Faculty Emeriti Profile: Jean Duty

Jean Ann Mary Caputo Duty (otherwise known as Mrs. Duty) began teaching at Ransom Everglades in 1984 and retired after a 35-year career. During that time she won the Arthur Moses Faculty Award, engaged in mathematical research at Florida International University, helped author a textbook with fellow faculty member and alumnus Henry Stavisky ’85 and gave the commencement speech at the Class of 2019 graduation. 

She enjoyed many roles, including chair of the math and computer science department and dean of every class from 9th through 12th. She taught algebra at the middle school and geometry, algebra, precalculus and calculus at the upper school and was a member of the Academic Council. We caught up with her at her Tennessee home.

RE: Where did you grow up? 

JD: I was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Miami. I spent my whole education in Miami and went to Miami Norland Senior High where I was in the marching band and played the piccolo. 

RE: How did you come to teach at Ransom Everglades?

JD: I was working at another school and was also prepping kids for SATs, running a class at night. An RE student told me about the job, I applied and I got it. I felt very lucky. 

RE: Where did you attend college?

JD: I went to Barry University and got my BS in mathematics. I also did some graduate work at Florida Atlantic University. I worked a full time job to get through college, but I loved work so it wasn’t a big problem. I’ve always felt grateful that I love to work!

RE: When did you know you wanted to become a teacher?

JD: I always knew. I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t know what I wanted to teach but I knew I wanted to be a teacher.

I went to public school and I always thought teachers didn’t care. So I thought, “I'm going to make a difference!” I loved history and started in college as a history major, but someone gave me the advice that if I really wanted to teach, I should teach math. I was always good at math. 

RE: What was your favorite part about teaching at RE?

JD: My favorite thing by far was teaching. I so loved being in the classroom, I just wanted to teach. RE students were more interested in learning. If someone didn’t do their homework, you were surprised. It was an extreme change from where I taught before. I liked being able to create and be free to experiment with technology. The students, the parents, they really appreciated learning. What better a place to be a teacher!

RE: What’s a funny story you can tell us?

JD: This one student I had really struggled in calculus her senior year. Near the end of the year, she got a really bad grade. I guess she took a picture of her paper with a big “D” on it. Years later, when she came back to visit, she asked me if I remembered the grade I gave her, and of course I didn’t. Our conversation went like this: “Do you remember what grade I got in your class?”  “I don’t, but how are you doing with calculus now?” “I’m avoiding it.” We got a big laugh out of that. She couldn’t believe I didn’t remember what grade she got! Grades just weren’t as important to me as trying. 

RE: What is a favorite RE memory?

JD: What I really liked is the interaction with the other teachers and talking about politics, art, or how to teach something. That constant stimulation. I like to try to understand why people think the way they do so I can try to think about things differently. 

RE: What do you miss about RE the most?

JD: I miss the classroom a lot. I enjoy tutoring, but there’s nothing like being in the classroom.

RE: What have you been up to in retirement?

JD: That’s a funny thing. I retired in 2019 then was asked to come back in 2020 to fill in. I drove down from Tennessee and taught for two weeks, then Covid hit. I went back to Tennessee and taught from home. Now I tutor students from all over the world - Texas, London, Virginia, Miami and really enjoy it.

RE: Do you have any hobbies?

TD: Knitting and baking, which I’m getting better at. I’ve started learning how to decorate cakes. I enjoy knitting blankets for my nieces.