I may be the only Lausannian who has had the privilege of teaching in all three of our school divisions. It makes me very happy when my students, my children, are learning. The years have taught me that learning may happen when we’re happy and squared away, but it may also very well happen when we are not. That is, much can be learned from adversity and the solving of problems. If the children are learning to the extent that they begin to think about something new—and not themselves—then I believe I have succeeded that day. Then it’s time for another adventure and the next class walks in. —Dr. John Frassanelli, Lower School Science
Mr. Pete Melcher, Upper School science, teaches honors chemistry and physics as well as college prep chemistry. He attended Bishop’s University in Canada and received his degree in L V i ÃÌÀÞÊvÀ Ê > iÊ ÀiÃÌÊ i}iÊ Ê Ã°Ê vÌiÀÊ>ÊÌ Àii Þi>ÀÊÃÌ ÌÊ>ÃÊ>Ê«À `ÕVÌ ÊV ÌÀ Ê chemist at The Shipley Company in Marlboro, Mass., he began a career as a science teacher at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn. This was followed by time at the Baylor School also in Chattanooga, the Peddie School in Hightstown , N.J. and his alma mater, St. Mark’s in Southborough, Mass., so that his wife could attend Tufts’ Cummins Vet School there. Twentytwo of Mr. Melcher’s former chemistry students have placed among the top 20 in the nation in the International Chemistry Olympiad, including 5th and 6th placement in the world. Additionally, Mr. Melcher enjoys gardening; prior to working in boarding schools, his last home garden boasted over 260 different species of flowering trees, shrubs and perennials.
Mrs. Christina Mewborn]ÊÌ À`Ê}À>`i]ÊV iÃÊÌ Ê >ÕÃ> iÊvÀ Ê >À }Ì Ê i i Ì>ÀÞÊ School. Born and raised in the Mid-South, she received her elementary education degree from the University of Memphis, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi honors society and Sigma Alpha Lambda international honors society. Her special interests include working out, teaching Sunday School and playing the violin. Her travels have taken her from Colorado to Washington, D.C. as well as to Brazil for a mission trip.
Mrs. Carrie Miller, junior kindergarten, grew up in Memphis and graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She also has an endorsement in early childhood education. In addition, she is certified to give the MLPP (Michigan Literacy Progress Profile) and to teach Reading Recovery. Her teaching experience includes kindergarten, first and second grades as well as a communications classroom and media center specialist. A softball player for White Station in high school, Mrs. Miller still plays any time she can but currently spends her free time chasing after her toddler.
Mrs. Mavis Negroni-Foosaner, an Upper School Spanish instructor affectionately known as “Señora,” returned to Lausanne after a two-year hiatus. Señora’s undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University is in special education, with a minor in Spanish. Her graduate degree from the University of Memphis is in Romance languages plus two years in the study of photography. She is a certified naturalist and has just completed two graduate courses, Conservation Biology for Educators and Teaching Environmental Education, as part of a grant program through the professional development branch of the Wildlife Conservation Society. After 30 years of teaching, Señora’s experience covers everything from Special Education to One-on-One Tutoring to Middle School math and computer programming to -«> Ã °Ê- iÊ >ÃÊÌ> i ÊÃÌÕ`i ÌÃÊÌ Ê-«iV > Ê" Þ « VÃ]ÊÌ Ê*ÕiÀÌ Ê, V ]Ê-«> ]Ê À> ViÊ> `Ê Costa Rica and shares, “Each trip/experience has been fabulous!”
4
L A U S A N N E
fall 2011