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Lifetime Achievement Award for this Teacher

Generations of Village students honor St. Luke’s Snyder before he retires

By Paulette Safdieh

After 38 years of teaching math and social studies to the students of St. Luke’s School, Rob Snyder certainly raised expectations of teachers there. Snyder has seen students and their children walk through his 5th- and 6th-grade classrooms, making him an icon for the West Village community.

Snyder’s consistent use of innovative teaching methods and his ability to establish school traditions, like the 5th-grade musical and the student-made Egypt museum, earned him a Blackboard Award. The parents, students and teachers at St. Luke’s agree there is no better time to honor Snyder, since he will be retiring at the end of the year.

“People used to ask me how I manage to keep fresh after so many years,” said Snyder, who was the first at the school to use a Smart Board—an interactive whiteboard—in his classroom. “I was always interested in bringing new things to the school, and my love of drama played into that.”

Ann Mellow, who served as head of school for 12 years, considers Snyder, 66, a master teacher in his ability to blend classicism with creativity.

“Teaching will lose one of its finest teachers, but his impact will live on in each of the lives, minds and hearts that he has shaped,” said Mellow, who left the school in 2007.

The gift of reaching young minds and spreading knowledge came naturally to Snyder, whose father was also an educator.

“The idea of teaching and service was always in me,” he said.

After a short job in New Jersey, he moved to St. Luke’s, where he’s been ever since.

“The St. Luke’s community is remarkable. It’s a small town in a big city,” he said.

Many former students feel lucky that their own children ended up in Snyder’s classroom, too. Sarah Edwards was part of his 1974 class and her daughter, Victoria Manning, had Snyder as a teacher
in 2009.

“He really is such an amazing and inspirational teacher,” said Edwards.

Many of Snyder’s past and current students got together at the school recently to celebrate his career.

“Whenever a student graduates, the student’s name is called and the head of school reads a tribute about his or her strengths and what we love about them, and they did that for me,” said Synder of the gathering. His “favorite singer” Rosanne Cash, daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash and mother of three St. Luke’s students, performed a mini-concert for her biggest fan.

Although Snyder is retiring from his teacher role, he accepted a part-time position as director of alumni affairs.

“This is all a shame in a way,” Snyder said of the attention surrounding his retirement. “I’ll still be around.”

He does plan to take advantage of his newly open schedule by traveling with friends. “My retired friends like to travel and they’ve always had to go on my schedule, during summer break. Now we’ll be going to New Zealand in February.”

Randi Cardia is one of many parents who feel fortunate to have had Snyder play a part in her children’s education. Cardia’s two sons, who are now in high school, still recognize Snyder as their favorite teacher.

“All I can say is there must be some kind of magic going on behind his classroom door,” said Cardia, who describes Snyder as one of “the most dedicated, patient, compassionate, kind and wise teachers at St. Luke’s.”

Fellow parent Lisa Barry agrees. “He is perhaps the most important asset that St. Luke’s has had over its lifetime.”

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Rob Snyder
St. Luke’s School
487 Hudson St.