In the morning I like to run and walk the dog. I arrive at assembly around 7:45, because I'm the class dean and I need to meet students as they come in, and take attendance.

I am a class dean in class II (grade 11), I will be with these students for the next two years. It's the class deans' responsibility, to set the tone for this class, to teach them about the expectations of the community, as it were; watching how they behave with each other, showing respect for the speakers at school-wide assemblies, checking what they wear to chapel, etc. But you can't be a hard all the time, you have to make sure they have fun, and they know you're listening to them.

I've been teaching math for 19 years, and this year I'm teaching pre-calculus and calculus. Most of my classes are in dialogue format, not lecture format, but you can't always avoid teaching at the board when math is your subject. I have classes of 13 students, which makes it easy to get to know the students well, and there are little moments at the end of class when you have time to get to know them even better. As a teacher you have to be good at reading body language. For instance I know which students are shy and can often tell by their eyes when they have a question, or didn't quite seem to understand the information

I love teaching, but I love to coach even more. I have always coached soccer and basketball. At Milton I coach boys' 1st soccer and girls' 1st basketball. Coaching provides another and different way to interact with the students, and I like helping them develop. It is important to me that I be part of something that students won't forget, even if it's much later in their lives.

Between dorm work, class work and coaching. I work 6 days a week. That's busy, but I feel worse when I have less to do, and I need to be involved in physical activity.

Mary Jo (Juan's wife and member of the modern language department) and I are on duty the same night of the week. When we're on duty we are responsible for study hall in the dorm which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wells Hansen (Classics Department) has a great handle on the freshman floor, where his residence is, so we spend most of our time on the third floor with the Class III students.

What's important in working with so many students is that you have to be fair. If the students sense that you are unfair, then you are in trouble. If you are fair, you can set high expectations. You can't be fake, you have to be yourself. At 9:30 I head downstairs for check-in. Staggered bedtimes, starting with the freshman, begin at 10:30.