# data[].attributes.body
Dear Ms. Chi,

Congratulations on your next adventure!! Cannot express how much you impacted our lives (and so many more!). You always lead with empathy and compassion, making you truly a one of a kind teacher and mentor. Our high school experience wouldn't have been the same without you -- and those times we got to hang out post graduation are memories we continue to cherish. :)

Thinking of you and miss you! Hoping our paths cross again very soon xx

Love,
Brooke Tannahill & Moera Ainai

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet -

You were one of the first people to be friendly to me when I came to AHS all those years ago, and I've never forgotten. Thank you for that! Thank you for being an inspiring colleague. We shared a classroom years ago, and I loved to see the creative and engaging projects your students were working on. Thank you for being kind, caring and supportive to your students. I know they feel it and trust you. Thank you for all the hours and hours you have spent creating beautiful yearbooks and instilling confidence in your editors and team. Those kids' lives are forever changed. And, most of all, thank you for being a friend! I'll miss seeing you in the copy room, in staff meetings and at the sidelines of assemblies. I'm so thrilled that you have a new job that will give you so much more time with your family, but I will MISS YOU!

Love, Mariflo

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,

The biggest lessons don't come from books but from a teacher like you. Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity, wisdom and positivity. You encouraged so many to be the best that they could be.

I will always be grateful to you for being such a great mentor to Brooke and for our friendship. You are a beautiful human, inside and out.

Wishing you the very best on this next chapter of your life. Looking forward to getting together more often and watching your babies grow up.

With Love,
Laura Tannahill

# data[].attributes.body
Thank you so much for being such a wonderful part of AHS. I still remember meeting you in the Main Office just after I was hired! The whole time I have known you at our school you have been such a consistently positive presence for our staff and students. You always show up with so much care for everyone around you.

It has also been so nice to see your blossoming friendship with my wife, so I know this is not goodbye!

Darren

# data[].attributes.body
Ms Chi - Thank you for being you. Thank you for your selfless, proactive, caring, and beautiful efforts you put toward AHS buildOn and every student you touched through your teaching and supportive sprit. You are a true inspiration of a person. I am so thankful to have had such special experiences with you via buildOn in Albany, Nepal, and Nicaragua. I wish you the absolute best in this next chapter in your life!
Hugs, Mikaela

# data[].attributes.body
Hi Ms. Radford,
I can't believe it's already been 7 years since this photo was taken!! When I look back on my AHS experience, my fondest memories are always of the educators who nurtured and guided me in ways that went beyond the classroom. You were one of those teachers that left an indelible impression on me. Not only did I learn how to read a text and give an analysis, you taught me what compassion and empathy looked like. You modeled it through the way you cared about me, my peers, and other staff/faculty. I will always cherish my time in AP Lit, eating "pre-lunch", going through different novels, and having riveting discourse. I still remember my last AP Lit project. It was probably the most fun I ever had working on a school project. You let me make food for the whole class! There are few teachers that would give us the license to be creative in a setting like AP Lit, and I am so grateful that you were one of them.

Thank you for all the ways you have cared for us. Looking at these messages, it's clear how much of an impact you've made on so many students' lives. I wish you all the best in your next season of life!

With love and immense gratitude,
Aria

# data[].attributes.body
Dear Ms. Chi,

Congratulations on starting your next adventure! Thank you for the years of dedication, love, kindness, and hard work you have contributed to educating so many of us.  You are a genuinely passionate teacher and had such a positive influence on the Albany community. And beyond! At least once a month I get to teach someone the difference between affect and effect because of a trick you taught us that will stay with me forever. A small example of the impact you have made on the world around you and I am so thankful to have had you as a teacher. I wish you all the best in this next chapter <3

-Devo Goldschmidt

# data[].attributes.body
Hi Ms. Rad,

Congratulations on moving on to the next step after AHS!! It's been a minute since we've spent time together, but you still stand out as one of the most attentive, dedicated, and kind teachers I've ever had. At the time, I was so shy and felt invisible to most people, but in your classes and in buildOn, I felt seen. You saw me before I was able to see myself.

