Teachers and Leaders

BETTER BY DESIGN

“There are some challenging conversations to be had with students, but those are often the most rewarding ones. In the the cry line at graduation there is inevitably the student who was in my office despairing in tears. They have some really tough moments and end up profoundly changed.”

In September 2021, Jarratt Clarke began her second year as the assistant head of school for academics, a newly designed role in 2020 as Kathy Havard, longtime dean of faculty, returned full-time to the classroom.

Previously, Ms. Havard oversaw all hiring and faculty development as well as the academic program—her plate was overflowing, especially as Millbrook’s enrollment grew over the past decade. In 2019-2020 Millbrook thoughtfully reexamined the structure of the academic office. Jasper Turner was hired as Millbrook’s new dean of faculty to focus entirely on hiring the best faculty and overseeing professional development. Ms. Clarke assumed overall administrative responsibility for the academic program.

In her first year, she helped to launch a new academic schedule informed by brain science and developed by a faculty committee over the prior two years. Her efforts then shifted squarely to ensuring that Millbrook could offer our academic program in a pandemic, leaving little time to think about more significant programmatic changes. As our current classroom experience is far closer to normal, Ms. Clarke is beginning to consider the future of the academic program.

“I am excited to have the time and the personnel to be thoughtful about what are we doing well and where might we improve. We have a great group of people—both in the academic office and more broadly with department heads and teachers—to figure out the best way to go about it. Working through the past year’s challenges with this group has shown me how resilient, thoughtful, creative, and hard-working they all are. I am thrilled for the opportunity to reflect on what we do well and to make changes, as needed, moving forward.”

MILLBROOK BLUE THROUGH AND THROUGH

In his second year as Millbrook’s athletic director, alumnus Vinnie Sorriento ’96 is well-equipped to honor the legacy of Mustang sports while strengthening programs for the future.

After graduating from the State University of New York at Cortlandt College and enjoying a six-year stint coaching hockey and teaching at Rumsey Hall, Vinnie returned to Millbrook in 2007 to teach math and live as a dorm head in Case Hall. He added head varsity hockey coach to his portfolio in 2009 and, always open to new challenges, became Millbrook’s dean of residential life in 2014. A chance to lead and make a difference across the school’s athletic programs was irresistible, and Vinnie moved into the director’s office in the Mills Athletic Center in the fall of 2020.

His first year leading athletic programming was challenging for many reasons, especially the inherent unknowns in managing extensive programs and logistics at a boarding school during a pandemic. Vinnie seized every opportunity to encourage and support student-athletes and coaches, making the 2020-2021 seasons as successful and rewarding as possible. While most interscholastic competitions were canceled last year, he worked with coaches to ensure players were building fitness and honing individual skills. Millbrook’s solid cadre of faculty coaches also used their time on the home fields and courts to build team unity.

With near 100% vaccination rates across independent school communities, more streamlined testing protocols, and hard-won experience gained last year, Vinnie is excited to bring to life his vision for growing and strengthening Mustang sports. While the school’s athletic culture is already undeniably robust, Vinnie’s plans include further supporting coaches and players by engaging in recruitment, practice planning, and personalized player and coach development.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

AMANDA ALONGI

Amanda Alongi joins Millbrook’s Athletic Department this year as an assistant athletic trainer. She brings many years of experience as the primary athletic trainer for the men’s soccer and women’s basketball and softball teams at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

BROOKE BURKE

Brooke Burke is starting her third year at Millbrook and is our head athletic trainer, working with Mustang athletes to achieve peak performance and stay healthy. She has multiple professional certifiations and lives in nearby Verbank, New York.

AVERY GIORGIO

Avery Giorgio also brings new talent to Millbrook this year and extensive experience on and off the fields. She’ll teach algebra while serving as an assistant athletic director, assistant girls soccer coach, head coach for girls lacrosse, and dorm head for Guest House. Avery played Division I lacrosse at Holy Cross College while earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She followed that with a master’s degree in public policy and law at Trinity College.