Humans of St. Marks — The St. Marker

by Joanna Cheng ‘29 & Ingrid Namala ‘27

The hallways of St. Mark's school are buzzing with new excitement as eight new faculty members bring their unique backgrounds, passions, and expertise to our campus. From our chemistry teacher with deep institutional roots to our multilingual Dean of Students, these faculty members are already shaping the academic and social life of the school while transitioning to their own experience at St. Mark’s.

For the past few weeks, we had the pleasure of interviewing 5 of the new faculty members face to face to hear their unique stories:

For Andrew Russo, joining the St. Mark’s community represents something like homecoming. A St. Mark’s graduate of the class of 2009 who started boarding school at the age of 12, Mr. Russo needs no introduction to the campus layout or traditions. "I know where everything is, so that has been easy," However, the new Chemistry teacher admits that settling into the rhythm of teaching has its own challenges; "Getting organized has been a struggle," he confessed. Mr. Russo also shared an unexpected personal trademark: an Ironman tattoo on his left leg (and yes that is so cool because Joanna also loves Tony Stark). His enthusiasm for school traditions focuses on a particular goal: bringing back cloisterball, a classic competition that he believes can help strengthen community bonds.

At the same time, the Dean’s office and Mathematics department welcomes Mrs. CK Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy’s international background stood out as she has frequently moved throughout her life, with her favorite place being right outside of Frankfurt, Germany. Her adjustment to St. Mark's has been bittersweet: "I'm still struggling to find my rhythm," she admitted, "but the community has been welcoming to my family”. Similarly, Ms. Olivia Szachta also from the Math department acknowledged how her transition has been “smooth and the community is very welcoming”. When not teaching or attending to her duties in the Dean's Office, Mrs. Kennedy often enjoys seeking out the perfect mocha at cafes or cross-country skiing. With her experience across the globe, she emphasized her educational and life philosophy: "Be more curious than certain."

Ms. Amy Kumpel, who also works in the Dean’s office and science department, has experience in various boarding school campuses. She began her transition to St. Mark’s in July which she believed has “been really great,” While she admitted it was “a little lonely at first,” she “got to know the campus and faculty gradually, it’s been a nice transition”. She especially highlighted as “such a meaningful, quiet, reflective, and peaceful place. Holding the door afterward and hearing a chorus of ‘thank yous’ and ‘good mornings.”

Apart from STEM departments, we also welcome Mr. Lachen Reid from Minneapolis, Minnesota in the Religion/philosophy department. Mr. Reid’s transition has been smooth, thanks to our warm environment. “It’s been great,” he reflected, “I really enjoy the subjects that I have been teaching… students here are impressive”. Outside the classroom, Mr. Reid maintains connections with his brother who currently plays hockey at Hamilton College, with plans to visit and cheer on his sibling!

But perhaps no new faculty member embodies international connections like Mr. Robert Fish. Mr. Fish joins the Dean of Students Office with a background in teaching history in Tenafly, New Jersey. His transition has been remarkably seamless. "It's been pretty smooth," he said, "I've loved my time here. Everyone has been very welcoming. It's beautiful." Dr. Fish has also emphasized how his fluency in Japanese was connected with his personal life where his wife grew up on a rural farm in Japan. This linguistic and cultural expertise adds a unique perspective to the administrative team and a recognition to Asian cultures.

Although all the faculties come from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences, they share a common excitement: Groton day. This unanimous focus shows its significance in building school spirit and community.

While we were not able to feature every single new faculty member in detail within these pages, we express a heartfelt welcome to each and every one. Their presence is a valued addition to the St. Mark's community, ensuring new ideas and approaches that will keep the education at St.Mark’s dynamic. As the new faculties settle into their roles and become familiar faces in the classrooms, dormitories, and fields, they are now helping to write the story of St. Mark's alongside us.

From all of us at St. Mark's, we wish the new faculties a wonderful and successful year ahead!

by Lily Oh (‘27)

This year marks an exciting transition in leadership at St. Mark’s, as we welcome three new Deans who will shape student life, academics, and faculty support.

Here is a summary of an interview with them discussing their vision for our community, their values, and their hopes for this year and the years to come:

Dr. Fish - Dean of Students

Q: What drew you to our school, and what excites you most about your role as Dean of Students?
“What excites me most is the combination of boarding and day life,” Dr. Fish said. He values the unique relationships formed in both settings and is eager to strengthen them. Diversity, inclusivity, rational thought, and the Boston area’s energy all attracted him to the role. Above all, he loves supporting students—celebrating their successes, helping when they struggle, and collaborating with wellness and health teams to serve student life holistically.

