Episcopal School of Jacksonville ~

ESGN students caught up with some of the faculty leaving ESJ this year and present this short thank you, from a student’s perspective, for all they’ve done.

Mr. Valentine started teaching at Episcopal only a few years after it first opened. He has decided to retire so he can follow his true passion: ruling the world. In his time here, he taught many different classes, one of his favorites was a Russian Literature course. He is probably the most knowledgeable (some might say – obsessed!) person on the planet about Nathaniel Hawthorne. Students will never forget his pieces de resistance: two dogs fighting and Polish magic tricks.

Mr. Goebertus has had important positions here for many years, first as the head of the Booster organization and these past two years as the Interim Athletic Director. He has raised significant funds for the athletic department and helped create numerous teams for the Middle School, but most of all he will be remembered for his great enthusiasm for all things ESJ.

Two history teachers, Mr. Kress and Mr. Magee, are also leaving. They were student favorites and also coached successful sports teams. Mr. Kress the crew team and Mr. Magee the football team. Mr. Kress said his fondest memories from ESJ has been teaching and coaching all of the amazing students here, but he also has very happy memories winning the dodge ball tournament on the faculty team. Mr. Kress will be joining the history faculty at Greenwich Academy, just outside of New York City. He will also be coaching their crew team. He wants to be remembered most for announcing the most recent powder puff game while making fun of Mr. Hoyt’s obesity from the Kressbox. Mr. Magee’s best memory was participating in Fiddler on the Roof. He does not have immediate plans after he leaves ESJ and will be looking for a new job. He wants to be remembered for giving the cafeteria the idea of having the possibility of chili cheese fries on Wednesdays. Both of these teachers will be greatly missed.

Ms. Rachel Mitchell is the girl’s varsity basketball coach and a psychology teacher. As she leaves at the end of this year she says her enduring memory “is the relationships I’ve built with the faculty and students.” As she leaves for Melbourne, Fla., to be the basketball coach, assistant athletic director, and psychology teacher at Florida Air Academy, she says she hopes that the “students and teachers will remember me for my enthusiasm and work ethic.” She says she “loved teaching here, and I want the students to remember that they can achieve anything in life if they put the right amount of time and effort in.”

Ms. Deborah Hicks is a long-time Spanish teacher and former department head of World Languages. She says she will remember “all the amazing language teachers I have taught with over the years.” As she retires, she hopes to rest and also travel to California and New England. Her legacy is “enthusiasm and hard work…all centered on the Spanish language!”

- Garrison Burr, James Prohaska, Meghan Slevin, Class of 2012