At the end of the 2024-25 school year, RCDS will bid farewell to three retiring faculty members whose dedication has inspired our community in countless ways. We express deep gratitude to these three consummate educators and wish them all the best in retirement. 

Scroll down to read about their many contributions to the RCDS community.

Stephen Tofano
MS Manual Arts Teacher (27 years of service)

MS Manual Arts teacher Stephen Tofano will retire after 27 years at RCDS at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Tofano always brought a spark to his classroom and his students and colleagues can attest to the fact that learning with him is always exciting.  

In his time at RCDS, Mr. Tofano expanded the shop program into something even more visionary, building on the terrific work of Terry Lott, an RCDS legend in his own right. Mr. Tofano not only taught skills—he infused a soulful joy into the work, helping students confidently believe in what they can make with their own two hands. He imagined and realized new potential that developed the RCDS manual arts program further to include 3D and dynamic, hands-on projects that allow students to explore design, physics, and history—all while engaging their imagination. 

Highlight projects over the years include ducks  and dragons crafted by fifth graders, and the catapults, clocks, and swords constructed by seventh and eighth graders. With Mr. Tofano, every project becomes a portal into learning that engages students’ minds and stays with them beyond Middle School. His reach also extends beyond current students; for years, Upper Schoolers have returned to the shop to work with him through independent studies, a testament to his impact as an educator.

Under Mr. Tofano’s leadership, the RCDS Manual Arts lab has been a space of creativity and care. He teaches drawing and painting with the same thoughtfulness he brings to his shop projects. He is known for his impeccable safety record and his steady, supportive presence. Whether it’s ensuring tools are used with care or creating a respectful studio culture, Mr. Tofano’s classrooms are places of structure and freedom in equal measure.

Beyond the walls of the workshop, Mr. Tofano has run the wildly popular Strategy Games Club—where critical thinking, collaboration, and good old-fashioned fun reign supreme. And if you have ever been outside during Middle School dismissal, you have seen Mr. Tofano in action—a calm, patient, and audible presence. One colleague affectionately shared, “He brings order to chaos with humor, warmth, and an unmistakable voice that somehow carries over all the chatter.”

With a signature knack for inspiring creativity, curiosity, and joy, Mr. Tofano is an artist, maker, and mentor who has left a deep and lasting imprint on the Middle School. He is a true Renaissance man, whose talents extend well beyond the Manual Arts Lab. At RCDS, he has played the cajon and drums in Lower and Middle School concerts, sharing his musical gifts with the community. Outside of school, he is the respected creator of detailed miniatures of medieval soldiers that have made their way to White House exhibition. You can find him playing percussion in his band at local venues and as a worship team member for services at his church. Mr. Tofano’s craftsmanship and passion shine in everything he does.

Thank you, Mr. Tofano, for enriching our school community for 27 terrific years! We will wish you all the best retirement.

Lizanne Rosenzweig P’03, P’06, P’11
MS Spanish Teacher (21 years of service)

MS Spanish teacher Lizanne Rosenzweig will retire after 21 years at RCDS at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Known for her incredible ability to quietly elevate everything around her—not just curriculum, but the spirit of the classroom—Ms. Rosenzweig is beloved by her students, families, and colleagues. Her dedicated, joyful commitment to language and learning has left an indelible mark on the RCDS community.

Sra. Rosenzweig’s impact on the Grade 8 Spanish curriculum has been profound. Under her leadership, the course has become more rigorous, more engaging, and more reflective of her high regard for global thinking. Sra. Rosenzweig encourages her students to learn the language, while building an awareness about the cultures that shape it.

Through hands-on projects, meaningful conversations, and personal storytelling, Sra. Rosenzweig brings culture into the classroom, transforming the study of Spanish into a real, vibrant experience. Known for her resonant openness, she once spoke on a panel about her own upbringing in Puerto Rico, giving her students a window into her life and heritage and encouraging them to consider their own rich identities.

In class with Sra. Rosenzweig, students can count on a caring mentor who is incredibly generous with her time—she will come in early, stay late, and always make her available to help. Her compassion and clarity and her consistent showing up for students make her a model teacher whose presence during the Middle School years has been deeply appreciated by many.

A devoted advisor who truly knows the personalities, passions, and potential of her advisees, Sra. Rosenzweig ensures that every advisee feels seen, valued, and supported along their journey.

And of course, the light she brings to work each day has warmed colleagues and students. If you know, Sra. Rosenzweig, you know she loves to dance, and that joyful love is infectious. Whether working on conjugation or grammar or simply chatting with a colleague, Sra. Rosenzweig lifts those around her.

A mentor, storyteller, source of light, and proud parent of three RCDS graduates—David '11, Kenny '06, Steven '03—Lizanne Rosenzweig will forever be a Wildcat and an inspiring example of the impact of a generous heart and firm belief in the power of education and connection.

Thank you, Sra. Rosenzweig, for 21 outstanding years at RCDS. Le deseamos lo mejor en su jubilación!
 

Joan Kubisch
US Spanish Teacher (20 years of service)

Upper School Spanish teacher Joan Kubisch will retire after 20 years at RCDS at the end of the 2024-25 school year. If you know Sra. Kubisch you know this: she is a unifier who models the value of life-long learning (she even once enrolled in an Upper School painting class!).

Over the past two decades, Sra. Kubisch has helped shape the course progression of today’s Upper School Spanish program. Elevating the Spanish scope and sequence, she was the catalyst behind the level 4 Honors Spanish and level 4-5 "Identity, Culture, and Language in the Spanish-Speaking World" courses. She was also a French teacher, who once stepped in to teach Middle School French.

Her deep belief in the cultural and experiential elements of learning a language have created in the RCDS Upper School a Spanish language and culture program that produces skilled speakers, writers, and critical thinkers who are true global citizens curious about the cultural origins of what they read and hear in the target language. The hundreds of students and colleagues who have traveled with Sra. Kubisch on RCDS trips around the world (from Montreal to Nicaragua to Cuba!) can attest to her total immersion in her destination and her desire to genuinely understand others’ experiences. For her, the study of language is the gateway to understanding others—and ourselves.

A fierce advocate for anyone in need and always an upstander, Sra. Kubisch encourages confidence in her students by letting them know their voice matters—and that they should use their voices to be helpful and purposeful whenever they can. She has planted seeds of care, courage, and deep connection in all of her relationships at RCDS. A testament to her teaching is the fact that students often seek out Sra. Kubisch for Independent Studies, after they have completed the full Spanish curriculum. After they graduate, they always stay in touch, and Sra. Kubisch beams with joy when she shares their latest accomplishments and adventures.

As a colleague, Sra. Kubisch always steps up. When former Modern Language Department Chair Norma Mabry fell ill, she gracefully and without hesitation served as Interim Department Chair. Her quiet integrity, her ability to listen intentionally, and her way of speaking with measured wisdom earned the respect of many.

For a number of years, Sra. Kubisch has also been the proud leader of the Upper School’s OPI (Oral Proficiency Intern) program with the same quiet, brilliant strength she brings to every role. With generosity and mentorship, she helps Upper School students discover their inner educator and their sense of service to others in the community.

Thank you, Joan, for your service and your heart. Our community is more connected because of you. Estamos emocionados y emocionadas por tu próximo capítulo. Bonne chance et bonnes pistes!