In July 2019, Fanning M. Hearon III began as Palm Beach Day Academy’s Head of School. Until June 2019, he served as Head of School at Maple Street School in Vermont, prior to which he was Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean at Vermont Academy for five years. Fanning also spent thirteen years at the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was an AP Spanish teacher, lacrosse coach, Class Dean and Chair of the Modern Languages Department. Fanning began his 27 year career in independent school education at his alma mater, the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, where he served as a teacher, coach, dorm parent, Director of the WFS Summer School in Spain program and Assistant Director of Admissions.
FANNING HEARON UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Dr. Spencer Taintor, the new Head of School for St. Mark’s Episcopal School, is no stranger to South Florida. Born on Key Biscayne, Dr. Taintor graduated from St .Stephens Episcopal Day School and Gulliver Preparatory in Coral Gables. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an MBA from the University of Miami. He rounded off his educational training with Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and additional studies in educational technology and human resources. Dr. Taintor is a nationally published author having written a book on building educational resiliency in students as well as several published articles in national publications. He has been the guest speaker at several national and international educational conferences including a having the opportunity to speak about k-12 educational technology trends at Eton College in London. As his education career progressed, Dr. Taintor has served as Head of School for independent schools in Florida, Maryland, and Wisconsin. If you ask him what his dream has always been, he will tell you that it was to return to his roots, to his home in South Florida and lead an Episcopal School that reflected the values and diversity that was the foundation of his own childhood. Dr. Taintor is delighted to be the next Head of School at St. Marks. He is joined by his wife and middle school sweetheart, Elizabeth, and his two children.
JENNIFER GEIMER UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR
DR. SPENCER TAINTOR HEAD OF SCHOOL
Head of The Cushman School, Ms. Arvi Balseiro, has recently named Mrs. Jennifer Geimer the Upper School Director following the restructuring of the Middle and High School departments into a more cohesive Upper School division. The goal is to create greater continuity of school culture and programming. Mr. Doug Romanik will serve as the Associate High School Director and Mrs. Arlene Sauleda as Associate Middle School Director working with Geimer to ensure the seamless execution of Cushman’s character driven approach to education during these critical upper school years. As part of her 25+ years’ experience, Geimer previously served as Cushman’s Middle School Director and as a first grade teacher. Mrs. Geimer has a Master’s in Education and Leadership from Barry University. She is a certified Love and Logic Trainer, and a sought-after presenter at statewide (FCIS) and national (NAIS) conferences. Under Mrs. Geimer’s leadership, the Upper Division curriculum will provide a delicate balance of a loving and nurturing environment coupled with opportunities to become “innovators of change” and make a difference in our society and beyond. “We believe rigorous academics in a vacuum are far less effective that providing learning experiences that are relevant and meaningful with regular hands-on lessons,” says Geimer.
James A. Knapp has been named the new Chief Strategy Officer at The Cushman School. With more than 15 years of experience in strategic plan development, program management, and fundraising in the higher education realm, Knapp will serve as trusted Cushman leadership and lead relationship builder for the school. He currently serves as the chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) Education Committee and is a chair-elect of the Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce. In this new role, Knapp will be working alongside Arvi Balseiro, Head of School, the Board and the faculty/staff to build a vision and corresponding development strategy to meet the needs and mission of the school and drive strategic growth. In addition, he will work to strategically connect Cushman to the community and build meaningful collaborations.
JAMES A. KNAPP CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER