Life on leave with a beloved English teacher
By Ben Sirtori ‘28
Cristy Vo (left) holding Emil (right). Courtesy of Cristy Vo.
Walking around the quad, or passing by her former classroom, you might notice a missing presence in the Catlin Gabel Upper School (CGS).
For years, English teacher Cristy Vo has been a pillar of the Upper School English department, known for her educational, yet inclusive teaching style, in addition to guiding ninth-graders through the struggles of their first year of high school.
Eight months ago, Vo stepped away from teaching to welcome her baby boy, Emil. Her absence this year has left a void in the CGS community, leaving students and faculty alike wishing for her quick humor, thoughtful discussions, and her radiant presence on campus.
In our interview, Vo settled in with the warm, easygoing energy students know her for. We chatted about taking advantage of the sunny fall with Emil before the “Portlandy” weather sets in, and soon set into a conversation about how her life’s been with a newborn.
She described Emil’s love for breakfast foods like eggs, yogurt, and fruit. While this part of her morning routine revolves around the everyday struggle of feeding a child, her morning walks with Emil led to one of many funny stories Vo has stockpiled over her leave.
"One memory that I have that's pretty silly of Emil, is that we go on our morning walks around the same time, so we tend to see the same people also going on their morning walks or getting coffee nearby. On one of the walks, there was an older woman who came up and said to Emil, 'You're so cute, she's so beautiful.' I didn't feel the need to correct her because I thought it was just going to be in passing.”
Emil in his living room in Portland. Courtesy of Cristy Vo.
“The next day and the day after we kept seeing her on the same walk, and she would ask, 'What's her name?' At this point, I had already kind of accepted that Emil was a girl because I didn't want to correct her and be impolite, so I lied and said, 'Oh yeah, this is Emily.' I kind of fibbed a little, over a series of morning walks. And so, to an older woman out there, this little guy is a little girl named Emily."
While her days now often include these lighthearted moments, they’re a stark contrast to her previous routine. Before her leave, Vo was used to conducting a room full of energetic, and somewhat chaotic freshmen, while managing a full schedule every day.
But stepping into motherhood, Vo is learning to embrace the unexpected. In our interview, Vo explained “once I've figured out something that works, the next day, it just doesn't work again.” However, if anyone can conquer this challenge, it's Vo, who is trying the philosophy to “get used to accepting some degree of uncertainty, and letting go of control.”
Navigating this new chapter also came with acquiring new practical skills. Vo mentioned how she has learned to do everything with one hand (the other cradling Emil), and even how it has transformed her reading habits. While she normally prefers physical books, holding a newborn has introduced her to the invigorating world of audiobooks.
In addition to finding a new way to enjoy her favorite authors, Vo has started to read short-story collections by George Saunders and Claire Keegan, books on baby sleep science, or new novel releases like Fallow.
Beyond adapting her reading routine, being away from CGS has meant stepping away from the deep literacy analysis of books such as Persepolis and Metamorphosis, and opting for more familial novels.
Yet, Vo couldn’t help but comment on the comparisons between freshman and newborn, joking that ninth graders and babies both cry, though babies for far more mysterious reasons. She also admitted, however, that she yearns for unpacking complex texts with high schoolers, and is looking forward to that upon her return.
Taking an extended break from the daily hassle of campus life has given Vo a new outlook on her career and passions. Reflecting on her time away, she explained that “in a perfect world, I think every teacher needs a sabbatical, which would help them unplug and take a while to return to some passions.”
On the same note, Vo noticed how different reading to plan a curriculum feels from reading purely for joy. Stepping away from lesson planning felt liberating even if it was a bit confusing at first. She recalled feeling a sense of panic during the first two weeks of the school year when she wasn’t getting ready for classes, before eventually settling into a groove.
Although we’ve all missed Cristy, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. She has confirmed that she will make her official return to the upper school at the beginning of the 2027-28 school year. Upon her return, she will re-join the English department, ready to embrace whatever grade levels or classes lie ahead.
Before wrapping up our interview, Vo offered a final piece of wisdom for the student body. She encouraged students to take a breath and find joy in the small daily moments amidst the ruckus of high school. The CGS community will be ready to welcome her back with open arms.