World-Class Faculty

The heart of BUA has, for three decades, been a group of extraordinary teachers—people who combine exceptional context mastery with a deep commitment to knowing and caring for each young person as an individual. They design and deliver an unusually rigorous core curriculum, whose depth has been a strength of BUA from its inception. Under the care of these mentors, students not only learn content, but grow as critical thinkers, deep readers, capable communicators, flexible collaborators, and creative problem solvers.

We do not talk down to students, but instead have unapologetically high standards and engage them with material right at the limit of their considerable ability. Continuing this tradition requires investing in our world-class faculty, ensuring that we can hire, retain, and provide growth opportunities for the people who deliver the program and mentor our students. We must also support our teachers as they lead the evolution of our curriculum in a new era—integrating culturally responsive teaching and learning; ensuring that students see themselves reflected in their coursework; orienting our curriculum to the opportunities and challenges our students will face; instilling an interdisciplinary and systems approach to problem solving.

 

Objectives

  • Having learning spaces that match and facilitate excellent teaching
  • Continuing to provide robust support for faculty-staff professional development
  • Creating opportunities for faculty growth, leadership, and innovation through grants and new roles
  • Encouraging teacher and staff thought leadership outside of BUA
  • Offering highly competitive compensation and benefits

 

Progress in Action

  • Curriculum Innovation Grants: With the support of the Great Teachers Fund and the Annual Fund, BUA has funded teachers involved in the evolution of our English and history programs – putting the Western canon in conversation with other traditions.
     
    a selection of books taught at BUA

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  • New Roles: Ariana Kelly, who teaches in our English department and has helped guide our professional development program, is inaugurating a new position for BUA: Director of Teaching & Learning. In that capacity, she will continue to guide teacher professional development, while also overseeing BUA’s curriculum, academic departments, and pedagogical innovation.
     
    In addition to serving as BUA’s Associate Director of Operations and Finance, Holly Walker co-leads our professional development program in partnership with Ariana Kelly. This year, Ms. Walker will serve as BUA’s inaugural Director of Employee Experience, which reflects the integration of her professional learning and HR work.

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  • Math Curriculum Evolution: In the fall of 2025, BUA rolled out the first course in a new three-course math sequence. The new first-level math course, Algebraic Thinking & Coordinate Geometry (Integrated Math 1), features two exciting innovations: an integrated approach where students see the connections between algebraic concepts, geometry, and other areas; and a problem-based approach designed to help students build confidence as problem solvers. The course has been developed from scratch by BUA’s math faculty specifically for BUA students. In the subsequent two years, we will roll out Euclidean Geometry, Functions, & Graphs (Integrated Math 2) and a revision of Pre-Calculus (Integrated Math 3).
     
    For more information about the curricular evolution in math, click here.

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  • Wednesday Community Lunches: In the 2024-2025 school year, BUA launched a new weekly tradition: catered Wednesday lunches for all faculty and staff. This midweek pause—free from meetings and daily demands—has become a valued moment to connect and share some lighthearted, social fun. What started as a simple meal has quickly blossomed into a vibrant tradition that faculty and staff eagerly anticipate each week, strengthening community and camaraderie amongst the adults in our building.