As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the many educators and staff that influenced us to be our best selves and cared for us through the most difficult times. These dedicated staff members were the ones that went the extra mile to make sure we knew that equation, had the right level of discipline, or got us singing on key. Our reporter had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with these three veteran teachers which gave her a full spectrum of what it means to truly teach.

It All Adds Up: An Interview with Mr. Kurtz

Walking into a classroom can mean more than just education—it can mean laughter, lasting memories, and the support from a teacher who truly cares. For many here at Brewster High School, that teacher was Mr. Kurtz. After 30 years of teaching Math at Brewster High School, he is retiring at the end of this school year, marking the end of his impactful teaching career.

Something about Mr. Kurtz that might be shocking to many is that education wasn’t his original path after college. He worked on Wall Street for a few years before deciding that it wasn’t meant for him—he needed something new. It was after this, that he was granted the opportunity to teach math at a private school—this is where his love for the art of teaching began. After working at that private school, his determination to pursue an education career grew, leading him back to UAlbany to obtain his education degree. In 1995, Mr. Kurtz graduated with his Master’s in Education, later being hired as a math teacher by Brewster in September of 1996, where he stayed for the remainder of his education career.

Throughout his long teaching career here, Mr. Kurtz has had many highlights that made his career stand out above the rest. Mr. Kurtz is extremely proud of his consistently high Regents results from his students. Along with this, he has many highlights from within the Math Department. He loves getting to see his colleagues achieve tenure, and becoming the Math Department liaison. In addition, he has many, more administrative roles that he’s extremely proud of. He was elected as Union Vice President of the BTA, later appointed Union Chief Negotiator of the BTA, and then elected Union Treasurer of the BTA.

After being here at Brewster making unforgettable memories, Mr. Kurtz is going to miss laughing with his colleagues and students above all else. However, he is definitely not going to miss commuting to work, the meetings, or planning his awesome lessons.

Sometimes, it’s not only the students who learn something, sometimes the teacher can learn from students—Mr. Kurtz has experienced this. He recalls a lesson his students have taught him, stating this in an interview: “I have learned that perseverance is the key to overcoming obstacles. When students are invested in their education, it inspires you to become a better educator.” And let me tell you, as one of his students, he’s definitely one of the best educators out there. Some advice he’d give to new educators just beginning their careers is that “outside noise will be around all the time. Remember, you are the one who graduated with a degree in your subject, and that makes you the expert.”

There’s a whole lot more to Mr. Kurtz than just numbers, statistics, and trigonometry. He loves old man rock and roll; I don’t think there’s been a day in class where he hasn’t broken out into song or played his jams to get the class motivated. He’s seen Pearl Jam thirty-six times in six different states: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Illinois. He’s also a traveler, believing everybody should visit Sorrento, Italy at least once in their life. (He asked me to shout-out Mr. Franze for inviting him on the trip).

After he retires, Mr. Kurtz plans to go to Delaware to visit his parents and then to visit his daughter in North Carolina while later going to work part-time at Home Depot. Good luck Mr. Kurtz: we’re gonna miss the laughter you brought and your old man tunes!

Bear Facts hopes that Mr. Kurtz gets to jam out in his retirement with family, friends, and Eddie Vedder!

One Final Hoorah Ends an Era with Master Chief Campbell

It is difficult to measure the impact one person can have on a school. For countless students, Naval Science Instructor Master Chief Michael Campbell was more than an instructor—he was a mentor, role model, motivator, and constant source of support. Our cadets are now forced to say goodbye to someone who helped shape not only a program but the people within it.

Master Chief began his career in the United States Navy, serving for 24 years and completing 7 deployments with the Navy and one deployment with the Army Ground Forces. During his time in the Navy, he served as an instructor for three years, traveling all over the world to teach sailors about underwater acoustics, the physics of underwater sound, and shipboard tactics in preparation for deployments. It was during this time when he discovered his love for teaching and helping others grow. Deepening his passion for teaching, he was selected for a job which tasked him to build and evaluate curriculum and to certify instructors across the globe. Through all of these experiences, he recalls learning valuable lessons in leadership, resilience, and service that he has carried with him and incorporated into mentoring the cadets.

