Faculty

Director of Auxiliary Programs, Technology Coordinator | Appointed 2014

B.A. Liberal Arts, Concentrations in Visual Arts and Music, Bennington College

I have happily called Vermont home for most of my life. I grew up in Waitsfield and moved to Lower Waterford to attend St. Johnsbury Academy. After a brief stint at a large state university, I yearned for the close connections with teachers and intimate classroom environment that had fostered my love of learning. I transferred to Bennington College and voraciously studied a wide array of subjects, focusing mainly in photography, ceramics, and music history. I also dabbled in studying education, which–along with many joyful years of working at Camp Downer in Sharon, VT–piqued my interest in working with kids in a school environment.

Business Manager | Appointed 2011

A.S. Marketing, Champlain College; B.S. Business, UVM, concentration in Accounting; Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

I was born and raised in Townshend, Vermont and I am the youngest of six children. I grew up in a family owned business that was started in 1933 by my grandmother and is still operating in Townshend. I moved to Burlington when I enrolled at Champlain College. After graduation from UVM, I worked for Gallagher, Flynn & Co., a local CPA firm. I worked in public accounting for four years. Then I was hired to be the Controller for Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe,Vermont. I worked at Topnotch for four years. In 1997, I started my own business doing financial consulting for small companies. I continue to do this today.

I live in Richmond, with my husband, my daughter Samantha (15), my son Jordan (12), my son Luke (8) and my yellow lab named Sox.

Facilities, Ultimate Frisbee Coach | Appointed 2003

Masters of Public Health, International Health and Development, Tulane University; B.A. Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton

After being raised in Ithaca, NY, I bounced around from Arizona, to Colorado, to Louisiana pursuing education and a passion for Ultimate (Frisbee).  I spent several years in Latin America then followed an amazing woman to Burlington.  

I believe that truly speaking a second language is to see the world through lenses not available to monolinguists.  My teaching is informed by living in rural and urban settings in Guatemala and Mexico as well as by a variety of experiences in experiential and wilderness education.  I live in Charlotte with my partner (that same amazing woman) and 5 kids.

Social Studies and Film/Video Instructor | Appointed 2004

M.A. History, Brooklyn College; B.A. Psychology, Connecticut College

Raised in Boston, I grew up exploring the outdoors and playing competitive sports. At Connecticut College, a transformative semester abroad in Belize led me to trade varsity basketball for environmental and political activism. I spent the following years as a campus Environmental Organizer, where I also met my wife, Susan.

After graduation, we spent eight months traveling and volunteering throughout Central America before moving to Brooklyn, NY. There, I worked as a labor organizer for hotel workers before transitioning into education. I spent four years teaching high school history in NYC while earning my Master’s from Brooklyn College. In 2004, we moved to Burlington, VT, where we raised our three sons. I’ve been at Vermont Commons School ever since, grateful for a community that values academic rigor and social responsibility.

English Instructor | Appointed 2004

M.A. in Theology, Harvard; Master’s in Teaching English, University of Washington; B.A. in English and Theology, University of Notre Dame

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and attended an independent all-girls prep school from 5th grade until high school graduation. After earning a B.A. from Notre Dame, I lived in Puerto Rico for a year and taught first grade in a poor mountain village. I was then ready for a big city and moved to Seattle where I taught English at Seattle Preparatory High School. Later, I returned to the East to attend Harvard Divinity School and to find Jonathan, who was in his last year of medical residency. We married and moved to Seattle where I received my Master’s in Teaching English. After teaching at the University of Washington, the International School of Minnesota, and Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, I found myself back in Burlington where we have raised our three children.  They are grown now and have moved away, but we continue to love living in Burlington, close to the mountains and lake.

World Languages Chair | Appointed 2005

M.A. Teaching English as a Second Language, Saint Michael’s College; B.A. Translation and Interpretation, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru

A resident of Vermont for the past 15 years, I am original from Lima, Perú. I moved to Vermont with the allure of a beautiful landscape covered in snow, a nature spectacle not familiar to me in the arid lands of Lima. With time I also found in Vermont a place where to grow a family and build a community. I live a few blocks from the school with my husband, two children, and a fish and we enjoy our walks around the neighborhood (we don’t take the fish!). I spent almost all last school year in Peru teaching in our sister school, Colegio Santa Ana, as part of my sabbatical. I also started other personal projects such as the release of my blog Ya no lo pensé más, where I currently publish short stories, poems, and personal chronicles in Spanish. I am also attending graduate school at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, following a Curriculum Design Master’s program in the School of Education.

