Enrichment
Coreen Gallagher
Enrichment
Coreen is our Outreach Coordinator here at Academy School, as well as a PTO member, substitute teacher and parent of two stars. She is from Seattle originally and loves calling Brattleboro her new home. She enjoys planning enrichment activities for students and seeing them thrive outside the classroom in our community. Do you have a field trip idea or a guest speaker you'd like to connect us with- contact Coreen, she can't wait to meet you!
Emily Hartz
Enrichment - Instructional Coach
Emily is delighted to be serving the Academy School community as an Instructional Coach in Project-Based Learning and Outdoor Learning. Emily has worked in various roles in education over the years ( Paraeducator, 3rd Grade Teacher, 5th Grade Teacher, 6th Grade Teacher, Academic Support Teacher, and Environmental Educator). In all of these roles she has most enjoyed collaborating with colleagues and finding joy in nature with students. Emily earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Antioch New England University. Emily holds a current Vermont Educator License. Emily is also a farmer, and lives with her partner, her toddler, and a small and unruly gaggle of chickens.
Eileen Parks
Enrichment - Library
Eileen Parks holds a BA in Art History from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Science (Library) from Simmons College. The library program relies more on reading literature rather than growing tech skills. However, technology is not ignored. Grades four through six learn digital citizenship which includes privacy, safety, media literacy and technology/life balance.
Ms. Parks has worked here since 2007 and enjoys supporting the growth of intellectual curiosity of every student.
Bri Davenport
Enrichment - Music
Bri is the 2-6 General Music and 4-6 Band teacher at Academy School. In music, students sing, say, dance, and play! Students are given the opportunity to explore, create, and perform while developing musical literacy. Throughout the year, students are immersed in a variety of quality music literature, activities, and culturally diverse music experiences. Bri's music classroom is designed to enhance student appreciation for music, understanding of the world, and expression of self.
Bri completed her Orff-Schulwerk Level 1 certification in 2018 at the Eastman School of Music. She holds a Bachelors of Music Education and Performance from Bowling Green State University and a Masters of Voice Performance and Pedagogy from East Carolina University. Previous teaching experience in the South and Midwest allows Bri to bring a unique perspective to the music room. In 2011, she co-founded Bowling Green Children's Opera, a touring company that brings "kid-centered" opera to elementary schools throughout the Midwest.
Kim Gorey
Enrichment -Physical Education
Kim is the Physical Education teacher for grades K-6 at Academy School. She has formerly taught outdoor education around the Midwest and New England, focusing on team building and high ropes facilitation. Kim strongly believes in creating a program that every student can access and find enjoyment in. Social skills are an integral part of each lesson and come into play as students move around, engage with others, and communicate. Kim also enjoys rock climbing, ice hockey, marching bands, and coffee!
Joan Carey
Enrichment- Instructional Coach
Joan is passionate about exploring the natural world with children, and supporting teachers as they discover the joyful learning that happens when students engage in rich and meaningful experiences outdoors. Joan has worked as a classroom teacher, naturalist educator, curriculum designer, and has offered science PD to teachers in WSESD and beyond for the past 15 years. She lives off-grid in a home that she and her husband built. When exploring beyond her own yard, she has been lucky enough to bike and hike in such stunning places as the Swiss Alps, West Africa, The Danube River Valley, and Vancouver's West Coast Trail - but she is partial to the forest behind her home and the back roads of Vermont. Joan's undergraduate degree is in Psychology and Child Development. In graduate school Joan focused on both Environmental Education and Teaching with Technology. Joan holds a current Vermont Educator License. She is so happy to be a part of the Academy School learning community, supporting students and teachers as they make connections and discoveries through science and nature.
Heidi Pancake
Enrichment- Multilingual Education
Heidi is a Teacher for Multilingual Learners
Deb Coombs
Enrichment- Multilingual Education
Deb teaches multilingual learners at Academy School. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Houghton College and her Master of Arts in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from The School for International Training World Learning. She has been teaching ESOL in WSESU since 2001 and is also the Elementary ESL coordinator.
Karina Rojas-Flores
Enrichment- Spanish
Karina is the Spanish Teacher at Academy School
An important aspect of our core curriculum are our enrichment classes. These classes are about fostering creativity in our students... valuing both mind and body, students explore visual arts, movement, music, cultural diversity, and celebration of the human spirit. Our Academy Specials are essential for both personal and academic growth.