By TJ Hatchett

Merchant in the Academic Services office. Photo credit: TJ Hatchett.

Upper School math teacher Amy Merchant currently teaches Honors Geometry and Trigonometry, Algebra II, and AP BC Calculus. Before working at Collegiate, she taught in public schools for 23 years and had never imagined working in a private school. As her own children were going through school, Merchant realized she wanted a school for them that would offer a better education and a safer environment, so she applied to teach at Collegiate in 2010.

This winter, on January 9, Merchant slipped in the grass and felt sharp pain in her ankle. She rushed to OrthoVirginia’s Ortho On Call, where doctors took an x-ray of her ankle. The doctors came back and informed Merchant that she had a broken ankle.

How would Merchant continue to teach with a broken ankle? Other teachers were able to help and fill in when she missed some of her classes. Fellow Upper School math teacher Jan Rodgers lined up substitute teachers for Merchant’s classes and, according to Merchant, said to her, “Just take care of yourself and don’t worry about school.” The teachers who substituted Merchant’s classes were fellow Upper School math teachers Beth Ann Bell and Glenn Laferriere, as well as the recently retired David Bannard.

At home, Merchant and her family also had to make adjustments. Merchant’s favorite activity at home is walking her dog, and because of her ankle she wasn’t able to take her dogs on a walk, so her husband took on the task. Making meals became more difficult, but the math department at school generously gave her Doordash gift cards.

When Merchant returned after her time off, the Collegiate community was thrilled. The students were happy that they were able to go to her for extra help and have her teach again.