Administrative Assistant, Registrar | Appointed 2024

B.A. English, Lesley University

Born the oldest of seven children on a farm in Panton, Vermont, I spent my childhood playing in sheep fields before my family moved to Essex. I was homeschooled through high school, finishing my senior year with a full-time college workload via dual enrollment. Before starting university, I took a gap year to travel solo through England, visiting the homes of literary icons like Shakespeare and Jane Austen.

I attended Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, studying English Literature and Secondary Education. After graduating in 2020, I spent two years teaching at Centerpoint School in Burlington, working with at-risk youth and students with diverse learning needs. Following a year of part-time work in the Burlington community, I joined the Vermont Commons School. While my role has shifted away from the classroom, I am passionate about supporting students as they navigate their world within a vibrant school community.

Assistant Head of School, Math Instructor | Appointed 2008

B.A. Mathematics, Ithaca College

Growing up near the Finger Lakes, south of Rochester, New York, I was homeschooled for my elementary school years with a project-based discovery oriented method that inspired my love of learning. My college admissions essay focused on why it appears contradictory to go into education after not attending school, yet I had given more thought to how people learn than most  teens. Prior to my time at Vermont Commons School, I worked at the Gailer and Bellwether Schools, as well as directed the math program at Pacem Learning Community, a center for homeschoolers in Montpelier. I have a sweet toddler who regularly reminds me of the sheer joy of learning new things!

Science Department Chair, Volleyball Coach | Appointed 1997

M.S. Zoology, University of Vermont; ABD (PhD Evolutionary Biology), Vanderbilt University; B.S. in Biology, Hobart College

Growing up in the backwoods of southern Maine gave me a life-long love of the outdoors and started my fascination with animals. I spent most of my high school years in the swimming pool. While swimming in college, and then coaching high school swimming, I began to see how important it was for young student-athletes to have healthy competition in their lives. I have since transitioned from the pool to the volleyball court, and (as president of the Vermont Youth Volleyball Association) have worked for two decades to spread volleyball throughout Vermont.

Dean of Students, Athletic Director, Health Instructor | Appointed 2019

M.A. in Private School Leadership, Columbia University; B.A. in Chemistry, Haverford College

New Hampshire-born, Pittsburgh-raised, and Philadelphia-educated (for college, at least), I started my teaching career in the South, teaching in Charlotte, NC for 4 years and Durham, NC for 5. While in Durham, I decided to commit to being an educator and attended graduate school in New York City. Serendipity in my then-girlfriend’s career led us to Washington, DC, where we lived for 10 years. After plenty of adventures in the DC area, we’re excited to have come to Vermont and are already trying to enjoy this area as much as possible – ECHO with my son, the bike path for errands and fun, the lake for the 4th of July, the amazing scenery just to remain in awe.

English Department Chair | Appointed 2019

M.A. in Literature, Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College; B.A. in English, Cornell University

I moved often growing up. I left a little dust in Oklahoma, California, Texas, and Connecticut. After four years at Cornell University, I went to Colorado to teach English at a boarding school in Steamboat Springs. We took students rock climbing, backpacking, snow skiing, and international traveling. Then I traveled a little farther to teach at the American School of Doha, Qatar. I missed winter, so I returned to Connecticut to teach at King School for five years. Then, as I worked on my MA at Middlebury, I met Colleen. She said, “You haven’t lived winter until you’ve lived in Vermont.” So here I am. Happy at VCS. Setting down roots. We just had a daughter during the pandemic–Hooray for good news! Colleen and I both teach English and both read until our eyelids drop each night.

Science Instructor, National Honor Society Advisor | Appointed 2013

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Cornell University; B.S. Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University

Raised in the Burlington area, I spent nearly two decades living and working in Boston before returning to Vermont with a new family and a deeper appreciation for my home state. Having studied and worked in a global hotspot of scientific innovation, I experienced firsthand a culture built on creativity, passion, and the conviction that amazing breakthroughs should happen frequently. I view bringing that innovative culture into local science classrooms as an essential task. My goal is to equip students not only to be responsible global citizens but to lead Vermont forward in an increasingly technology-dependent world.

