by a recommendation from a friend. After interviewing for the job, LaV recalled he was “duly allured,” taken aback by “the reverence for scholarship, for ideas” among both students and teachers. Once again, the rest is history.
LaV taught German during a time when the Berlin Wall was thought to be indestructible. He recalled taking students to the country on exchange trips in the late 80s and early 90s––on one trip in specific, his students traded US dollars for medals and belts from Russian soldiers in East Berlin. He recalled thinking: “This is wild.”
Herr LaValette has run Harkness discussions in German since the 1980s, back before it was cool for even high school English classes. He recalled one specific discussion that devolved into fisticuffs––a discussion where he jumped in and ultimately took an accidental punch to the jaw from one of his students. If anything, it was a testament to his sheer dedication to his students, and, of course, the relevance of his class discussions: as LaV put it, “German can push people’s buttons!”
According to German teacher Karsten Niehues, “[LaV] is a living legend. Over the years, more than 1,000 teachers have participated in his workshops and learned from his wisdom. While LaV has a student-centered approach to teaching, he also believes in the value of teachers with strong personalities.” Indeed, LaV’s pedagogy has made huge impacts on the teachers around him. Fellow German teacher Igor Jasinski stated, “Watching [LaV] teach has helped me become a better teacher, as it makes me want to bring to my classes some of that intensity and sense of urgency that is the hallmark of Norm’s teaching style.” Colleague and former German teacher Ann Dickerson said, “He is an innovative, energetic, passionate educator who has never become complacent or cynical about teaching, and comes to school every day as eager to grow and to learn as if he were just starting out.”
This is evident in his own words. When asked what teaching has taught him, LaV responded, “If you’re an ambitious person, if you start a year with a goal, inexorably what’s going to happen, especially if you’re a teacher, is you aren’t going to reach all of them. You’re not ever as good as you think you are. But here’s the cool thing about teaching: most teachers I know, they will get back on the horse, and set up new goals, new ambitions, strive to do what they couldn’t do the year before.”
The first mantra LaV taught me back in sixth grade German was Aller Anfang ist schwer: every beginning is difficult. So too is every ending, especially to a career this amazing. Herr LaV, you will be greatly missed.
Jun 7, 2020 | Faculty Departures
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!
Jun 7, 2020 | Faculty Departures
By Mirika Jambudi (III)
After four years at Pingry, this past year serving as Lower School Director, Dr. Sandy Lizaire-Duff will be leaving Pingry in June to take the next step in her career. She will be relocating to Stamford, Connecticut, where she will be the Head of Lower School at King School.
Dr. Lizaire-Duff received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montclair State University, a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Teachers College of Columbia University, and a doctorate in Urban Systems from Rutgers University. She started her teaching career at Edgemont Montessori School in Montclair in 1999 after she had graduated from Teachers College. She credits her inspiration for becoming a teacher to her “love for helping kids, even as a child,” as well as her prior work with young girls thanks to a friend who was a teacher. Though she did not teach any courses as Lower School Director, Dr. Lizaire-Duff loved going into classrooms to visit and interact with the students, noting that seeing their “smiling faces were some of the best parts of [her] day.” In addition to her many day-to-day operational tasks, Dr. Lizaire-Duff was part of the development of the 2018 Strategic Plan, worked with the professional development program, and advanced the work of diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Lizaire-Duff will fondly look back at her favorite memories of Pingry, such as the annual Field Day: a “sea of blue and white with smiling faces… and being able to see kids being kids and having fun.” She will also forever cherish her connections with Lower School students, faculty, staff, and parents, and is proud to have had “the privilege of partnering and working with an incredible community these past four years.” In a parting message to the school, Dr. Lizaire-Duff would like to wish everyone continued good health. Thank you, Dr. Lizaire-Duff, for your contributions to Pingry––you will be missed!
Jun 7, 2020 | Faculty Departures
By Josie Alston (V)
As the end of the school year approaches, The Pingry School must say goodbye to Mr. Kevin Schroedter. Mr. Schroedter spent his only year at Pingry teaching French 2, Spanish 2, and French 5, as well as assistant coaching Upper School water polo and swimming.
Born to a Spanish speaking Colombian mother, Mr. Schroedter developed a love for languages as a child. His grandfather also taught French to the Colombian military for a living. He followed his childhood passion to Duke University, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science and French, and Middlebury College, where he earned his M.A. in French.
Following his studies, Mr. Schroedter pursued an extensive teaching career across the globe so he could stay immersed in the French and Spanish languages. In fact, this year concludes Mr. Schroedter’s 28th year of teaching either French or Spanish at a private school.
In the future, Mr. Schroedter plans to continue his “pursuit of excellence as a language teacher” and he “[looks] forward to the next great adventure with excitement and gratitude.”
As his farewell to Pingry, Mr. Schroedter would like to leave this final message: “I am grateful for the time spent with my colleagues in the language department, as well as getting to know some very special kids in my classes. I also appreciate the time I shared on the pool deck with the other coaches and the great bunch of athletes on both the water polo and swimming teams.”
