Deborah Bruvik will be retiring this year after 26 years of teaching at MFS. This came from an announcement made on February 19 by Head of School Julia de la Torre.
Bruvik is a beloved science teacher who helped create and run several well-known programs at MFS, including Science Olympiad, the seventh-grade Quest program, and Intensive Learning trips focused on environmental awareness.
When Bruvik was asked what she was most proud of when it came to her time at MFS she said, “I hope the thing that I’ve done is to encourage kids to feel unique and special and really comfortable in their own shoes.”
Many of her colleagues say she fostered a learning environment that challenged her students in appropriate ways but with a warmth unique to her style of teaching.
“She’s always really loved her students and wanted to build a tight bond with them,” Jennifer Mosher, Upper School physics teacher, reflected. She and Bruvik are close friends.
Mosher described how welcoming Bruvik was when Mosher first came to MFS.
“I remember the very first summer I came, she helped clean up my classroom, and she brought me lunch, and was always really kind and supportive,” she said.
Bruvik’s kindness and constant fostering of an affectionate environment are what Mosher believes she will be remembered for the most once she leaves.
Evan Haine-Roberts, former Middle School Director and current Director of Enrollment, said Bruvik’s lasting impact on MFS is “[understanding the] balance between rigorous curriculum expectations and a supportive growth mindset demeanor in terms of how we support kids.”
Bruvik has helped in creating and prioritizing model sciences in classrooms. This version of teaching shows students what they’re learning through labs and other processes rather than being told about it.
“I think she’ll be remembered as an absolute favorite, trusted colleague. I think she’ll be remembered by kids as a great, generous, supportive teacher whose class they loved and learned in,” said Haine-Roberts.
“I think she is by far one of the nicest and most outgoing teachers,” said Hudson Zauber ’29, a former student of Bruvik’s and member of the Science Olympiad class in middle school.
Zauber recalled when Bruvik noticed his interest in engineering and recommended that he join the Science Olympiad class. He also said that she helped him become more patient when working on frustrating projects in class.
Bruvik said that once she retires she wants to spend more time dedicated to her and her husband’s dog sitting business. She said she has a real passion for animals, as shown through the many she has had in her classroom, and wants to spend more time with animals.
Bruvik said, “I hope that’s the biggest thing that I’ve done, is to impact kids in general, to [make them] feel good about who they are and appreciate their specialties.”
