Faculty Unscripted: Ethan Troyer

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Ethan Troyer teaches history at MSA.

What are your primary roles at MSA?

At Miller, I teach 9th grade Virginia History, 10th grade World History, and co-teach 8th grade Humanities.

What made you decide to live and work on the Hill? 

I love the idea that education is more than just reading from a textbook, listening to a lecture, and taking a test. Our students are challenged to go beyond memorization and instead to create and take control of their own learning. 

Most memorable teaching, coaching, or student-life experience? 

There is something special about working at a boarding school; so many of my most memorable moments have come outside of the classroom. Most recently, I think attending an historical themed escape room with 8 students was very memorable.

If you were not an educator, what would you be?

I would love to be working with an archaeological dig somewhere in the Mediterranean. If not there, then in a museum. 

Favorite aspect of working at a boarding school?

I have lived and worked at a boarding school for most of my adult life now. The community that is created between the faculty and the students is something that you can’t experience anywhere else. We are able to see each other as human beings and not just as a student and teacher. 

Most memorable lesson learned from students at MSA?

I am constantly reminded that all of our students learn differently; what may work for one will not work for another. This makes me stay on top of my game with how I construct a class. Our students are brilliant, they often need a creative way to express that.

Favorite place to go or thing to do on MSA’s 1,600-acre campus?

Recently it has been the Creekside Disc Golf course. From playing to helping construct it, the time has been enjoyable. 

Movie you have watched the most times in your life?

I’d venture a guess and say Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 

Dream trip? 

I would love to vacation in Thailand. My grandma is from there and my mom was born there before moving to the US at a young age. Going there would feel like connecting to my roots. 

Pets? 

I currently do not have any pets. When I was younger I had a cat named Po, after the Teletubby, and a dog named Oliver. 

What did you want to do when you grew up (when you were in high school)? 

Growing up, I was obsessed with a TV show called Bones. It was about a forensic anthropologist who worked with the FBI to solve murders; a forensic anthropologist is someone who studies skeletons to help solve crimes. That show inspired me to get my undergraduate degree in Anthropology because I wanted to become a forensic anthropologist.