Relationships are the beating heart of Rowland Hall. Most are educational in nature, some are professional—and quite a few are downright romantic.

Yes, that’s right: there are multiple love stories on display every day on campus, and some of these relationships are more than passing notes and making plans for prom. Below, we highlight a handful of Rowland Hall couples—all of whom also work for the school—in long-term relationships.

Relationships matter. Maybe that’s why we see so many great, long-standing relationships in our community every day—and new ones forming all the time.

Rob and Susanna Mellor have spent 12 years of their married life at Rowland Hall, with Rob teaching art in the Upper School and Susanna teaching first grade in the Lower School. Working at the same school has helped them navigate their busy lives with two growing boys. “It’s great for all of us to be on the same schedule,” said Susanna. “It’s super convenient. This has been a perfect place to raise the boys up.”

The calendar is one perk Rowland Hall couples agree on. Having a friendly face in the workplace is another. Director of Capital Giving Jij de Jesus makes sure to time his lunch every day to coincide with when his wife, Claire Shepley, is having recess with her 4PreK students. “I walk outside, and I see Claire. It’s lovely,” Jij said. “Of course, then I have to explain to her students who I am and why I’m talking to her. Her students kind of know who I am, but they need reminding.”

Collin and Anna Wolfe love the fact they both get to work with the same students at different points in their academic development. “My seventh-grade students had Collin for PE at the Lower School, so they know who he is and it's fun to hear their stories,” Anna said. “When we were both teaching from home last year, my science students would hear his class going on in the background and tell me they would rather be joining his class than talking about convergent plate boundaries in their plate tectonics lesson.”

Andrea Hoffman ’05 and Chris Felt ’06 first met as students in their physics class at Rowland Hall in 2004. Eighteen years later, they are loving working together in a place that is special to them. “I started here first, as the school nurse, and I was bummed that Chris wasn’t here,” said Andrea. “Rowland Hall is as much his as it is mine.”

Chris started work in the business office last fall. Since then, the pair have started checking in throughout the day, sharing lunch dates, and sometimes surprising parents and coworkers. “Some people still don’t know that we’re married,” said Chris. “It’s fun to shock people with that realization.”

Dan and Rebecca Jones are also happy to let everyone know their relationship status. “It makes me look good,” said Dan, who teaches ninth-grade history. “People meet me after meeting her and say, ‘Oh, you’re Rebecca’s husband.’ Then they give me more credit."

Rebecca, who tends the front desk at the Beginning School, sees the bond to Rowland Hall as more of a family affair, since all three of their boys are currently students. “We love the community. It’s very family friendly,” she said. “I love feeling known, and that everyone is looking out for my kids and each other’s kids.”

It’s a sentiment Susanna echoed. “We’re in a place that we value and values us,” she said. “We are appreciated not just as teachers but as humans.”

Relationships matter, whether they are between a husband and wife, a parent and child, or a teacher and student. Everyone needs to be in a healthy environment to grow and thrive. Maybe that’s why we see so many great, long-standing relationships in our community every day—and new ones forming all the time. They truly are the heart of the school.

People