Westridge’s faculty has many one-of-a-kind traditions and unique characteristics that are often kept unseen behind their office doors. Spyglass explored what each office community is like and what makes each one special. Read more to find out which office has a bathroom stocked with lotions and hair products or which office proudly displays a poster of Armenian kings that they judge on “hotness”.

Foreign Languages Office

Fang-Yu Hull (Middle and Upper School Mandarin Chinese), Lily Shang (Middle and Upper School Mandarin Chinese), Diane Pintabone (Middle and Upper School Latin), Hilary Eichelberger (Upper School Latin)

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Katie S.

(Left to Right) Ms. Shang and Ms. Hull chat at their desks. “I just want to say we are the best [office] and we accept challenges,” Ms. Hull joked.

History Office

Jennifer Marcus, Sandy de Grijs, Bill Harrison, Willa Greenstone, Melissa Kelley (all are Upper School History teachers)

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Katie S.

Ms. Marcus works at her desk, surrounded by various papers. Sometimes on Fridays, Ms. Marcus buys tamales at Jones coffee shop to take into the office.

Inside A Conversation:

Sandy de Grijs: It’s hard to decide which one is the hottest Armenian king and I mean there are many choices available

Jennifer Marcus: I think Tigran is definitely the hottest.

SG: You think?

JM: The others are hard to see under their facial hair.

Laughs

JM: I mean Haik looks very masculine, if you’re into that kind of genre.

English Office

Molly Yurchak, Jessica Bremmer, Edward Raines, Tarra Stevenson, Katie Wei (all are Upper School English teachers)

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Katie S.

If any student, faculty member, or person at Westridge needs a handmaid costume, the English office has them covered. They store away a handmaid costume because “the handmaid is always telling her tale,” explained Dr. Bremmer.

Fun Facts: 

1. For Christmas Mr. Raines bought himself a pair of earmuffs–he then brought them into the office to show everyone.

2. Every year the English office wears colorful Christmas pins for the holiday season.

PE Office

Allison Clark (PE teacher and Westridge Alum ’07), Karen Hanselman (Lower and Middle School PE)

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Katie S.

Hanging above the entrance to the PE office is Coach Karen and Coach Allison’s basketball hoop. Their office always likes having a competition every now and then. Some students joke that if there’s a zombie apocalypse, the PE office is the place to go with a kitchen stocked up and a fully functioning bathroom.

Inside A Conversation:

(When told the other offices think they’re the best)

Karen Hanselman: Do they have a pool table? I don’t think so.

Allison Clark: Do they have our winning personalities? I don’t think so.

KH: Do they have an emotional support system with five students in here at any given time?

AC: No. I don’t think so and they’re probably happier for it… You know… I used to say that we were the best [office], but I’m gonna say the History department is probably the best. Starts laughing

KH: Whattt!?

AC: Sorry Karen.

KH: No that’s true, they’re pretty slamming.

Admissions Office

Sarah Jallo (Director of Admission and Enrollment Management), Margaret Shoemaker (Associate Director of Admission and Enrollment Management), Sha’trece Slaughter (Admission Associate and Westridge Alum ’10)

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Katie S.

(From left to right) Ms. Shoemaker, Ms. Slaughter, and Ms. Jallo happily pose on the coach at the front of their office. They meet every student who passes through Westridge. In turn, “We get emotionally invested in these girls and their families. Ultimately what happens is they forget who we are. We know every kid’s name on this campus and 70% of them couldn’t tell you who we are,” Ms. Jallo joked.

Math Office

Joe Busch, Leah Dahl, Grant Wood, Andrew Zhou, Eric Libicki, Daniel Calmeyer (all are Upper School Math teachers)

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Katie S.

Situated in the Math Office are two jars of candy--placed there by Mr. Libicki. Several students will stop by the Math Office not just for math help but also for a handful of candy.

Art Office (Ceramics Studio)

Lorri Deyer (Middle and Upper School Art), Juanita Jimenez (Upper School Art)

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Katie S.

Ms. Lorri talks with a student and helps answer their question. Her desk is near the front of the office while Juanita’s lies more near the back. “Everyone says [our office] is so small, but I say just imagine you’re on a boat, then it’s not so small,” said Ms. Lorri. “I would have loved to have a bigger office so that we could have more art teachers together,” commented Juanita.

Science Office

Laura Hatchman, Ryan Skophammer, Brooke Surin, Tina Singh, Aaron Eichelberger, Edye Udell (all are Upper School Science teachers)

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Katie S.

As a Science Office, the faculty members often discuss science-related topics or developments. “Recently we talked about vitamins and how Vitamin B can ward off mosquitos. So we’ll bring up articles and stuff that we’ve seen,” explained Ms. Surin.

Old Tradition:

Before Ms. Coker switched to her new job in Student Activities, she and Ms. Hatchman would have calendar wars. The goal was to turn to the new month before the other–then brag about it.

Pitcairn Office

Bottom Floor: Danica Bourgault (Business Office Coordinator), Kim Cota (Controller), Liz Jin (Assistant Controller)

Top Floor, Office 1: Kim Kerscher (Director of Marketing and Communications)

Top Floor, Office 2: Emma Pell (Communications Associate), Samantha Chaffin (Webmaster and Online Content Manager)

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Katie S.

Ms. Pell (left) and Ms. Chaffin (right) discuss the Surgere magazine. Ms. Pell and Ms. Chaffin share a strong passion for musical theatre, and they often channel that passion into discussions about various musical productions and shows. “We make weird off handed musical theatre references in conversations and we’re the only two people who would get it in a group meeting,” explained Ms. Chaffin.

Their Bathroom:

One of the Pitcairn Office’s best kept secrets is their office bathroom. They all bring in various products including lotions, hair spray, dry shampoo, and bobby pins. “We bring in all kinds of stuff that only in a building of all-women would you have it. It’s basically everything you have at home. I do enjoy our bathroom,” commented Ms. Pell.

Middle School Office (History and English)

Gigi Bizar (Middle School History), John Cross (Middle School English), Jennifer Irish (Middle School History), Masami Hansen (Middle School English and Spyglass Faculty Advisor)

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Katie S.

Ms. Bizar (left) playfully wiggles a pig squishy on her finger in front of Mr. Cross (right). Sometimes clashes occur between the organized and the disorganized office members. One time, Ms. Bizar and Mr. Cross left an old bicycle in the office for a club event. Ms. Irish and Mrs. Hansen then barricaded that bicycle and, jokingly posing in front of it, took a picture to send.