Mr. Tuleja, Williston’s Academic Dean, is very busy, between working in his office, teaching music, and coaching cross country. You might have emailed him to add or drop a class or to rearrange your schedule. But outside of the Schoo house, Mr. Tuleja has a variety of interests and hobbies you may have not known about.

Mr. Tuleja got his master’s degree in flute performance. He taught music at Williston starting in 1983. His full-time job before Williston included teaching 35 private lessons a week in New Jersey. He still teaches flute lessons on the side.

Before going back to school for his master’s degree, Mr. Tuleja had a variety of jobs in the music industry. “I played a lot of music, moved a lot of pianos, and tuned pianos,” he explains. Later he started to teach flute lessons as another way to make money in his 20s.

While living in New Brunswick, NJ, a city known for punk rock and underground music, Mr. Tuleja played in rock ’n roll bands for eight years. His bands would practice in Brooklyn, NY, then play around New Brunswick where he attended Rutgers University. He played an electric piano and even had an electric adaptation for his flute. As we all know from his presentations at assemblies, Mr. T.  still practices music today and teaches Williston’s AP Music Theory class.

His interest in teaching in a classroom came from the connections he made with students while teaching private flute lessons in New Jersey. But despite coming from a family of teachers, Mr. Tuleja notes, “I didn’t really think that I would be teaching while I was in high school, or college.”  He continues, “It kind of came to me.” However, Mr. Tuleja does not regret where he is now. “It was the best decision I ever made,” he notes.

Regarding his affinity for language, Mr. Tuleja says, “I love English, I love reading, and I love words.” He taught in Williston’s English department for nine years and has some of his writing published in poetry journals and even our own Janus. Other Williston English teachers have even taught using some of his work.

Mr. Tuleja is a very busy man, but he always finds time for all of us. He is a beloved member of the Williston community.