Learning Specialist | Appointed 2019

M.Ed. in Education, University of Vermont; B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, University of Vermont

Courtney Lamontagne has been involved at VCS since 2012 as a tutor for students with learning differences, both diagnosed and not.  Her specialty at VCS has been in Executive Functioning Skills and Writing, and you may have seen a datebook or two with her handwriting in it around campus. In addition to her work at VCS, Courtney has a private tutoring business through which she serves students from first grade through college at a variety of schools in the area.  She has particular interest in and experience with Asperger’s Syndrome, Attentional Differences, Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional/Defiance Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Depression.  When she is not organizing and prioritizing, she is spending time with her husband and two kids (Cavan, 19, and Ellie, 15), reading, doing yoga, and on the lake.

Math Instructor | Appointed 2025

B.A. in Music, Skidmore College

I grew up outside NYC, and also in London. I attended summer camp as a young lad, which later became a summer job and my introduction to working with young people. Those amazing summer experiences were what led me to education. After college, I spent 25 years in schools, working with students from 3rd to 8th grade. During that time, I found my love for teaching math, which had also been my favorite subject in school. My interests outside of school provided opportunities for myself and my students to investigate other areas including sustainability, design and building, carpentry, music and outdoor adventures. I took a short break from teaching to explore the world of carpentry and high performance building. But my heart has always been in teaching, and I found myself eager to get back to working in a school again. I’m excited to bring my love of working with young people, teaching math, building, music, and outdoor adventure to VCS!

Head of School | Appointed 2014

Ph.D. English, University of Louisville; M.A. English, Bread Loaf School of English; B.A., Middlebury College

Having worked in teaching and administrative roles at every level across the country, I completed a master’s at Bread Loaf (including time at Oxford) and a doctorate at Louisville. I’ve pursued further post-doctoral study at Northwestern’s Kellogg School and Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center.

A passionate writer, I have worked as a journalist and enjoy writing poetry and fiction. I have also served on the Council of Independent Schools for three Vermont Secretaries of Education and as Vice President of the Vermont Independent Schools Association. I am grateful to be on sabbatical for the first few months of 2026.

Arts Chair, Performing Arts Instructor, Faculty Trustee | Appointed 2022

MVP (Master of Vocal Pedagogy) candidate, Westminster Choir College, Rider University, Princeton, NJ; M.S.Ed. with a focus on Curriculum Design, Special Education, and Leadership, Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY; Kodály Level III Certificate, New York University, New York, NY; B.Mus. in Music Education, French Studies minor, New York University, New York, NY

I am so excited to (re)join the VCS faculty! From 2015-2022, I taught Middle and Upper School music at Friends Seminary, an independent Quaker school in New York City. Prior to that, I taught in Vermont for three years (including one year of very part-time teaching at VCS, from 2014-2015). And before that I was in NYC from 2003-2012, for undergrad at NYU followed by my first five years of teaching. I grew up just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so I love cheese and the Milwaukee Brewers—and I am even part-owner (along with over 500,000 other fans) of the Green Bay Packers.

Social Studies Department Chair, Cross Country Coach | Appointed 2018

M.A. Conflict Resolution, Georgetown University; B.A. Political Science, Minor, Environmental Studies, Middlebury College

Inspired by The West Wing in high school, I initially pursued politics at Middlebury College before realizing my true calling was in the classroom. Since my first year of teaching, I’ve been fueled by the curiosity and energy of my students, focusing on helping them connect academic lessons to their identities as kind, engaged citizens.

My career has taken me across New England and the Pacific Northwest, but Vermont remains home. My husband and I, who met at a canoe camp in Ontario, share a passion for the outdoors; in 2017, we paddled 500 miles of the Columbia River in a canoe we built together. When not exploring the Vermont landscape, we stay busy with projects at our home on Snake Mountain.

