People of FA

Spring is a natural time for leave-taking in independent schools and this year we say a fond farewell to departing faculty, the Class of 2022, beloved friends, and colleagues.

Departing Faculty

Julie Bradley

Julie's leadership as the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management has been visionary since she joined the community in 2017. Coming from the boarding school world, Julie brought with her a wealth of knowledge in student recruitment, marketing, and strategic planning. Poised and professional, Julie has a way of making both coworkers and prospective families feel at ease when around her thanks to her characteristic warmth and good nature. During Julie's five-year tenure at Falmouth Academy, she has shepherded over 400 families through the application process and enrolled over 250 new students into the school. It was under Julie's leadership that the school opened for the 2020–21 school year with 224 students, an enrollment high since 2007–08. Julie was also the leading force behind the school's transition to Blackbaud. Having an online database and application has improved our marketing and outreach efforts. Every day when students, parents, and faculty log into MyFA, we have Julie to thank. I am so fortunate to have worked, collaborated, and learned from a leader in the field of independent school admissions.

—Sarah Knowles, Associate Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

Carol DiFalco

Carol has been a tremendous asset to the institution, creating programs that will live on here in perpetuity. She has been a steady, thoughtful, and dogged leader in helping us improve as a school in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, social justice, and social-emotional learning. She leaves the school a stronger, more professional place thanks to her work. But I think she would be the first to say that the most important work she has done here has been in helping hundreds of individual young people navigate their way through school and adolescence in general. She has offered support, encouragement, solace, and motivation to so many young people here, it is impossible to quantify the good she has done.

Emily Turner

Emily is enthusiastic and energetic, always coming up with a new way to engage her students and to promote their success. She is an active member of the community—in the classroom, on the field, and as part of the many extracurricular events at Falmouth Academy. Her students, parents, and colleagues speak about her with admiration and positivity. I am pleased and privileged to call her my colleague and friend, and I wish her future success and happiness.

—Christine Carter, French Teacher

Andy Hamilton

Dr. Hamilton adeptly and enthusiastically taught 8th grade history, moderated the debate club elective, and served as a skilled and attentive advisor and boys basketball coach. In all of these roles, he brought content mastery, professionalism, and guidance to our middle schoolers. From his delivery of pocket US Constitutions with individual messages for all 57 8th graders, to the arrangement of a Constitutional Law professor as a guest lecturer, Dr. Hamilton tirelessly looked for ways to make American history and civics relevant and personal. He is an exceedingly thoughtful and conscientious educator who had a positive impact on the life of our school from his first day in September. We are truly grateful for his time with us.

—Ben Parsons, Middle School Coordinator

Marney Rathbun ’12

How wonderful and fortunate it has been to have an alumna return to our community to share their love for the written word with the students in our Junior class! Marney’s passion, enthusiasm, and energy inspired students to dig deeper into poetry, mine phrases and stanzas for deeper meaning, and value the pure pleasure of reading. Marney adeptly engaged and guided students through challenging works of literature, equipping them to connect the complex themes of diverse human experiences with their own lives. It was so enjoyable to sit in on Marney’s classes where the input of each student in lively discussion was valued and encouraged. It has been such a pleasure to work with Marney this year.

Henry Stevens

When Henry joined the FA faculty ten years ago, he was fresh out of college and filled with enthusiasm, energy, and a willingness to tackle any and every new challenge. During his time as the Big Man on Campus, he taught every level of math from 7th grade to Pre-Calculus, coached both lacrosse and basketball, took on the role of Athletic Director, and fully embraced his position as an advisor and mentor for many of his students. Henry could often be seen (he is obviously hard to miss) working one-on-one with students in the library, in Morse Hall, or in the class as he cared deeply about the success of each of his students. Henry will be missed because of his passion for his students, his dedication to being an excellent classroom teacher, and his unending supply of puns, one-liners, and clever play on words.

