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faculty & staff
The Grammar School’s faculty represents a cross section of highly qualified teachers with varied and unique life experiences and talents, which they bring to their classrooms every day.
Charlie Boswell (B.A. University of New Hampshire, MALS candidate
Dartmouth College) Fifth Grade Teacher. Charlie earned his B.A. in
English at UNH. Prior to coming to TGS in 1996, Charlie taught English
and sculpture at The Putney School. Charlie has served as the athletic
director at TGS and has coached cross-country running and cross-country skiing.
cboswell@tgs-putney.org
Ken Brautigam (B.A. Beloit College: candidate MAT Colgate University) Preschool Teacher. Ken brings to TGS a wealth of varied life
experiences, including work as a Peace Corps volunteer for 3 years in
Niger, West Africa. Prior to teaching at TGS, Ken taught pottery and
was the assistant librarian at Putney School. In 1994, Ken was the
preschool assistant and in 1995 he became the head teacher.
kbrautig@tgs-putney.org
Amy Cann (B.Mus, Crane School Of Music, SUNY) Music and Drama teacher.
Amy's experience includes 16 years of K-12 vocal teaching for the
Westminster, VT and Poughkeepsie, NY school systems. She performs as a
violinist, pianist, fiddler and dance caller. She teaches violin and
traditional music and dance at The Putney School, directs frequent
community and children's touring theater productions, and maintains a
private violin/piano studio in Westminster West.
acann@putneyschool.org
William Chambers (B.A. Sarah Lawrence College; M.Ed. Antioch New
England Graduate School) Fourth Grade Teacher. William taught a
combined first/second grade in Westminster and spent four years
teaching fourth and fifth grade in Saxtons River. Prior to classroom
teaching, William taught puppetry and outdoor adventure skills to
school groups in New England. William began at TGS in 2004. In
addition to teaching, William is the Director of Summer Programs. wchamber@tgs-putney.org
Libby McCawley Cowan (B.A. Kirkland College, M. Ed. Antioch University
New England) Pre-school Assistant. Libby has previously worked in a
variety of capacities at TGS, most recently as an intern in the Second
Grade and as a long-term substitute in Kindergarten and First Grade.
Carol Cutts B.S. Nursing, University of Vermont) Music Assistant/Recorder and bells grades three through eight. Carol worked 18 years in the Townshend Elementary School as K-3 classroom assistant. She began working at TGS in 1999 as the preschool aid before taking the position as Assistant Music instructor.
hck869@msn.com
Ponnie Derby (B.S. Education, University of Texas; M.L.S., Simmons College) Librarian. Ponnie previously worked as a librarian at the University of Texas. She has also served as a board member of the Moore Free Library and as a member of Windham County Reads. Ponnie has been the TGS Librarian since 1994.
pderby@tgs-putney.org
Miriam Dror (B.A. and M.A. University of Maryland) Counselor and Coordinator of the Human Development curriculum. Miriam has worked in the U.S and England as a therapist and educator in Human development. She was Director of Counseling at Marlboro College in Vermont for 15 years before moving to Arizona, where she worked as a Counselor at a K-8 school on the Navajo Reservation. She returned to Vermont and joined TGS in 2006.
Laurie Penfield Fichter (B.A. University of New Hampshire, M.A. Georgetown University) Seventh and Eighth Grade English, Secondary School Advisor, Upper School Coordinator, and American Studies Instructor. Laurie’s previous teaching experience includes positions at the New Canaan Country School in Connecticut and at The Putney School. She began her career at TGS as the sixth grade teacher in 1997.
lfichter@tgs-putney.org
Darcy Gibney(B.A. Colgate University, MAT Manhattanville College) Kindergarten Teacher. Most recently, Darcy worked as a Kindergarten Aide at Chester-Andover Elementary school and the Children’s Librarian at Whiting Library in Chester. She began her teaching career in New Canaan Country School as an apprentice in a multi-age 1-2 class and in 3rd grade. She went on to teach third grade at The Town Hill School in Lakeville, Connecticut for 2 years and Second Grade at Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich Rhode Island for 4 years. Darcy started at TGS in 2005. dgibney@tgs-putney.org
Johanna Gardner (BA, Mount Holyoke College) French Teacher. Johanna has taught at World Learning, Kroka Expeditions and Greenfield High School. She has lived in Norway and France. She is on the board of the Newfane Elementary School and is a long-time resident of Newfane, where she lives with her husband and three children.
