Orly Hasbani began teaching in 2002 and has worked at Academy School since 2007. She taught third grade for many years and switched to teaching k-6 enrichment in the fall of 2017. Now she is Assistant Principal! Orly received her masters degree in education from Antioch University and a BS from Tufts University where she studied biology and music. She was also premed but happily changed course after getting her undergraduate degree and hasn't regretted it since. Orly strives to infuse independence and critical thinking in her students. She feels strongly about building a welcoming community for all where students can learn and grow. When she's not at school, she enjoys hiking, painting, and reading.

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 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 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!

Academy’s kindergarten and 1st grade art class builds a foundation of art techniques, tools, and fundamentals. Most of the artroom projects focus on shapes, colors, and form as they make art books, draw animals, paint dragons, and build castles. Some projects are in collaboration with EL learning with the classroom teacher and other projects are open ended to allow for choice and exploration.

Academy School’s 2nd - 6th grade artroom has transitioned from a traditional art class to a choice-based learning environment also known as Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). TAB is a nationally recognized pedagogical approach to art education where students are considered artists and are given the agency to direct their own learning and creative processes.

Angela acts as a facilitator and studio manager, moving away from traditional, teacher-directed, step-by-step projects. The classroom is set up as an art studio with five media specific studio centers. There are painting, drawing, fiber arts, sculpture, and special projects tables.

This approach to art education encourages autonomy and confidence as the students explore materials, build on ideas, and make mistakes. Some students focus on one medium and build mastery, while others explore many materials throughout the year. Building upon their ideas, students are requesting robotics, lights, batteries, and motors so the art room has become a STEAM lab as well.

Angela's favorite part of the (TAB) approach is the community mindset that is growing in the classroom. Students are collaborating, teaching each other new techniques, becoming leaders by helping each other, and utilizing creative problem solving to create unique works of art and inventions.

Mr. O'Brien has an MATESOL degree from SIT. He speaks a few languages and has traveled to several countries. He believes that our ML students bring many assets that enrich our school community.

​

Heidi is a Teacher for Multilingual Learners

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 is the Spanish Teacher at Academy School