Friends of Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (FOCRLS), a nonprofit that supports opportunities at our city’s public high school, is recognizing four teachers who have had especially positive influences on students. This is the 18th year FOCRLS has sponsored the Faculty Distinction Awards, and the 2024 recipients bring the total since 2007 to 72 awardees.
Members of the CRLS Class of 2024 nominated teachers, guidance counselors, and other staff for being shining examples among educators. FOCRLS designed and framed the certificates, which Principal Damon Smith presented during the commencement ceremony on the first Thursday in June.
Congratulations to our Faculty Distinction Awardees:
Ms. Caroline Berz has taught high school students in the Boston area for two decades. For almost half of that time, she’s been at CRLS, teaching World History to ninth graders and Women & Gender Studies to eleventh and twelfth graders. Additionally, Ms. Berz collaborates with student peer-leaders to deepen and expand consent education, building a safer and more empowered generation. She instills in her students that when they believe in themselves their potential is limitless. One student noted, “In our class Ms. Berz works extremely hard both to educate us on current and past events and to relate them to our own personal experiences in a way that makes us want to create change in our community.”
Ms. Molly Roach has taught English and literature, including Greek Mythology, at CRLS for five years. Her favorite part of her job is seeing students grow into their authentic selves, and she points out that no high school students have ever experienced more personal growth than those who had their first year online, as the Class of 2024 did when they entered the ninth grade in September 2020. Ms. Roach is known for her kindness and patience as well as her energy and enthusiasm. Students are motivated by the joy she radiates while teaching. One expressed, “There were mornings when I wanted to stay in bed, but the thought of coming into Ms. Roach’s English class woke me right up!”
Ms. Anna Considine is originally from Poland, and before joining the CRLS faculty, she had a varied career that included coaching Boston University rowers to championships. As an instructional aide to CRLS’s English Language Learners, she specializes in giving immigrant students the support they need to become confident, eager scholars with strong language and literacy skills. Ms. Anna, as her students call her, is known for her sincere warmth and welcoming smile. One student described her as “incomparable,” and all who nominated her praised her helpfulness. One said, “Ms. Anna always helps me. She always encourages me, and for that I really appreciate her.”
Dr. Eric Wu has been teaching Information Technology and Computer Science in the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) department at CRLS since 2015. Along with his PhD from MIT, he deeply values the ongoing education he receives from his CRLS students about what it’s like to grow up today. He takes those lessons to heart and brings humor to the classroom. One student commented: “Dr. Wu is the funniest teacher in the building and always super supportive. Most of my best memories of CRLS are from his classes.” Another stated, “Without him, I never would have known what I wanted to do with my life and I probably wouldn't be going to college. He helped me more than anyone else this school year to prepare for my future, and I will really miss him when I'm gone.”
FOCRLS thanks the awardees and nominating students as well as Principal Damon Smith, Assistant Principal Allan Gehant, and executive clerks Yemisi Oluwole and Rebeca Matos for presenting, organizing, and facilitating the awards.
In 2024, FOCRLS presented a total of nearly $87,000 in higher education scholarships and financially assisted six members of the Traveling Chorus to attend workshops and perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. FOCRLS also granted a total of $5,000 to faculty members with creative ideas to enhance curriculum, clubs, and services. FOCRLS is a 501c3 nonprofit. For information about the organization’s programs, donating, sponsoring, or volunteering, please visit
focrls.org or email
[email protected].