On Nov. 19, as the winter term began, two new faces joined the Urban community: Amanda Moore, an English teacher, and Alicia Dantzker, a science teacher.
“Expertise in your subject,” says Head of School Mark Salkind, when asked about what Urban looks for in new teachers. “But also, liking teenagers, liking students, knowing who they are, and also expertise in how to teach and (how) to create an engaging classroom and motivate students.”
Urban hired Stanford graduate Alicia Dantzker, 27, following the departure of science teacher Aimee Hill. Dantzker, who grew up in Berkeley, has taught at The Head-Royce School in Oakland and at Marin Academy in San Rafael, Calif. She is also a member of the San Francisco-based Fury Ultimate Frisbee Team, which won the 2010 Ultimate Frisbee World Championship in Prague, Czech Republic (see footage of the Furies at the World Championship in Prague at right).
English teacher Larissa Parson is going on maternity leave from December 17 through the end of the school year as she is expecting twins in February. Amanda Moore, 35, will be filling in for her while she is on leave. Moore, who has lived in Costa Rica and Thailand, recently moved to the Bay Area from Detroit. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from Cornell University and previously taught at the Cranbrook School in Michigan.
Moore is not only a teacher of poetry; poems she has written are published in journals and online magazines such as The Salt River Review and ForPoetry.com.
Along with the arrival of new staff members at the beginning of the term, there will be departures of staff at the end of the term. Larry Anderson, the long-time Urban facilities manager, is retiring; his last day is Dec. 17. Katie Catassi, who has been assisting Anderson as facilities manager over the past few months, will be taking his position. Since Catassi is already in place, this should be a very smooth transition.
“We’ll definitely talk about Larry in an all school meeting,” reminisced Salkind. “He is terrific. He loves the school and loves students. He really has a big heart.”