As the Xavier men returned from their 2024 summer break, they may have noticed some changes, one of which is the turnover in our Science department. Just as the freshmen of the Class of 2028 enter the school community, a new teacher also joins to lead their science classes. I am very excited to introduce one of our newest faculty members to the Xavier community:  Ms. Sarah Bishop!

Ms. Bishop has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in Marine Policy and Management from the University of New Haven (UNH), where she graduated summa cum laude. Over the past year, she has served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at UNH and as an Ophthalmic Assistant at New England Retina Associates.

Why a Science Teacher? 

An important part of a journey in the career of a teacher is finding their focus. There are teachers covering a wide variety of subjects, and they all spent time to go deep into why they want to enter the field they’re in.

When I asked Ms. Bishop why she chose to become a science teacher she replied, “I’ve always loved science, so that really never was a doubt of what I wanted to do. When it comes to teaching, I did it for a good amount of time and then I left. And I’m not really sure why. I worked at an eye doctor for a few years, and it just wasn’t for me. I found that I was actually teaching the patients rather than actually working there, so I realized it was time for me to come back to teaching.”

Goals for 2024 and Beyond

Teacher’s often come into a brand new school with an ambitious personality and a list of goals they wish to achieve along with it. Some of these goals can be personal, or for the school and its students. For Ms. Bishop, her goals encompass both of these categories.

When asked about her goals, she gave a simple answer: “To grow in faith, in confidence as a teacher, and to help my students in all of my classes grow along with me.”

Why Xavier? 

One of the most notable and recognizable traits throughout Xavier is our community and the brotherhood that is established the second you walk through those doors for not only the students, but the teachers as well. As a new teacher in our school, Ms. Bishop testified to this saying, “The supportive staff, homey feel that you get from the faculty, and the fact that the culture of the students is aligned with what I believe in are some of the major pulls for me to come here.”

“I also really like that we’re not just preparing the boys for college or teaching them, we’re preparing them for life as a whole and that was a major reason for me to come here.”

Biggest Help

Coming into a new school is hard. Coming into a school like Xavier is even harder. Something that can help ease someone into that community is people, or in a teacher’s case, fellow faculty and staff.

When I asked Ms. Bishop about who was the biggest influence in getting settled, she said, “Everyone. There has not been one second where people aren’t making sure that I’m doing okay, that I don’t need anything. Even some of the older students are constantly checking in, saying ‘Are you okay Ms. Bishop? Are the freshman treating you alright?’ I just feel so supported at every moment.”

Most Rewarding Aspect of Teaching

Teaching, in and of itself, can be a very special and gifting profession. People come into the classroom as one person, and leave a more polished, improved and overall better person.

I asked Ms. Bishop about what she viewed as the most rewarding aspect of teaching.  She said “Honestly, it’s seeing the people who come into the classroom, even though we’ve been here for about a month, start to break out of their shell and interact more with their peers in my classroom. It’s the little things like that. Like the kid who wasn’t making eye contact with me on day one, is now making jabs about the Eagles to me. It’s amazing to see the kids develop like that.”

Join me in continuing to welcome Ms. Bishop to our community!