While some students can’t wait to leave Evanston, others can’t wait to come back.
“I never left,” says Karilyn Joyce, badminton coach and gym teacher. “I started working and coaching here when I was in college. I knew this is what I wanted to do so why not get the experience here.”
The number of ETHS alumni that have come back as teachers might surprise you. According to Adriane Slaton, biology teacher and alum, there are at least six students from the class of 1997 alone that now teach at the school.
“I wanted to give back the four years I got from ETHS. I have seen schools across the country in my graduate work, and this school is unbelievable,” says Slaton.
Many teachers feel the same way and agree that being an ETHS graduate has given them an upper hand in connecting with students.
“I went here and grew up here. I feel like I have a very good sense of where the students are coming from and what their needs are,” says Elizabeth Shulman, English teacher.
Some teachers even express that they connect with the students better because they know so much about the town and the people in it.
“Evanston has a very interesting, fun culture. There are terms and inside jokes that you only know if you’re an Evanstonian. I think students and teachers can joke around and I might not have been able to do that had I not gone here,” explains Slaton.
Although all teachers mention a hardship seeing themselves as equivalent to their former teachers, all of them also explain how lucky they are to be given the opportunity to work with some of their biggest role models.
“Mr. Lowe was my favorite teacher and it’s an honor to work with him. I’ve learned a lot about the school from being on both sides.” says Shulman.