By David Boyle
Gargoyle co-editor-in-chief
Published Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, Gargoyle, news

Elizabeth Jockusch, now in her 26th year of teaching math at Uni, announced at Friday's faculty meeting that she plans to retire at the end of the 2005-06 school year.

“Full-time teaching is very demanding, and I find that I no longer have the energy I used to have,” Jockusch explained to the Gargoyle. “My husband has been retired for two years now. We both enjoy traveling and are looking forward to having the leisure time to do more of that.”

Jockusch, a graduate of Swarthmore College, arrived at Uni in 1976. Except for a span from 1980 to 1984, she has taught here ever since. Although she began her Uni career teaching algebra, it's her time as a calculus teacher that have made her legendary among students and parents. Indeed, regardless of the course, her impact as a teacher has usually lasted far beyond Uni.

“Ask any former Uni kid who had her courses, who took math in college, and they will say, ‘She prepared me far better than many teachers, and I knew math as other kids didn't,' ” said Assistant Director Sue Kovacs, whose daughter Stephi was one of Jockusch's algebra students. “The kids who have her and go on to do engineering are advanced placed immediately; the downside is it is a very rigorous course. The benefits of the course over the years have been phenomenal.”

Craig Russell, the head of Uni's math department, has found that replacing Jockusch might be as arduous as one of her tests.

“She has really become a mainstay of the math program,” said Russell. “Calculus was taught before she came, and it will continue to be taught. … It won't be the same, of course.”

Russell finds that he has learned from Jockusch in the eight years he has worked with her.
“She has a good perspective on how to reach students,” he remarked. “She often had some really good insights that I've always appreciated.”

For her part, Jockusch believes that it is the people she will miss the most at Uni: “I love the actual teaching part of my job most — being in class with students, getting to know them. I will also miss my colleagues who have become my good friends.”

Jockusch said it remains possible she would consider teaching in a limited role as English teacher Rosemary Laughlin does. (Laughlin retired after the 2002-03 school year but returned to teach subfreshmen part time.)

“It will be difficult to leave Uni after so long,” Jockusch said.

She also promises many happy returns to all of her fans: “I will miss you all. I am sure I will drop in occasionally.”