Lawrenceville Celebrates Faculty Value: Perseverance

Lawrenceville faculty members have honored colleagues who embody the values that define the School community — commitment, courage, enthusiasm, friendship, honesty, initiative, kindness, leadership, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, and thoughtfulness. These values guide daily work in the classroom, Houses, and programs across campus, shaping a culture built on shared purpose. Aly Dowey was honored for perseverance.

When Aly Dowey heard her name announced as the recipient of Lawrenceville’s award for perseverance, she could hardly believe it. The science teacher, assistant head of house, and coach of the girls’ and lacrosse team explained, “One of my friends across the table started grinning at me, and I thought, ‘Wait a second—this might actually be happening,’” she said.

The honor, she added, carried deep meaning. “To feel recognized here was really special,” Dowey said. “For me, it’s simply about stepping in and doing what needs to be done.” Dowey has embraced Lawrenceville’s culture of teamwork, growth, and resilience. Her personal motto captures it best: “Find a way, or make one.”

That mindset defined her first year at Lawrenceville when she eagerly took on extra responsibilities. “My answer was just, ‘Put me in, coach,’” she recalled. “If something needed doing, I got it done. The goal was always to make sure the students felt supported.”

Her outlook is shaped by her background as a high-level athlete. A lacrosse midfielder turned defender, she learned early that some of the most important jobs come without applause. “Defense is where you only get noticed if something goes wrong,” she said. “But I knew the team was benefiting, and that mattered more than recognition.”

That same team-first approach carries into her teaching and coaching. With colleagues, she emphasizes collaboration – balancing workloads and stepping in when needed. With students, she highlights persistence in the face of challenges.

On the very first day of class, for example, she handed out children’s puzzles – without the picture on the box. “The idea was to show them it’s okay not to have a clear path,” she said. “Take a step, learn something, adjust. That’s perseverance.”

On the fields, whether leading girls’ varsity lacrosse or junior varsity field hockey, she encourages athletes to embrace the same mindset. “Sometimes it’s about competing at the highest level, and sometimes it’s about building the team connection. Both matter,” she said.

Dowey would know. During her own playing career, she was a four-year starting defender and senior captain on the Bates College women’s lacrosse team. She went on to coach at the collegiate level, spending five years as a Division I assistant at Iona University in New York (where she taught chemistry) and a year on the coaching staff of the Welsh National Women’s Lacrosse Team. She is also an experienced high school educator, having taught chemistry and coached girls’ lacrosse at Blair Academy. Dowey earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bates College in 2015 and a master’s degree in Food Biotechnology from the University of Leeds in 2019.

Above all, she hopes her students carry perseverance far beyond their years at Lawrenceville. “Life is going to challenge you,” she said. “Being able to pause, figure out what’s important, and keep moving forward—that’s a skill you’ll use forever. Forward is always better than stationary.”

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.