Love is in the air at Hockaday, especially for faculty couples who share not only a workplace, but also a home. While working at the same place can bring both benefits and challenges, each couple has found a way to balance their personal and professional lives on campus.
Middle School Math teachers Shane and Terry Bourek married in 1989. The two met at a dorm mixer at Texas A&M University and began working at Hockaday in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
Mr. Bourek began working at Hockaday first, while Mrs. Bourek decided to stay home after the birth of their second daughter and tutor students. Many of her students were Hockaday girls, and their enthusiasm and work ethic drew the Boureks to apply for positions at Hockaday. With both Boureks teaching at Hockaday and both their daughters eventually attending the school, working together became a time-saver for their family.
“For us, it was super easy because both of our daughters went to school here,” Mrs. Bourek said. “So, we started before they did, but then once they started coming, the whole family just got in the car and came to school.”
The Boureks have a well-established routine after more than 25 years of teaching together.
“Sometimes I have to wait on him,” Mrs. Bourek said. “Sometimes he has to wait on me, but we always have work to do. [at school]”
Their partnership also benefits their students academically. Mr. Bourek teaches sixth grade math, while Mrs. Bourek teaches seventh grade math, making a smooth transition as the two can easily discuss teaching strategies and how to meet the needs of their students.
“Sometimes if I have a kid that I’m worried about and I ask him, ‘How did she do last year?’ and then he says, ‘Oh, she just has to work really hard,’ then I know where we are,” Mrs. Bourek said. “But sometimes he’s like, ‘No, she had a great year last year,’ and then I know that it’s a seventh-grade thing.”
Ultimately, the Boureks have adapted well to their shared workspace, crediting their success to their mutual commitment to collaboration.
“I think we work well together and enjoy each other’s company,” Mr. Bourek said. “We have really similar philosophies, so that makes it a little easier.”
Across campus in Penson Gym, another couple brings their partnership to the classroom, or in their case, the mat. Jessica Glover serves as the self-defense instructor, while her husband of one year and three months, Joshua Glover, assists her during certain classes.
“I needed a person to help me teach the classes, especially the jiu-jitsu stuff, and it’s hard to get someone who could commit because of the hours, since I don’t need them all year,” Coach Glover said. “I wanted someone who actually knew fighting skills, so that narrowed it down to this guy [Mr. Glover].”
For the Glovers, working together is more than just convenience; it also allows them to share their students’ growth.
“A pro is that I get to spend time with him, and we get to watch the students get better and develop skills together,” Coach Glover said. “The big pro is we get to also have free lunch here together.”
While hiring married couples in the same classroom isn’t very common, Joshua’s flexible schedule and unique expertise made the pair a convincing hire.
“I basically volunteer time,” Mr. Glover said. “If Coach needs me to go, I’ll make sure I can go.”
However, not all couples share a classroom or gym.
Dr. Laura Leathers, the Eugene McDermott Head of School, and her husband, Middle School track and cross-country coach Kevin Leathers, rarely see each other on campus. The two met 12 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee, and have been married for almost 10 years now.
“It was my turn to step back and let her lead the way,” Coach Leathers said. “They just so happened to need a Middle School cross country and track coach, which I love to coach and teach, so it could not have worked out any better.”
Though the Leathers share a place of work, they work in separate divisions, resulting in rarely any crossover between the two.
“I would say maybe a pro and con is how our paths don’t cross a lot at work,” Dr. Leathers said. “He’s in his world over on the athletic side of campus, and I’m usually over here, so most days when he’s up here for work, I don’t even see him.”
However, both make it a point to support each other in their roles.
“It’s really been a great way for me, personally, to plug into the community and get to know faculty, students and parents, and be a part of the Hockaday community versus just being the head of school’s husband,” Coach Leathers said.
Regardless of division, role or proximity, each couple credits mutual support as the key to making a shared workplace relationship successful.
“We don’t see each other at work, but he’s willing to come to anything here, which was important to me when I took this job,” Dr. Leathers said. “The fact that he’s all in and will come with me to events makes it more fun.”