I loved learning English from you. I still remember a specific assignment where we could complete a book report through any medium we wanted. I did mine as a painting, and I can remember the actual *excitement* I felt completing and presenting the assignment. How special is that, that you are able to make space for people to learn in ways that work best for them?

Thank you for your choosing to be a wonderful teacher, mentor, and friend to us all. Being a teacher, let alone a fantastic one, has got to be one of the toughest jobs in the world and you did an excellent job. I wish you abundance and joy as you move on to the next chapter of your life!

Much love,
Cassia A.

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford, even though we only really knew each other for a year at AHS I feel overwhelmed thinking about what to write here. Even when I was a kid that you didn’t think you would like in the class, you still treated me with the same joy and compassion as my AP Lit classmates you had taught in freshman year. I will forever be thankful for that, the time you spent outside of the class with countless students, the smiles, and also the way you let me and Legeng feast every time we were in your room.

When I ran into you and Mr. Becker outside of AHS a couple years ago, you said you still think of the class of 2015. I know I’m not the only student that can’t think of AHS without thinking of you!

Congrats and best wishes to your future!
-Alan Zhang

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi,

I know you're Mrs. Rad now but I still remember you as Ms. Chi! I wanted to thank you for being such a compassionate and caring teacher at Albany High. I'm not sure anyone listened to my problems as well as you did and you always tried to cater to everyone's needs in the classroom. I appreciated your not-so cookie-cutter way of teaching and allowing everyone to learn in their own way! I'm sad to hear you're leaving and that new AHS students won't get to experience your genuine attitude in and around the classroom, but I'm sure you'll bring the same energy wherever you go next! Thanks for being a wonderful teacher!

-Jackson Kontzer

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Rad,

It’s funny—even after 7 years, it’s difficult to find the words to express my love and gratitude for you. What can I say to the teacher who sacrificed a thousand lunch breaks so that I and my friends could discuss the intricacies of a successful bake sale? Who held my hand in an airplane while I panicked about turbulence? You saw me at my worst and my best, and I never felt anything but care and support from you. You were a consistent and loving adult during the spectacular chaos of my adolescence.

Looking back, I’m in awe of the time, energy, and care you put into buildOn. You were already juggling the endless responsibilities that come with being a teacher (and a stellar human being), and you somehow ended up supervising the most high-effort club to ever exist. We love you, Ms. Rad.

-Becca Lieber

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet, I hope you don't think that it's too cheesy for me to say that it was a total joy to work with you! I always admired your passion, your can-do attitude, your collaboration, your zest and energy and your big beautiful smile! Lots of love from across the border, Sara O

# data[].attributes.body
It has been so great getting to work with you this year. I've really enjoyed getting to know you as a person and sharing a space together. I know I've told you several times already that I'm super bummed I won't be working with you anymore but I'm also very happy for you to start this new journey. You will be greatly missed my me and many others and I wish you luck in your new endeavor.

Chris Derleth

# data[].attributes.headline
Congratulations on being an amazing teacher!

# data[].attributes.subject
Congratulations on being an amazing teacher!

# data[].attributes.body
Dearest Juliet,
What an inspiration to have the opportunity to work with you during those few years at Albany High. Your thoughtfulness, grace and deep understanding and knowledge as an educator (in the best sense of the word) was a joy and an honor to witness. I wish you all the best for whatever future you choose, but hope you will always remain a teacher!
With love
Margalit

# data[].attributes.body
Dearest Juliet,

How can I ever express the love and respect I have for you, as a mother, friend, colleague and genuine person.  You are like a sacred icon at AHS and your spirit will remain with me for the rest of my days here.  Let your spirit guide you to greater satisfaction and ease with your next gig.  So many of us love you!!!!!!!  For me, you are so many things important; teacher and mentor to my children, the best of colleagues and the goodness of a person who always has the best intentions in every thing she does.  Your children are beautiful and I wish for you all the serenity you deserve.  And, finally, thank you for your dedication to our students, AHS, and your family because we need people who take on their responsibilities with gusto!

