Transitioning to a new school is a challenge alone, but the new Upper School Director, Noah Rachlin, started working at MFS in the middle of a pandemic. Due to COVID-19, many students and faculty have not had the opportunity to personally meet Rachlin.
Rachlin has experience as both an administrator and a teacher. He explained that he first entered the administrative field because he was, “intrigued by having a professional position that was more dedicated to exactly that balance of working directly with students but also being a part of some of the bigger picture conversations.”
Rachlin said he loves MFS’ size and the sense of community that comes from a smaller school setting. One of the aspects in particular that Rachlin reported most loving about his job is the “act of service that comes with teaching, and it’s the same in administration in a lot of ways, you’re just doing it for adults as opposed to exclusively for students.”
In the past, Rachlin has taught both middle school and upper school students in history.
“I thought it was really interesting to have both experiences. The middle school experience did a great job of reminding me how important it is to just keep [in the] front of [my] mind that students are kids and that school should be enjoyable and should be an engaging experience,” said Rachlin. “I also felt as though my AP experience was really informative and valuable in thinking about middle school because it gave me this sense of where we wanted to go, the value of really high expectations. I felt as though both of those made me better in each [other].”
When he is not working, Rachlin said he enjoys spending time outdoors. “I really like to surf, and in the winter when I can I like to ski … I spent a lot of time growing up around the ocean, and so it’s something that I just really enjoy.”
He also likes to spend most of his time with his wife, two year old daughter, and their dog. “We spend a lot of time on the weekends outside trying to do things that are cool for them [daughter and dog] … trying to ensure that I am creating time to be fully present with my family and with my friends, and to be outside as much as possible is really important.”
When asked about his transition during COVID he was quick to respond with, “It’s really weird.”
Rachlin explained that he reminds himself that everyone is experiencing this together. He also said he appreciates the opportunity of being able to help others during this difficult time.
“What is enjoyable for me about a position of leadership is the opportunity to be of service and to make the experience better for other people … This is the ultimate opportunity to be of service and to help others and to try to build a spirit of collaboration and teamwork that I think is essential for this time and this place and these particular circumstances.”
Rachlin said he is optimistic about this school year despite the new challenges that have been presented.
“If we come out of this feeling a certain sense of community and feeling as though either the experience was explicitly imported or made less bad by the fact that we were doing it together and doing it as a part of the MFS upper school, that feels like a win to me.”
