BAY RIDGE — As an Air Force wife, Rachel Runyan has lived on military bases across the country while her husband, Michael, has moved from post to post. 

It’s a lifestyle that doesn’t offer much of an opportunity to put roots down in a specific place, but Rachel said she feels truly at home at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy, where she teaches third grade while living at the Fort Hamilton Army Base located in the same Brooklyn neighborhood.

“It’s an amazing place to be,” she said of the academy, where she has worked for two years. “I know people say that about their schools, but I really mean that because we got here and we didn’t know anyone. We enrolled 12 days before school started, and we were just really treated like family.” 

“I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of this community,” she added. 

Rachel and Michael’s children — son Ezra, 11, and daughter Ava, 9 — are enrolled at the academy and are active members of the school community. Both kids play violin and ukulele, and Ava sings in the school choir. 

Michael is an Air Force technical sergeant serving as a health professions recruiter. In that role, he recruits doctors and nurses to serve in the military. He has been stationed in New York since 2021.

The Runyans, who have been married for 15 years, have previously lived on military bases in California and Maryland and have endured Michael’s three deployments overseas during their time together.

Rachel previously taught pre-kindergarten in the public school systems where Michael was stationed. While looking for work in 2023, she was brought in for an interview at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy and fell in love as soon as she walked through the door.

She recalled being led on a tour of the building by Principal Paul Morisi and telling herself this was the place for her. 

It’s her first experience teaching at a Catholic school. While Rachel is not Catholic, she is impressed by the academic rigor that a Catholic school provides, as well as the foundation of faith that is emphasized.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew obviously that we would be living the Catholic faith in our classroom and in our curriculum and really practicing those things every day in every subject,” she said. “But I didn’t realize how much that would tie into the family and community of it all.

“We are here for each other, and we support each other.” 

Morisi was pleased to hear how much she enjoys teaching at his school. 

“Mrs. Runyan has been a teacher in several different states in our country, so it makes me feel really good to know that someone with such experience feels that we have done a good job of fostering a healthy and safe environment,” he said.

The Runyans are originally from Maryland. They admitted to finding New York City challenging at first after living most of their lives in smaller communities. However, Michael said the family-oriented atmosphere at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy helped ease the stress of big-city living.

“Coming here, it was a little bit overwhelming,” Michael said. “I think once we found Bay Ridge Catholic [Academy] it took a lot of that pressure off. I think it felt a lot more tight-knit. It’s like a family bringing you in.” 

Michael is also happy to see Rachel fulfilled in her career, calling it a “blessing” that she found the right fit.

Rachel noted, with a smile, that aspects of military life have seeped into her teaching style, particularly her sense of self-discipline and time management. 

“I feel like my organization — my ability to order and structure time — makes my classroom run more efficiently and keeps kids able to respond to me better,” she said.

She added that there are times when she gives instructions, and her students respond with a military-like, “Yes, Ma’am!”

Rachel expressed her love for Bay Ridge Catholic Academy, adding she’ll be sorry to leave — something that could happen sometime this year or in 2026 when her husband receives orders for his next assignment.

“I know I’m not going to find a workplace as pleasant, and I know that it will be hard for my kids to find a school community like this again,” Rachel said.