Meet Our New Teachers, Leaders, and Achievers

14

Meet our 2021–2022 Class of Teachers, Leaders, and Achievers

Dr. Jeff Barudin, who relocated to this region from St. Louis, is a member of our Performing Arts department. At Lindenwood University, Jeff was a Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies. His experience also includes teaching K–12 music students. He earned his bachelor's degree at Penn State and his graduate degrees at the University of Michigan. Andrew Fehnel joined the Sanford Buildings & Grounds team last spring. Previously, Andrew owned and operated his own stonemasonry business. He and his wife Ali are parents of Gia ’33 and Emmy ’35 Nathania François is our Assistant Director of College Counseling. Nathania came to us from Bates College, where she was Senior Assistant Dean of Admission and Assistant Director of Diversity Enrollment. Nathania previously served in a similar role at Wentworth Institute of Technology. She earned her bachelor's and master’s degrees from Salem State University. Nicki Liss is teaching Lower School art. A graduate of Temple University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Photography and a PreK–12 teaching certificate, Nicki is also a part-time artist.

Samantha Stuart is an Upper School chemistry teacher, who relocated to the area from Hawaii. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Rosemont College and a master’s degree in science education from the University of Scranton. Before moving to Hawaii, Sam taught chemistry at Westtown School. Sam’s daughter, Kat Coulter ’35, is in our preKindergarten class. Dr. Xabier Fole Varela, a native of Spain, teaches Upper School Spanish. Xabier earned his undergraduate degree at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid. His studies in the United States have included two masters’ degrees from City College of New York and a PhD from Georgetown University, where he also taught for several years. Matt Wilson, who has been an assistant coach for our baseball and boys’ basketball teams, expanded his role at Sanford by joining our Upper School administrative team as our Dean of Students. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Matt was an administrator at North East Middle School for 16 years. Matt’s daughter Madeline is a member of the Sanford class of 2026.

15

Passion. Dedication. Creativity. This year’s new faculty and staff members have demonstrated those attributes and additional strengths in serving our community. Join us in congratulating these employees for their efforts to make Sanford the best school it can be.

Maureen Murphy teaches Lower School and Middle School Spanish and served as a long-term substitute in those roles last year. Maureen earned her Spanish degree at Rollins College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University. Maureen’s son Quinn ’25 also joined our community as a freshman in Upper School. J. Taylor Parrott is an experienced teacher who worked at public schools in Tennessee and South Carolina before joining our Upper School math team. Taylor earned bachelor’s and master's degrees in mathematics from the University of Tennessee. William Petterson relocated to Delaware from Colorado to teach Upper School physics and woodworking. A graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in physics, William earned his master’s in science curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado. William served several summers as an archery instructor at South Woods Camp, and he has been a long-time tutor of advanced math and science. Sahar Salehi, who worked in our Extended Day program, teaches Middle School and Upper School French. Before moving to the United States, Sahar lived and taught school in France. Sahar holds two masters’ degrees and earned her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University.

“For generations, our faculty and staff have been the heart of our school. Their innovation, collaboration, and expertise defi ne the Sanford experience Their innovation, collaboration, and expertise defi ne the Sanford experience for our students. COVID has presented the challenge of our lifetime. for our students. COVID has presented the challenge of our lifetime. I continue to be proud of and grateful for the job our teachers, staff, I continue to be proud of and grateful for the job our teachers, staff, and school leaders have done for the last two years. Sanford and our students and school leaders have done for the last two years. Sanford and our students have persevered and thrived because of them.” have persevered and thrived because of them.”