Todd Winters, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, is a graduate of the University of Utah where he earned a B.S. in Organizational Communications with a marketing concentration.

Todd envisioned a career in high finance, beginning his journey as an Analyst with Fidelity Investments in 1985.  Working on a special project for Fidelity in Boston, MA,  Todd learned about the ground-breaking work in computer-assisted education undertaken by the Waterford Institute back in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Drawn to some higher calling, Todd traded Wall Street for what he expected would be a pit stop at a start-up private school.  In 1987, Todd was appointed as Waterford's first Director of Admissions.  

In his leadership role at Waterford, Todd has been responsible for developing and administering all aspects of the comprehensive and strategic enrollment management plan, including admissions, marketing, communications, external affairs and financial aid and scholarship programs.

Todd was honored by his colleagues to receive the Waterford Educator Prize in 1995, the award's inaugural year.

Todd has raised his four children at Waterford and enjoyed the strong sense of community for his family and the abiding professional relationships with Waterford colleagues.

An avid cyclist, Todd logs an average of 5,000 miles per year.  In his additional free time, he plays golf or can be found in his home wood shop enjoying the cathartic exercise found in fine woodworking.

 

In July of 2016, Ben Hoke began as Waterford’s Director of Advancement. He received a Masters in Strategic Communications from Westminster College and graduated from Davidson College where he earned a B.S. in Political Science. With more than 20 years of fundraising experience in the education sector, Ben was most recently the Director of Institutional Advancement at King School in Stamford, CT. In this role, Ben led all of the school’s fundraising, alumni, and communications efforts. Prior to King, Ben was the Director of Development at the Palmer Trinity School in Miami, FL for seven years. Ben has also held a variety of other advancement positions, including at Bullis School in Potomac, MD; Darlington School in Rome, GA; and George Washington University in Washington, DC. He found his passion for independent school education after his own three-year high school boarding experience at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX. Ben ​is a regular presenter ​at school conferences around the country​ and is quite active as a Reunion/Class Agent for his respective alma maters. ​

​Early in his career, Ben taught Modern World History and coach​ed basketball, track, and volleyball. He and his wife, Katherine, are ​thoroughly enjoying “life elevated” in Utah, ​after moving to Salt Lake​ City​ from Greenwich, CT. Katherine is also joining the Waterford community as a Class III teacher. 

​In their spare time​, Ben and Katherine love to travel in the U.S. and abroad, explore local restaurants, exercise outdoors, attend speakers​ events, and catch up with ​family and friends in every possible social media outlet. Ben has visited 48 ​of 50 ​U.S. states, and plans to visit the last two​, ​Alaska and North Dakota, in the near future. 

Harmony Button, the Academic Dean at The Waterford School, earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Utah. Before coming to Waterford, she taught in the English Department at Phillips Exeter Summer School for six years and earned several awards and nominations for excellence in teaching at the University of Utah. Harmony joined the Waterford faculty in 2008, and along with developing new curriculum at many grade levels, she has served as the English Department Chair and launched a school-wide Writing Across the Curriculum initiative, including founding a highly popular Writing Center at Waterford. She is now very happy to work with her dedicated team of Waterford faculty and administrators as the Academic Dean. As well as being an educator dedicated to continual professional growth, Harmony is an active writer and poet. Her work has been included in Best American Notable Essays of 2015, she been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Web awards, and she was awarded the Larry Levis Prize from the Academy of American Poets. She continues to give regular readings upon invitation from the Salt Lake City Arts and the Salt Lake Poetry Society, and she has traveled to give guest readings for Bayou magazine at AWP and Whitworth College in Spokane Washington. Harmony has presented at the &NOW conference as part of the Lake Forest Literary Festival, and she was a featured artist at TEDx Sandy in 2014. You can find her work in numerous literary journals such as Adirondack Review, Colorado Review, Chicago Quarterly and Rock & Sling. Harmony lives in Salt Lake with her partner, Jason, and their dog, both of whom insist on frequent trips to the mountains and time spent digging in the garden.

Nancy Nebeker, Dean of Students and Library Department Chair, is a graduate of Brigham Young University where she received her B.A. in Political Science. She then went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Communication with a focus on Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in Washington D.C. Shortly after finishing her Master’s degree, Nancy moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she and her husband lived for over a decade. While there, Nancy began work at The Early Learning Centre, the leading preschool for expat children in Bangkok. Her work was centered in the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy for preschool children, using a creative, project based curriculum rich in art, music and drama. When Nancy returned to the states, she came to work in Waterford’s Pre-K Fours program for a number of years. Nancy stepped away from Waterford for a time when her last two children were born. She then started course work for a second Master’s in Library and Media Education through an online program at Minnesota State University. Nancy returned to Waterford in the Middle and Upper School Library while completing her Master’s degree. Her work with students soon expanded to Senior Class Dean and then in 2012 Nancy was named Waterford’s Dean of Students. Nancy and her husband Michael are the parents of six children, four of whom are Waterford graduates. As a family, they have been deeply involved in humanitarian work, most recently working with refugee families resettled to Utah. She served as the faculty advisor for Waterford’s Upper School Community Service Council and has helped lead three Waterford humanitarian trips to Kolkata, India.

Sari Rauscher, the Director of College Counseling at the Waterford School, earned her BA at Dartmouth College in Government, where she also competed as a two-time NCAA All-American in Alpine Skiing. She has gained college counseling expertise through the Harvard Summer Admissions Institute, annual professional development conferences, and working with hundreds of talented Waterford students. She has visited over 50 colleges and admission offices in her fifteen years of college counseling at Waterford. Sari has served as a National Delegate for the National College Admissions Association (NACAC) as well as on the Board of the Rocky Mountain Association of College Admissions Counseling. She currently serves as Chair of the Utah RMACAC College Fair. Sari began at Waterford in 1998 as part-time ski coach, while doing post-grad pre-medical coursework, and soon started teaching Senior English electives and Class X Writing Colloquium. She liked it so much she stayed, coaching, teaching PE, English electives and ancient history, and serving as community service advisor and college counselor. She became Director of College Counseling in 2004. She enjoys a good read about U.S. history and explorers, and has recently taken courses in Contemporary China and India. She enjoys hearing from Waterford alumni, and staying up to date on interesting new opportunities in higher education and careers. She enjoys outdoor adventures with students, and makes time for hiking, mountain biking, running, and skiing with her husband and two daughters, current Class V and VII students. She is a fan of Waterford sports teams, and especially Waterford Ballet, Music and Theater programs.

