With the Milken community back on campus, one change is impossible to miss: the large number of new faculty members. Students and staff alike have noticed the surge of unfamiliar faces, leading to questions about why so many new teachers have joined and what this means for Milken’s future.
“Every year there are teachers who move on, but this year, on top of that, we had to hire more to cover the growing student body,” said Mr. Lindsay, Grade 11-12 Division Head. The result is one of the largest cohorts of new faculty Milken has ever seen in order to keep class sizes small and personal.
Mr. Lindsay stressed that the increase is not just a one-year shift, but part of long-term planning.
“When we move to the new campus at Milken East, we’re going to have to make sure we have enough teachers,” Mr. Lindsay said.
To assist the procedure of finding new teachers, Mr. Steven Bloom, the Dean of Faculty, oversaw the hiring process. Candidates taught model lessons, interviewed with division heads, and their applications were scrutinized by Milken administrators, division heads and even Head of School Dr. Sarah Shulkind.
This is not only to ensure that they meet the job requirements. Lindsay spoke a lot about making sure potential teachers click and embody the Milken vibe. Milken wants their teachers to be kind, enthusiastic, and embrace the core values of the school.
This year’s wave of new faculty has already begun to shape daily life at Milken. Mr. Eedan Shwartz, a new middle school social sciences teacher, joined the community as the new eighth grade American Studies teacher. He described his arrival at Milken as seamless.
“The families are welcoming, and the staff is supportive. It’s been a wonderful time so far,” said Mr. Shwartz.
In the high school, several departments welcomed new faces. One teacher from the English department quickly left an impression on both colleagues and students. “The second I met him, I knew he was a good fit,” said Mr. Lindsay.
Additionally, a new Division 9/10 English teacher, Ms. Kirsten Fulmer, has been praised for her ability to connect with students and bring fresh perspectives to her classes.
“In the interview, right away it was like, oh my gosh, she is what we are looking for,” said Mr. Lindsay.
For returning faculty, the arrival of so many new faces has been both exciting and eye-opening.
High school Biology teacher Dr. Kathy Shenassa admitted that learning so many new names can be a challenge, but she also emphasized the benefits.
“When you have a new teacher, you learn from each other. That’s the big takeaway,” she said.
Students, too, have been quick to reflect on the changes.
“I’m so happy that there are more faces, that more teachers are getting opportunities,” said Madi Frank ‘27.
According toTobin Negrin ‘28, the arrival of many new teachers impacts the school’s sense of community.
“It brings Kehillah. My experience has been very positive. It feels mostly the same because everyone’s always so kind and helpful,” Negrin said.
While the flood of fresh faces may take some getting used to, the energy, talent, and unique perspectives of these teachers will enrich the community for years to come.
“Yes, this is one of our biggest groups of new teachers,” said Mr. Lindsay. “And we feel like it’s probably one of our strongest groups yet.”