A New Student Joins the Gutgold Family

This school year, one Sequoyah teacher welcomed a new student not into their class, but into their home. Teacher, historian, and campus staple Ian Gutgold (Humanities) and his family are celebrating the arrival of their first child, Isaac, introducing a new chapter into their life. As he adjusts to the new member of the family, Gutgold is balancing the demands of teaching with the joy and challenges of parenting. 

Isaac Arnold Gutgold, or Izzy, was born on July 30, 2026. Isaac was the name of Gutgold’s grandfather, who was the first person in his family to come to the United States. Gutgold explains that his grandfather “settled in New York City in the Bronx and was a taxicab driver in New York City.” Isaac was also the name of his great-great-great-grandfather. Ian explains that “part of the reason why I wanted to name my son Isaac is because I want him to be named after an immigrant, and I hope that he will always be kind to immigrants.”

Although he will always love teaching, Gutgold has had new challenges with balancing his work and home life. “I have always really loved my job, and it's different going to work all day and then coming home and taking care of your baby instead of just doing whatever I want to do with my life. So that's a huge change,” says Gutgold.

Fellow parent and humanities department chair Elizabeth Cantwell added onto the topic of balancing teaching and becoming a parent, and how it can have a lot of benefits.“I think that each thing helps the other thing in a weird way…I think being a parent helps me as a teacher because it gives me more perspective and empathy for my students.” Gutgold also mentioned the realization that his students have their own families and circumstances. On his first day back, “I saw all the students in the morning meeting…all of these kids have parents who love them so much, and have tried so hard, and are trying so hard their whole lives to do what's best for their kids.” Gutgold had started thinking of his students from a parents perspective. “It's overwhelming how much all these parents love their kids.”

Being a parent is a big deal. It can alter one's outlook on the world around them. For Gutgold, being a parent has changed the way he sees his students. “I started teaching when I was 23…. I was only five years older than my students. And I really felt like coming back to being a parent … oh, this is like a new era of me as a teacher.” Gutgold feels like having a kid has propelled him into a new era of teaching.

Cantwell had her own perspective on how her kids have changed her outlook on life: “Your life really has to reorient around another person's needs. One of my children, when he was born, was a very high needs baby… he did not sleep well. So that first year of his life was less about me and more about him. But you also realize how certain things that you thought were really, really essential to your life are actually not that important.”

For Gutgold, becoming a father has brought a new perspective to a job that he's been doing for years. He has realized on a deeper level that every student is someone's child. This shift is transforming the way he teaches, and sees his students, and adding even deeper meaning to an already meaningful job. 

We reached out to Izzy for comment, but were unable to personally meet with them due to the fact that they are a newborn baby. However, we were able to give some questions to Ian to ask Izzy. Gutgold asked, “How's your first bit of time on Earth been?” 

Izzy, Coos

“Has it been good?”

Gurgules

“How do you feel about your name?”

Baa

“Do you like izzy?”

Bables

“What's your favorite thing you've tried so far?”

“Milk.”

“I bet.”