departments: FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNITION
Years of Service Awards Each year, WMA honors faculty and staff who reach milestones for their years of service at the Academy. The following 16 people—with comments from colleagues— are our honorees during the 2019–2020 academic year.
5 years Karen Dufresne, Middle School Mathematics “Karen Dufresne embodies the Middle School mind. She is a true teacher as she models the very idea of an independent master learner. We all know when Mrs. Dufresne is in the building because we can often hear her cheery chant of ‘It’s almost Friday’ even when it’s Tuesday morning.” — Jes Rohan, Middle School English
Charles Gambino, Maintenance & Facilities Department “We are very lucky to have Charlie in the Facilities Department. He is the jack of all trades. He’s a talented carpenter with a background in landscaping and can fix any equipment that breaks down.” — Chris Reed, Director of Facilities
Christa Robinson, Middle School Health “Christa has worked very hard during her time at WMA to develop a comprehensive Health program, designed to support our Middle School students as they develop physically, socially and intellectually. She is a true professional and very dedicated educator and coach.” — Jeff Vartabedian, Middle School Health and Physical Education
Kimberly Therieau, Controller, Business Office “Kim has brought a breadth of knowledge and experience to the Business Office. She is dedicated and passionate about WMA and is an invaluable part of our team.” — Kim Davis, Chief Financial Officer, Business Office
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AC ADEMY WORLD SPRING 2021
10 years Josh Bain, Information Technology Department “It is my pleasure to work with Josh Bain. His professionalism is a quality that I admire. Josh has an uncanny ability to effectively interact with all community members. He is thoughtful, resourceful and he is genuine.” — Dr. Marxan Pescetta, Director of Information Technology
Virginia Giokas, Middle School Art “A creative and tireless art educator, Virginia coined one of the best phrases in education—Artitude. Basically, it speaks to one’s willingness to show up and try one’s best while remaining positive and open to new ideas and approaches. What a beautiful philosophy and what a great fit for Virginia.” — Stuart Whitcomb, Middle School Director
Bill Rosenbeck, English Department “Billy has done a wonderful job developing the English 10 curriculum over the years. He is a kind, dedicated and caring teacher who shares his passions and creativity with his students. The new Meditations and Literature class, which merges all his interests, has become a favorite here at WMA.” — Meg Lenihan Hutcheson, English Department Chair
Clark Seibold, Fine & Performing Arts Department “Much appreciated and beloved by parents, students and staff, Clark has been delivering his personal style of ‘serious fun’ to hundreds of young ‘cats’ since his arrival 10 years ago. Thank you, Clark, for instilling your passion and commitment to our community.” — Paul Bloomfield, Fine & Performing Arts Chair
