TORI GILBERT
An instructional coach, research coordinator, Spanish teacher, modern language curriculum chair, author, and proud parent of a Saint David’ s alum, Dr. Tori“ Doctora” Gilbert has been accustomed to wearing many academic hats throughout her 37 years at Saint David’ s.“ Improvisation in teaching is really the art of teaching,” she noted.“ It’ s reading the moment, reading the room, figuring out what is working or not working, and it certainly helps to have experience on your side and have many moments to choose from; it is having the intuition about where a topic of curiosity or a certain kind of activity would work better.”
A 2021 recipient of the NYSAFL Teachers’ Ruth E. Wasley Distinguished Teacher Award( this honor is for excellence as a K-12 teacher), she was also named 2024 AATSP Teacher of the Year for grades K-8.“ I think language is really the clothing of thought; it allows you to access what a person is feeling to understand them better. The idea that you can learn a different way to say something is really a way of accessing that thought and the more you can get to understand how different languages give shape to thought or transmit that thought, the more exciting it is,” she shared.
Dr. Gilbert also affirmed the collective mission-based drive at East 89th.“ I specifically enjoy teaching here because there’ s such strong support for why teaching is important, and learning is joyful. It provides a sense of purpose. When I take the boys to Salamanca for two weeks, to see how they grow from the moment that they’ re leaving their families— and then see them ordering food or interacting with a peer using the target language, it’ s so wonderful because they’ re discovering for themselves what they’ re capable of, and that’ s really what drives any curriculum.”
As for Saint David’ s, it is the institutional pursuit of best practices in teaching boys( TBI) that is at the core of her professional passion.“ A good school never rests on its laurels,” she concluded.“ It continues to push itself— and to always think of new paths that we can discover to serve our boys even better.”
CATHY O’ NEILL
It was the summer of 1987, Cathleen( Flynn) O’ Neill had just graduated from Skidmore College and Saratoga Springs may as well have been 5,000 miles away from Manhattan. A New England native, her roots were in Worcester, MA, and along the coast in Rhode Island. She had never visited New York City, let alone considered moving there.“ My college Career Planning Office had suggested a second-grade teacher position at Saint David’ s School could be a fit. The idea of NYC seemed big,” she admitted.“ But it’ s just an interview- it can’ t hurt, right?” Upon arrival in the‘ Big Apple,’ Mrs. O’ Neill couldn’ t believe how‘ cozy’ the campus feel was.“ I loved my tour, I received an offer, and the idea of making the move became very real, very quickly.” She happily taught second grade for two years, and of her earliest memories, one of her first students would later go on to become Saint David’ s Director of Secondary School Placement, John Dearie‘ 95. It was also around this time that her new Lower School colleague, Martha Bjorklund, needed a roommate for the upcoming school year, and a friendship quickly formed.“ We taught first grade together, classes 1A and 1B,” she recalled.“ Adjacent to the Chapel, these classrooms are currently kindergarten rooms— I love that space.” Cathy would later get married, have her first child, and segue to teaching small groups of Lower School boys, but her passion for pre-primary curriculum was just beginning.“ I was active with the curriculum initiative and it was at this time that the Lower School Head Kim Davidson brought me into the Pre-K role. I’ ve worked with Val( Mrs. Hazenberg) for over 15 years and it’ s just been the best.” Now in her 38th year at Saint David’ s, Mrs. O’ Neill recounts“ the same feeling” of walking through the doors as she had nearly 40 years ago.“ I have incredible colleagues who are so dedicated and passionate about their craft. The work to elevate curriculum has promoted such a collaborative environment- and the school has become better for it,” she shared.“ Saint David’ s captures the whole boy, the mission is in the action- and it will always be that way.”
36 • Saint David’ s Magazine • 75th Anniversary Edition