With love,
Kaen De Hart

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi,

Thank you for always facilitating my curiosity. You always allowed me to engage with the class material in a way that best suited my learning style. Occasionally my monkey mind got me in trouble at AHS.  Sometimes I was stubborn and disengaged, but you always found a way to rope me back in. You frequently let me choose my own path while still encouraging me to better myself. That is an extraordinary talent. Individual learning styles are often overlooked in teaching, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the freedom to explore, and to wonder. Thank you for believing in me, and so many other students.

-Liam Donaldson

# data[].attributes.body
Hi Ms. Radford,

I'm so glad you taught my IHS class freshmen year, you were such a caring and kind teacher and made such a great learning environment!

All the best,
Helena S.K.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,

Thank you for your continued dedication and support of the students at AHS- I am always inspired and impressed by your commitment to working with you students. You are always finding ways to help and support them, while also seeing the best and believing in them. We will miss having you and your energy around the counseling office- that is for sure. Best of luck in this next chapter!

M.E. Durell

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet, what a gift it's been knowing you these past 17 years. You have influenced my path through education enormously, in more ways that you can guess. At every decision point I've had to make since my first days at AHS, you have been a guidepost whether you knew it or not, helping me understand and decide what it means to be an effective educator, trustworthy colleague, and source of support to students and adults alike. I trust your judgement unquestionably and will probably keep asking myself What Would Juliet Do? in your absence here. Please let's keep talking walks, getting coffee, checking in and watching each other's kids grow up. I'll miss you terribly but know that you won't be far from my thoughts. xoxo Becca

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford,

I have so many fond memories in your AP Lit class, but the memory that sticks out to me the most isn't exactly a fond one. I remember one time you pulled me aside after class and very kindly but sternly asked me to stop using my phone all the time in class. I didn't quite understand why it was such a big deal at the time, but after that conversation I did stop (or at least I made an effort to). Now, in an ironic twist, I'm a high school teacher myself and I can only look back on that moment and think how annoying I must have been in that moment. So I want to give you a full apology now, because I'm almost certain that I didn't actually say sorry way back then. Thanks so much for being such an amazing and compassionate teacher and always putting up with our whole AP Lit crew!

- Patrick Lou

# data[].attributes.body
Ms Chi,

Thank you so much for your time at AHS! You were the teacher who made me work the hardest as well as worked with me the most to make my work better. Two years of English with you in a row showed your obvious and amazjng passion for the subject and for teaching, which we all benefitted from so much. On top of this, you were a stellar trek companion with BuildOn, where I am thankful to have gotten the chance to spend some real quality time with you.

-Aaron Tiedemann

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
AHS Rock Legends, Cougar Bait.  We almost made it!

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,

Having a colleague like you at AHS is one of the biggest reasons I stay in the field.  You are teacher who cares and put students first.  It makes me proud to be on the same staff and part of something bigger. Your positivity and openness are going to be so missed here in Albany.  Wherever your next path leads, those folks are going to be so fortunate! Gaining back the commute time for yourself and your family- totally the most important thing in the world.

It is truly the end of an era here at AHS, and we will miss you dearly. Hope we can see you at an occasional happy hour, art show, wherever! Thanks for your amazing work with the AHS community all these years.

Lastly, you were the best band mate of all time despite what I said in that faculty film.