Madi Anderson, a Waterford alum, is a PreK-4 AM and PM lead teacher. Madi is a graduate of Brigham Young University where she earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). Prior to teaching at Waterford, she taught at Alianza Academy and Lakeview Academy. Madi started her Waterford career in 2013 in Class III, where she taught for two years. Because of her Early Childhood accreditation, she moved to PreK in 2015 and absolutely loves it. Madi most enjoys working with preschool-aged students, guiding them through a variety of emotions transitioning from home to school, supporting them when learning to create friendships and socialize with their peers, and experiencing with them as they make new discoveries about the world around them. Madi and her husband, Nathan, who is also a Waterford alum, live by the University of Utah, where they enjoy exploring the city, taking their dog to local parks, and hiking up the canyon. Her husband is finishing up his PharmD at the University of Utah.

Susan Banks, Kindergarten teacher and Pre-K and Kindergarten lead teacher, is a graduate of Utah State University where she earned a BS in Early Childhood Education with a minor in music. While doing graduate study at Utah State University in Family Human Development, Susan was a head teacher in the Adele & Dale Young Child Development Lab for three years. Her responsibilities included supervising and working closely with student teachers and practicum students who were majoring in early childhood education, as well as teaching 4-5 year old children and working with their parents. Susan also taught undergraduate early childhood development courses for USU at their Logan campus and at the Salt Lake's Regional campus. Susan began teaching PreK 3's and PreK 4's at The Waterford School in 1994. In 2010 she joined the Kindergarten team. Susan was recognized with the Waterford Educator Prize in 2015. Susan enjoys cooking, photography, and spending time with family, particularly on the family ranch in Idaho.

Michelle Curtis has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah with emphases in Psychology and English. Her undergraduate study also included language study in Latin. Michelle is a licensed Social Service Worker (SSW) with significant experience in mental health therapy, social work practice, social welfare policy, and human growth development. Her social service has included crisis and hospital intervention at the Rape Crisis Center in Salt Lake City, and counseling, advocacy, and long-term support for rape victims and their families. In her capacity as a Social Worker, Michelle has helped assess foster care visits, foster hearings, investigations, custody evaluations, home studies, and handicapped visits. On behalf of individuals and families, she has also attended hearings on case reviews and evaluations and has completed home studies for interstate compact custody evaluations. Michelle’s initial experience as a teacher bridged her work in education with her experience in social work.

She began her teaching career as a teacher of Intervention Drug Courses at Jordan School District (for which she also wrote the curriculum). Michelle taught parents and students in courses required as a result of students’ drug use, possession of drug paraphernalia, and/or distribution of drugs. Topics covered included drug education for parents, penalties and the law, self-respect, self-control, personal responsibility, and the physiological effects of drugs on individual perspective and choice.

Since 1996, Michelle has been a teacher at the Waterford School where she initially taught Latin in 4th- 6th grades and American History for 7th grade. Michelle also taught English as Independent Study courses to Middle and Upper School students in need of Special Topics and/or remedial support in that subject. In Waterford’s early years, Michelle served as a long-term substitute counselor in the Counseling Department. She has also been recommended as a math tutor to Middle and Upper School students who have needed support and remediation. For the last 12 years, Michelle has been a Class V Lower School teacher. In that capacity, she has developed advanced curriculum in Writing, English, and Mathematics, as well as curriculum in character education and study skills. Michelle has collaborated on the development of Waterford’s fifth-grade-level grammar units and has worked yearly on the development of standards that enable the smooth transition of Lower School students into Middle School, especially in math. Michelle loves to read fiction and history, and her hobbies include running, hiking, playing the cello, and participating in soccer and kick-ball leagues. She is known for her championship trophies in kick-ball, her Ninja videos, and her fantastic desserts and rolls.

Juli Dalton, PreK-3 teacher, has completed four years of undergraduate study with a focus in early childhood development at the University of Utah. Prior to her arrival at Waterford, Mrs. Dalton enjoyed tutoring math and teaching various children’s classes for Granite School District’s Continuing Education program while starting her family. Mrs. Dalton also taught and designed curriculum for 3 years at WhisperCreek Preschool. In 2005, Juli began assisting in the Kindergarten reading program at Waterford, then added math and reading tutoring to her responsibilities a few years later. In addition to tutoring during summer term, Mrs. Dalton teaches two camps for students at Waterford: ABC camp and Books and Cooks camp. In 2012, Mrs. Dalton was asked to create and teach the enrichment afternoon class for the full-day Pre-K students and continues to do this. Mrs. Dalton involves herself with family, enjoying hiking, skiing and other community activities. Her personal hobbies include gardening and cooking. Mrs. Dalton has and currently serves in church administrative and teaching responsibilities.

Katherine Hoke, Class III teacher, moved to Salt Lake City in 2016 with her husband, Ben, who is Waterford’s Director of Advancement. Katherine graduated from St. Lawrence University (Canton, NY) with a B.S. in Psychology, earning a Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, attending James Cook University (Townsville, Australia) for a semester abroad, working in the IT (Information Technology) office, and earning membership in the English and Greek honoraries: Irving Bacheller Society and Gamma Sigma Alpha, respectively. Following a year-long internship at The Fessenden School in West Newton, MA, Katherine earned an M.Ed. at Lesley University in Moderate Disabilities preK-8, with a concentration in language-based learning disabilities. Through this program, she also earned her Massachusetts State Licensure. Following this formal training, Katherine also received Responsive Classroom training and taught at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, MA for three years as a 4th Grade Humanities and Co-Homeroom Teacher. During this time, she was trained as a Critical Friends Group (CFG) facilitator and participated in the SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) program. Over three consecutive summers in MA, she also worked as a camp counselor and then Upper Camp Division Coordinator at Summer Fenn Day Camp (Concord, MA).

