Wright, Math Chair and Coach, Retires
Upper School Math Department Chair Bruce Wright retired in June 2018 after a 44-year career, with the final 24 spent at Shore. Justly proud of the program that he helped shape, Wright says, “Math is a real area of strength for us.”
For many years, mathematics at Shore has maintained a strong reputation among secondary schools. When Shore students matriculate, they become leaders in their high school math classes. So much so, Wright explains, that on numerous occasions, “Prep schools have shared glowing reports about Shore students.” One well-known school in Massachusetts sent a letter to local public schools describing the mathematical foundations each potential applicant needs in order to achieve at their school; Shore students were cited as an example.
“Over the past nearly two-and-a-half decades at Shore,” Wright reflects, “I have been truly fortunate to have the amazing opportunity to work with fellow math experts Kent Vienot, Mardi Lowery, and Anneke Chang as part of our long-tenured team.” Together, the teachers focused on bringing the joy of mathematics to everything they did, and joy naturally built confidence. “As anyone who teaches middle school knows,” Wright says, “once there’s confidence, you can do anything; you can give kids, both boys and girls, almost any challenge, and they will rise to meet it.” The real goal of those challenges, explains Wright, has always been preparing students to be “thoughtful, deep-thinking mathematicians”—flexible problem-solvers who instinctively ask, “Why does this work?” Students’ “light bulb” moments of discovery, Wright admits, stand out as among the most satisfying memories of his time at Shore.
So, too, do recollections from his tenure as coach of the Girls Varsity Soccer team since its inception in 2001. “From the very beginning, seeing the eagerness in players’ eyes and their true dedication on the field has always jump-started each school year for me.” Shore athletes, observes Wright, have something special. “They are bright, coachable, and thirsty to improve. Each of my teams came together as a soccer unit, and as a band of sisters. Players elevated their game, worked hard to perfect techniques, and cheered each other on.” Wright inspired his teams to reach higher and to play with passion; in turn his players inspired him. “Their willpower and exuberance never failed to amaze me. Each squad exceeded my expectations in the way they improved as individuals and as a team, in the way they played with competitive and sportsmanlike spirit, and in the way they formed lasting bonds of friendship.”
As he retires, Wright is looking forward to adventures outside the classroom and beyond the sports fields. “It’s exciting not knowing where I’ll devote my energy,” he says. He has interests in hiking, birding, and history, especially the Civil War and World War II. He plans to travel to spend time with family that’s spread from Tennessee to the New York-Canadian border, and to volunteer with local charities. But, he admits, “Hiking is my passion. I cannot wait to hit the trails on those beautiful spring and fall days.”
Still, the mathematics teacher and soccer coach readily acknowledges that there are things he’ll miss about Shore. For one, his wife, Ellen, remains at Shore as a sixth and seventh grade English and language arts teacher and a beloved advisor to devoted middle school girls.
“Working with kids has been my greatest joy,” Wright continues, “not only in the classroom, but also out on the field as a coach. Shore does such a great job emphasizing the camaraderie among students, not to mention among the faculty and staff. The spirit and the cohesion are present every day, and they are hallmarks at Shore. I’ll miss being part of that.”
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Wright in his classroom
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Accepting a customized megaphone from his Varsity Girls Soccer team
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