Spotlight: Notable Teachers
What qualities made a Lab School teacher stand out?
Part of what gave the Lab School its reputation as a superior place of learning was its teachers. Many of them held advanced degrees and taught college students in addition to Lab School students, and many of them enrolled their own children in the Lab School. This meant that the teachers were very knowledgeable and especially invested in the quality of education Lab School students received.
Today, alumni still talk about their former teachers and the positive ways in which they influenced their lives.
Martha J. Doemelt
Martha J. Doemelt is well-remembered as a lover of the arts, often singing, playing the piano, and incorporating art into almost every lesson or project. She also had a good handle on the students, holding “interventions” to help them learn about the importance of conflict-resolution. Doemelt was a firm believer in teaching “the whole child,” and for this reason, many students looked forward to having her for class. Doemelt taught in the Lab School from 1968-1974.
Donald Rogers
Donald Rogers is another name alums remember fondly. An instructor of science and math, he treated girls and boys equally, which was not very common at the time. Rogers taught in the Lab School from 1963-1974.
Virginia Tate
Virginia Tate is best known for her “bear hugs” and her light-up Christmas tree skirt. Every year, she wore this skirt to celebrate the holiday and spread Christmas cheer. Tate taught in the Lab School from 1952-1974.
Phillip Settle
Phillip Settle taught art at the Lab School. Many alumni remember him not just for his bow ties, but also for his gentle demeanor and his endless encouragement. Settle taught in the Lab School from 1957-1974.
Louise Murray
Louise Murray was an English teacher on the “cutting edge” of education. She had her students diagram sentences to help them learn about grammar. One former student explained that if it had not been for Murray’s teaching, she would not have pursued a writing career.Murray taught in the Lab School from 1951-1974.