Following the call of a lifelong traveling dream and wanting to explore more of the places where her mother was raised in Europe, Katherine moved to London, England in 2007, where she worked as the Grade 5 Learning Specialist at The American School in London for 2 years. There, she also served on the Educational Excellence Committee.  Following her return to the U.S. in 2009, Katherine taught 5th Grade at Ethical Culture School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, serving on the Diversity Committee. Most recently, she taught at The Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, CT as a 4th Grade Teacher and Co-Coordinator of Middle School Diversity (Gr. 4-6). Over the course of her time at GCDS, she was trained in Singapore Math, SEED facilitation, Google Apps, and Reader’s Workshop (through Columbia University’s Teacher’s College). Her additional workshop experiences included the NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC) for People of Color and their allies, Harvard’s Think Tank on Global Education, and Harvard’s Universal Design for Learning, among others. She also served for 1-yr. stints on the GCDS Education Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Building Committee for the Middle School.  

Having visited Park City with her family since an early age, Katherine was thrilled to join the Waterford community and to have the chance to hike, bike, and ski the slopes of her childhood with Ben. Together, they enjoy staying physically active, reading, FaceTiming with family on the East Coast, traveling, attending speakers’ series and concerts, and exploring new restaurants.  

Kelsey Johnson is joining the Waterford staff as the new school nurse and wellness coordinator in August of 2018.  She originally grew up in Santa Cruz, a coastal town in Northern California. Upon graduating from high school, Kelsey attended California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo (SLO), where she completed a BS in Nutrition Science.  Continuing to follow her interest in the health sciences, Kelsey decided to trade the sunny California weather for the rather grey and rainier climate of Portland, Oregon. She completed her bachelor of science in nursing in a 15 month accelerated program at Oregon Health and Sciences University.  Shortly after completing nursing school, Kelsey then continued north to Seattle, Washington, where she worked for two years on an intense and fast-paced cardiac unit at Swedish Medical Center. True to her adventurous spirit, Kelsey decided to pack up her bags and leave Seattle to pursue travel nursing.  Her first travel nursing assignment landed her here in Salt Lake City, where she couldn't get enough of the stunning mountains, hikes and national parks that Utah has to offer. She now lives her permanently with her partner, James and puppy Oakley. Kelsey looks forward to transitioning from working in the hospital, to a school setting, where she can interact with kids and spread her passion for wellness.  

Erin Knight, PreK-4 teacher, is a graduate of the University of Utah where she earned a B.A. in Political Science. She studied French and Art History at the American College in Paris. She has also done post-graduate work in early childhood education at Stanford University Bing Nursery School. She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher at The Waterford School in 1990. This launched her teaching career. She has taught Class III, PreK-3, and PreK-4 at Waterford. She has been teaching preschool since 2002. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Erin has run the Lower and Middle School Ski and Ride program, as well as coached the Waterford Mighty Mite Ski Team. An avid skier, she spent her high school years ski racing with the Rowmark Ski Academy. Erin lives in Sandy with her husband and three children. She loves to cook, travel to Turks and Caicos, and collect children's books. Two of her children are Waterford graduates and are attending college, the third will graduate from Waterford in 2018.

Cami LaForge, Class II Teacher and Lead Teacher for Class I-II, is a graduate of North Central University in Minneapolis, MN where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education (1st-8th grade) with a Kindergarten Endorsement. Before arriving at Waterford School in 1997, Cami taught full day kindergarten for two years at St. Sebastian School in Akron, OH and while taking graduate classes at Notre Dame of Cleveland and Malone College. From 1997 to 2000, Cami served as Class V teacher at Waterford School. She took a short leave from the classroom to care for her young children from 2000-2005. During that time, she privately tutored at the secondary level and maintained her Utah teacher’s license with graduate coursework at the University of Utah. 11 years ago, she returned as Class II teacher. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Cami has been Lead Teacher at Waterford School for 6 years. A devoted mother, she spends most of her time with her family. When she is not reading, cooking, or watching baseball, she works on puzzles, dines with friends, or plays with her dogs. As a parent who adopted out of foster care, she has a special place in her heart for those in need of a family. Cami lives with her husband, three teenagers, and two beloved dogs.

Jessica Shaffer is originally from Ohio, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Baldwin Wallace College.  After graduating in 2009, she was hired as a Math Tutor at Brookfield Middle School in Brookfield, Ohio. During her 2 years there, she coached 7th and 8th Grade Volleyball and Softball, and taught a summer program for students entering Kindergarten.  In 2011, Jessica was hired as a 4th Grade Teacher at Brookfield Elementary.  During her 4 years there, she took on many leadership roles while completing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership through Concordia University.  

In 2015, Jessica moved to Utah and continued to teach 4th Grade for 3 more years, until joining the Class I team at Waterford in 2018.  She loves living in Utah and is excited to be a part of the Waterford community.  

In her free time, Jessica enjoys playing softball, crafting, attending sporting events, and spending time with her dog, Bailey.

Jenny Sorenson received a Bachelors of Science degree, with a focus on Human Development and Family Studies, as well as a Early Childhood Education certification from the University of Utah in 2001. During her college years, she taught preschool with Granite School District and earned other real-world experience working in the fields of banking, dining service, floral design, and pet care. She also worked several years for the postal service. Upon graduation, she worked for the Jordan School District for 5 years as a classroom teacher and reading specialist in Herriman and South Jordan, Utah. Wanting to spend more time with her family, she ran an independent tutoring service, Yearning For Learning, from 2005 to 2009. Efforts to find more effective strategies to meet the needs of students with Dyslexia led Jenny to Waterford, a pioneer in Utah for the Wilson and Fundations programs for reading and spelling interventions. She began her journey with Waterford in 2009 in the tutoring program, where she tutored middle school students in English, history, and study skills. In 2010, she transitioned back into the classroom and has been teaching in Class III ever since. Jenny is proud to be teaching at The Waterford School, where the liberal arts program aligns well with her philosophies of teaching and living. She grew up in Sandy, Utah, just a few blocks away from the campus, where her parents continue to reside. Her husband and two daughters are also proud to be a part of the Waterford community. Jenny prides herself on being a life-long learner and is currently studying mindfulness and the positive effects of this practice, especially as it relates to the classroom environment. She enjoys learning through travel opportunities and drawing parallels between the ancient cultures explored in the Class III curriculum and other ancient cultures. Most recently, she visited Machu Picchu on a faculty trip to Peru in 2015 and Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan peninsula, in 2016. She also enjoys making jewelry, singing with her “family band,” and the beauty of nature in all of its forms. She looks forward to the adventures ahead.

