Myra Ralhan ’29
Meet Dr. Grace Rohr, EA’s newest science teacher, who brings a love for teaching, a background in studying dinosaurs, and even her very own fossil collection. Dr.Rohr joins the Science Department this year after finishing her PhD in ecology and evolution at Drexel University. There, her research was primarily focused on bone pathologies in long-necked dinosaurs called sauropods. She used CT scanning and computer models to figure out why these dinosaurs got certain injuries. Before going down this path, Dr. Rohr studied biology and chemistry at Tufts University with the intention of becoming a doctor.
Now, Dr. Rohr is bringing her enthusiasm and curiosity to classrooms at EA. This year, she is teaching three sections of Biology I and Anatomy and Physiology classes. Dr. Rohr says, “ I’m very, very excited for [Anatomy and Physiology] specifically”, because she gets to teach using the Anatomage table and guide students through hands-on dissections, including pigs, cats, kidneys, and brains.
Outside of teaching, Dr. Rohr will be coaching swimming in the winter, bringing in her college swimming experience at Tufts. She is also one of the co-leaders of the Girls in STEM club, which she hopes will provide “A space for other women in the EA community to just meet with other people who really like science.”
If she’s not in the classroom, Dr. Rohr can be found traveling the world. She loves traveling, whether she’s going to Europe for digs or Iceland to explore the geology. Her goal is to visit every single continent, and so far she has gone to five, with Antarctica and Australia still left to visit.
When Dr. Rohr was asked about her initial impressions of EA, she was quick to answer, “Everyone here really cares. The teachers care about the students, and the students care about being here and want to be here.” For Dr. Rohr, curiosity and connections are at the heart of teaching. As she embarks on her EA journey, Dr. Rohr believes, “At the root of teaching, you really need to know your students.” So, make sure to stop by and say hello to Dr. Rohr; maybe she’ll even give you a tour of her fossil collection.
This year, the Upper School welcomes Mandarin teacher Kaiyao Ni. Originally from China, Ni is ready to share her culture and love for teaching with the students at EA. In Shanghai, Ni earned her undergraduate degree in psychology before moving to the United States, where she attended Michigan State University to earn a degree in counseling. During her time there, she was presented with the opportunity to shift into teaching through outreach programs that involved teaching languages. After graduating, Ni was offered a foreign language teaching position, which opened a new chapter of her life. Ni stated, “I didn’t choose to teach, but teaching chose me,” and she has loved her teaching journey so far.
At EA, Ni is teaching all Upper School Mandarin sections. For her students, she hopes to make it easier for them to learn the language and support them as they challenge themselves. Not only does she want to help them embrace a new language, but also the culture it has to offer. Ni says, “Sharing my language and the culture is a big part of the joy that I get from this job.” She is all about creating a supportive learning environment and focuses on the rich culture of Mandarin.
When Ni first visited EA, she was taken aback by its beauty, but it was the students who left a lasting impression on her. She was very impressed by the students’ work ethic and their excitement to learn. A fun fact about Ni is that she loves to collect stones that she finds in nature. With especially gorgeous stones, Ni creates necklaces that she can wear.
In her first year, Ni is looking forward to supporting students. “ I want to be someone they can trust on campus,” Ni says, whether it’s academically or if someone just needs to talk.
Joining the Upper School math department is Jake Viscusi ’19, an EA alumnus with a passion for teaching, mathematics, and connecting with his students.
From a young age, Viscusi wanted to be a teacher. While other kids wrote down dreams of being astronauts or doctors, Viscusi wrote, “I want to be a math teacher.” After graduating from Episcopal, Viscusi attended Swarthmore College, where he earned a pure math degree. He has a deep interest in mathematics and hopes to break down complex concepts and explain them more easily. “It’s a great fun thing for me to do,” he added.
At EA, Viscusi is teaching Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. He’s excited about each course as they have a unique thing to offer. “Algebra II is the foundation, geometry is where math started, and pre-calc is everything in between geometry and calculus,” Viscusi excitedly explains. His love of mathematics drives him to be a great teacher as he really wants to make math easier to understand and help students learn something new every day.
Viscusi wanted the opportunity to work with high school students, but also to teach high-level math. “Episcopal has truly an exceptional math program,” he states, which is one of the main reasons why he chose to come back and teach here. When asked about what impact he wants to leave, Viscusi simply says, “Whether math was their favorite thing or not, to feel that it is now something that they have a little bit of a better understanding.
Something his students might not know about him is that Viscusi learned how to ride a unicycle. He first tried to learn for a school play, but didn’t succeed in time, only to learn later out of determination.
Starting his new chapter at EA, Viscusi is eager to inspire students and make math more enjoyable. “I know that this is a community that I’ve been privileged to be a part of in the past,” he said, “I’m thrilled to be back.” So, if you ever want help with a math problem or need to learn how to ride a unicycle, you know who to visit.
If you’re taking biology, there’s a good chance you know Amanda Leighton. Leighton joined EA this year as a new addition to the science department. With over two decades of experience and passion for science, she brings her knowledge, kindness, and excitement for teaching.
Originally from New Jersey, Leighton attended Stockholm University in Atlantic City and was a rower on the crew team. In college, she studied pre-med with the intention of going to medical school. The opportunity to teach was presented to her when Leighton became a long-term substitute, which gave her time to study for her MCAT. She fell in love with teaching, realizing, “I just definitely felt like I had a calling,” and attended Rowan University for an alternate teaching certification. She has been teaching ever since.
This year at EA, Leighton will be teaching AP Biology, Honors Biology II, and Environmental Science alongside her former colleague, Upper School Science Teacher Ron Smith, who encouraged her to apply for the job. In the past, she has taught a forensics course, arguably one of her favorite classes, and middle school physics, “which was not my favorite,” she laughed.
For Leighton, the most rewarding part of teaching is motivating students so they get that “Ah ha” moment on their face after learning something new. This shows her that they are growing not only academically, but mentally as they push through a new challenge. Leighton hopes to leave Episcopal students thinking, “It was hard, but Mrs. Leighton taught me that I can do it.”
Leighton’s first impressions of EA have been nothing but positive, stating the students are “Absolutely impressive and very kind”. In addition, she deeply appreciates the administration’s support and trust in her to be a teacher and teach the way she needs to. A fun fact about Leighton is that she played rugby for two seasons. Her energy and passion make her a great addition to the EA community. If you’re struggling with cells or want to know more about rugby, Leighton’s door is always open.
