Anne Kaufman ’79—to students, Dr. Kaufman—returned to Milton Academy in 2002 and has since influenced all facets of the community. In over two decades, she has been a math teacher, a dorm parent, a house head, and above all, one of the kindest members of this community.
In the classroom, Dr. Kaufman brings joyful learning to math. She brings out of the box thinking to her teaching, inviting students to see topics through a new lens. Her curiosity is contagious, and she expresses genuine care for each student’s learning. When she was my teacher, Dr. Kaufman helped me become both a better mathematician and better learner.
To speak only of Dr. Kaufman’s teaching would tell just a fraction of her story. Dr. Kaufman explained that she “[led] the Senior Project Committee for eight years, spent twelve years as a dorm parent, and two years as house head in Hathaway House.” In so many facets of student life, Dr. Kaufman said that she chooses to “show up for [her] students in new contexts, to know them beyond the classroom, and to let them know [her] in return.” Dr. Kaufman advocates tirelessly for the people in her corner. She truly sees the very best in others and improves the student experience along the way. Dr. Kaufman was always there for me in the moments that had nothing to do with math and everything to do with simply needing a little comfort. She fought for me when it mattered most and became someone I turned to, someone I trusted and someone whose belief in me shaped who I am.
Dr. Kaufman commits herself completely to the people and spaces she loves: her students, her colleagues, the communities she builds. Students who know her well know too about her beloved pets and her love of knitting, a craft which reflects her character: patient, thoughtful, and always creating something beautiful from what she has. Dr. Kaufman’s faith in her students has a way of staying with you long after you leave her classroom or her dorm. She is someone I look up to deeply and will cherish my time with. Members of our community will feel her absence in all areas of campus. I am extremely grateful for everything she has given this community, and wish her the best in her next chapter.