Akiva Toren entered education following his B.A. in philosophy and music from McGill University in Montreal, QC. He spent a year working with first graders and kindergarteners before and after school in the Seattle Public Schools system. Following that, he received his M.A. in teaching from University of Portland through their P.A.C.E program, a teaching fellowship that places its teachers in schools throughout the west. The P.A.C.E. program placed him in Kearns, UT, and he taught fourth grade there for four years. In 2017, Akiva joined the Waterford team to teach Class IV.

Akiva's interests vary widely, as he has studied music, philosophy, ancient languages, and even received honors in Hebrew. He has lived in many countries, from Israel to Scotland, and loves to share his love of languages, cultures, and history with his students. Utah, with its varying mountains, deserts, forests, and snow, has captured his heart. He enjoys the outdoors by hiking and running, and loves the arts Salt Lake City offers, such as the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, and the many festivals that take place in and around the valley. 

Sherry Egan, the Reading Specialist for the Waterford Lower School, is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where she received her B.A. degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Reading Specialty. Sherry began teaching in 1981 as a Class I teacher at the Waterford School Provo Campus and continued teaching until she moved overseas in 1986, to Australia and New Zealand. Upon returning to Utah, she once again began teaching at the Waterford School, this time at the Sandy Campus as a Class III teacher, where she remained for nine years. Sherry then began working with the Waterford Institute of Research in educational (reading) software development. In 2001, in addition to her research, Sherry began the Waterford School Reading Intervention Program, which is currently in it’s fifteenth year. The association with the institute provided a strong research foundation for the reading tutoring program, which after a few years became her sole responsibility. Before joining the Waterford School, Sherry taught in the Jordan School District, teaching grades I-III at Crescent Elementary, Granite School, and opening Willow Canyon School. Sherry has privately tutored students in reading over the past 20 years, particularly Dyslexic students. She regards the University of Utah Reading Center staff and its director, Dr. Kathleen Brown, as her mentors. She has received her training in Next Steps, Higher Steps, Wilson Training, and more, through their program. She attends national conferences in the area of reading, particularly the International Dyslexic Conference and Wilson Conferences. In addition to her school responsibilities, Sherry spends a lot of time on the East coast (Boston and Philadelphia) where her children and grandchildren live. Sherry has six children that have graduated from Waterford School and are now productively involved in their professions and college careers. She enjoys reading, cooking, sewing, and hiking.

Kyle Haderlie, the Lower School Computer Lab Teacher at Waterford School, is a graduate of Utah State University where he earned his B.S. in Psychology in 2014. He is currently pursing his M.Ed at the University of Utah in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. He is entering his third year at Waterford, two of which have been teaching Lower School Computers. Prior to Waterford, Kyle held a variety of titles while attending Utah State University. He has a love for athletics and worked as the Co-Director of Athletic Marketing for USU. He helped produce scripts and marketing materials for all athletic events hosted at USU. Kyle was also a Director of Student Involvement at USU where he helped students program a variety of student events. Kyle was part of a collaborative research team during his undergraduate thesis, which was recently published in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Journal. His thesis uncovered the Influence on Parental Involvement in Youth Sport. Alongside Kyle’s teaching responsibilities, he has also been involved with Waterford athletics, coaching the 6th grade boy’s basketball team. Outside of Waterford, Kyle enjoys the outdoors and playing any sport. Kyle grew up outside of Utah in nearby Star Valley, Wyoming but now enjoys beautiful Sandy, Utah with his wife, Cami, and two-year-old son, Bronson.

Jan Perkins, Lower School Pre-K 4 through Class II Science teacher, is a graduate from Brigham Young University where she earned a B.S. in Animal Science with a secondary concentration in Elementary Education. Jan worked for a veterinarian as a veterinarian assistant for 5 years and then started her own business of dog training, owning and operating Live Oak Dog Obedience. With her passion for teaching children, love for animals and their behavior, and interest in the medical field, teaching science to children is a natural for her. Shortly after moving to Utah from California in 1995 Jan started teaching science in the Kindergarten grades and then moved into Classes I and II and Pre-K 4’s where the children are introduced to many different subjects in science. In addition to teaching elementary science, Jan also has a passion for working with dogs, specifically obedience and behavioral training and preparing and certifying dogs for Service and Therapy dogs. She enjoys riding and training horses, being with her family, hiking, riding or just being out in the mountains.

Emmy Thomson has been teaching at the Waterford School for 15 years. Emmy teaches Lower School dance classes III – V and Middle and Upper School fundamentals, technique, and independent study. She teaches modern dance for the Waterford Dance Academy and is involved in choreographing the annual spring shows. Teaching students dance at the Waterford School is one of her greatest joys in life. Emmy’s dancing and acting career began at the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) as a child. After graduation from high school, she was hired as faculty by CTC and taught ballet, modern dance and was a house manager and counselor. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the Modern Dance Department at the University of Utah where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, was President of Orchesis, on the Dean’s List, and received the Elizabeth Hayes Scholarship and the Dee R. Winterton Award. Emmy danced with the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company for seven years and was Associate Artistic Director for two years. During this time, The Salt Lake City Tribune nominated her as ‘Best addition to the Salt Lake City dance scene’ in 2001 and called her dance, Invocation, ‘best of the year.’ She was the department chair of dance at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota for several years where she directed the Macalester Dance Ensemble. Her choreography was adjudicated into the final gala performance at the Midwest ACDF. She also was head of the dance department at Apple Valley High School and took the dance program from 30 students to 170 students in five years. Her students were adjudicated into the gala performance at the International High School Dance Festival in Miami five years in a row. Emmy’s choreography has been set on professional dance companies, universities, and high schools throughout the US. Her educational film, ‘There is Strength in Diversity,’ funded by Camille Cosby, is used throughout the United States as a teaching tool for compassion, empathy, and equality in the schools. She spent a summer in India teaching dance and English at the Rising Star Academy for 190 children from 10 leprosy colonies in Tamil Nadu. She also travelled with a medical team caring for the leprosy-affected adults in the colonies of Southern India. Emmy volunteers at the state prison, teaching classes about addiction and recovery.

 

Kirsten Jorgenson is the Class VI Dean and a homeroom, Humanities, and English teacher at the Waterford School. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama, an MA in British and American Literature from the University of Utah, and a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lake Forest College. She is the author of one full-length collection of experimental poetry, Sediment & Veil (Horse Less Press, 2014). Her poetry and prose has been widely published in both indie and established venues.

