After her thirtieth year at Moorestown Friends School, Tina Corsey will be walking away from the MFS community and moving to Columbia, Maryland, where she will teach sixth grade science at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. 

Corsey started at MFS in 1995 as a teaching intern, where she assisted several classes, including seventh grade science, ninth grade science, and AP Biology. 

“I didn’t start teaching right away,” she recalled. “I watched people teach, and I was involved in helping with lesson plans, grading, setting up labs,” Corsey said.

Halfway through that year, Corsey got her own seventh and ninth grade classes to teach. 

As of today and for the past few years, she teaches fifth grade science, eighth grade science, and is a Middle School advisor.

Over her time here, Corsey says that her favorite parts of MFS have always been “the students and [her] fellow teachers,” adding that she “really love[s] the community here at MFS.”

For Corsey, the decision to leave, while not easy, was rooted in a desire for growth and change. 

“I didn’t want to not ever work or live any place else,” she said. “I wanted to experience a different school and someplace else besides New Jersey.”

When asked to describe a favorite moment at MFS, Corsey struggled to pick just one. 

Corsey recalled sitting outside with her class in spring during the hybrid school year of the COVID pandemic.

“It was when the grade that is graduating this year was in eighth grade,” she said. “We were just listening to a Bruno Mars song and everyone was just so happy — we were outside, there were no masks on, and [the students] were just so elated. It was just a really good vibe. I loved those people I was doing the event with — the eighth grade advisor and the kids, and it was after a year that was really tough for everyone,” Corsey said.

Corsey’s most meaningful lesson that she learned from MFS is what it “truly means to take care of students.” 

“I didn’t know I had that in me before,” she said. “But through Meeting for Worship, Quakerism, and the idea that every child has an inner light — I really embraced that. So for me, I learned how to be a good teacher and how to be really empathetic to students and to my colleagues, but especially to students.”

Maya Wohler ’26, who works with Corsey for a nonprofit organization that provides support for mothers undergoing breast cancer treatment called Inspiring Life Together (ILT), recalls Corsey’s touching influence both in and out of the classroom. 

“Ms. Corsey has influenced so many people in so many different aspects of school life — whether that’s through Inspiring Life Together or her work as an advisor or eighth grade bio teacher,” Wohler said. 

“She approaches everything she does with so much empathy and care,” Wohler continued. “It really comes through, whether that be when we’re doing volunteer work or how intentional she would be when she taught me for eighth-grade biology.”

Wohler also noted Corsey’s consistent support and willingness to help, which she first noticed in middle school. 

Wohler says that Corsey has been a “huge role model” for her.

“She’s always been there for the people who need her, and that kind of steady support she provides has inspired so much of my own personal journey,” Wohler said.

Tessa Haines ’26, student ambassador of ILT speaks more on the program as well as Ms. Corsey’s presence in her life. 

“There is a student based portion of the organization that Ms. Corsey helped to organize that brings students together to help make crafts and organize events to help these mothers.” 

Corsey asked Ella Lutz ’26 and Haines to be a part of that when they were in eighth grade, and as they have gotten older, they earned bigger leadership roles.

Haines continues saying, “Ms. Corsey has been such a role model not just for me but for everyone that knows her well. She’s always open to having hard conversations and she keeps us in check. Through ILT, she’s inspired me to care more about my community and play an active role in leadership. She’s a guiding light in my life and I’m going to miss her more than words can say next year. She is a rock for our whole community, and I can’t wait to see how she impacts another community,” Haines says. 

Current eighth-grade student of Corsey, Prem Vance-Harris ’29, added more kind words about Corsey.

“One thing I really admire about Ms. Corsey is that she values honesty,” Vance-Harris said. “If you ask her a question, she will give you a real answer, she doesn’t sugar coat things, and I appreciate that because I think it has helped me grow as a student.” 

Vance-Harris also noted Corsey’s uniquely thoughtful approach to teaching.

“She takes time to review material we’ve already learned and always answers our questions carefully to make sure every single person feels comfortable with the material in class,” Vance-Harris said.

Sanaa Rodwell-Simon ’28, first met Corsey in 7th grade through MFS’s Black Student Union and was in her advisory.

“She has always been just so kind and empathic, and I always enjoy the time I spend with her,” Rodwell-Simon said. “In eigth grade, I had her for science, and I also started volunteering with the organization she works with, Inspiring Life Together. She’s just a great person, like a second mother figure, almost. She’s such a kind person, but she can also laugh and have fun. I’m going to miss her next year.” 

Along with the students Corsey has connected with throughout her time at MFS, Corsey has impacted many of her peers. Jennifer Mosher, head of the science department, reflected on the deep impact Corsey has had on her and the department.

“Personally, she’s just really wise,” Mosher said. “Whenever I ask her for advice, she considers what I’m asking and has astute and useful things to say. She’s got a lot of wisdom accumulated and is really free with offering that, whether it’s about parenting or relationships or all sorts of things.”

Regarding Corsey’s presence in the science department, Mosher said, “As far as work goes, I think I’ve been really impressed with her care for her students and the amount that young women especially see her as a mentor. And also just her work-life balance is perfect. She’s growing a strong group of young scientists, and passing those along to us in the Upper School. She’s done some really great work with engineering by building a love for tinkering and designing.”

Mosher concluded by saying that Corsey has been continuously dedicated to making the science department the best it can be, and she is confident that Corsey will thrive in DC.