BTFF - Best Teacher Friendships Forever

The Upper School hallways are always filled with conversation between friends and classmates, but some of the best friendships found in Holton are teacher friendships. Favorite teacher duos can be spotted sitting together at lunch, chatting in the halls and even bonding off campus. These friendships are so iconic that you rarely see one without the other. 

One of the most quintessential teacher friendships is the bond between upper school Spanish teacher Diego Bautista-Melero and upper school Chemistry teacher Tiffany Reddinger. Over their 22-year friendship, Reddinger shared that her favorite aspects of their friendship include “[each other’s] sense of humor” and their continuous pushing of each other to grow. The duo shared that despite their “political differences,” they focus on the numerous features they have in common. Together, they encourage students to do the same by putting differences aside and becoming “best of friends” with people who have different perspectives.

While some teacher friendships stem from years of shared experiences, others come from a sense of inspiration. For Grade 12 Dean Shay Squeglia and History and Social Sciences Department Chair Louisa Nill, their connection blossomed from a shared sense of style. Nill recalled, “One day, I got up the nerve to tell Ms. Squeglia that when she got dressed in the morning, I would ask myself, 'Is this something Shay would wear?’ And if not, I would change. That was the beginning of our gorgeous friendship.” 

Teacher friendships also offer support during challenging moments. When asked about the importance of his close bond with Computer Science teacher Joseph Rivera, Computer Science Department Chair Tucker Sowers explained, “When things are challenging, it’s important to have a friend…to listen, to play a game, or just help put things in perspective.” He noted that he finds a special companionship in both Rivera and upper school Pure and Applied Science teacher Patty Carver as they support each other in and out of the classroom.