by Silas Epstein ’23 Feature Writer

And now, for the article you have all been waiting for, the long-anticipated sequel to “The Scoop on Newark Academy’s Newest Upper School Members.” This year, we have welcomed Dr. Davis (Science) and welcomed back Ms. O’Connor (Math), a long-time NA substitute, to the Middle School community.

Can you give a brief bio of yourself? Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? How did you end up at NA?

Ms. O’Connor: I grew up in Mendham, and I went to Brown University. I trained Seeing Eye Dogs. It helped with teaching because kids are surprisingly like dogs. I have two lazy dogs outside of school, a puggle named Pumpkin (15) and a dachshund named Frankie (7). Ms. Morin brought me here; she’s my friend outside of school. 

Dr. Davis: I grew up in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. I went to college at Colby College, and I got my PhD from Columbia. I’ve been teaching for 20 years, but I taught remotely for the last year and a half because I also work as an oyster farmer. I was teaching for a school in Massachusetts while living in Rhode Island and working on an oyster and kelp farm. I have always been fascinated by oyster farming, and fell into it with this woman who was starting this farm in Rhode Island. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s great because oyster and kelp clean the water as they grow, so it’s really good for the environment. They’re also delicious. I was at a crossroads as to whether to go back to the classroom or continue oyster farming, so I accepted the job here.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from Ms. O’Connor and Dr. Davis, but a Seeing Eye Dog trainer and an oyster and kelp farmer were not it. I’m also not sure if I appreciate the comparison of children to dogs; my dog can’t even fetch a tennis ball and bring it back.

What’s your favorite band, artist, or genre of music?

Ms. O’Connor: My favorite band is the Softies. Their best album is “Holiday in Rhode Island”. They are very mellow and alternative and beautiful. I am very alternative.

Dr. Davis: I’m a big Eric Church fan. It’s southern rock. 

What’s in your fridge right now?

Ms. O’Connor: A big mess. I have four children with huge appetites.

Dr. Davis: Oat milk and cantaloupe — I need to go to the store. I’m not vegan; I’m just trying to be better about dairy. I’m not really a fan of oat milk, though; that’s why it’s still in my fridge.

What’s been your favorite SAGE meal so far?

Ms. O’Connor: I haven’t really tried a lot so far. I’ve mostly had the sandwich bar. My go-to is a sriracha mayo, pickle, and deli meat sandwich. I also like the salad bar.

Dr. Davis: The buffalo cauliflower, that was good. I’m a big cauliflower fan.

Buffalo cauliflower looks like a popular menu item this year: Mr. Grossen and Mr. He also named buffalo cauliflower as their favorite SAGE food so far.

What do you think of the NA community?

Ms. O’Connor: I’m so happy here! I love how the teachers care for the kids and the kids care for each other — it’s such a family unit feel.

Dr. Davis: I was impressed by it. I think the kids are very motivated but also very flexible.

What was your first impression of NA?

Ms. O’Connor: It was through Ms. Morin. I knew I was going to love it, and it came true.

Dr. Davis: The kids have a lot of fun, so it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.

If you had to choose a faculty member to be stuck on a deserted island with, who would it be and why?

Ms. O’Connor: Ms. Rice — because we’d do math problems all day. She’s fun and kind, and we get along very well.

Dr. Davis: That’s tough, I finally just figured out everyone’s names. Ms. Palmer — she strikes me as pretty fun.

Is water wet?

Ms. O’Connor: Most definitely, ‘cause it’s water. What else could it be?

Dr. Davis: Yes, it is a Newtonian fluid. So it flows, and it’s liquid.
 

Should I know what a Newtonian fluid is if I’m taking Physics?

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

Ms. O’Connor: Have children. No contest.

Dr. Davis: Have kids.

What are (some of) your hobbies?

Ms. O’Connor: Cooking, reading, running, hanging out with my children. I’m a homebody. I used to bake for Shanghai Jazz in Madison. My signature dish was my apple pie.

Dr. Davis: I have a lot of crazy hobbies. I am a pilot (10 years). I just really wanted to learn to fly. I also scuba dive (40 years), and play ice hockey (20 years).

To recap: Ms. O’Connor is a seeing eye dog trainer, baker, and teacher, and Dr. Davis is a scuba-certified pilot who plays ice hockey, farms kelp and oysters, and also has a PhD from Columbia. Wow.

What were you like in middle school/high school?

Ms. O’Connor: Quiet, very shy, very nerdy. I was a big math kid

Dr. Davis: I was very shy, nerdy, and quiet.

I would like to thank Ms. O’Connor and Dr. Davis for being so kind in dealing with some of my more ridiculous questions. It was nice to get to know them, and I wish them all the best in teaching the middle schoolers.