Whether you have taken AP Human Geography, been placed in his United States History class, attended a practice of Speech and Debate Club, or simply just walked by the history office, you’ve probably exchanged a smile or a friendly “hello” with Upper School (US) History Teacher Steele Sternberg. Mr. Sternberg will be leaving the
US in June to teach at the Noble and Greenough School.
Mr. Sternberg came tothe US from the Hackley School, a private school in upstate New York, to be closer to his
now wife, a librarian at Nobles. He joined the History Department during the 2020-21 school year.
Beyond teaching, Mr. Sternberg has led a reaccreditation committee, served as an advisor to a group he will “really, really miss,” acted as a Senior Spring Project mentor, facilitated workshops on creating effective and
interesting field trips, and led the school’s debate team.
The students have made Mr. Sternberg’s time at the US rewarding, he said.
“You, the students, you’re by far the hardest thing to leave. You guys are just interesting. You’re motivated. You
come from cool backgrounds. You aren’t the normal sort of private school kid. That is by far and away my favorite thing about this place.”
He said he has found a supportive environment of teachers and colleagues here.
“There’s way fewer teachers here who phone it in than other schools. Everyone here really tries hard every dayto do a good job. In general, that has been very positive for my professional development.”
The best compliment Mr. Sternberg has ever received about his teaching came from a former student, he said. “Caroline White ’23 said, ‘You know, Mr. Sternberg, the thing that makes your classes so great isthat [they] end up feeling like a community.’ That felt very good.”
Mr. Sternberg will continue to teach U.S. History as well as a World History class similar to the US’s Case Studies course while at Nobles.
US Head of College Counseling Amy Selinger has done it all over her 20 years at the school. She co-founded the Marina Keegan ’08 Fellowship, was a member of the Senior Grade Team and the Senior Spring Project Committee, served as a faculty representative on the Board of Trustees, taught history, and coached Middle School lacrosse.
“It’s hard to identify what memories are my favorites because I feel like I have so many different memories,” Ms. Selinger said. “I’ll take away, in terms of memories, moments where laughter and joy were present, moments of triumph big and small. Like an advisee, who reported to me that they spoke up in a class discussion where it was really scary, or somebody who got into a college, or who landed a role in the play, or who had a great summer job experience, or even graduates who report back that something amazing has happened, andthere’s a seed of something that we planted together. Those are the things that my memories have in common.”
“A great thing about working at BB&N is that we’re on a team. I never feel alone like I’m trying to do anything by myself,” she said. “The fact that you can walk into a building and know that you have people on your side who will push you, listen to you, cheer for you, give you grief, and all those are wonderful things.”
Next year, Ms. Selinger will return to Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, where she previously worked.
“I talk to students a lot about how sometimes when you’re walking toward something, you might feel uncomfortable and the newness of it might feel scary, or like you’re taking a risk, and that’s where growth happens: when you’re trying something new. So, for me, after 20 years, I feel like changing it up might be a good thing for me.”
She is excited about the variety of her role at Lawrence Academy,she said.
“As an empty nester, I’ll have time again to do college counseling, which I love, teach a section of history, which I love, and coach basketball, which I also love. I’m taking a step away from the administration side of things that will allow me time to do those things that I’m really excited about.”
Agnes Voligny first joined the US community as a math teacher in the fall of 2019. Since then, Ms. Voligny has done a little bit of everything: acted as a US advisor, a member of the US Service Learning Team, a member of the Senior Grade Team, and the faculty advisor to the Asian American Student Alliance (AASA).
Reflecting on her time at the US, Ms. Voligny has enjoyed seeing her advisees grow both as scholars and as people and watching AASA deepen their impact on student life. She is grateful for the camaraderie and support from her colleagues in Room 162.
To Ms. Voligny, it’s the collaboration between students and teachers that has made her time at the US great, she said.
“I know that BB&N students are smart, motivated, and ambitious. As a teacher, I realize the talent, hard work, dedication, creativity and compassion of my colleagues. Together, we make this a special community.”
Ms. Voligny has high praises for the communities she has been a part of, including the rest of the US Service Learning Team for their “can-do” attitude and the Senior Grade Team for their tireless efforts towards senior graduation.
She said she hopes to have left a lasting impact on the US community.
“I hope my students know that I cared about each of them and am grateful for the relationships we built. I hopemy colleagues know that I admire them and the work they do to help each student grow.”
Ms. Voligny looks forward to spending more time with her parents in Thailand and to her future adventures, wherever they may be.
