Welcome Home: New Faces at KUA

Patti joins our KUA community as a member of the Mathematics Department and will serve as the head coach for JV Feld Hockey. She will also be a part of our Dexter-Richards dorm team. While she has taught higher-level mathematics, Patti's passion lies in working with younger students as they learn algebra one and geometry, aiding in their development of confidence in mathematical skills. She joins us from St. Petersburg, Florida, with her wife Heather, and their five rescue pets (three cats and two dogs). They enjoy hiking, reading, and pickleball.  

Diane joins us from L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Spain, as a substitute teacher of Spanish for the Fall 2023 trimester. Although American, Diane has lived in Spain for the last 15 years with her husband Juan. In addition to dual language fluency, Diane has dual country educational experience: she received her Bachelor's in Spanish at the University of Michigan and a master’s degree at Saint Louis University on the Madrid Campus.

Laura Burgess, Admission
Laura joins our Office of Admission after working for the past seven years in admission at Tabor Academy. She has also worked in admission at Emma Willard School and Mercersburg Academy and brings 18 years of boarding school and admissions experience. Laura worked briefly at KUA from 2010-2012 year as a part time English teacher, JV boys’ tennis coach, and tutor in the Learning Center while completing her master's degree at Dartmouth College. She comes to KUA with her partner, Shaun Mayor, and will serve as the dorm head of Bryant Residence Hall. 

Joseph has had a long, successful career, wearing various hats in the educational and community realm. He has served as a school counselor, social worker, teacher, dean of students, private practitioner, and school principal. Last year, Joseph retired from his position as Principal of Enosburg Falls High School, but after a year of retirement, he found himself ready to engage again. Moving to this area also brings him closer to his daughter’s family. In addition to working in the classroom, he will help develop a psychology curriculum which leverages brain science and the process of learning.

Josh is coming to us as KUA’s Director of Enrollment Management, after a very successful four years as the Dean of Enrollment at Wayland Academy in Wisconsin. He has 10 years of admission experience at both independent schools and within colleges – including serving at his alma mater, University of Chicago. Josh is excited to return to the Upper Valley where he previously enjoyed his time as a graduate student at Dartmouth. Josh joins us with his wife, Alecia, and is thrilled for the upcoming academic year. 

Shaun joins our KUA community with his partner Laura Burgess, both of whom are coming to us from Tabor Academy. While there, he taught all levels of mathematics and computer science for the past seven years. Shaun is also a long-time soccer coach, advisor, and dorm head, and originally hails from the United Kingdom. He also is passionate about distance trail running, so you might just catch him on the paths of French's Ledges. 

Adam joins us this year as the George Akerstrom Chair of Athletics and head coach of Girls Varsity Soccer. Most recently, Adam served as the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Norwich University for six years, where he guided the Cadets to three GNAC Championship game appearances, including back-to-back title games in 2016 and 2017. He has coached at the college level for the past nine years. He comes to KUA with his wife, Kate, and their two daughters from Waterbury, VT. 

Tai joins KUA's History Department.  After two years at Brewster Academy and many summers teaching at Cardigan Mountain School, Tai has developed and taught a multitude of history courses and looks forward to jumping into our curriculum. She will assist the JV Girls Hockey and JV Girls Lacrosse teams, and is an experienced dorm parent and advisor. She comes to KUA along with her husband, Billy, who will be working in the Office of Advancement.

Matthew comes to KUA as the first Dean of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. He joins us from Philadelphia after working as an English teacher and Assistant to the Director of DEI at both Lawrence Academy and the White Mountain School. Writing is a passion for Matthew as earned his English degree at Bowdoin College and is currently completing his master’s degree in Screenwriting at the Academy of Art University. Matthew will additionally teach 10th grade English.

Andrew comes to KUA as a science teacher after 10 years as a middle school physics teacher in the Washington, DC, area. A graduate of UCLA and Dartmouth, Andrew started his career as a journalist, writing about science before deciding to teach the subject. 

Greg is an accomplished musician and award-winning instrumental music teacher with 37 years of experience. His most recent position was at Thetford Academy where he taught for 14 years. Greg lives locally and is so enthusiastic about live music, he’s coming out of retirement to teach all three of our ensembles: Purely Orange Jazz, Chamber, and our Rock ensemble. He looks forward to jumping back into the band room and working with our KUA musicians. He will also be participating in the Winter Musical, leading the pit band.

Carl is a professional musician and guitarist who will be traveling the long roads to KUA from his home in Rutland, VT. While on campus, Carl will teach our guitar classes and also offer private guitar lessons. Along with his years of performing, Carl has also been teaching after school guitar classes and working with students in his local school system.

Brig joins our community as a School Counselor and the Girls' Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Before coming to Kimball Union Academy, Brig was the Girls' High School Program Director for Harlem Lacrosse Boston, where she oversaw academics, athletics and the college pathing process for the players within her program. She was also the Head Varsity Girls' Lacrosse Coach for Harlem Lacrosse in Boston from 2017 - 2022.  Brig is originally from Rochester, NY and has a degree from St. Lawrence University in Psychology. After graduating in 2013, she received her Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercyhurst University where she was the Interim Head Women's Lacrosse Coach and led the team to their first PSAC Championship win in the program’s history.