03/25/2015 by Carney Sandoe Staff |
Teachers Who Rock
Teacher of the Week: Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins
Name/hometown/alma mater?
Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins
Santa Barbara, California
Dos Pueblos High School
Where do you teach?
I have just started at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT, after having taught for 11 years in Istanbul, Turkey.
What do you do there (i.e., what subject do you teach, what sport do you coach, do you live in a dorm or supervise a club, etc.)?
I teach Upper School visual art and photography, and I am the yearbook advisor.
What is your favorite place on your school’s campus?
Despite the many beautiful spots on this stunning campus, my favorite place is actually my own classroom, where there’s a constant buzz of students working on their photographs and films. The space is large and welcoming, and students come and go – even outside of class – to work, or discuss their passion for art, or just to hang out.
What is the hardest part of your job?
There’s quite a lot of great things always going on here, and the hardest part is simply keeping up with it all.
What is one unique thing about your school?
The 42-acre campus overlooking the Long Island Sound encompasses three distinct ecosystems: an Audubon forest, a saltwater marsh, and a quiet beach from which on a clear day you can even see the skyline of Manhattan!
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being able to extend my classroom out into the natural environment of those three ecosystems and access the many varieties of beauty they afford. I am constantly out in this landscape with my students shooting photographs, observing and documenting every change with the tides, the weather, and the New England seasons.
What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself since you started at your school?
Because I was living outside the country during my job search, I never had the chance to visit the school or the area when I accepted the position. Nevertheless, I’ve been shocked to discover just how quickly I’ve felt that I belong here.
Who was your placement associate/counselor at CS&A?
Who are your mentors?
My mentor at Greens Farms Academy is Don Martocchio, a superb math teacher who spent much of his life as a high-powered broker on Wall Street. Don brings to his teaching a plethora of real-world experience, providing his students with real-world applications. For me, as a teacher who is also a practicing artist, it has been wonderful to be surrounded by people like Don who constantly teach from their rich experiences beyond the classroom.
What advice would you give to aspiring teachers at independent schools?
Every school that I interviewed with seemed to have its own unique character, strengths and needs. I feel grateful that I have found in Greens Farms Academy a perfect match, where doing what I love – and doing what I do best – is valued by the school as a whole. I don’t think it is at all idealistic to seek out the school that is the best fit for you. In fact, I believe it is absolutely essential.
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