Before joining Waterford in 2015, she taught in the Writing and Composition Program at Appalachian State University. During her time at Appalachian State, she served as Co-Director of the University’s Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, which not only hosted diverse, influential writers from across the country, but also mentored students as they learned how to run and host reading series of their own. Though currently on hiatus, she also co-founded, co-edited, and co-curated Ark Press, a boutique independent poetry press and reading series with her husband.

When she isn’t teaching, Kirsten enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking with her husband, son, and dog.

Mary Powers has degrees from Harvard University, the Columbia University School of Social Work, and Bank Street College of Education. She worked for twelve years as a clinical therapist for teens and their families in a variety of educational and residential treatment settings. Mary has taught English at The Waterford School for eighteen years, serving as department chair from 2003 to 2012, and has taught courses in Class VIII through Class XII, including AP English Literature. The College Board selected Mary to work as a mentor, providing coaching and guidance to other AP English teachers around the country. Mary has worked as faculty advisor to the Community Service program, the literary magazine, and the Respect club; she has served on numerous faculty committees, including the Drug and Alcohol program committee, the Professional Review committee, the schedule committee, and the faculty and curriculum committees tasked with developing the Healthy Relationships curriculum. Currently, many of Mary's duties outside the classroom are centered around helping colleagues improve their teaching; she serves as a Faculty Fellow, providing individual coaching to colleagues, and as a facilitator for both Critical Friends Groups and the Conversations About Teaching meetings. Mary received the Waterford Educator Prize in 2008. Mary's fiction and creative nonfiction has appeared in Salt Flats Annual, Night Train, Lit Pot, and elsewhere. She was a recipient of a Utah Humanities Council Book Award for personal essay. She has served on the working boards of Writers at Work, sponsors of an annual writing conference in the Salt Lake area, and Inbody Outreach, an organization that provides free yoga to underserved and at-risk populations. Mary has three adult sons who do lots of interesting things and don't call home nearly as often as she'd like. She and her husband Phil live in Summit Park, amid the mountains and moose, where they enjoy hiking, mountain biking, practicing yoga, working on crossword puzzles, creating improbable vegan recipes, and chasing two incorrigible Labradors around the great outdoors.

Andrew Patteson teaches photography at Waterford and is the Class X Dean. He has a BA in English Literature (photography minor) from the University of Miami and an MFA in Studio Art/Photography from Ohio University. He started his career in education in 1999, teaching English at a large public high school in Florida, and then English and photography at a small upstart charter school. After four years he decided to return to school to pursue an advanced degree in photography, and in 2007 completed his MFA and moved to Utah to embark on his career at Waterford. He is active as a working artist and has had photographs selected for regional and national exhibitions. You can see galleries of his work at http://andrew-patteson.com. He spends his free time having fun with his wife and young son, and his other passions include Ultimate disc and vintage steel bicycles.

Brant Vest has been an art teacher at the Waterford School since 2011. Brant studied painting, drawing and printmaking at Brigham Young University, and graduated with a BFA in Studio Art in 2003. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute and received his MFA in Painting in 2009. He is the recipient of several grants and scholarships including the 2007 Murphy and Cadogan Fellowship, awarded by the San Francisco Arts Council. Brant has worked in galleries throughout Utah and San Francisco, garnering practical behind-the-scenes art world experience. He is currently represented by Toomey-Tourell Fine Art in San Francisco. His work is influenced by popular and foreign cultures, and often deals with themes of spirituality, personal symbolism, and his own disparate experiences in mortality. In addition to teaching at the Waterford School, he has taught private art lessons, community art classes, and has served as an adjunct professor in the Art Department at Brigham Young University. Brant has enjoyed being part of the Waterford community and the many unique art opportunities the Waterford School affords.

Harmony Button, the Academic Dean at The Waterford School, earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Utah. Before coming to Waterford, she taught in the English Department at Phillips Exeter Summer School for six years and earned several awards and nominations for excellence in teaching at the University of Utah. Harmony joined the Waterford faculty in 2008, and along with developing new curriculum at many grade levels, she has served as the English Department Chair and launched a school-wide Writing Across the Curriculum initiative, including founding a highly popular Writing Center at Waterford. She is now very happy to work with her dedicated team of Waterford faculty and administrators as the Academic Dean. As well as being an educator dedicated to continual professional growth, Harmony is an active writer and poet. Her work has been included in Best American Notable Essays of 2015, she been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Web awards, and she was awarded the Larry Levis Prize from the Academy of American Poets. She continues to give regular readings upon invitation from the Salt Lake City Arts and the Salt Lake Poetry Society, and she has traveled to give guest readings for Bayou magazine at AWP and Whitworth College in Spokane Washington. Harmony has presented at the &NOW conference as part of the Lake Forest Literary Festival, and she was a featured artist at TEDx Sandy in 2014. You can find her work in numerous literary journals such as Adirondack Review, Colorado Review, Chicago Quarterly and Rock & Sling. Harmony lives in Salt Lake with her partner, Jason, and their dog, both of whom insist on frequent trips to the mountains and time spent digging in the garden.

Kirsten Jorgenson is the Class VI Dean and a homeroom, Humanities, and English teacher at the Waterford School. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama, an MA in British and American Literature from the University of Utah, and a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lake Forest College. She is the author of one full-length collection of experimental poetry, Sediment & Veil (Horse Less Press, 2014). Her poetry and prose has been widely published in both indie and established venues.

Before joining Waterford in 2015, she taught in the Writing and Composition Program at Appalachian State University. During her time at Appalachian State, she served as Co-Director of the University’s Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, which not only hosted diverse, influential writers from across the country, but also mentored students as they learned how to run and host reading series of their own. Though currently on hiatus, she also co-founded, co-edited, and co-curated Ark Press, a boutique independent poetry press and reading series with her husband.

When she isn’t teaching, Kirsten enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking with her husband, son, and dog.

Casey O'Malley is a cum laude graduate of Columbia University in the City of New York. She completed two bachelors degrees (English and Russian Language & Culture) in her time there and studied abroad in Moscow, Russia. She graduated with distinction for her senior thesis, "To The Heights Ahead: Mountaineering as Political Expression in the Soviet Union." Casey came to Waterford School as a rowing coach in 2010; she has been teaching in the English department since 2013 and will be the chair of the English department beginning Fall 2016. She was the first director of the School's Writing Center. In 2015, Casey jointly led a revitalization effort for the School's sixth-grade curriculum with Dr. Luana Uluave, combining separate English and History classes into a single blended Humanities course. In her free time, Casey can usually be found in the mountains: she is an avid climber, skier, and trail runner.

