Affectionately known as Ms. L-D, Bethany was first introduced to the independent school lifestyle while visiting her brother at The Hun School of Princeton. There she experienced a sense of community that she longed for, and soon after, secured a job as a teacher, coach, and dorm parent. Advancing in her career, she spent six years as dean of students—a position that taught her the complexities of the student experience and reinforced her belief in creating a supportive and welcoming community. After 12 years in Princeton, Bethany and her husband, both natives of the Capital Region, eventually made the move back home, landing at Emma Willard School.

Bethany chose to specialize in English due to a profound love of stories and connections. “I think that when you're able to connect to an author and why they write what they do, I think that can be a powerful moment in understanding someone else and understanding yourself,” she enthuses. “That is something we often do in English class that you don't necessarily have the opportunity to do in other courses.” In addition to connecting and understanding, communicating clearly and concisely is a skill that Bethany takes pride in teaching.

In a boarding school environment, building connections with students is essential. Students need to feel safe, valued, and connected to the community, and Bethany understands how this effort directly impacts the student experience. “To understand how a person thinks and processes, you really have to understand that person. The better I know my students, the better I can give them feedback that works for them.” 

These classroom relationships only strengthen due to her work coaching lacrosse and field hockey, and as the class dean. She is able to see her students through a different, often lighter, lens—observing moments of silliness, teamwork, and resilience that inform her classroom approach. The connections she builds are a source of daily inspiration, keeping her motivated and allowing her to bring her best, most authentic self to Emma.

This pedagogical philosophy is immediately put into practice when students join her ninth-grade English course. There is a learning curve when transitioning to Emma, and Bethany is in a prime position to help build their Emma “studentship,” as she likes to call it. She assists students as they navigate questions such as, “How do I insert myself to participate in group discussions?” and “How do I professionally email a teacher to ask for a favor?” In her ninth-grade courses, she eases into the material as students settle into their new routines. As opposed to jumping right into analysis, she first asks students to write down their observations about a passage. The next day, when they arrive in class, they will do a passage analysis using their observations on hand. This slows down the process and allows students to parse out their thoughts and think thoroughly about their analysis. By 10th grade, she not only wants students to have a strong foundation in reading, writing, and communication, but also a core understanding of the educational systems in place at Emma. 

Bethany is excited about the overall direction of the English Department. Motivated by chair Brian Druckenmiller's Curriculum Innovation Project, the department is implementing a two-pronged strategy to reduce student writing anxiety: providing thoughtful, articulate feedback and having students write on confidence-inspiring topics to build a positive association that transfers to their academic work. In addition, Bethany is particularly enthusiastic about the rotating electives offered, ensuring students remain motivated and deeply invested in the course content.

“She creates a friendly, welcoming environment everywhere she goes,” says Emma A. ’27, who has enjoyed Ms. L-D both as an English instructor and an advisor. “When she was my advisor, our one-on-ones and group sessions allowed us to talk about anything on our minds. In the classroom, she always showed genuine concern for students who were struggling and celebrated our growth along the way. Whenever I see her, she always greets me with a warm smile!”

Bethany’s drive to forge meaningful connections has served as the foundation of her work, allowing her students to grow personally and intellectually. Her students consistently feel seen as whole individuals, an impact that will last far beyond their time at Emma Willard School.