Mr. Delgado

 Over the past five years, Director of Enrollment Management Jorge Delgado has lent his talents to the school’s Admissions team, connecting with students from all three campuses. From interviewing potential students to chaperoning the Upper School Spanish exchange trip, Mr. Delgado has been involved in the school community since he first joined.

 Having unified the Admissions team, Mr. Delgado oversaw the admissions processes for all three campuses.

 “Being able to welcome new students and families to the school has been really great and getting to know prospective students through the admissions process and reading their applications,” he said. “But, really, the welcoming of new families to campus, whether it’s the first day of beginners or sending kids off to Bivouac at the beginning of the year, has always felt really gratifying.”

 Next year, Mr. Delgado plans to move to Ojai, California, to be closer to his family. He will work a similar job as the Director of Enrollment for the Thacher School, a boarding school.

 “It is a bittersweet departure, … but I’m excited to tackle boarding school life,” Mr. Delgado said. “I will miss my wonderful colleagues, both on the Admissions team and the folks that I’ve gotten to work with across three campuses. There’s some amazing teachers here, people who are not just colleagues now but also friends.”   —Valor McGrath ’28

Ms. Van Voorhis

 After four years, Upper School (US) Woodworking and 3D Design Teacher Anna Van Voorhis is leaving to teach at Phillips Academy Andover. In addition to teaching, Ms. V served as a Bivouac guide, faculty advisor for the Designing for Impact Club and member of the sophomore grade team.

 Ms. V was drawn to the US because of its core values.

 “The fact that kindness is in the school motto has always really spoken to me,” she said. “That’s a really important part of what BB&N has to offer, and when it’s living up to its truest ideals, that’s a really big part of the community here.”

 Ms. V enjoyed seeing her students be creative.

 “Each kid has their own way of working that makes sense to them,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s wrong and not going to work the way they wanted, but, just as often, it’s a totally novel way of doing something that will work. So, I feel like I’m always just learning by watching people interact with the materials and processes we work with here.”

 She hopes her students will take away lessons learned from their time in the wood shop, she said.

 “I really want students to have an appreciation of how much skill and craft goes into all the things we use on a daily basis that we just take for granted. … I hope students leave with a sense of confidence that they can complete hard tasks and that they’re smart enough and talented enough to get through to the end of a problem.”

 Max Re ’26 has spent three years in Ms. V’s class.

 “Whenever someone in the wood shop is overwhelmed by a school assignment or project, Ms. V is always there to remind us that there is more to people than a grade on one assignment in one class,” he said. “Ms. V and the wood shop offer an opportunity to reflect and relax.”    —Pilar Bowen-Arce ’28

Mr. Smith

 Upper School (US) Education Fellow Theo Smith is leaving the US to attend graduate school at Columbia University in New York City.

 In his two years at the US, Mr. Smith served as a Bivouac guide and shadowed students during their chemistry, history and health classes. Through these classes, Mr. Smith realized he wanted to pursue becoming a chemistry teacher.

 “I think my biggest lesson is to trust my gut as an educator,” he said. “I have good instincts, and my experiences here taught myself to trust myself more.”

 Mr. Smith hopes to have left an impact on the US community.

 “I just hope that I have passed on a little bit of my passion for learning and that I left some curiosity and ability to connect with others through learning together,” he said. “There is always something on people’s minds, whether they’re staff or students. I will miss the random thought-provoking conversations.”   —Pilar Bowen-Arce ’28

Ms. Huff

 Sixth Grade English and Homeroom Teacher Leila Huff has been teaching novels like “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” and inviting students at the Lower School (LS) to think critically, she said. With her 12-year legacy imprinted on the LS’s walls, Ms. Huff plans to pursue her teaching career or potentially another role in the future.

 While teaching, Ms. Huff prioritized listening to and learning from students.

 “My copy of ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ was duct-taped together because I taught it for 12 years, and my students would always ask, ‘Why don’t you just get a new copy, Ms. Huff? Your book is falling apart,’” she said. “I would always say, ‘But I have 12 years of student ideas in here.’ It’s just so magical. I can’t get rid of it. Recognizing that you’re going to learn from your students every single year is something that I have learned from BB&N, and I’m excited to take that knowledge wherever I go next.”

 Every year, Ms. Huff accompanied the sixth grade class on their trip to Hulbert, an overnight camping trip. Collaborating with the students in a multitude of activities made the trips “truly special,” she said.

 Ms. Huff enjoyed the positive environment at the LS.

 “Young kids and sixth graders get to be a part of the magic of the Lower School, which is pretty cool.”

 The teamwork among LS faculty made even the most challenging years during COVID-19 feel more bearable, Ms. Huff said.

 “I learned that in any job I’m going to do going forward, whether that’s teaching or something different, being part of a special team like the faculty at the Lower School can make anything possible, even in the hardest of circumstances.”   —Valor McGrath ’28

 The school also bids farewell to US History Teacher Jack Hill, US Education Fellow Natasha Wanjiru and Lower School Science Teacher Carol Fine.