Going Beyond the Books: East teachers in the same departments have formed bonds with each other outside the classroom

Mallory Dittemore first came to East last year as a student teacher in search of a job and a place to stay while her apartment was being renovated. She grew close with Amanda Doane after sharing a classroom with her, and found a place to stay with Doane and her family of four. 

“It was really nice, I felt like I had a second family here,” Dittemore said. “I was filling in as the cool aunt.” 

Over the course of the month, Doane, who has worked at East for 16 years, introduced Dittemore to the other business teachers at East. She became a part of their circle, and was added to their group chat that pings with text messages day and night, both in and out of school. 

Mercedes Rassmusen, who’s been working at East for the past 26 years, is considered the “rock” of the group by the other teachers. She met coworkers Jennifer Hair — her proclaimed “work wife” — and Doane through DECA, a student activity run by the business department. Their group expanded when Jessica Krievins and Kevin Wiesner came to East, and Dittemore joining completed their family. They all came to East at separate times, but feel like they’ve known each other forever, so working together comes easily.

“I can say that in all the different districts and buildings I have been in, this is the first time that I’ve been in a department where I actually feel like I’m part of the family,” Krievins said. “I actually have people to bounce ideas off of which is the best thing that a teacher can have.”

Whether it’s filling everyone in on a faculty meeting or sending a funny meme to lighten the mood of the 7-hour day, they’re constantly supporting one another. They love to boost each other up whenever they can, so when Doane was nominated for the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award, it felt like a big family celebration. 

“We may not spend time outside of school together because we live in different parts of the city,” Rassmusen said. “And we’re all at different phases in our lives with children and the ages of our children and what they’re doing and stuff, but we are constantly in touch with each other and contacting each other, talking on our phones together.”

When walking past rooms 518, 519 and 525, the fifth floor hallways are constantly filled with laughter at jokes that may not be understood by a common passerby. English teachers Erica Jackson, Kristin Anderson and Meredith Sternberg only speak the language of “their people:” an English teacher language. 

Last year’s COVID regulations limited teachers from moving between floors as frequently as they once did. The three had always been close, but formed a stronger bond when they were isolated together on the fifth floor for 5 months. 

“I remember being excited about coming to school when I was in high school, I remember wanting to go to school to tell my friends something,” Jackson said. “That’s how I still feel coming to work every morning. I always have something funny I want to share.” 

Whether it be a newly-organized weekly potluck with all of the English teachers, bringing cake on each other’s birthdays or writing up brackets — not your average March Madness bracket, but ones with topics like Christmas movies, books and nostalgic ’90s music — the English department is always up to something original.

“We used to have a quote card [of funny quotes from movies and books] that we would write on all the time,” Anderson said. “That was pretty great, but totally not for the students’ eyes.” 

The group tries to meet up outside of school at least once a week. They usually end up gathering on Jackson’s back deck on a normal week, and on the yearly Lancer Day, they have a tradition of celebrating at fellow English teacher Samantha Feinberg’s house.

“I have a work family here, and over summer I start to miss them,” Jackson said. “I am always eager to get back to school and see everyone.”

Every day, Jennifer Horn comes to school at around 7 a.m. to arrange her desk for the day — a stark contrast to Monique Goodeyon, who’s accustomed to messy habits after sharing a room with Horn for 16 years. With Hannah Pence right next door, the three math teachers are a natural trio. 

Each morning before school, one of the three stops to get drinks at Quiktrip, McDonald’s or anything along the way for their other two friends. The three have had systems like this for as long as they’ve roomed next to each other. 

“Mrs. Horn and I were in the basement for a few years, and when you are down there you really don’t see any of the teachers above,” Goodeyon said. “It wasn’t until we moved up that we started to get close.” 

Now, they rarely go a day without seeing one another, whether its meeting up for lunch, on the weekends and every other day over the summer. 

“It wasn’t until last summer that I finally convinced the two of them to come down to my lake property and spend a few days there,” Horn said. “I think it’s pretty safe to say that we all had a good time and are planning another one.” 

The thought that Horn and Goodeyon are closer to retirement than Pence scares her. The best part about her job is seeing them everyday, and she views them retiring as leaving her. 

“We talk a lot about the fact that we would still be just as close even if we didn’t see each other every day,” Pence said. “But, I’m not sure how I would manage without them.” 

Until then, they will be standing outside the math hallway every passing period, catching up with each other after the previous class, and available for questions from students.