SJA Announces Eleven New Faculty and Ten New Staff Members

St. Johnsbury Academy recently announced the addition of eleven new faculty members and ten new staff members who joined the school community at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, several current faculty and staff members have taken on new roles this year.

 

Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell said, “Our newest cohort of faculty and staff brings an exciting array of skills and talents to SJA, with energy and fresh perspectives to share. Those current faculty and staff who have moved to new roles bring experience, institutional knowledge and wisdom. We’re fortunate to have such a strong, connected, creative group of employees to make the Academy what it is.” 

 

Faculty

 

Callahan Beck ’19 joins the Social Studies Department and recently received her BS in political science with a minor in writing from the University of Vermont. Callahan also served as a Teaching Intern at the UVM Children’s School while attending UVM. Callahan will serve as a proctor in Cramton House.

 

Michael Deming received his Associate’s Degree from Central Maine Community College and is now a member of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department, where he will teach Automotive.

 

Karla Elizalde joins the Languages Department as a Spanish teacher. Karla has a BA in education and a minor in language and linguistics from the University of Guayaquil. Karla was most recently an English teacher at Unidad Educativa Mercantil.

 

Richard Kearney is the school’s new Driver’s Education instructor. Richard has a BA in liberal arts from Johnson State College and an Advanced Certificate for Mental Health/Substance Abuse from Trinity College of Vermont. He joins us from Woodstock Union High School where he taught Driver’s Ed for nine years.

 

Jack Keffer has joined the English Department to teach College Writing. He holds a BA from Franklin and Marshall College.  He will serve as a proctor in Waterman Dorm.

 

Tomas Ketcham will be teaching in the Math Department. Tomas holds a BA in math/economics from Temple University and an MA in math education from Columbia University. Tomas most recently worked at Temple University and La Salle University, where he served as an Adjunct Math Teacher.

 

Ethan Lipson has joined the English Department and has a BA in art history and English from Tufts University. He will serve as a proctor in the Green Dorm.

 

Jack Palmer is teaching Woodworking as a member of the CTE Department. Jack most recently worked at Oxbow High School in Bradford, Vermont, and the Telluride School District in Colorado.

 

Kerra Photiades returns to the school’s English Department after receiving her Masters in English from the University of Virginia. Kerra received her BA in English/secondary ed. with a minor in philosophy from St. Michaels College. She will serve as a proctor at the Lambert House.

 

Jeff Roberts has been hired to start the school’s new Plumbing and Heating Program within CTE. Jeffrey joins us from the private sector, where he worked as a technician in the field.

 

Matt Snodgrass has also joined the Mathematics Department. Matt has a BA in justice with a minor in math/stats from the University of Alaska, an MS in statistics from Carnegie Mellon University and PhD in public policy from Carnegie Mellon. Matt most recently taught at the Waterford School.

 

Staff

 

David Cote has joined the Facilities Department as a custodian.

 

Troy Engle is our new Athletic Director. Troy has a BA in economics from Amherst College and an MS in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. Since 2014, Troy has led several sporting initiatives for the nation of Singapore. As the Director of Coaches (2014-2018), Troy was responsible for shaping and implementing the formal and informal education for all coaches in Singapore’s nationally funded programs. More recently, Troy created a children and youth sports framework through the Singapore National Children and Youth Sports Initiative, with a focus on promoting widespread youth participation, youth wellness and the vertical development of sports programming from youth through high-performance athletics.

 

Brynn Evans ’98 has returned to the Advancement Department as the Director of Development. Brynn holds a BA from Plattsburgh SUNY in sociology with a minor in cultural anthropology and an MBA from Plymouth State College in business administration with a concentration in the human side of enterprise.

 

Bryna McCarty has been hired as a grounds technician and custodian with the Facilities Department. Bryna has an Associate’s Degree in architectural engineering from Vermont Technical College.

 

Kevin McCarthy is the new Library Outreach Coordinator after serving in an interim position during the spring semester.

 

Wayne Perry has joined the Facilities Department as a grounds specialist.

 

Brandon Putvain has joined the Facilities Department as a custodian.

 

Gabrielle Robillard ’10 has returned to the Nurse’s Office to provide weekend coverage. Gabrielle earned a BS from Stonehill College in health sciences and an ADN in nursing from Vermont Technical College.

 

Jean Wheeler ’78 has been named the Curriculum Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Career and Technical Education Department. Jean has a BS in human services from Springfield College and an MS in education from Lyndon State College. Most recently Jean was the Dean of Students at Lyndon Town School for the 2022-2023 school year and, prior to that, served five years as the principal at Oxbow High School.

 

Allison Willard ’00 is the new Assistant Nurse. Allison has an ADN in nursing from Vermont Technical College, a BA in liberal arts from Lyndon State College and an AA in liberal arts from Flathead Valley Community College.

 

Several Academy faculty and staff have taken on new responsibilities and titles:

 

Steve Jolliffe has been named the Dean of Faculty.

 

John Lovett ’01 is working with student leadership and the dorm council and helping with the HILLS program as part of the Student Life team, in addition to his teaching and coaching responsibilities.

 

Matt O’Brien ’09 is now the Class Dean for the Class of 2026 and will continue as a guidance counselor and dorm proctor in the Green Dorm.

 

Patrick Rainville has been elevated to the position of Associate Athletic Director in addition to being the head coach for varsity boys’ basketball.

 

Alan Ruggles ’84 returns to the Alumni and Development office as the Director of Stewardship and Cultivation after serving as the interim Athletic Director for the 2022-2023 school year.

 

Katy Smith ’99 is now the Class Dean for the Class of 2027 in addition to her ESL teaching responsibilities.

 

Dale Urie ’86 has been named the Dean of Students after serving in an interim role last year.