—Doug Jones, Math Department Chair

Bronwen Prosser ’99

Bronwen has successfully produced the middle school play for years with aplomb. This year she also taught the Drama I and II electives. Seemingly effortlessly and with a big dose of good humor, Bronwen inspired her students to give that little bit extra to take their work together to the next level. They learned so much from her expertise as a seasoned playwright and together they wrote and produced original works. Break a leg, Bronwen as you pursue new opportunities!

—George Scharr, Arts Department Chair

Steve Gregory

Steve has taken the Middle School Rock Band from a fledgling group of adolescents to a rock 'em, sock 'em ensemble tackling a wide range of rock and roll favorites and standards. Inclusive and fun-loving, Steve’s joy and talent inspired his students to jam in pursuit excellence of expression, together and as solo musicians. There will always be a concert seat waiting for you at Falmouth Academy. We wish you luck in your continued musical ventures.

—George Scharr, Arts Department Chair

In Memoriam for Harold Chapdelaine

For a decade of spring seasons between 2004 and 2013, our contingent of Vineyard students were not the only members of our community to make the commute from the island to FA and back home each day. FA’s girls’ head lacrosse coach, Harold Chapdelaine, made the daily crossing too. Around 2:30 each afternoon, Coach Chapdelaine, or “Chappy” as his players called him, would come striding up from the Palmer lot with a backpack and a lax stick. As the boss, he took time off each afternoon from his construction business to indulge his passions for the game of girls’ lax and for working with kids. Harold prized education, and this was his chance to be a teacher; one could always see that he loved it. He had learned girls lacrosse to share his daughters’ interest in the sport. His oldest, Elise, went on to play collegiately at the U.S. Naval Academy, and both Elise ’02 and Michele ’03 played at FA. Coach Chapdelaine led strong teams year after year, and a generation of FA female athletes learned how to compete successfully with class and grace. With Harold Chapdelaine’s passing on April 9th, FA lost one of its most stalwart friends and supporters. No Vineyard admissions event was complete without an appearance by Harold who always found time to stop by to sing the school’s praises to prospective families. He loved FA and the kids loved him. This community owes him a debt of gratitude, and we will miss him.

—Rob Wells, History Department Chair

Class of 2022 Goes to College

Many factors contribute to the final decision of where a student will go to college, such as location, finances, career choice, and family responsibilities. It is a puzzle as unique as the individual. Due to test-optional policies and other pandemic-related changes, the Class of 2022 faced a fiercely competitive admissions process this year, as noted in several of the acceptance letters sent from various colleges. Director of College Counseling Ruth Slocum said, “This year’s seniors did very well in the face of huge increases in applications at top colleges and were admitted to many terrific colleges and universities. I am proud of the way they stayed focused and maintained a wonderful sense of community and balance throughout the process.”

As of May 1st, the final pieces of the puzzle slid into place as acceptance decisions were made. Wherever these students go in life, they do so in part thanks to the community of teachers, mentors, coaches, administrators, and family members who embolden them to take creative and intellectual risks to confidently engage in whatever challenges they face.

Class of 2022 College Matriculations

Babson College Berklee College of Music Bryant University Clark University **Emerson College Macalester College Mount Holyoke College New York University **Northeastern University,

School of Engineering *****Providence College **Roger Williams University School of the Arts Institute of

Chicago Seton Hall University Smith College Tufts University, School of

Engineering Union College University of Arkansas University of Connecticut **University of Delaware University of Mary Washington ***University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Commonwealth Honors College) University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Isenberg School of Business ***University of Massachusetts, Boston University of Miami University of Pittsburgh Vassar College

*denotes number of students attending

Clockwise from above: 7th Grade - Watershed Day; 8th Grade - Mount Monadnock hike; 11th Grade - Class photo; 12th Grade - College Sweatshirt Day; 12th Grade - Peer Reference Day; and 9th Grade - The Farm School