All my best,

Craig

# data[].attributes.body
Hi Ms. Chi!
It's been a while since I last saw you, but I think about the influence you had on me at AHS consistently. You were consistently a supportive and encouraging advocate for me and my classmates success. You allowed me to be creative in both Yearbook and English and you were always a joy to be around. You lit up our classrooms with your smile. It was an honor to be your student and I hope that wherever your journey is taking you next, you are able to express meet it with that same enthusiasm you greeted each of us with.
With deep appreciation,
Caley Keene

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,

I can't begin tell you how glad I am that I had the privilege of being your (BTSA) mentee and roommate my first year at Albany. Your generosity with your time/resources/brain/friendship—both that year and after—was beyond what I could have hoped for, and I so miss seeing you around the halls every day. (I even missed this when I moved to my portable!)

You're such an amazing educator and person. I know AHS will miss you dearly, but I'm stoked for you to finally be leaving your beast of a commute behind!

I wish you all good things in this new chapter. Don't be a stranger!

Love,
Evan <3

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet, wow what a journey and to think you still have so much life ahead of you. Your an amazing human being, mother, wife and friend and I'm happy to claim you as my Lil Sister who has a pure heart and we will always be connected.

-Josette.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,
I don't know what AHS looks like without you in it, but I'm excited for you to be close to home and your kids and start this new chapter. Your mentorship and friendship has been so invaluable to me over these years. You care so much about your students, your work and your colleagues. I know I'll see you in the future, so I can't be sad about that! but I am sad to be losing you as a colleague.

You're amazing, don't forget.

Jess

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Rad,

Thank you for being such an amazing mentor through our years at AHS. From English to buildOn, you were always there with endless love and support. So many of us have made it to where we are today because of the energy you gave and your open door. During such a bumpy phase of life, it meant the world to have a teacher who was there to listen and support me through whatever was going on.

Thank you for all the memories and laughter shared in your classroom. I wish you and your family the best in whatever life holds for you next!

We love you!

Emma Gadberry ❤︎

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet, leaving AHS as a student and a teacher was hard for me both times! It’s a special, imperfect place that will stay with you always. I’m so grateful we’ve been able to maintain a friendship outside work as we navigate all that life throws us. It comes fast and furious and I appreciate your vulnerability, honesty and really friggin great hugs!! I hope your next chapter is supportive and filled with adventures. Your students have always been extremely lucky to have you in their corner, you care so much and that’s what ignites learning. We love you!!

❤️❤️❤️
Kate

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet!!
I can imagine how you are feeling right now because your roots at AHS go so deep. I know it must be incredibly painful to think of teaching somewhere else, because those roots are tapped into so many layers of good soil that you helped to create, so many connections to folks who love and cherish you. All I can say is that you will never truly be gone, you will always be welcome and you will never be forgotten by that community. It took me a while to realize this after leaving but when I did it brought me an immense amount of solace - I hope you can find this as well. You are such a huge part of why I was able to be part of the AHS community at all - you were the first colleague I met when I was hired (do you remember getting lunch and talking to me about Connect? I do, because you were so welcoming right from the start) And I still remember talking to you for an hour about how to teach Yearbook, a few days before starting my new job. I can't imagine you had an hour to spare, except that you are an incredible person who gives so much back to those around you. I am incredibly grateful to have  had the privilege of working with you, and even more grateful that I still get to see you  as we move forward in this wild ride of life. Wishing you all the best with everything that is to come, xoxoxo

- Ginny

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet,

I came up in the English Department during the throw ‘em in the fire and see if they can dance era. But I lucked out to get you as my BTSA mentor those first two years. It was so great to bounce ideas off of you, to benefit from your thoughtful ideas and insights. You’re so great at collaboration. You care so much.

It sucks that we’re losing you, but the job can be tough. I don’t know how you’ve been able to balance raising kids and teaching. I feel like Ben Affleck’s character at the end of Good Will Hunting. Sad you’re moving on but glad you’re moving on with your life. You will be missed!

