Biology and Anatomy Teacher Jack Warren is Blue Ridge School’s 2020 Golden Apple Award recipient for excellence in teaching. Criteria for nomination include characteristics such as challenging students to reach high standards and expectations, stimulating thought and provoking student dialogue, and understanding the needs of students and meeting those needs with determination, enthusiasm, and imagination.
Blue Ridge School Dean of Faculty and Academics Peter Bonds says, “Jack does an admirable job of keeping students at the center of his teaching. He is continually creating interesting and engaging lessons, units, labs, and projects that teach essential biology content while also allowing students to develop vital 21st-century skills. Jack sets high expectations for his students and he holds them accountable for meeting those while also being incredibly supportive. Jack encourages students to take real ownership of their work and of their learning. His passion for teaching is evident every time you walk in his classroom.”
In addition to teaching biology and anatomy, Warren is an assistant coach for indoor soccer and a leader in the School’s Outdoor Program. He is also the faculty sponsor of the BRS Science Club.
Warren says most teachers are not in the job for the recognition, but it is welcome. “A lot of the work teachers do is ‘in the trenches’ and much of it goes unnoticed. I think most teachers are aware of this, yet do the work at their highest capabilities anyway because the work is inherently rewarding. I certainly find the work inherently rewarding. That being said, when that work is noticed by others it is greatly appreciated and quite humbling.”
“I don’t think I’d be the teacher I am now if I wasn’t teaching at a boarding school with small classes,” says Warren, who taught at Fessenden School prior to joining Blue Ridge. “I have been told before that 70% of your curriculum walks through the door on the first day of school. Genuinely knowing your students is the most informing piece of knowledge towards building an authentic curriculum. I wouldn’t be able to strike the right balance between challenging students and supporting them if I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to get to know them as well as I do.”
The Golden Apple Award is presented to faculty members from the greater Charlottesville area, as well as schools, such as Blue Ridge, that are members of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.
Warren is a magna cum laude graduate of Colgate University with a BA in molecular biology. He is pursuing a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.