Science & Math Instructor, Basketball Coach | Appointed 2015

B.A. Geology, Bowdoin College

I was born and raised in Vermont, attended Bowdoin College in Maine, and then proceeded to live in various parts of the country and work a few different jobs.  After moving to Washington, DC, I was hired to coach tennis and basketball at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.  Coaching soon turned into teaching and I realized right away I had found what I was meant to do.  It is an amazing thing to have a role in shaping the growth of a young person, to work with passionate and dedicated colleagues, and to be in an environment where I can continue my own learning journey.  It’s been 20 years since I first stepped in front of a class, and 10 years since my family and I moved back to Vermont and I joined the incredible VCS community.  I love coming to work every day.  Life is good.

Director of Admissions | Appointed 2022

M.Ed Educational Leadership, University of Vermont; B.A. East Asian Studies, Dickinson College

A midwesterner at heart, the northeast has been home for most of my life. I was fortunate to have the most incredible high school experience at a small boarding school that challenged me as a student and strengthened my leadership. Those four years ultimately inspired my career path working with young people in educational settings through third spaces and schools. Since moving to Vermont, I spent 11 years with Camp Kiniya as Leadership Development Director and most recently served as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes. My husband and I met while working summers at Camp Dudley and we live nearby with our dog, Roscoe. We love being in Vermont surrounded by beautiful scenery, kind people, and delicious food!

Director of Development | Appointed 2022

B.A. in Music, Wesleyan University

I enjoy swimming in freshwater lakes (preferably Adirondack), nordic skiing, goofing around and being nerdy with my family, hiking with my dog, listening to and making music, anything that involves words and word-play (crossword puzzles, Scrabble, Spelling Bee, horrible puns, etc.), learning Yiddish.

Spanish & Social Studies Instructor | Appointed 2025

M.A. International Development, Clark University; B.A. Government and International Affairs (double major), Skidmore College

Growing up in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, I worked in landscaping alongside immigrants from Guatemala, Cape Verde, and Portugal, which sparked a lifelong curiosity about global migration. I studied immigration at Skidmore College and used their study abroad programs to travel extensively. After graduation, I taught ESL in Madrid for two years and served in the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Volunteer in Peru.

Following a pandemic evacuation, I earned my Master’s degree in Massachusetts and worked for a USAID implementer in Boston. Seeking a change from city life, I moved to Vermont to run State Department-funded international sports exchanges. I quickly fell in love with the region and am thrilled to return to teaching at Vermont Commons, particularly supporting the connection with our sister school in Peru.

Math Instructor | Appointed 2025

MST Mathematics, UVM; BA Mathematics, Florida Atlantic University

I grew up in Florida and spent time living in Germany after college before settling in Vermont. Most of my career has been in higher education, working in student support and teaching, and I’ve also directed educational programs like the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, early college, and STEM enrichment opportunities. I love helping students discover their strengths and see how learning connects to the real world. I live in Hinesburg with my husband and our three young kids.

College Counselor | Appointed 2022

M.A., Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College; M.F.A. in Creative Writing, The University of Arizona; B.A., Vassar College

A writer, editor, and teacher, Eliot has over twelve years of experience as an essay consultant, helping college and graduate school applicants draft and polish personal statements. A native New Yorker, she graduated from Vassar College and then worked as an editor at Zagat Survey and at Harper’s Magazine before heading off to the deserts of the American Southwest, where she earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona and spent summers completing a master’s degree in English at Middlebury. She then went on to teach English at several independent secondary schools before moving to Vermont, where she taught writing at St. Michael’s College for almost a decade and worked as an independent college counseling consultant until finding VCS!

Studio Art Instructor | Appointed 2022

B.S. in Art Education & Minor in Art History, Plymouth State University

I grew up in Windham, Maine with my parents and older brother. My mom had a huge influence on me, as she has been an art teacher for almost 20 years. After high school, I attended Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, where I had the opportunity to teach in an elementary school art program and found my passion for teaching art. I then transferred to Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, where I spent the rest of my college career. After graduation, I began teaching art at Franklin Middle School in Franklin, NH. After spending some time on vacations with my partner in Charlotte, I knew I wanted to live here someday. This dream led me to Vermont Commons, where I couldn’t be happier to teach such a wonderful community of students!

Math Instructor | Appointed 2025

Bio coming soon!