When William Shakespeare said, “Parting is is such sweet sorrow,” what could have been so sweet about it? After only four years at the Middle School, one of Benjamin’s most respected and well-liked teachers will be leaving in May. Ms. Mallory Gleason, who teaches Seventh-Grade Science and Seventh-Grade Scientific Innovation and Discovery, is reluctant to go, but her fiance, Brian, with whom she recently became engaged, just received a once-in-a-lifetime job offer in Chicago. Because the offer is too good to pass up, Gleason will be heading to the Windy City which, ironically, is her hometown.

“I am going to be closer to my family, but I will be leaving my friends and my first job,” said Gleason. “I was very upset because the move came sooner than we thought. I’m normally very confident and decisive, but I was back and forth about going for a few weeks while I weighed my options. In the end, I decided that Brian trumped all of those “little things” that I was worried about. Benjamin was a consideration. At the end of the day, it just came down to whether or not I wanted to be with Brian for the rest of my life. I think it’s apparent which decision I made.”

Many students don’t want to see her go. “[I’m] very sad about Ms. Gleason not returning next year,” said seventh grader Will Mahon. “She is always ready to teach, and she is always open to help us if we don’t understand the material being taught in class,” he said. Fellow seventh grader Madeline Hart added, “Ms. Gleason is great, and if my day was not going so well, I would just look forward to having science because it is very fun and we also learn a lot of things in the class.”

Students, however, are not the only ones who are upset about Ms. Gleason’s departure. “She is an outstanding person and an outstanding teacher,” said Science Department Chair Ms. Gabriele St. Martin. “As I got to know her, I had a deep respect for Ms. Gleason,” added Student Services Director Mrs. Susan Poncy. “I liked how she interacted with the students.”

Although Benjamin doesn’t want to see her go, Ms. Gleason is excited to begin this new chapter in her life. “I am looking forward to change,” she said. “I tend to be most on my ‘A game’ when something is new and I am having to constantly adapt. Having to figure things out like where stores are, what a new job is like, making new friends – it seems tedious, but in a way, the stress makes me feel more active.”

Ms. Gleason was very active in her short but impactful time at Benjamin. She helped grow the science program and inspired scores of students who were fortunate enough to have her as their teacher. She will be missed, but Benjamin wishes her and Brian the best of luck.