Humans of St. Marks — The St. Marker

Manasa Mahesh ‘27

This fall, St. Mark's has welcomed two new Penn Fellows to the Community. Olivia Szachta and Lachen Reid join us through the Penn Fellowship Program, a two-year program that is offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. The program allows aspiring teachers to earn a master’s degree in education while working as a fellow at a partner school.

Ms. Szachta is joining us from Duxbury, Massachusetts, in the Math Department, and Mr. Reid is joining us from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the Religion Department. Ms. Szachta is currently teaching Algebra II, and Mr. Reid is teaching two religion courses: JCI and Ethics & Mortality. Fun Fact: Ms. Szachta has a twin sister, and Mr. Reid has two dogs!

When asked what led them to work at St. Marks, Ms. Szachta explained how she decided she wanted to be a part of the St. Marks community first, which led her to decide to join the community as a Penn Fellow! Mr. Reid sought the opportunity to complete a master's degree while teaching in the religion department, which led him to become a Penn Fellow.

Ms. Szachta said her experience has been very good so far, and she is enjoying taking part in all the different community aspects of St. Mark's. Coaching on JV Volleyball and being on duty in Thayer have been great experiences to connect with students more. She said that she went to public school, so being able to connect with students on a deeper level has been a highlight!

They both enjoy FLIK Dining, as it reminds them of their college dining halls, and having many options is great. Mr. Reid especially enjoys all the options at lunch, like the stir-fry section and the panini machine.

Both of them have experiences they want to bring to the St. Mark's community. Ms. Szachta talked about her experience on the crew team in college, and she is excited to bring that experience to the Girls Crew team this spring. She also has a background in psychology and wants to share her knowledge on the topic to St. Mark's students. Mr. Reid wants to work with students on their writing, as he worked at a writing center in college. His goal is to help students learn to love writing and not view it as a chore.

Looking forward to the rest of their time at St. Mark's, Ms. Szachta is excited to explore other math than Algebra 2 and teach different classes. She is also excited about the coaching crew in the spring. Mr. Reid is excited for Groton Day games, as he coaches the Thirds Boys' Soccer team.

Both offered advice: Ms. Szachta said she would tell St. Markers that learning is more important than the answer and to focus more on the process, not just the outcome. Mr. Reid said that students should take advantage of the small community and spend as much time with friends as possible.

Make sure to welcome the Penn Fellows!

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!