Fourth Grade
Andrew Speno
4th Grade
Andrew came to Academy School after teaching 5th grade for 7 years at Green Street School. He is proud to have been a member of the 4th grade team at Academy for the past 3 years. Andrew is a long time resident of Brattleboro and a former Academy student. He has a Bachelors degree in Education and Environmental Studies from Union Institute and University and is currently completing a Masters degree in Educational Leadership through Southern New Hampshire University. Andrew enjoys helping students reach their full potential academically and socially in school, as well as how to be responsible citizens in their community.
Anne Moore Odell
4th Grade
A native Vermonter, Anne lives in Brattleboro with her husband, two sons, dog, and three cats. She earned an undergraduate degree in English from Middlebury College, M.F. A. in poetry from Western Michigan University and her teaching degree from Upper Valley Educators Institute. Running, reading, writing, cooking, playing board games, and sewing are some of her favorite activities.
Kate Rabideau
4th Grade
Kate has been a member of the fourth grade team since 2007. She has been teaching for more than 24 years. Kate grew up in the area and lives with her husband and three daughters in Dummerston. She has an undergraduate degree from Keene State College and a postgraduate degree from the University of Vermont. In her free time, Kate enjoys reading, family time, and caring for their horses and cats.
Mary Beth Porter
4th Grade
Mary Beth loves living and teaching in her native state and has been at Academy School since 2009. She graduated from the University of Vermont and later earned a Masters of Education degree from the same institution. This year she returns to to classroom teaching after working to provide small group instruction and interventions at Academy School for fourth graders. She looks forward to the many opportunities Academy has for using outdoor spaces for learning about our world and developing kid-driven solutions to questions and problems we ask and observe about it.
Sue North
4th Grade
Sue North
Sue has worked in the Brattleboro School System since 1988. Twenty or so of those years have been at Academy School. Sue had worked with the Kindergarten Team as academic support in both literacy and math.
Sue loves helping children love to learn. One of her grand daughters attends Academy which makes going to work everyday very special.
This year there have been many changes in all of our lives as our world is in the middle of a pandemic. Sue is currently working in the fourth grade hybrid/remote with Mary Beth Porter, this is a change for her as well. Sue is looking forward to being flexible, and open to changes, and working with older students, most of whom sheI already knows as five year olds. Sweet!
Fourth grade is going to be an exciting academic year for your child. We believe that Fourth Grade is a time for student growth and transitioning into becoming independent learners. Fourth grade standards focus on developing the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that students will need to be successful throughout their academic careers. We are committed to helping each student become more confident in their abilities as thinkers and learners.