Faculty Spotlight: Hayden Draper

College/ Degrees: Emerson College--BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing; University of Florida--MFA in Poetry; University of Southern Maine--CAS in Literacy Education 

Years of service: 18 Years of Service at Fryeburg Academy

Subject(s): English

Other roles at FA: English Department Chair; Speech Event Coordinator 

Fun fact: I’ve lived in England and Prague for short stints, but I’ve somehow never traveled to the West Coast of the United States! 

Background you want to share?  I grew up in southern New Hampshire and attended Hampshire College in western Massachusetts for one year before moving to London to live and work for six months. After returning, I transferred to Emerson College, where I studied creative writing.

After graduating, I stayed in Boston for a few years, waitressing, tutoring, and publishing some of my short fiction and poetry. In 2006, I moved to Florida to attend the University of Florida’s MFA program, and in 2008, I came to teach at Fryeburg Academy, where I met my husband, Joe Minnich.

Today, we live in Fryeburg with our two children and one crazy dog.

Why did you become a teacher? My mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother were all teachers, and my great-grandfather was the Maine state commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Corrections. Conversations about teaching and just helping people in general were a big part of my life growing up. I didn’t really think about it at the time, but it ended up shaping my worldview quite a bit.

As someone with two fine arts degrees, I knew my future career would likely involve some form of teaching. But I wasn’t sure it was really for me until I attended graduate school at the University of Florida, where the program requirements included working as a college writing instructor. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to move back to New England after graduation and pursue a teaching career. 

What is your favorite class to teach and why? That’s an impossible choice, as I get so much out of each class for different reasons. But something I’ve really been enjoying lately is teaching in our Arrow program, because I get to work with students over two years. Watching the growth that can happen in a two-year period is eye-opening and rewarding. 

Memorable classroom moment? There have been a few times in my career when a previously rather quiet student stood up to deliver their required annual speech and stunned everyone in the room with their words. Public speaking is scary, so I completely understand why students don’t like giving speeches, but those moments do show the power of sharing a story, and I am always honored to be in the room for it.

How would your students describe you as a teacher? I hope they would describe me as organized and patient, with a genuine interest in helping my students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. 

Is there anything from your experience as a student that has influenced you as a teacher? Education has evolved a lot since I was in high school. Even though I personally had many positive academic experiences, I also often felt that too many of my peers were dismissed, not helped, or even looked down on when they struggled. It influenced me because I believe that every student deserves the same support, respect, and care, regardless of the challenges they may face. 

Advice for students? I attended five different schools before graduating high school, so I’ve experienced a lot of different educational settings. From that perspective, I have to say I think Fryeburg Academy is a special place. I would have loved attending FA for high school, and I hope our students will embrace all of the opportunities available to them here.