Isabelle Buhler always puts children first.

In her 26 years at Rowland Hall's Beginning School, Isabelle has led with kindness, empathy, and the steadfast belief that children, no matter their age, are capable of doing hard things and accomplishing great things. Over the years, she has taught every level from 2PreK to kindergarten, but she is ending her tenure at the school with the four-year-olds—an age group she has come to deeply love and appreciate.

Isabelle lights up when she talks about the transformation she sees in her students throughout the year. “This is really when the kids become learners. They hear about being engineers and writers and authors and mathematicians and artists and scientists, and all this becomes alive with the children,” she said. “They talk with a lot of confidence about what they know how to do and what they are learning.”

The 4PreK curriculum holds a special place in Isabelle’s heart because of how well it supports these emerging learners. This is the year when students begin sounding out words, using inventive spelling, and building their identities as writers and builders.

This curriculum has so much richness. There are not many schools in the country that value the work of preschoolers like we do.—Isabelle Buhler, 3PreK lead teacher

One of the hallmark projects, the pumpkin study, spans the entire year. Students grow and harvest pumpkins in the fall, study all aspects of the gourds, including watching them decay in the winter months, and, in the spring, plant seeds for the next class of learners.

“This curriculum has so much richness,” she said. “We are lucky at Rowland Hall that this work is valued. There are not many schools in the country that value the work of preschoolers like we do.”

Isabelle’s personality makes her uniquely suited to teaching four-year-olds. She strikes a rare balance of comfort and control: she’s able to guide a group of energetic, overtired children with patience and care, and then sit down next to one to soothe them to sleep at naptime. She is both a no-nonsense leader and a soft place to land.

“She is one of the best preschool teachers I have ever known. She manages to hold really high standards for kids; that makes them feel good,” said Beginning School Principal Emma Wellman. “But she also delights in their silliness and their jokey four- and five-year-oldness, and it’s very common to get one or the other. But to have them both in such balance is a really special thing.”

While the children are Isabelle’s top priority, they are not the only beneficiaries of her deeds and actions. She also made sure to take care of their parents. After all, kids cannot thrive if their parents don’t, and as anyone who has ever raised a child can tell you, the early years can be rough. There are lots of books available, but the practical advice is what matters most.

“She has helped coach so many parents through those moments that are often really tricky for them, in a way that is supportive of the frazzled nature that is young parenthood,” said Beginning School and Lower School Assistant Principal Brittney Hansen. “She talked to them about practical things like sleep and nutrition, and are you building routines for your morning to help your children get to school and be successful. She did that work beautifully year after year after year.”

She has helped coach so many parents through those moments that are often really tricky for them, in a way that is supportive of the frazzled nature that is young parenthood.—Brittney Hansen, Beginning School and Lower School assistant principal

Isabelle made a point of making everyone feel supported and seen, including her colleagues. She loved being a part of the Rowland Hall team, reveled in their victories, and supported them in the hard times. She served as the first ombudsperson for the Beginning School when the program opened, and always had her finger on the pulse of the faculty and staff in the building.

“She was extremely candid. Not gossiping, always with the best of intentions,” said former Beginning School Principal Carol Blackwell. “She would always be positive but would bring me issues that other faculty didn’t feel comfortable bringing to me, always with the intent to make the school better.”

The best way towards improvement is learning, and in her career, Isabelle was a constant learner. She sought out what was new and what she could be doing differently. She also wanted to improve the school as a whole and served on too many committees to count, including the one that designed the Beginning School on the McCarthey Campus.

“She really helped make the Beginning School cohesive,” said Carol. “That’s someone who helps build the fabric of your division.”

Perhaps the best example of Isabelle as a teacher and leader happened during the COVID pandemic. Young children are notoriously sticky and touchy. That’s not a good thing with germs around. But Isabelle had one goal in mind: to keep things as normal as possible.

“They needed to be at school. That was safe for them,” she said, “We had them change their masks quite often because it was disgusting. But soon they forgot they had them on, and they never got sick and never missed a day of school.”

Isabelle is more than learning and compassion. She also has a mischievous side, which makes her colleagues feel deeply loved. When former 4PreK teacher Kate Nevins had a significant birthday, she had a sign made for “elderly parking.” And she made Principal Emma Wellman feel welcome in her first year by sending photos of teachers “napping” and “leaving” during the school day when Emma was at a conference.

“It meant a lot to me. She knew me well enough to know that I would find that hilarious and took the time to connect with me,” said Emma. “She only does that for people she respects and loves. So it’s a gift if you get that.”

I will always be a part of this school.—Isabelle Buhler

Isabelle has already left Rowland Hall. She had to, because she puts children first. In this case, it’s her grandson Luke, who was born late last year and needs the attention only a grandmother can give. She is now in Alaska, caring for him. However, that doesn’t mean she has forgotten her students at Rowland Hall. She is now doing Zoom talks with them and introducing them to Luke. She also promises she will be back.

“I am not leaving forever and ever. I am retiring as a full-time teacher, but I will be back. I am hoping to contribute to the school in other ways. I will always be a part of this school,” she said, “They will hear from me again, whether they want it or not.”

After all, the children come first.

People