Charles Rosett teaches Middle and Upper School English and Economics at Waterford, and serves as Director of Professional Development. His roles at the school over the past 25 years have included Class Dean, English Department Chair, and interim chair of the Music, Art, and Foreign Language departments; from 2000-2010 he served as the Academic Dean. In 1999 he was selected by his colleagues as a recipient of the Waterford Educator Prize. He holds a B.A. in English from Yale University and an M.B.A. in finance and statistics from The University of Chicago. His academic focus includes Shakespeare, British poetry, and political economy. He is a regular participant at think-tank conferences and round tables on liberty, economics, and the role of markets in a free society. Charles' four children are all graduates of Waterford, and he feels fortunate to have raised them in the school community, where has wife Heather has also taught intermittently over the years. He enjoys hiking and skiing with his family in the Wasatch, and is an avid road cyclist who is a nine-time finisher of the Logan-to-Jackson Race, America's longest single-day bike race. When not teaching at Waterford or playing in the mountains, he can be found reading in a comfortable chair in his living room, just a few blocks from campus.

Luana Uluave teaches English VIII, XI, and XII at the Waterford School, where she has been on the faculty since 2004. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has worked as a college writing instructor, writing program administrator, curriculum developer, adult education assessment specialist, and tutor. At Waterford, Luana has served as Class XI and Class XII Dean, Literary Magazine Adviser, Debate Team Coach, Ethics Bowl Coach, Ethics Club Adviser, New Teacher Program Coordinator, Instructional Support Consultant, and Middle School Homeroom Adviser. Luana is particularly interested in the role of technology in the teaching of writing; ethics education; and the value of choice in promoting self-sponsored literacy and lifelong love of reading. Luana recently completed training at a Summer Teacher Institute sponsored by the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) and was a 2008 participant in the Klingenstein Summer Institute through Teachers College. She has presented at the national conferences for the National Conference of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). 

Eric Cox, a Latin teacher at the Waterford School, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with his PhD and with his M.A. from Florida State University in Classical Studies. Eric formerly completed a Bachelor’s degree in Latin and Classical Art & Archaeology at Indiana University. Eric also was a Regular member of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens during the 2008-09 academic year and during the 2006 summer program.

Prior to his arrival at Waterford, Eric taught Greek, Latin, and classical topics at the Hill School (2011-12), Brigham Young University (2012-15), and the University of Utah (2015-17). Eric also taught similar courses throughout his time as a graduate student in Florida and Wisconsin, and he regularly teaches an accelerated Latin course for Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth in the summers.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys outdoor life, camping, hiking, and backpacking. Eric also plays classical guitar, likes mathematics, pleasure reads, and continues working on translating Greek and Latin. This year, Eric has added Modern Greek to his repertoire of languages.

Nathalie Ricci was born in France where she earned a D.E.U.G. in Spanish Language and Literature at the Université Paris-X. She later moved to the United States and lived in several western states. She earned a B.A. with a double major in French and Spanish Literature from the University of Montana and a Master's degree in Spanish Literature and Culture from the University of Oregon. After graduating in 1992, she taught both Spanish and French at the University of Oregon and was a second-year supervisor, leading teaching graduate students in the Foreign Language Department. In 2005, Nathalie started working at the Waterford School as a Spanish teacher. Shortly after joining Waterford, she served as Dean for Class XI and Class XII. Later, she served as the Foreign Language Department Chair. She continues to teach Spanish as well as French and yoga. She has worked as both an Upper School and Middle School advisor as well as a tutor of French and Spanish during the summer terms. In addition to teaching Spanish, Nathalie has spent the last two years developing curriculum in the History Department, where she offers a course titled “Mexico through Film: Mexican American Relations in the Twentieth Century.” In her free time, Nathalie enjoys yoga, camping, traveling, cooking, and watching foreign and indie movies. She is the Executive Director of Inbody Outreach, a local non-profit organization that offers free yoga to at-risk populations in the community. She lives in Salt Lake City with her family.

Emily Glende received her B.A. from the University of Utah in History and Political Science. She is currently working on her master's degree in American History and Government from Ashland University. Emily loves social studies education. She spent the past four years designing and teaching social studies and humanities curriculum. She has participated in numerous institutes for social studies teachers and is committed to lifelong learning. Emily grew up in Utah and loves all this state has to offer. Her spare time consists of spending time outside with her family and friends or trying out new, local restaurants.

Jack Matthews joined the History Department at Waterford in 2018.  He holds a Bachelors degree in History from Rutgers University and a Masters degree in History from the University of Manchester where he wrote his dissertation on the effect of the American Civil War on the cotton workers of Lancashire, England through the lens of contemporary newspapers.  Before arriving at Waterford he worked at the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. His first year at Kinkaid he served as the school's first ever Cooney Fellow in the middle school History department. After finishing his yearlong fellowship, he was asked to join the Kinkaid faculty as middle school History teacher where he taught 6th grade Ancient History, served as a 6th grade advisor, and was a member of the Admissions Committee.  During his three years at Kinkaid he also coached middle school soccer and cross country as well as the Varsity Lacrosse team. As a newcomer to Salt Lake City he is looking forward to hiking with his dogs and fiancé, skiing in the winter, and taking in all the incredible sights that Utah has to offer.

Kristin Hacken South earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, with an emphasis on ancient Egypt, at Yale University. She has worked on archaeological sites in Jordan and Syria in addition to her ongoing work in Egypt at an early Christian necropolis. She returns to Egypt every year or two as a member of Brigham Young University's excavation team to continue work at that site. She has published multiple academic papers and presented at three international conferences pertaining to her specialty of archaeological textiles of the first millennium CE in the eastern Mediterranean. 

All three of Ms. South's sons have had at least two years of Waterford education. Her youngest is currently a student in the Upper School, and her husband was a member of Waterford's second-ever graduating class of 1988. She has taught at the School since 2014.

In addition to her assignments as a history teacher, Ms. South enjoys time in the Lower School as the chess specialist, where she teaches chess to the third through fifth graders, runs the after-school tournament team, and takes students to chess tournaments. 