Master Chief was hired at Brewster High School as the Naval Science Instructor for the ROTC program, which he reformed and grew exponentially over the seven years he has been here. COVID-19 heavily impacted the unit here at Brewster High School, and not for the better. It decreased motivation levels and caused many of our teams to fail due to the inability to be together. However, when Master Chief Michael Campbell came here to Brewster, he saw this and knew something had to change. He motivated the students and pushed them, building up the unit from Unit Achievement to Distinguished Unit with Honors for the last four consecutive years. He reformed our drill teams exponentially, leading us to attend Area Championships for the past three years in a row. He built up our Drone, Rocketry, and Cyberpatriot teams, and developed the Seadogs Program for the Middle Schoolers. He supplied the unit with new drill rifles and new air rifles. He has also brought our Orienteering team to nationals for the past 2 years. Our colorguard teams have been more active in our community through his efforts, representing the Brewster Pride all over the place. I don’t believe our unit would be the way it is today, if it wasn’t for the efforts and dedication of Master Chief Michael Campbell. Brewster NJROTC is forever in his debt.

Through all of his experiences, Master Chief cites his time here at Brewster High School as the highlight of his career. He’s watched cadets walk in the classroom scared, quiet, and uncertain if they’re in the right place, to then grow into confident leaders, who earn scholarships to incredible universities like Villanova, Penn State, and the University of Virginia has made his time here worthwhile. When he leaves Brewster High School, he’s going to miss the cadets the most.

From working with the cadets for the past 7 years, he has learned that “patience is truly a virtue.” And being the wise man he is, Master Chief provides the following advice for somebody just beginning their education degree: “Always remember that someone’s parent or guardian is trusting you with their child. Keep that in mind every time you walk into the room.” One place he recommends everybody visits is their local food bank. He states that, “Humility and service should be hallmarks of any society. Without them, arrogance can destroy us.”

After he parts from Brewster, he plans to move to Manassas, Virginia and spend more time with his family, hoping to make new memories. To say all of the cadets are going to miss him is an understatement, as he has provided support, knowledge, and motivation to each cadet in the program. Thank you for everything you have done Master Chief, Brewster NJROTC is forever grateful for your service and dedication. Hoorah!

Bear Facts will miss MC Campbell’s enthusiasm and good-natured volume. We wish him luck in his next station in life!

Hitting the Right Notes with Mrs. Taylor

For countless students in Mrs. Taylor’s class, chorus meant more than learning music. Beyond the right notes, it also meant finding confidence, friendship, and a place to belong. After dedicating years to the school’s music program, Mrs. Taylor is retiring, leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond concerts and NYSSMA. Through her passion, patience, and encouragement, she helped shape not only stronger singers, but stronger students, making her final year one filled with both celebration and gratitude.

Her passion for teaching began when she was only in eighth grade. Inspired by her own chorus teacher, who she had from 8th grade to 10th grade, she realized she wanted to follow the same path. By the end of 10th grade, she already knew education and music would become her future. That early inspiration led her to begin teaching in Louisiana, where she taught high school and middle school chorus as well as sixth grade general music. She later spent eight years teaching in Danbury before eventually coming to Brewster High School.

When Mrs. Taylor first arrived at BHS, she began teaching music theory, providing voice lessons, and serving as the choir director. Over the years, however, her job became more than just teaching music: she became a mentor and a trusted adult for countless students who found comfort and confidence in her classroom.

Looking back on her career, she says the greatest highlight has been the students she met along the way. She also cherishes memorable experiences such as veterans concerts, trips to Disney and Virginia Beach, and taking students to Broadway shows. Another highlight is her time working with the musical, as well as being there when they won the Metro’s last year. These moments helped create lasting memories both inside and outside the classroom.

When asked what she will miss most about BHS, her answer came immediately: the students. She said she loves being around their energy, humor, and excitement, and she will especially miss making music with them everyday. While she admits she will not miss the endless meetings and increasing demands placed on teachers, she remains deeply grateful for the connections she built throughout her career.

Throughout the years, her students have taught her lessons as well. She explains that she has learned to relax more, let small things go, and remember why teaching matters in the first place: to have fun and connect with students. For new teachers entering the profession, she offers simple but meaningful advice; focus on relationships. She believes students may not always remember every lesson taught in class, but they will always remember how a teacher made them feel. Building connections, she says, is the most important part of teaching.

As her retirement begins, Mrs. Taylor is looking forward to new adventures with her husband. She hopes to move to Ohio to be closer to her family, including her twin sister and brother. She also has a few unexpected goals on her bucket list, including scuba diving, learning to read hieroglyphics, and possibly going back to school for divinity studies. Mrs. Taylor also loves sharks and to craft, hoping she can sell some of her crafts in retirement.

Although she may be leaving the classroom, the impact Mrs. Taylor has had on her students and the BHS music department will continue long after her final concert. Through her kindness, dedication, and love of music, she helped students find not only their voices, but also confidence in themselves.

Bear Facts hopes that Mrs. Taylor’s retirement with filled with a symphony of fun and no wrong notes!