Photo credit: Hollyn Alpert

Jillian Faucett helps Kaia Vosicher (‘30) understand a problem on her worksheet. Vosicher is a student in the Integrated Math I: Accelerated class, where the students are wrapping up their current unit. Faucett said she constantly tries to be a supportive and guiding mentor. “I think [one] of the most important jobs of working with students is just the everyday role model that you become,” Faucett said.

Tucked in the northeast corner of Archer’s campus is a math classroom, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of the hallways. Opening the door, there are students sitting at their desks and listening attentively. The faint scribble of pencils on paper is heard as students jot down notes to prepare for a review day. Math Department Chair Jillian Faucett stands at the whiteboard, writing down an equation before looking at her students to see if they have any questions.

Faucett teaches two sections of the Integrated Math I: Accelerated class. She came to Archer from New York, where she taught mathematics for a variety of grade levels. She has taught at Archer for seven years.

Ever since second grade, Faucett said her teachers were “really great role models.” After graduating from high school, Faucett decided she wanted to focus on teaching math. Throughout her high school career, Faucett found herself consistently assisting her peers with math. 

“I enjoyed it, and I noticed that not everybody around me felt the same way,” Faucett said. “I would just naturally be the person helping my friends out. And I was like, ‘Well, maybe there’s something here.’”

In addition to teaching full time, Faucett also became a mother to her son, Elliot, in 2024. Shortly after he was born, Elliot was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease known as galactosemia, which affects one’s ability to break down galactose: a sugar found in milk. Luckily, according to Faucett, Elliot is “doing fantastic,” and Faucett describes his journey as an experience full of key learning moments. 

“The feeling of wanting things to be in control, wanting to have a say over things and wanting to be able to keep everything organized and everything in its right spot — I had to completely let that go,” Faucett said. “Life was going to happen. I didn’t have this on my bingo card. I didn’t even know this was in the realm of possibilities. I had a lot to learn about what this means for life ahead, and so it has really just taught me to be more flexible.”

Kareena Desai (‘30) is Faucett’s current student in Integrated Math I: Accelerated and former mentee. She also had Ms. Faucett as her sixth grade math teacher and said she is grateful to have had Faucett as her teacher for multiple years. Desai sees her as a mentor and hopes to one day balance both motherhood and a career, like Faucett is managing. Desai also describes her admiration for mothers.

“They’re very strong and courageous,” Desai said. “It takes a lot of time management … just to balance it really well. I think it’s … something that I really admire.”

Eleventh grade Dean of Culture, Community and Belonging Casey Huff said she met Faucett at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year — Faucett’s first year at Archer. At the time, Huff and Faucett were teaching sixth grade science and math, respectively, and became friends.

“We started off by having a professional collegial relationship,” Huff said. “Working together bonds people, especially when you’re on the same grade level team. I think both of our courses, math and science, can be difficult, especially for new Archer students, so we bonded over needing to offer our students extra support. We also worked together to align our curriculums and then from there friendship blossomed between the two of us.”

Another faculty member with whom Faucett formed a friendship is eighth grade Dean of Culture, Community, and Belonging Emily Gray. Like Faucett, Gray was also hired as a new faculty member in the 2018-2019 school year and mentions that experience as a key bonding point between them because of the high standards new teachers are held to. 

“Being a new faculty member here at Archer is very stressful. There’s a very high bar for performance,” Gray said. “I think you can have that imposter syndrome — feeling  like I don’t belong here. I’m not good enough. And I think sharing that feeling with each other is … really bonding.” 

Throughout her time at Archer, Faucett has earned a reputation as someone kind, intelligent and flexible, according to Huff and Gray. Huff mentioned the 2023 11th grade Arrow Week trip as a moment when she witnessed Faucett’s care for her students. 

“I remember I had my own systems for organizing students in the airport, but she had a little suggestion on if a student was going to walk away to go get food or go to the bathroom, they had to give me back their boarding pass,” Huff said. “So that way, it was a really clear accountability system to make sure that everybody came back on time and that they had their tickets. And it relieved a lot of anxiety.” 

According to Gray, who is also a mother, motherhood is extremely laborious and requires one to adapt quickly, especially when unexpected circumstances arise. Gray described some of the moments that make being a parent and working full-time feel overwhelming.

“It’s a lot to balance, especially when your child is really little, because there’s a lot of unpredictability with them,” Gray said. “Like maybe getting sick, and they can’t go to daycare, and then you have to find coverage for your class, and then you just don’t have as much time to spend working on prepping your lessons and grading when you’re at home because you’re really focused on your child. You’re also not sleeping as much. So it’s a lot to balance both responsibilities.” 

An important part of Faucett’s philosophy and mission as a teacher is to become an “everyday role model” for her students. Desai described Faucett as always being “so bright in class” and consistently offering help when needed.

“We’re doing geometry right now,” Desai said. “I think she does a really wonderful job of … making sure that we get every topic and we not just memorize the formulas. We also just understand why we’re doing this.”

Gray cautions against modeling a flawless image to children and instead advocates for embracing the fact that everyone will make mistakes from time to time. 

“It’s really important not to role model perfection to both your students and your kids, because … you’re never going to be perfect, and your kids are never going to be perfect, and your students are never going to be perfect,” Gray said. “If you’re hiding your flaws and hiding your mistakes, that is just modeling to someone that it’s not okay to make mistakes and to not be perfect.” 

As she navigates the learning experiences that come with balancing motherhood and her career, Faucett said she has learned to embrace flexibility. She has relied on a community of supportive people who also value fostering a love for learning.

“When you get the chance to come to a place that you enjoy working and some of your closest friends are there, you made it,” Faucett said. “You’ve made it in life. That’s the good stuff. And I feel very lucky that I get to say that.”