Faculty Unscripted: Andy Eaton

customImage

Andy Eaton is a teacher and poet—his passion for encouraging students to wrestle with big ideas is inspiring.

What are your primary roles at MSA?

Teaching writing, rhetoric and literature classes, and other humanities electives, are my primary roles, while I also lead what we call the Humanities Certificate, a program where students can gain an added certificate at graduation acknowledging their significant accomplishments in areas of the arts and humanities. It is a program with a history here at Miller, and has recently gained a lot of renewed interest. Some of our members are publishing and performing at local and national levels, and others are going on to study arts and humanities at college level. It’s a very exciting time for these fields at Miller. 

What made you decide to work on the Hill? 

I was drawn to Miller, like so many, by the beautiful grounds; however, what made me decide to work on the Hill was the rich opportunities for students in all areas of life. To help guide and lead young people to articulate and locate their own knowledge requires certain amounts of freedom and certain amounts of structure. I saw a faculty and student body who has, in its core and its mission, that kind of balance, and the tenacity and resilience to walk that education out amidst its inherent tensions. 

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

Currently, I am supervising an independent study project on Emily Dickinson. Additionally, there have been several moments where students and parents have expressed gratitude at the diversity of writers we read in our English classes. I’m always grateful when students and families bring literature and writing closer into their lives through the work we do in the classroom. 

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

I’d be playing electric guitar in an instrumental rock band. On tour. On the weekends, or days home, I’d bake my way through 4000 years of bread-making history, while reading as though dough rose. 

Favorite aspect of working at a boarding school?

There’s a rich and complex dynamic resulting from working where someone lives. When I walk the halls of the boys’ dorm, for example, I’m always aware that this is their home while they are students. Even though my classroom, when I’m in the halls, I’m on their turf. I like that dichotomy, and I feel like respecting their spaces helps them respect the spaces where I might call the shots a bit more. 

Most memorable lesson learned from students at MSA?

You’re going to be okay. 

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

I love visiting the farm. Although we have many spaces–rooms, buildings– the farm is probably my favorite place we have at Miller. It reminds me of the connections between words and ideas, how what we do counts for who we are, and how understanding the way things are made adds to our growth. I always remind my students that the word “poem” comes from the same word for “made,” and the folks working our farm have made something truly beautiful.

Movie you have watched the most times in your life?

Home Alone

Dream trip? 

Voyage all around the world so that everywhere I was the conditions were autumnal. Also, Haiku, Hawaii.

Pets? 

My cocker spaniel, Bosco, lived to be 16 years old and was one of the deep joys I’ve known and remember. 

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

Become a teacher and a writer.