-Shawn Rusich

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi,
I feel so incredibly lucky to have had you as a teacher during my junior year at Albany High. Your high expectations for students pushed me to work harder and grow more as a student than in any of my other academic experiences. You brought such life and joy to each and every class and sparked enthusiasm and curiosity on even my most apathetic and angsty days. I would not be the writer I am today without your equal parts of tough love and encouragement. Thank you for sharing your love of reading, writing, and learning, and for creating a supportive and safe space for all students. Congratulations on such an incredible career at Albany High and wishing you luck in your next endeavor; I have no doubt that your light will continue to shine bright wherever you go :)
xoxo Sophie Gabel-Scheinbaum

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi,

Your support and energy were the backbone of buildOn. As a student, I took it for granted that we’d always have your room available every Tuesday for lunch meetings, that you’d never forget or have to cancel. As an adult with a job, I can now appreciate the serious commitment and sacrifice that it took to donate your time alone to our club. And you didn’t just give your time! At those meetings, I remember you helping guide us through interesting and challenging discussions and asking well-timed tough questions, yet also stepping back and ensuring that student leadership had to exercise their authority and organization skills to run the club. Not to mention the numerous international trips you accompanied us on, plus all the time and stress it took outside of work to make those trips happen. Thank you again for your enthusiasm and devotion. You were a major reason why I stuck with the club for all four years.

I wish you the best of luck in your new position!

<3 - Suzanne Becker

# data[].attributes.body
Dear Juliet,

I love you. You have made everything about my job so much more meaningful, fun, and better every single day. You have made me a better person. Thank you for everything. XOXO

-Emily

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford!
Thank you for everything! You are such an amazing teacher, I truly loved to be a part of your class 2 out of the 4 years at AHS. I will forever appreciate you for letting me stay in during lunches just to hang with you and Ms. Surowitz :) Thank you again for everything and goodluck to you in your next journey ahead!
-Alejandra Fraga <3

# data[].attributes.body
Ms Chi!
English 3 Honors, in first period, truly woke me up every morning. I had already been up for a few hours and gone to practice for the swim team, and I would have thought I would be tired for my first class of the day but it was always the opposite in your class. Thank you for introducing me to The Things We Carried, which is now one of my favorite books! Thank you for all the smiles, jokes, and laughter you brought into our lives. Wherever you’re headed next is so lucky to have you!
Claire Fahrner xox

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford,

Thank you so much for being one of the best teachers I've ever had. You encouraged my creativity, fostered my love for learning, and supported my struggles with mental health. I loved seeing you in the halls later in high school and I really appreciated how you still cared about my life and what I was getting up to. Thank you for being so sweet and kind and fair. I hope you have the best time moving forward with whatever comes next!

-Lux Carlson

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet! I will miss seeing you around campus. You have been such a wonderful part of our AHS community as a teacher, staff and friend. I know you will continue to shine in the next chapter. How lucky they are to have you as a teacher.  :) Michelle A.

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford! A massive hug and congratulations to you. I think Izzy beat me to posting a very similar (if not identical) photo but here is yet another.

Please know that your classes possessed the gift of cultivating real community. The yearbook family, as crazed and insane as it was, left me some of my most meaningful relationships to date. I'm forever grateful for you and your creation of such a safe space.

Your warmth and endless support was never unnoticed. I wish you and your family the absolute best. Thank you for everything you've done for me and mine.

xoxo Drew

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi,

Thank you so much for being such a wonderful teacher and friend to everyone at AHS! You made my Sophomore year special and I will always remember your kindness to all your students. Having a teacher who genuinely cares about what they do really makes a difference in the lives of high schoolers (and all other grades for that matter). I wish you the best in whatever the next chapter of your life may be!

-Sophia Laxar :)

# data[].attributes.body
Juliette ( always Ms Chi in our house )

Your going to be missed greatly !
The sense of confidence and increased self esteem you gift your students is a beautiful thing . AHS we’re the lucky ones for 14 years . Great teachers always make a difference . You made a difference here at AHS .
I will remember our times with warm thoughts and good memories .
Big Hugs,
Lynn Giblin

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Chi!
Congratulations on taking your next steps! You have been such an extraordinary educator for so many generations of AHS students and you will be sorely missed. How fortunate so many of us were to have had you as a teacher who pushed and inspired us. Thank you for making your classroom a place of growth and a place of safety. You were an invaluable part of the Albany community, sending all the best to you and yours!
xxx Pia Mingkwan

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Radford!

