Math department chair Elizabeth Dore will retire at the end of the school year after over 17 years of fostering growth among her students and colleagues at Algonquin.
Dore began working at Algonquin in 2008 as a math teacher and became math department head in 2018. Outside of the classroom, she was the adviser of the Varsity Math team from 2016-2023 and started the girls’ golf team with Kristine Hart. Dore finds satisfaction in collaborating with teachers and students, making her job all the more enjoyable.
“I think we have a really dedicated, incredible faculty here,” Dore said. “I enjoy kids this age and, obviously, I love math. [My job is] a lot of work, but I do find it really fun.”
As the department head, Dore shared that she has a multitude of responsibilities; however, one of the more important ones is setting the schedule for the upcoming school year. Specifically, she looks at what different teachers want to teach and how many sections of that class are available, which can be challenging at times.
“[I’m] trying to balance between developing teachers and getting them exposed to the whole curriculum along with not making it be a ridiculous amount of work for them,” Dore said.
Whether that’s correcting tests at home, responding to emails or planning and attending meetings, Dore finds her job challenging but rewarding.
“You never get to a point where you are like, ‘Oh, I’m finished,’ because you’re always looking five steps ahead,” Dore said. “ It’s challenging, but it’s a good challenge.”
Dore is motivated to do her best every day, and this shared motivation, along with being a community member, was one of the key reasons why she chose to work at ARHS.
“I just feel fortunate that I ended up here,” Dore said. “I had another job offer, which was an excellent school system, but I really wanted to be here.”
All of her children are alumni of Algonquin, and by taking on this job, Dore has been able to see the school in a new light.
“It’s been really cool to see Algonquin from all these different perspectives,” Dore said. “As someone from the community who had kids here, being a teacher here and being the department chair.”
Math teacher Patrick Galvin, who will be department chair next year, has seen Dore’s dedication to her job firsthand. He recalls that when he first started working here, she was very welcoming and supportive.
“She helped me out, just learning everything about Algonquin,” Galvin said. “Any issues that popped up, she was there. Any questions I had, she was always there. She’s been a great leader of the math department.”
Galvin hopes to continue many of the successful practices Dore has put into place for the math department.
“I am not planning on rocking the boat too much,” Galvin said.
Although she has had a significant impact on the school and faculty, Dore is ready for the next chapter in her life. In her retirement, she plans to spend more time with her grandson and devote more time to her hobbies.
“…Seventeen years is kind of a long time, and I am just ready for something new,” Dore said. “It’s so expensive to travel [during school-issued vacation weeks], so I’d like a little more flexibility.”
Dore will miss the connections she has with fellow teachers and students, but hopes that she has made a lasting impression at Algonquin.
“I hope that people remember me as a dedicated teacher,” Dore said. “I hope they remember me as kind and understanding.”
