We often exhort our students to “let their lives speak” – a lofty, if at times abstract, goal – but I know no educator who embodies this ideal as well as Upper School history department teacher Steve Steinbach.

Steve retires after a remarkable eighteen-year tenure at Sidwell Friends, where he served as a department head, as Clerk of the Upper School Faculty, as the Clerk of the School Working Group on Governance, as a colleague, mentor, friend, and finally, parent – to David ’12 and Ali ’14.

Following a distinguished career in the law, Steve joined the Upper School history department in 2006, where he taught 9^th grade The West and the World, 11^th grade History of the United States, as well as a popular senior elective on American Government. Beyond these classes, he also stepped in to teach 10^th grade History of East Asia, a feat made possible by his wide-ranging scope of expertise. As a teacher, Steve was somehow able to find the perfect balance of rigor and engagement. And while his expectations were always high, through his own talents, patience, and deep well of empathy, he made students want to reach them. As a storyteller, Steve helped history come alive in his classroom, whether through discussions on the framing of the Constitution, dynamic lectures on the origins of the Civil War, or larger questions about America’s global role in the 21^st century. In the words of one of his students, Elie Goldman ’12:

“Mr. Steinbach reached me with his serious yet warm demeanor. As a former-lawyer-turned-teacher, Mr. Steinbach had well-organized lectures and notes that made me feel like a witness to the history he was teaching. I never wanted him to stop speaking.”

Another former student, Carolyn Peyser ’11, echoed these sentiments:

“Organized, well spoken, and with a great sense of humor, Mr. Steinbach taught us the facts—and then, perhaps more importantly, how to think critically about what we had just learned.”

In particular, his American Government class served as a supportive forum for students to explore and hone their own ideas about our political system, increasingly vital in this age of polarization. It was a tribute to Steve’s gifts in the classroom that his students never quite knew where he stood on an issue, only that he wanted them to think deeply and critically as they formed their own views. Equally important was that they could see first-hand the workings of government, which he made possible through annual field trips to the Supreme Court. Through his teaching, Steve inspired countless students to pursue their interests in American politics, civics, and public service, whether through their academic degrees or adult careers.

Steve’s contributions to Sidwell Friends reached far beyond the walls of the classroom. As chair of the history department, he was instrumental in hiring new faculty and serving as an invaluable mentor to first-year teachers and veterans alike. As a strong champion of faculty voice, he was elected Clerk of the Faculty, and in 2015-2016 clerked the School Working Group on Governance, which produced the Charter of Governance under which the school operates today.   As Upper School English teacher Ashish Patwardhan, who served on the Working Group, said:

“Steve’s clerkship of this monumentally charged committee was masterful: he was uncannily organized, never wasting our time, and he kept us focused and moving forward, all the while making space for everyone’s voice to be heard and duly considered. By the end of those eleven months, Steve had managed the impossible: all four divisions agreed to an overarching framework of how Sidwell ought to be run, and, perhaps more significantly, we agreed on the principles by which we ought to govern ourselves.”

As well as being a prolific reader and generous host, often opening up his home to members of the faculty for discussions and speakers, Steve also taught courses for Yale Alumni College and for the Institute for Constitutional History at George Washington University Law School. In 2022, he co-edited With Liberty and Justice for All? The Constitution in the Classroom, published by Oxford University Press and with a forward by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Steve will be missed tremendously, by members of the history department, by the students, teachers, and staff of the Upper School, and by the Sidwell Friends community as a whole. He leaves a legacy of compassion, deep wisdom, inquiry, and teaching excellence that will continue to inspire others. To quote his son, David ’12:

“It is hard to imagine a teacher more devoted to his or her craft than my dad. Dad’s unwavering commitment, day in and day out, was what made him one of the best, toughest, and most respected teachers in the school. It is what made every one of dad’s students over the years beyond lucky to learn from him. And it is why I cannot count the number of times I have heard—from friends and strangers alike, even to this day—some variant of the phrase, ‘Your dad is an unbelievable history teacher.’”

We thank Steve for all he’s given us and wish him all the best in his retirement – even as we know that Steve always has additional adventures planned. Here’s to more time with your family, more world travel, and even more books!