By Sam Hurst

Collegiate School has seen its share of changes in the past few years, from updates to the dress code to reviving the beloved Community Chest. Yet one of the most exciting transformations has been the addition of fresh faces to our community. Enter Leigh Glatt, a Richmond native with a love for teaching and a background in both competitive horseback riding and the world of New York’s acting scene. As a new Upper School English teacher, she brings a special blend of experiences and a warm, creative spirit to our school.

Glatt in nature at 5 years old.

Glatt had a distinctive upbringing in Goochland County and had a much different experience than her peers, attending St. Catherine’s but commuting from the countryside. This difference set her apart from her classmates, as she was immersed in nature, animals, and rural life from a young age. She shared with me that “her childhood was spent largely with a lot of freedom,” and how at one time she had “three dogs, four horses, eighteen bunnies, and five cats.”  

Glatt seen jumping her horse “Forgiven” at Keswick Horse Show (1998).

Her passion for horseback riding was evident early on, as she remembered being “self-motivated as a kid to compete.” With the privilege of having stables in her backyard, she was able to train extensively, and, eventually, her training paid off as she progressed from competing at the state level to participating in national competitions. Her riding took her “from Long Island to Florida.” As she got older, Glatt shifted her passion for horseback riding toward another interest: theater.

During her time at St. Catherine’s, Glatt also had a profound love for the performing arts, particularly theater. Her mother, an actor herself, introduced Glatt to the arts. Feeling “exhilarated while on stage and loving singing,” Glatt took on her first role as the Cheshire Cat in her school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Additionally, she was an active member of the school choir.

During her high school years, she participated in each year’s school plays, and her pursuit of her dream to perform professionally led her to the University of Virginia (UVA).

At UVA, she studied drama, and between her senior year of high school and freshman year of college she studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Oxford, UK, which she referred to as “a magical experience.” During her time there, she had the privilege of learning from some of the finest classical actors, an experience that was immensely valuable and one that she cherished and enjoyed immensely.

Glatt in her senior year of high school starring in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen.

The next summer, Glatt expressed her eagerness to “try all aspects of acting” and chose to venture into the world of on-camera performance. Her pursuit took her to New York, where she joined a program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts that opened her eyes to the city and made her “fall in love” with it. During her time there, she secured a talent agent, a decisive moment that led her to make the daring decision to defer her second year at UVA and pursue a career in acting, choosing to stay in New York and wait tables at night.

Juggling between UVA and New York, she often felt like she was “in two places at once,” pursuing her studies while actively engaging with her agent. This unconventional path allowed her to graduate from UVA in only three years instead of the traditional four, as she remained committed to her acting career.

Glatt had success in her acting career, getting cast for roles in national TV commercials for well-known brands such as Time Warner Cable, the Sci-Fi Channel, and Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, she made appearances in the soap opera As the World Turns as a babysitter and was seen on Master Chef in 2010. 

While working in New York, Glatt met her future husband, Greg, and got married. She “always wanted to have a family,” and after getting married and having a daughter, the Glatts moved back to Richmond. Glatt contemplated continuing acting but also longed for something more stable that she was “equally passionate about” and that allowed her to be a “pillar at home for her kids.” St. Catherine’s contacted her to direct their school’s one-act play. She hastily took the opportunity and used her prior acting skills to work on directing. During her time at St. Catherine’s, she said, “The children were so much fun to work with,” and she found the experience thrilling and rewarding. This opportunity sparked her passion for teaching and prompted her to pursue a career in education. To prepare for this new career path, she headed to the University of Richmond, where she received her teaching license. 

In 2018, Glatt began teaching at Deep Run High School, where she assumed a long-term substitute role and became involved in the drama program. During her time there, she was met with “larger class sizes, diverse student needs, and a wide range of diversity.” After Deep Run, she taught at Maggie Walker Governor’s School for four years. Here, Glatt led and directed through their drama department and also taught English to 9th and 10th graders.

Glatt described her decision to teach at Collegiate a “no-brainer” and was “blown away” by Collegiate’s copious resources, welcoming community, supportive counseling department, advisory programs encouraging mentoring and relationships, as well as a strong focus on health and wellness. This year, she is teaching three freshman English classes and a junior/senior poetry-intensive course.

When Glatt isn’t in the classroom, she leads an active and health-conscious lifestyle, striving to “move as much as possible” and spending time with her family. She enjoys “competitive game nights,” listening to music, and watching her two children’s sporting events. 

All photos courtesy of Leigh Glatt.