As students and teachers return from their winter break, many prepare to face less than ideal circumstances due to the loss of multiple teachers at Robinson.

After the retirement of reading teacher Polly Demma and the resignation of mythology teacher Rachel Zwiselberger, Robinson administration had to scramble to find replacements. However, it was nothing compared to the situation they face now in the science department.

Sadije Redsovick, a physics and physical science teacher, resigned for a better paying job after the first quarter and was replaced by David Clark who had no previous teaching experience.

One of the students in Clark’s physics class, David Jean-Louis (’18), believes that Clark didn’t think the job was a good fit for him.

“He couldn’t control the class and he felt like the students didn’t want to be taught,” Jean-Louis said. “I guess he quit because he felt like the students didn’t respect him.”

Now, having gone through two teachers in one semester, physics students are left stranded with no guidance.

“We don’t really know what we’re doing in class,” Jean-Louis said. “We never really knew what we were doing.”

Laney Johansen (’18), an AP physics student, agrees that the loss of two teachers has had a negative impact on the class.

“We pretty much have had a sub all year,” Johansen said. “We had a teacher at the beginning of the year, and then a bunch of subs, and then Mr. Clark, and then now we have a sub again.”

Students suffered the consequences of not having a qualified teacher as they began to realize how little they have learned when it was time for the semester exam.

“Most of the class was completely unprepared for the exam and our class average was terrible,” Johansen said. “I think the whole situation has been extremely unfair.”

Students are waiting to see the impact this class will have on their grade point average and are desperate for a change.

Luck is not on Robinson’s side as administrators continue to search for a permanent replacement.

“The physics is a little bit harder [to fill than other positions] because that specialty is a lot harder to get,” Assistant Principal for Curriculum Jennifer Rosage said. “We are interviewing a gentleman this afternoon for physics… so we’ve had interest, just a smaller interest.”

Some students, however, feel that it might be too late even if a new teacher is hired immediately.

“Even if they do get a teacher, I don’t think anyone’s really going to want to try because this year has pretty much been ruined,” Johansen said.