Filling in the Blanks with Jen Faber

This year, we welcomed 24 new faculty and staff members to campus. From Lower School specials teachers to support and advancement staff to a handful of Middle School and Upper School teachers, there has been no shortage of new friendly faces on campus. We sat down with one of these new faculty members, Upper School history teacher Jen Faber, to get to know her a little better…fill-in-the-blank style. 

I came to Country Day because... 
I taught history and coached soccer at Seven Hills for 13 years, so I was well aware of Country Day and the quality of the programs and people here. So when I saw a history position was open here, I knew I wanted to pursue the opportunity. After visiting the school for my interview, I absolutely had to work here.  

My favorite thing about this community is... 
the cross-divisional collaboration and unity between the students, faculty, and staff. This place feels like a true community. It's evident in the service activities, attendance at sporting events, and the friendly support I've felt from colleagues. The first thing that caught my eye, even during my interview, was the warm relationships between the faculty and students.  

I get out of bed every day and teach history because... 
the classroom is an opportunity to allow students to explore the past and apply those lessons to our current environment. I've always loved teaching history, but now more than ever, given our polarized political environment and the civic responsibilities facing our youth, history is an essential subject. The lessons a student learns in a history class can extend well beyond the classroom – it's there in books, film, and the landscape, and I encourage students to explore and make meaning of these things.   

My favorite time period to teach is... 
the recent past, especially post-WWII. The music is incredible and fun to teach!  

Outside of work, you can find me... 
traveling, at Reds games with my sons, camping, somewhere in the wilderness. I love to travel, camp, hike, and visit baseball stadiums across the country with my son, Will. We love the Reds. No matter how bad they may be every year, we stay strong! I also own a 1971 Volkswagen bus that I use to travel around the country. I always meet so many different and interesting people when I travel in it. I took a solo trip to Poland and Israel a few years ago. I planned the whole thing myself – no travel group or guide for me! I hiked to Masada, an ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, to watch the sunrise. I visited historical sites and met so many interesting people from all walks of life.