One might say that Julie Rochelle Ervin has spent much of her life under a microscope -- or rather looking into one. And that’s exactly where she wants to be. In fact, if Ervin were not employed as a teacher of biology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology at Foxcroft, she would most likely be doing research in molecular biology. “I love the thrill of the hunt and truly understanding how something works,” she says.

Steve Matthews, whether he is in the classroom or library, believes that good teaching means meeting students where they are, understanding their experience, and then helping them to broaden that.

Going to graduate school and perhaps studying law may be on the horizon for Keziah Dutchak. Right now, though, she finds being a housemother at Reynolds Dorm and a full-time mother to two small children enough of a challenge.

Robyn Yovanovich once lived her dream by dancing on Broadway. Now she helps young women work towards making their theatrical aspirations come true as Chairman of the Fine Arts department.

A dream all teachers have is that the lessons they administer may someday inspire others. That dream has come true for Courtney Ulmer’s ninth grade history teacher – and Ms. Ulmer, who became Chair of Foxcroft’s History Department in 2007, is grateful.

Susan Erba's students, she says, don't leave the class saying, "When will I ever use this stuff?" And her subject matter is particularly challenging with teenage girls: she has taught math at Foxcroft for 18 years; her classes include algebra II, geometry, statistics and discrete mathematics.

For English teacher Glenn Kantz, being in the classroom is like being in some sort of wonderland.

Janice Brown, who teaches all levels of French up to and including Advanced Placement language and literature, fell in love with the French culture and language while she was living in Germany. Teaching, she says, keeps her passion alive because it enables her to stay in touch with the language, to associate with its ideas, people, music, political events and literature.

Kathleen Dragan was teaching English as a Second Language and Algebra in the mountains of western North Carolina two years ago when she had a revelation: She missed Foxcroft. In 2003, as a brand new graduate of Washington and Lee University, Dragan snagged her first job at Foxcroft, teaching Spanish.