By, Annie A. ’21

As our new students adjust to the pace of the busy school year, a handful of teachers and staff do as well. 

Our new staff includes Jason C., who joins Winsor as a Tech Support Specialist, while Liz M. joins as a Controller for the Business Office. Students can also find Alea S. in the library as a pre-professional librarian and Sharon Jones P. as the new Head of Lower School. As part of our arts curriculum, Mia Rosenblatt T. will teach Lower School Visual Arts, while Penny Pan O. joins as part of the music faculty in the Performing Arts Department. 

On the academic side, Maren K. and Jonathan S. join the Lower School as an English and Science teacher respectively, while Sonja V. and Jean L.-D. join the Upper School as a Spanish and Chemistry teacher respectively. Lastly. Adam N. joins the athletic faculty as our Head Athletic Trainer and part time Lower School Physical Education teacher.

We got the chance to speak with three of our new faculty and staff, and we hope that everyone will give all the new faces a friendly welcome!

Ms. V.

Language Department

What is your spirit animal?

Can I give you a hard-hitting answer? I don’t like the term spirit animal because it is taken from a culture that is not ours. I really like the word patronus. Definitely my dog Scout. She’s a miniature schnauzer. She’s my patronus. She’s bilingual and makes her opinions very known, and I feel that embodies me pretty well.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Literally whatever Ben and Jerry’s is in front of me. They don’t do a bad flavor, so there’s no wrong choice there.

What classes are you teaching?

Spanish 2.

How has your first month at Winsor been?

It’s been great. Winsor’s awesome, everyone’s super friendly. Really fun to teach the classes. I think I’ve figured out my way around the school; I can get to the cafeteria from multiple locations, and that’s what’s really important.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’ve heard a lot about Spirit Week. I’m pretty excited about that. I think the bar has been set very high…. You have to feel at least 5% embarrassed to go out in public. 

Mr. S.

Science Department

What is your spirit animal?

I joke that I’m like this stuffed animal called Rilakkuma. It’s this little bear, and basically, his name means, in Japanese, relax, and kuma is bear, so he’s relax bear. 

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Whatever Ben and Jerry’s thing, whatever their most crazy flavor that has everything in it. I think they have one called the [everything but the kitchen sink] that has cookie dough and chocolate chunks and brownies and cookies and everything mixed in.

What classes are you teaching?

I teach Class II and Class IV. In Class II, I’m teaching human body systems, and then in Class IV, I’m teaching IPS.

How has your first month at Winsor been?

It has been really good so far. It’s been challenging adjusting to a new school system. Like I’m meeting a whole student body and a whole faculty body, I’m learning the system, how we grade here. Like Haiku and WILD and all this stuff, so I’m learning a lot, which is always the hardest part. I feel like I’m in a routine. The faculty has been super friendly, and the students have been really wonderful. Really energetic and positive!

What are you most looking forward to?

I think I’m looking forward to getting more comfortable. Like once I know everybody and know the system I look forward to be settled in and I just feel like I would be more relaxed. I just don’t feel like I feel quite settled in yet. So, I look forward to really being a part of the community. Thank you for being so welcoming. It’s been a transition, but the school, everything about it has been really really fun and every day is different. It’s really nice to get to know the kids. 

Ms. L.-D.

Science Department

What is your spirit animal?

Probably a cat. 

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Chocolate.

What classes are you teaching?

Honors and Standard Chemistry.

How has your first month at Winsor been?

Extremely busy. I’ve really learned a huge amount, mainly all the organization and using the computer, so using Haiku and WILD. 

What are you most looking forward to?

Getting to know all the students better. That’s really the best thing so far, and I look forward to knowing you even better.  I’m very proud to be here because this is an exceptional community of students, faculty, administrators, staff. It’s an amazing community. Everyone here is so lucky to be at Winsor. 

We extend a warm welcome to these new members of the Winsor community and look forward to the year ahead