Faculty Tribute: Elizabeth Buckles

          I first met Mrs. Buckles through Zoom in the fall of 2020. Seven months into the pandemic, I had grown accustomed to the monotonous nature of online classes. The new online medium, however, didn’t stand a chance against my first Lawrenceville English teacher, Mrs. Buckles, who burst into my life with an unprecedented amount of zeal, humor, and eloquence.
          
          Mrs. Buckles’ B-Period II Form English class turned out to be one of the more  formative experiences of my life. Mrs. Buckles mastered a balance of care and counsel, simultaneously nurturing her students and respecting them enough to tell them when they ’re wrong. She took the time to reread and regrade each essay we wrote, referring to a list of over 200 rules titled “Conventions of Composition” and leaving notes that detailed the areas we should revise. Mrs. Buckles doled out plenty of reading and grammar quizzes, but she just as frequently threw out anecdotes and jokes.

          Mrs. Buckles didn’t just teach grammar rules and how to use the English language with the precision of a surgeon. True, her hatred of the overused to-be verbs and “like” will remain ingrained in the front of my mind. However, her most valuable lesson, and one of her maxims, taught me to never take myself too seriously. By adhering to this proverb, Mrs. Buckles created a c lassroom environment where students could discuss song lyrics in tandem with The Odyssey or put on Cyclops and alien Zoom filters when the mood got low, and laughter could lend itself to learning. Life must carry some triviality now and then—and I am proud to take into the world that lesson from Mrs. Buckles. 

          Mrs. Buckles, on behalf of all of your students, thank you! For your wit, the laughs you brought, you introducing me to Much Ado About Nothing (1993), your genuine smiles and greetings whenever you see me in the halls, and for pushing me as a writer. Good luck on your next adventures, and remember that you are truly the G.O.A.T.