Mary Gentry

Teaching With Humility and Humor

Though she was born in Utah, Mary Gentry says that Minnesota has always felt like home. “I love the people, the winter landscape and being at Breck,” she observes. “I’m surrounded by people who challenge me in a really good way.”

Her career at Breck began unexpectedly. Mary recalls, "I was looking for an Upper School job in the Twin Cities. At the time, Breck’s only opening was in Middle School. I was considering another offer, but I had a wonderful interview with [former Middle School Director] Dick Lewis. I think it was his 'Ole and Lena' joke that sealed the deal."

Mary grew up in Utah and Pennsylvania and moved to Middle River, Minnesota, to attend high school. After college in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota, she took her first teaching and coaching job at Preston High School in the Bronx. "I was there for four years, at the end of which I was the athletic director, dean of the junior class, a part-time music teacher and part-time computer science teacher in addition to being a full-time math teacher," she recalls.

From there she moved to WestTown School in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband, artist John Kothera. A job opportunity for him (he teaches graphic design and photography at Century College in White Bear Lake) brought the couple to Minnesota, which they’re very happy to call home.

"I’m so proud to be a part of this community," she says, "There’s the students who love to be here, a remarkable service program and the chance to by surrounded by people who are so good at what they do that it makes me better, too. I’ve learned so much at Breck from colleagues who are always learning themselves. I count myself as very fortunate."

Mary is appreciated by those colleagues for many things, from her lunchtime peanut butter consumption to her sense of humor, love of music and passion for teaching. Says Upper School English teacher Dallas Crow, “Mary is a real voice of reason at Breck. Whether with a group of students or at a faculty meeting, she always helps us consider not just the decisions that are made, but how we make those decisions, why we are making them, and what the consequences are. She’s great at helping people see the larger picture, and she does so with humility and humor.”

Observes Middle School teacher Byron Rice, "A psychic once told her, ‘Girl, turn down the music.’ Mary has a great knowledge of contemporary music and she always has a tune going. And, by the way, she is also a great teacher."

And her department head, Brad Peterson, says, "Mary brings a strong combination of Middle River common sense and White Bear Lake sophistication."

When she’s not at Breck, Mary enjoys being active and especially traveling – some of which she’s been lucky enough to do with funding from Breck. "I have had amazing opportunities to travel thanks to Breck," she says, "including school visits, a summer grant for European study and a chance to go along on the China trip last year." In the summers, she, John and canine companion Frances Louise (a Malamute-shepherd mix) love road trips and visiting national parks.

But no matter where she travels, Mary appreciates coming back to Breck. "This school gives me what I need to be the best teacher I can be. I really feel like I’m part of something much bigger than myself here. And I know I’ll be a better teacher ten years from now than I am today."