jgardner@tgs-putney.org
Paul Hopkins (“Hop”) (B.S., University of Oregon; M.S. Antioch
University New England) Science Teacher and Academic Support. Prior
to coming to TGS in 2006, Hop taught health at Bellows Falls High
School and Lynch Middle School in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He has also
taught science in Bogotá, Colombia, and in rural North Carolina, where
he was a charter member of Teach For America. He lives in Saxtons
River with his wife and daughter.
phopkins@tgs-putney.org
Valerie Kosednar(B.A. and M.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison) Music Teacher, Kindergarten through Second grade, Third and Fourth Chorus. Valerie earned both her degrees in Music Education. She was active as a consultant, researcher, and educator in Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York City, where she taught at the prestigious Little Red School House. While in NYC, she also spent 4 years consulting for children’s musical television programs including NICKELODEON’s Gullah Gullah Island and Dora, the Explorer. Valerie started at TGS in 2004.
val_sings@hotmail.com
Linda Kosiba(B.S. Speech Pathology, SUNY Albany, M.Ed Deaf Education, Western Maryland College) Third Grade Teacher. Linda was a speech and
language therapist in Colchester, Vermont, and she taught in a
mainstreamed deaf education classroom in Marlborough, New Hampshire.
For several years, Linda was an upper elementary teacher at the Austine
School for the Deaf and then she taught third grade at the Green Street
School, both in Brattleboro. When Linda arrived at TGS in 1993, she
provided Academic Support for two years before becoming the third grade
teacher. In 2004, Linda assumed the job of Assistant to Head of School
for curriculum development as an additional responsibility. For
several years, she has also enjoyed the job of soccer coach for the TGS
third/fourth grades soccer team.
lkosiba@tgs-putney.org
Alli Lubin (B.A. Barnard College) Head of Music Department and
Technology Administrator. For the past 37 years, Alli has been a
performer and teacher of music in Vermont. She has taught elementary
school music in Manchester, Wardsboro and Winhall, as well as special
classes and projects at Flood Brook, Burr and Burton Seminary, West
River Montessori School, Springfield Community College, and Putney
School. Alli came to TGS in 1993 and has been Technology Administrator
since 1998.
alubin@tgs-putney.org
Eve McDermott(B.A. University of Vermont; M.Ed. Boston College) Second Grade Teacher. Eve taught third grade in Wilmington, VT for several
years and then taught fourth through sixth grades in the Brattleboro
elementary schools. Prior to teaching, Eve worked at the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston as director of the publications exchange program
and library assistant. Eve began teaching at TGS in 1994..
emcdermo@tgs-putney.org
Ginny Motes (B.S. Rhode Island College) First Grade Teacher. Ginny
came to TGS in 1987 with 11 years of teaching experience. Before
joining TGS, she was head teacher at Athens Elementary School. Ginny
has also taught in Grafton, Westminster, Bellows Falls, and
Springfield. Ginny has taught at The Grammar School for the last 20
years.
gmotes@tgs-putney.org
Mary Heller Osgood (B.A. Dartmouth College) Seventh Grade homeroom,
math, geography, and physical skills development, and sixth grade
English. A 1968 TGS graduate, Mary began teaching at the school in
1986. She has taught a range of subjects and worked as an Academic
Support tutor to students in the fifth through eighth grades, and also
has coached cross-country running and skiing for many years.
mosgood@tgs-putney.org
Kathy Richardson
(B.A. California State College; C.M.A. Laban/Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies, New York) Sixth Grade homeroom, math, social studies, PSD and eighth grade algebra. An
alumna and former parent, Kathy has taught a 3/4 and 3/4/5 combination
classes previously at TGS. She has also instructed area youth in dance
and gymnastics. Kathy is currently working towards a graduate degree
in mathematics education at UVM.
kyoung@tgs-putney.org
Jared Stolper (BS music theory SUNY Geneseo, Biology SUNY Geneseo, MA
music Norwich University) Instrumental music for 7th and 8th grade.
Jared has taught music in New England on levels that range from
Kindergarten to college since 1976. Jared enjoys oudoor sports and has
a passion for traveling and enjoying the music found throughout the
world.
