Two new additions to the SAAS faculty (L-R):
September 4, 2009 - We are happy to welcome a wonderful group of new faculty and staff to the Seattle Academy community. Take a minute to check out their biographies below:
We welcome Adrienne Bandlow to our staff. Adrienne’s passion and commitment to young people is long standing and includes work at several area agencies including the Ryther Child Center, the New Beginnings Community Advocacy Program, Ruth Dykeman Youth and Family Services, and most recently, the Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA) Foundation. With a B.A. from Antioch University and a Masters in Public Administration from Seattle University, Adrienne brings 10 years of experience in counseling and advocacy with individuals and families.
Rhonda Cinotto joins us to teach dance classes and direct Dansation, Company A. Rhonda has a B.A. in Dance and an M.F.A., both from the University of Washington. She has had extensive experience in all aspects of dance: she has years of professional performance with companies in the area and she has many directing and choreography credits. Since 2003, she has had various college instruction positions, and her teaching has also included private instruction and working with middle and high schools. Most recently, Rhonda was the General Education Coordinator for the UW Dance Program.
Our new full-time Annual Fund Director, Anne-Marie Guerrero, combines both arts and independent school experience. Previous to SAAS, Anne-Marie held Development/Institutional Advancement positions at University Prep, the INTIMAN Theatre, PONCHO, and the ACT Theatre. She graduated from Mount Holyoke with a liberal arts degree and American University (Washington, DC) with a Master in Arts. She enjoys yoga, photography, theatre, and travel.
Paige Pauli (SAAS ’04, Pitzer '08, UW '09) returns to the Seattle Academy community in the Institutional Advancement Department (formerly Development Department) as our new Alumni Director and Special Projects Coordinator. Prior to SAAS, she had been working in the Dean’s Office of the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington where she helped to coordinate events and facilities, and provided support for the Dean, Graduate Faculty, and the Human Resources and Fiscal Offices. She recently completed the Web and Graphic Design certificate program at the University of Washington enabling her to work as a freelancer in the web, graphic, and print design industry.
Veronica McGowan joins us to teach 7th grade science. Veronica fits in with our tradition of having teachers with training and experience beyond their specific discipline: her B.A. is in Political Science (Rutgers University) and she taught English for a year at Nanjing University of Aeronautics in China. Veronica’s Masters is in Biological Science (Florida Atlantic University), and she is a research scientist (sea turtle specialist), a teacher at state and national parks, and a classroom teacher. She is moving to Seattle after two years in the 6th grade at Wellington Landings Community Middle School in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Ashley Wildhaber will join the PE department, and while she is new to teaching, she has been a part of the Seattle Academy community as our pole vault coach for the last two years. Ashley is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she is second on their All-Time Women’s Pole Vault list. She was an NCAA All-American Award Winner and placed 5th at the 2005 NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships. Continuing our cross-disciplinary theme, Ashley’s B.A. from the UW is in drama!
We are delighted to welcome Christine Tschirgi to a new, full-time costumer position in the arts department. Christine has a B.A. in Design for Theater from San Diego State University and an M.F.A. in Costume Design from the UW. Christine has an extensive list of costuming and design credits, from Chekhov to the Ringling Brothers! If you saw Hello Dolly! At the 5th Avenue Theater last year, you’ve seen Christine’s costumes. Christine was the resident costumer and teacher for six years at Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Lake George, NY, and she is currently the Assistant Costume Shop Manager at the Seattle Repertory Theater.
Carrie Tamburo will be with us part time in the fall term, teaching two Spanish classes for Stephanie Bloom, who will spend the fall trimester with her new son, Julien. Carrie has a PhD. from UCLA, and she has taught both on the high school level (Lakeside School), university level (UW, San Diego State Univ.), and currently at the community college (Seattle Central).
We welcome Hayden Hall to the middle school staff. Hayden will work closely with George Burpee, head of the middle school, in helping to make all aspects of daily life go smoothly for middle schoolers. Hayden is a veteran teacher, but his primary teaching space has been the dance floor! For the last 20 years, Hayden has operated his own DJ business, Mobile One, and he has been DJ-ing our middle school dances for many years. In addition, Hayden has been a Big Brother and a foster parent, and one of his many recognitions was a Golden Acorn Award for volunteer activities at Evergreen Junior High School. In the classroom, Hayden’s specialty is Math and Science (his degree from Antioch University is in Math and Natural Sciences, with a minor in Applied Music), and among his duties at Seattle Academy, he will work closely with the middle school Math Club.
A familiar face returning to Seattle Academy is Fred Feiertag. A graduate of the University of Washington, Fred retired from a distinguished career as a metallurgical engineer at Boeing, after which he taught 7th grade science for us for two years. This coming year, we are launching a pilot project in Materials Science and Product Design, an interdisciplinary project that will embrace the sciences, the arts, technology, and academics in upper school elective classes. Club activities such as robotics will contribute as well, in both middle and upper schools. We call this project our (metaphorical) "Department of Making Things," and our goal is to engage students in a hands-on creative process that requires a high degree of technical expertise, creative vision, disciplined energy, and a collaboration among varied skill sets. Fred and Gabe Cronin are spearheading this exciting new endeavor.
Last but not least, we welcome Barton Truscott to the upper school, where he will teach history and economics and coach tennis. Barton has a B.A. in Government from Wesleyan University and an M.A.T. in History from Occidental College, and for the last ten years he has been teaching, coaching (2007 & 2008 Division 1 boys tennis state champions), and leading outdoor trips at Charles Wright Academy. Barton brings a wealth of administrative experience in his career: he was Director of Upper School Admissions and Financial Aid (Harvard School, CA), Dean of Students (Cate School, CA), and history department co-chair at Charles Wright. Barton wrote a high school economics textbook, published in 2000, and he coached the state championship team in the 2009 Econ Challenge competition. We look forward to all the contributions that Barton will bring to Seattle Academy, and we welcome all the new members to the faculty and staff.
