Students Supporting Mr. Rollfinke

This hasn't been done right, but it's not too late to fix it. The half of the community that's upset will forgive you if you fix it, Matt.

Is this an April Fools joke? Mr. Rollfinke is an amazing, talented, and kind teacher... This doesn’t add up.

Mr. Rollfinke was one of the kindest and best teachers I ever had in my 13 years at Friends. He was genuinely passionate about math and teaching. I had him for 8th grade math in 1991, and he was already a fabulous and compassionate teacher back then in his early years at Friends. Math was never my strongest subject, but he always found ways to make the material accessible. He was fantastic at encouraging collaborative learning with other students in the class, and I found group assignments to be invaluable. Outside of the classroom, I fondly remember him leading hikes during camping trips, helping students learn about trees and birds. His sense of wonder and respect for both nature and human beings always made a positive impression on his students. I am so thankful to have been his student. Shame on Friends for placing such little value on loyalty and years of humble service. This kind of treatment and lack of respect seems quite contrary to the core of Quaker beliefs.

Academic outcomes matter at educational institutions and Brian prepares students to achieve. He’s also a caring and committed teacher who motivates children and provides valuable guidance and support. His commitment to the Friends community has been stellar. It is wrong to force him to leave that community after 31 years.

Brian Rollfinke is a great teacher and coach! I support his staying at Friends School!

Knowing Mr. Rollfinke as I do and have for many years, as a former student and an involved alumnus, I find this news shocking and upsetting, and totally perplexing. I would love nothing more than to see him continue his valuable work and positive influence at Friends School for years to come.

Mr. Rollfinke is one of the best teachers at Friends! I will have trouble supporting a school that doesn’t value excellent teachers over petty political correctness.

One of the best teachers I had. I attended Friends for 14 years. I don’t have all the information but disappointed that he will not be teaching any longer.

Mr. Rollfinke has taught, mentored, inspired, guided, nurtured and challenged all 3 of our ‘lifer’ children. He is the best math teacher each child of all different abilities and mentalies had. When our chubby shy son with Tourettes was entering middle school, we requested Brian Rollfinke as his advisor because he was known to be the best, most dedicated and kindest teacher in the MS. Under his watch, although our son’s symptoms escalated with puberty, our Nicos grew in confidence and abilities. Mr. Rollfinke is both the one who taught him to tie a tie and who helped a kid with profound visual learning challenges find ways to self teach in visual classes like math. Due to his efforts, our son sailed through high track math, took advanced calculus as a junior, was a national Merritt scholar, and is now thriving at a highly selective college. Without the foundation and dedication Brian Rollfinke gave to our son he would not be where he is today as a scholar or a young man. He put in astounding effort and care, staying late as he always seems to do for that one student who needs it after all other the teachers have left. That is why we are stunned that Friends would for any reason not renew his contract. We are shocked and appalled that a school that preaches values could exhibit this level of craven behavior. Furthermore, the abject cruelty to this whole family, to their son Luke a rising junior, to discard a 54 yo man who has spent 31 yeas giving to the students and the Friends community leads us to believe something (much more than one dedicated gifted teacher) has gone wrong at the highest levels of Friends School. Today I was proud to see my kids protesting to support Mr. Rollfinke. I am touched by all the beautiful comments from hundreds of the students. If Friends Administration and Matt Micciche do not listen to the hundreds of children and parents, that is a fundamental betrayal of the Quaker principles that have guided this school for centuries. The fac

This really sucks hope we can fix this problem.

This really sucks hope we can fix this problem.

I urge Friends School's to revert the non-renewal of Mr. Rollfinke's contract. He can and does teach exceptionally well; isn't that enough?

#freeMr. Roll

Mr. R was in my top 5 favorite teachers in my 14 years at Friends. His loss would be a HUGE loss for Friends.

Mr. Rollfinke is one of the good guys! This is a loss for the FSB community. Praying it's not too late to rectify the situation. What other teacher stays until 6:00 pm every day offering free tutoring to his students? This is dedication and should be appreciated.

i like chesesese

I think Friends will have a hard time finding another teacher who cares about the success and well-being of students as much as Mr. Rollfinke does.

Mr Rollfink is what separates a Friends education from other private schools.

Although Mr. Rollfinke can be weird and creepy at times, he has helped a lot of people. I have seen him helping not only seventh graders, but eighth graders too. He does make weird comments and does weird stuff in class, but I have learned a lot. He isn't my favorite teacher, but I would hate to see him go.

Mr. Rollfink who has made many people successful in math is a very nice and kind person he is always willing to help a student when they need help. He is always willing to help you when you need to repair a quiz and he makes sure that you understand what he just went over. He is an amazing Math teacher and a Coach. He does the investigation's club, Mathcounts, a teacher, a coach and on top of that a parent. He makes math fun and interesting with all of his jokes. When we were doing the Microworlds project I was having a few bumps along the road and he was there to help me get through the project. He is very passionate about teaching middle schoolers math and being engaged with helping them learn and getting to learn them better. #stayMr.Rollfinke