Lindsay with her class, February 3, 2012.
A great teacher can transform the course of their students’ lives. Their influence can stretch beyond the classroom, providing friendship, wisdom, and guidance in all future endeavors. Lindsay Pearson, one such great teacher, taught at Riverside for 39 years and retired this summer. Over the course of her career, Lindsay taught over 5,000 students. “Lindsay has a friendly attitude and compassion. She had a huge ocean of patience that made each student love her so much. We could see in every class how much she loved her job and her students,” said former student Lynda ’20.
Lindsay graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College, where she also received a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. She joined Riverside in 1981 at the suggestion of her Hunter College friend and soon-to-be colleague, Lane Serota, who retired in 2019.
As she reflected on her time at Riverside, Lindsay discussed the impact that geopolitical events and domestic policy had on the makeup of Riverside’s student population. She took great pride in introducing new immigrants to New York City and to one another.
“Working with people from so many parts of the world, I’ve learned so many things about life, about how to live. It’s made me a happier person. I’m very thankful to the students for helping me live a better life.”
Lindsay says she probably has a “hundred little stories” about her students. “Riverside has always been the standard… because of the happy environment, the very motivated international students, the supportive colleagues, and the emphasis on subordinating teaching to learning.”
Lindsay continues to stay in touch with her former Riverside students and colleagues, and is now a Riverside language lab volunteer.