Though I was never in one of your classes, I enjoyed getting to know you through Greg and his gorgeous family. It was always such a joy running into you and chatting in the hallway (and sometimes on my street). Wishing you luck in your next endeavor!

Love,
Erolina

# data[].attributes.body
Ms Radford,

I have always, always loved reading, and being your classes around your life wisdom have only worked to reinforce that. You are one of the most passionate teachers I've ever had, and I am very grateful to have had the privilege of being taught by you!

Best,
Izzy

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Rad!!

Thank you for endless support and guidance during my years at AHS. For four years I got to see your genius at work and am incredibly grateful for every piece of knowledge I gained, from tiny editorial notes to improving my mediocre photo skills and beyond. You’ve shaped countless lives of students at AHS — mine included — and will be dearly missed. Much love to you & yours!

- Cricket Baldwin

# data[].attributes.body
When I arrived at AHS in 2017, I was skeptical about the whole room-sharing thing. Little did I know what a gift it would be to share your room and learn from you as a teacher and friend. Our friendship meant so much to me during my years at AHS and I am lucky I got to cross paths with you. So much love to you and your family!
Hannah Edber

# data[].attributes.body
What an amazing person you are Radford (You know I love to use last names). I've enjoyed working with you over with years with the Connect Program to the Peer Helpers presenting to your IHS classes. You always managed to put your students first and were extremely supportive to those in need, even when they did not meet you halfway.

Continue to be an amazing wife, mother, and friend. You will most certainly be missed and do not hesitate to call or text when you need anything.

Love,
Tedra

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet! What are we going to do without you?! You have touched the lives of so many students and staff at AHS. Throughout the years, my students have always commented on how much you do for them and what high standards you hold. I think of you as one of the teachers that makes AHS, AHS and it's hard to fathom what life will be like without you here. Where ever you end up, your quality of life will be better and those around you are lucky to have you!

Dani DeLaurentis

# data[].attributes.body
Ms Rad -
I’m so lucky to have been able to take yearbook with you for my last two years of high school. Not only did it give me an great way to navigate a new school, but it also introduced me to some of my best friends. The added bonus was having two years of you as a teacher! Thank you for always being a great guide and a warm presence at Albany. Best of luck to you wherever life takes you! Love to you and your whole family.
- Caroline Ingalls

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Rad,

Thank you so much for all you’ve given to AHS, yearbook, & me!! You are one of the most influential and supportive teachers I’ve ever had, and I’m so lucky I’ve gotten to apply what you’ve taught me to my academic, professional, and social lives. I know you will be greatly missed! Always wishing you the best ❤️

- Hadley Roberts-Donnelly

# data[].attributes.body
Prom 2011! :)

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
2015 Homecoming Spirit Week: Dress up as teenagers! 

# data[].attributes.body
Prom 2014!! :)

# data[].attributes.body
Dear Juliet,

I can't believe it was 14 years ago when we first met. I had no idea that I was meeting my best friend when Anne Marie introduced us so long ago.  You are one of the most compassionate teachers I have ever met.  You care so much about your students and do everything in your power to help them succeed.  You work harder than anyone I know and have such high standards for your students and for yourself. You truly help them prepare for life after high school and show them how to succeed in life.  AHS will not be the same without you.  We are losing a truly incredible teacher who has touched so many lives.  But I have gained a best friend and I am so thankful for you every day!  I'll miss seeing you in the hallways at work, but know nothing will ever break our bond.

I love you so much and am so excited for this next chapter in your life.

Love,
Rachel

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
One of the best Halloweens at work. :) Audrey Hepburn and the Wicked Queen from Snow White! 