Justin Baker joined the Gilman team in 2008 and became chair of the Upper School English Department in 2024. Throughout his career at Gilman, he has served as junior form chair, varsity and Middle School baseball coach, faculty admissions ambassador, and associate director of college counseling.

Q&A

What was your best teaching moment?
I love teaching American Literature of the Sixties. My favorite part of that class is introducing students to the amazing music, art, and literature of that time period. We start every day with our "Song of the Day," a song from the sixties that is thematically relevant to the literature or history we are studying. Students learn how to listen intentionally to music and learn how to explicate the sonic and lyrical landscapes of historically important songs. Students develop a greater appreciation for artists like Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Janis Joplin, the Beatles, and Nina Simone. 

What is your favorite spot on campus?
The Library Reading Room. It is architecturally inspiring. I always bring my students to that space to write. The muse is always there.

People might not know…
That I am a musician and songwriter. I've been lucky to have opportunities to play my songs at local venues, and I continue to write and record. I was excited to develop and launch a songwriting course at Gilman which is available as a senior English elective.