John Trapasso

Studies and Volunteer Work, 2002 to 2008
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I want to provide some details about my life from 2002 to 2008, so that you can better understand my somewhat novel path.

By June of 2002 I had completed 17 years of teaching at three outstanding independent schools, including most recently a 14-year tenure at San Francisco Day School. At this juncture in my career, I decided to take time to pursue my life-long studies in Indian philosophy and culture. In essence, I decided to take my own self-financed sabbatical beginning in June 2002. I did not take a break from teaching because I was burned out or seeking a career change; in fact, I love teaching and am a teacher through and through. The goal of my sabbatical was to deepen my understanding of Indian society and to spend time in India, where I had studied for a year as an undergraduate in college.
At the start of my sabbatical I thought I would take a year or two off from teaching, but a number of opportunities arose that enabled me to extend my time studying and to work as a volunteer for two wonderful, non-profit, educational institutions in India.

In August 2008 I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area, resumed my teaching career, and settled into a long tenure at Hilldale School in Daly City, California. 

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