Justin Joslin, a MS/US Science and Math Teacher and Robotics Team Mentor, began working at Waterford School in the fall of 2017. Justin's path to Waterford has been an adventurous one. A native of New Hampshire, Justin attended university in central New York at Syracuse where he studied environmental engineering. On the recommendation of his advisor, he matriculated to the University of Colorado for his graduate work and his first stint in the west. Justin earned an MS in Environmental Engineering with a focus on natural hydrologic systems. His research took him all the way to Antarctica, twice, where he met his wife Bekka, who also teaches science at Waterford. Justin moved back east while Bekka finished her graduate work at Dartmouth. They worked for a time as scientists in Vermont, but quickly transitioned into the independent school world because of their passion for learning and teaching. After moving back to New Hampshire, Justin and Bekka worked for 10 years at the New Hampton School, a private boarding high school. Justin taught science and math, but quickly developed a unique program focused on engineering and design. He coached rock climbing and alpine skiing, was the Director of Experiential Learning for 4 years, was the Technology Integration Coordinator for a year, and worked in the school life realm as an advisor, house parent, and administrator. Outside of school, Justin enjoys spending time with his daughters, Kaleigh and Jenna, exploring the natural resources of Utah (mostly through skiing, climbing, and trail running), traveling, and tinkering.

Megan Orton, a math teacher at Waterford School, is a graduate of the Westminster College where she earned a B.S. in Math Teaching, with a History Teaching Minor. She also received a M.S. in Mathematics from Western Illinois University. After completing her graduate studies, Megan worked as a full time Math Instructor at Western Illinois University for four years, spending her summers as an adjunct Math Instructor at Spoon River College. Megan started tutoring Waterford students privately while working on her Bachelor's degree, and after returning to Utah became formally employed as a Waterford Tutor. After this, she joined the Waterford math faculty in the fall of 2014. She loves working with the Waterford community, and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her husband and cat at her home in West Jordan.

Lisa Rands graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University where she earned a B.A. in Math Education. Lisa also holds a Professional Educator License for the State of Utah with endorsements in Mathematics (Level 4) and Physics. After completing her student teaching at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, Lisa joined the Waterford Math Department in September of 1999. She enjoys teaching math at all levels—from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus. In addition, she serves as Class VII Dean and has been involved with Middle School Student Government and Community Service for many years. In 2010 she received the Waterford Award for excellence in teaching. Lisa loves baking, biking, traveling, reading and gardening. She is a certified Master Gardener, and she enjoys taking classes during the summer from the Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah.

Tyler Waterhouse, a MS/US Math Teacher, US XC coach, and US Outdoor Instructor, began working at Waterford in the fall of 2013. Originally hailing from New Hampshire and having attended St. Paul’s School and Princeton University, Tyler is delighted to work in a community that so values the liberal arts philosophy that framed his own schooling. Tyler’s path to Waterford is unique in that he graduated Princeton in 2003 with a BA in Economics with minors in Finance and German. His senior thesis, a requirement of every Princeton graduate, was entitled: “Super Commercials: An Analysis of Super Bowl Advertisements in an Investor Relations Framework.” Tyler’s first job out of college was working for an option trading group on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for Goldman Sachs. After Goldman, Tyler worked five years as an equities, commodities, and currency trader at Wexford Capital, a multi-strategy hedge fund in Greenwich, CT. In 2009, with Tyler’s wife, Lu Lu, in her last year of medical school and a move to Utah pending for her pediatrics residency the following year, Tyler chose to leave finance and seek greater fulfillment from his employment through a career in education. Tyler has served as an apprentice teacher at the New Canaan Country School, student teacher at Rowland Hall while enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Teaching program at Westminster College, and lead MS math and science teacher at McGillis prior to finding Waterford. Since arriving at Waterford in 2013, Tyler has enjoyed the variety of teaching both MS and US students and teaching his way through the full Waterford Mathematics Curriculum. In the summer of 2015, Tyler completed a fellowship at the Klingenstein Summer Institute. Tyler has two sons, Bode and Nash, that keep him well occupied when he is away from school, but still finds time to enjoy the variety of Utah’s landscapes through skiing, biking, and trail running.

Scott Harris began teaching music at the Waterford School in the fall of 2000. He has also taught, as an adjunct, at Weber State College, Los Angeles Pierce College (as a Chamber Music instructor), and at Judge Memorial High School. He completed a degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Utah. He also studied privately with some of the country’s finest musicians: Mitchell Lurie, Dominic Fera, Martin Zwick, and Gary Bovier. Scott Harris has worked throughout the United State as a professional musician. He has performed with numerous ensembles including the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, the Utah Wind Symphony, Burbank Symphony, the Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra, and Opera Ala Carte. He is the founder of The Prevailing Winds woodwind quintet. Scott has performed numerous recording, theatrical, and live performances with many popular and jazz artists including Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, The Moody Blues, Phil Woods, Kurt Bestor, Gladys Knight, and Seth McFarland. While living in Los Angeles Scott worked on numerous film scores including Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, and Schindler's List. He also worked on TV scores for the Academy Awards and The Simpsons. Scott continues to perform in Salt Lake City and elsewhere as well as teaching Woodwinds and directing the Jazz Bands at Waterford School. Scott is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and a past member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS - The Grammy's). Among Scott’s hobbies are golf, travel, and raising dogs.

Craig Morris, Athletic Director and P.E. teacher, is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he earned a BA and MA in History and Education and played lacrosse. Craig began teaching at Waterford in 1995 and has served as both the Athletic Director and P.E. Department Chair. Under his leadership, the athletic and P.E. programs at Waterford have grown and flourished. Waterford’s athletic teams have won 37 State Championships over the course of his tenure. Prior to coming to Waterford, Craig was Assistant Director of Student Affairs and Residence Life at the Juilliard School in New York City where he met his wife Kathy. After moving to Utah, Craig spent two years working for Video Journal of Education, a professional development company located here in Sandy, Utah. Craig has been Coach of the Year for Region 14/17 Girl’s Basketball in 2015-2016, 2012-2013, 2004-2005, and 2003-2004. He was also Coach of the Year for Utah High School Men’s Lacrosse League Division I in 2000 and Coach of the Year in the RMLC Division 1 Men’s College Lacrosse in 2012 with the University of Utah. Craig was awarded the Waterford’s Educator prize in 2010. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Craig is an Upper School advisor and participated in the Drug and Alcohol committee and was their keynote speaker. Craig was also Head Coach of the University of Utah Men’s Lacrosse from 2008-2012. Craig currently serves as the Region 14 Chair for the Utah High School Activities Association. He also serves on the UHSAA Executive Committee, Bylaws and Constitution Committee, the Awards Committee, the Music Committee and the Realignment Committee. Craig is also the Chair of the Executive Counsel for the Utah High School Lacrosse League and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Utah Lacrosse Association. Craig is happily married to Kathy Morris and has two children. He enjoys skiing, golfing, cooking, traveling and supporting his New York Teams - The Giants/Yankees/Rangers.