Q: What is your long-term vision for the culture of our school?
Dr. Fish envisions St. Mark’s to be full of active interactions among students—after school, during weekends, in the dining hall, on the quad, and beyond. He hopes for more student-oriented programming, with adults providing support from behind the scenes.

Q: If a student disagrees with a rule, what’s the best way for them to share their perspective with you?
“Come have a conversation,” he said. He wants to understand reasoning, listen with fairness, and encourage reflection.

Q: How do you plan to make sure student voices are heard when policies are being considered?
Dr. Fish meets regularly with prefects and monitors, asking them how they can work together to achieve their goals. He also highlighted the new Student Accountability Committee, which focuses on reflective communication and restoring community trust following a violation. “It’s not a trial,” he said. “It’s about growth, forgiveness, and restoration.”

Q: Do you anticipate more changes to student life policies in the future?
He clarified that further changes to policies would be discussed with the student leaders, such as Pathways Prefects, Monitors, House Prefects, and Peer Discussion Leaders.

Q: What do you hope students will remember most about your time here?
He hopes students will look back and remember that he had their best interests at heart as he worked to create a wonderful, inclusive environment at St. Mark's where everyone could grow.

Mrs. Kennedy - Dean of Academics

Q: What inspired you to take on the role of Dean of Academics at our school?
“I love thinking about learning in all aspects of school life—whether inside the classroom, in the dorm, or in advisory,” she said. She values the opportunity to view learning from a global perspective and to watch the growth of students over their four years.

Q: What do you see as the greatest academic strengths of our school?
Though still learning, she praised the unique Religion and Philosophy Department for shaping how students think about culture, faith, and daily life, as well as the Art Department’s year-long courses that allow deeper dives into creativity. Department spotlights, she added, will continue showcasing the breadth of St. Mark’s academics.

Q: What advice would you give students who want to challenge themselves academically while maintaining a balanced schedule?
She encourages students to recognize the value of learning that happens outside class time, to choose courses that spark genuine passion, and to pursue depth through self-direction. Balance, she emphasized, comes from enjoying the process of learning.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working with students inside or outside the classroom?
She highlighted the joy of seeing students grow in confidence and curiosity, whether in formal academics or informal interactions.

Q: What do you hope students and faculty will remember most about your leadership?
Her motto is, “Be more curious than certain.” She hopes people remember her as someone who listened first, served as a thought partner, and made decisions grounded in learning and community culture through listening.

Ms. Kumpel - Dean of Faculty

Q: What attracted you to this position as Dean of Faculty and Assistant Head of School?
“Being a Dean of Faculty has long been my dream job,” she said. At her previous school, she often did the work of Dean of Faculty unofficially and found it deeply fulfilling. She also shared that her wife is a St. Mark’s alumna, whose own experience here inspired her.

Q: As Dean of Faculty, how do you support teachers in their professional growth?
“Through managing professional development funds, supporting exchange programs, sending teachers to conferences, and arranging school visits,” she said. She also values being in classrooms to observe and give feedback, helping teachers grow as educators. Beyond academics, she supports faculty in their personal ventures and growth.

Q: Are there new initiatives you’d like to introduce for faculty development?
She isn’t planning dramatic changes right now, mindful of how much is already new this year. Still, she has added an on-call substitute teacher pool to ease burdens when teachers are absent, helping reduce stress on colleagues and students.

Q: What advice would you give students about how to get the most out of their teachers’ classes?
“Be an active participant, not a passive one. Be curious, ask the hard questions,” she encouraged. She hopes students will use office hours and see classrooms as spaces worth investing their energy in.

Q: How do you plan to balance high academic expectations with student well-being?
She believes rigor and respect can coexist. “It’s about being intentional,” she explained. Faculty should create assignments looking for quality rather than quantity. Students should be challenged, but not overwhelmed.

Q: What excites you most about joining our school community?
Now in her 22nd year working at independent schools, she described St. Mark’s as “vibrant,” with “lovely, kind, engaged, and thoughtful” students. She is also excited to return to teaching physics, a subject she missed in her previous role.