Tara Sullivan (MFA Southern Illinois University) Art Teacher. Tara
began teaching Art at The Grammar School in 2000. Tara has taught at
Keene State College and Putney School, Putney Community Day Care Center
and for Elderhostel. She has enjoyed the imaginations of artists
between the ages of two to eighty-two.
tsulliva@tgs-putney.org
Rebecca Waxman, is a director and educator with an extensive background
in theater, film, and television. She is a graduate of Vassar College
and the American Repertory Theater Institute at Harvard, and has spent
many years acting professionally in NYC, LA and in regional theaters
across the country. Upon moving to Vermont she obtained her Masters in
Education from Antioch New England and pursued a child-centered
lifestyle through parenthood and teaching. She now directs student
productions, trains actors of all ages, and coaches children in
preparation for auditions.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Dick Donovan Bus Driver.
Dick retired in 1995 from the Anderson Area
Medical Center in Anderson, S.C. where he had been the Director of the
Hospital Substance Treatment Facility in Williamstown, S.C. He lives
in Putney and is the grandfather of TGS student Katelyn Donovan. Dick
has been driving the TGS school bus on the Brattleboro route since 1998.
Deb Gray (B.A. University of Vermont) Business Manager, Physical Skills
Development Teacher and Athletic Director. A Putney native and
graduate of Putney School, Deb has helped coach numerous sports at TGS
in addition to her administrative duties. She has taught PSD since
1998. Deb was the TGS bookkeeper in 1988 and has been Business Manager
since 1990.
dgray@tgs-putney.org
Mark R. Green (A.B. Hamilton College, M.Ed. Antioch NE) Director of
Development. Mark has over 17 years experience working in independent
schools. He has served as a teacher and Director of Development at the
Greenwood School, as Associate Director of Admissions and Director of
Financial Aid at Putney School, Director of Admissions at the Verde
Valley School in Sedona, AZ, and Associate Director of Alumni Relations
and the Annual Fund at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth
College. Prior to his role at Thayer, Mark served for four years as
Director of Development at TGS.
mkgreen@tgs-putney.org
Chris Harlow(B.A. Plymouth State College) Plant Manager and PSD
Instructor. Chris has been in charge of transportation and buildings
and grounds since 1990. He has been coaching the Upper School soccer
team since 2000. Chris also teaches PSD classes, and is a certified
instructor for ropes course and orienteering classes.
charlow@tgs-putney.org
Kathleen Hathaway (B.A. University of Michigan) Kathleen was hired as
part-time, roving “assistant” in 2007. Her duties include helping with
maintenance and repair of the school buildings and grounds, and
assisting in the office and classrooms. She also serves as executive
director of a community foundation based in Queens, NY and has been
employed in the independent energy business for nearly 20 years.
Marcia Leader(B.S., R.N. Russell Sage College) Director of Admissions and School Nurse. Marcia has been admissions director since 1991. Since 1979, Marcia has also been a parent, trustee and faculty member at TGS, starting as the third grade teacher in 1986.
maleader@tgs-putney.org
Steve Lorenz(BA University of Dayton, MS C.W. Post College, LIU). With over 25 years experience in education, Steve, of
Chester,VT has most recently been the executive director of a museum
and environmental education center in Grafton,VT and previously served
as the principal of the Saxtons River School in Saxtons River,VT. He
has taught in first, fourth, sixth, seventh and eleventh grade. Steve
began as the Head of School at TGS in September of 2006.
slorenz@tgs-putney.org
Tara Meinhard (B.A. Haverford College) Math Eighth grade, Bookkeeping. Tara has been at TGS since 2001. A Vermont native and TGS graduate, Tara worked at The Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia before returning to Vermont in 2000. She teaches a section of 8th grade math, works in the business office, and coordinates the schedule and student reports.
tmeinhar@tgs-putney.org
Marcia Toole Bus Driver. Marcia has been driving the Walpole bus for TGS since 1996. She spent fifteen years as a commercial driver. Marcia lived in Boston eleven years and drove the school bus for the first three years of school desegregation
Tammy White Office Manager/Extended School Program Director. Tammy cares for the day to day running of The Grammar School for faculty, staff, students, and parents. Tammy also began the Extended School Program in September of 2006. Tammy started at TGS in 2004. tamwhite@tgs-putney.org