Chris Watkins, the Outdoor Program Director, is a graduate of the University of Utah where he earned a B.S. in the News Editorial sequence of Mass Communications, with a focus on photojournalism and additional studies in literature. Mr. Watkins is currently a MS and US Outdoor Class Instructor, Yearbook Advisor, Upper School Yoga Instructor, Ultimate Frisbee Coach, and the Community Service Advisor. Mr. Watkins has filled numerous roles during his 12 years at The Waterford School. Beginning with Class VIII English and as a middle school basketball coach, Mr. Watkins has been the MS Community Service and Student Government Advisor, Class Dean at both the Middle School and Upper School level, and a consistent trip leader as part of the Summer Term Program. Mr. Watkins has been a leader on trips to Mt. Whitney, the Grand Tetons, Norway, Tanzania and the Waterford Humanitarian trip to Kolkata, India. A native of Carmel, Calif., Mr. Watkins was the Staff Photographer and Photo Editor for a local outdoor publication, Utah Outdoors, then worked for the Salt Lake Tribune during the 2002 Winter Olympics, before working at the Deseret Morning News. A dedicated recreationalist, Mr. Watkins spends as much time as possible outside, with a particular passion for mountain biking, rock climbing, and backcountry snowboarding. Mr. Watkins has competed in Ultimate Frisbee National Championships and the 2002 World Championships. He is also began the Ultimate Frisbee team at the University of Utah in 2005 and coached the team until 2009. Mr. Watkins lives in the Millcreek area with his wife and daughter, Torrey, who is in Class II at Waterford.

James Harris teaches Middle and Upper School Science, is the Science Department Chair, and leads Waterford’s Robotics Program. James earned a Bachelors of Science degree at Cornell University where he studied Natural Resources. While attending university he competed as part of the Lightweight Rowing team. A faculty member at Waterford since 1990, James has filled many roles over the years. James has taught both in the Math and Science Departments and has held numerous leadership roles including Upper School Dean, MS/US Dean of Students, and founder of the Outdoor Program. James has a keen interest in facility and campus design and has been involved in planning as Waterford’s campus has grown and developed. Specific projects of interest include design and construction of the indoor climbing wall in the East Gym, design and development of the campus Arboretum, development of the Campus Master Plan, and the design of a future science facility. James has been Science Department Chair since 2010. In this role he has facilitated technology integration initiatives, founded and designed the Robotics program, and has worked to optimize learning in current facilities while planning for future expansion. Having grown up in Massachusetts, James misses the ocean but greatly enjoys the landscape of Utah and, in particular, the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains, where he spends time with friends and family hiking, biking, skiing, and rock climbing. And, whether in his backyard or in the wild, James always keeps eye and ear alert for interesting birds. James particularly enjoys the opportunities that come from a multi-generation career at Waterford. He finds it gratifying and fun to teach alongside students-turned-colleagues and to teach, with increasing frequency, the offspring of alumni who have included their own children in the Waterford community.

Justin Joslin, a MS/US Science and Math Teacher and Robotics Team Mentor, began working at Waterford School in the fall of 2017. Justin's path to Waterford has been an adventurous one. A native of New Hampshire, Justin attended university in central New York at Syracuse where he studied environmental engineering. On the recommendation of his advisor, he matriculated to the University of Colorado for his graduate work and his first stint in the west. Justin earned an MS in Environmental Engineering with a focus on natural hydrologic systems. His research took him all the way to Antarctica, twice, where he met his wife Bekka, who also teaches science at Waterford. Justin moved back east while Bekka finished her graduate work at Dartmouth. They worked for a time as scientists in Vermont, but quickly transitioned into the independent school world because of their passion for learning and teaching. After moving back to New Hampshire, Justin and Bekka worked for 10 years at the New Hampton School, a private boarding high school. Justin taught science and math, but quickly developed a unique program focused on engineering and design. He coached rock climbing and alpine skiing, was the Director of Experiential Learning for 4 years, was the Technology Integration Coordinator for a year, and worked in the school life realm as an advisor, house parent, and administrator. Outside of school, Justin enjoys spending time with his daughters, Kaleigh and Jenna, exploring the natural resources of Utah (mostly through skiing, climbing, and trail running), traveling, and tinkering.

Richard Malatesta holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Tampa and a Ph.D. in Marine Ecology from the University of Connecticut. He served for seven years as a Chief Scientist and Professor of Oceanography for the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and for there years as the Academic Dean for the School for Field Studies in Salem, Massachusetts. He joined the Waterford faculty in 2001. 

Kelsey Johnson is joining the Waterford staff as the new school nurse and wellness coordinator in August of 2018.  She originally grew up in Santa Cruz, a coastal town in Northern California. Upon graduating from high school, Kelsey attended California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo (SLO), where she completed a BS in Nutrition Science.  Continuing to follow her interest in the health sciences, Kelsey decided to trade the sunny California weather for the rather grey and rainier climate of Portland, Oregon. She completed her bachelor of science in nursing in a 15 month accelerated program at Oregon Health and Sciences University.  Shortly after completing nursing school, Kelsey then continued north to Seattle, Washington, where she worked for two years on an intense and fast-paced cardiac unit at Swedish Medical Center. True to her adventurous spirit, Kelsey decided to pack up her bags and leave Seattle to pursue travel nursing.  Her first travel nursing assignment landed her here in Salt Lake City, where she couldn't get enough of the stunning mountains, hikes and national parks that Utah has to offer. She now lives her permanently with her partner, James and puppy Oakley. Kelsey looks forward to transitioning from working in the hospital, to a school setting, where she can interact with kids and spread her passion for wellness.