Last week, we proudly welcomed a new crop of faculty who are ready to live, work, and play on New Hampton School’s campus for the 2023-2024 school year and beyond! Their first week was filled with icebreaker activities, training exercises, lesson planning, and much, much more. These educators understand what it’s like to be new in the community, and they will serve as a sounding board for some of the first-year students arriving in the weeks ahead. Once orientation was complete, they each rang our historic bell—one that our seniors will proudly ring to mark their college decisions come spring—making them officially part of the New Hampton School family. And, by the time the leaves fall, these new teachers will feel like old friends. A HUGE welcome to each and every one!
Peter Saunders:
“Before coming to New Hampton School, I spent four years in the science department at Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona and one year at Holderness School. At PCDS, I volunteered for several roles, including leading the Outdoors Leadership Club, contributing to the Sustainability Committee, and advising independent studies. A graduate of Providence College in 2017 with a B.S. in Biology, I contributed to the Richardson Research Lab, working on landscape genetics and microevolution projects. While I have enjoyed my adventures in the desert, I am excited to return to my home state, where temperatures do not routinely exceed 110 degrees! I prefer to spend my free time in the woods with my dog, Oscar, and I look forward to living in Lewis House with my fiancée, Tracy.”
Sarah Fleck:
“Before coming to New Hampton, I taught at King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, MA, for two years. During that time, I attended Desmos training in Boston to learn how to better integrate technology into the mathematics classroom and coached three seasons of sports. I have my B.S. in Mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I also completed their Teacher Preparation Program. After teaching for two years in Massachusetts, I live on campus with my significant other, Griffin, who works as a Mechanical Engineer in Laconia. We are excited to join the New Hampton School community and cannot wait to meet everyone!”
Brendan Winters:
“Prior to coming to New Hampton, I was the assistant men’s basketball coach at Dominican University of California, a division II school in the PacWest. Before that, I was the assistant boys’ basketball coach at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California. I graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington with a B.A. in statistics while gaining a minor in entrepreneurship and small business management from the Kelley School of Business and playing on the club volleyball team. My brother Kyle attended New Hampton last year as a postgraduate. At New Hampton, I am excited to be teaching Integrated Math II and serving as the assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. I grew up in Marin County, California, where I enjoyed surfing and hiking.”
Olivia Petito:
“I am originally from Florida and a recent graduate from Plymouth State University. I completed my B.S. and M.S. at PSU in applied exercise physiology and human performance. While attending PSU, I was also a student-athlete as the goalie on the women’s ice hockey team. I attended prep school at The Governor’s Academy for two years, graduating in 2018 as a 3-sport varsity athlete. I have over seven years of experience coaching hockey goaltenders and players and more than four years of training athletes in the gym. In my last semester of college, I interned with New Hampton’s women’s varsity ice hockey team, helping Coach Churchill finish a successful season as NEPSAC small-school champions. I am thrilled to live on campus and am excited to be a part of the NHS family full-time!”
Mason Brummett:
“I am coming to New Hampton School this year as a tutor in the Academic Support Program and the head coach of the men’s soccer team. I grew up in southern New Hampshire and graduated from the Derryfield School in 2015. After high school, I attended the College of the Holy Cross, where I majored in Psychology and was a four-year member of the varsity men’s soccer program, serving as captain my senior year. After college, I traveled to Sweden to play professional soccer for a year before returning to the U.S. to obtain my M.S. in Applied Sport Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As part of my master’s program, I obtained my Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. I am the proud owner of Mind Mental Performance, LLC, working with individuals and teams to sharpen their mental game and help them reach their peak performance. I’m living on campus with my girlfriend Izzy and my two dogs, Evie and Toby.”
Elizabeth Reimer:
“My name is Elizabeth Reimer, and I’m excited to join the Academic Support Program at New Hampton School this fall. I grew up on Long Island and spent my high school and college years in New England. I hold an undergraduate degree in Earth Science from Harvard University and a master’s degree in forensic science from George Washington University. For the past ten years, I have been both a classroom teacher and a private tutor, and I look forward to blending those roles in the academic support program at New Hampton. Outside of the academic day, you will find me on the ice rink or the softball field. My husband and I have spent more than 20 years in Annapolis, Maryland raising our three boys, and we are both looking forward to the move to New Hampshire. I enjoy reading, hiking, and spending time in Maine with my family and our golden retriever, Rosie.”
Kyle Riffe:
“I grew up in southern Maine, where I loved going to the beach with my family and playing hockey with my brothers. Before studying History at Connecticut College, I attended Berwick Academy and Westminster School. After college, I lived in many places, such as Thailand, Portugal, and Germany. I received a master’s degree in Global History from Humboldt Universität and the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany. The program was comprehensive and global in scope, focusing on connections between regions and various global structures. I enjoyed expanding my area of study throughout this program while continuing my focus on North American History.
For the past two years, I have been at Cardigan Mountain School. Similar to the responsibilities at New Hampton, I was teaching, coaching, advising, and acting as a dorm parent. In my time at Cardigan, I enjoyed working with students in and out of the classroom, as boarding schools offer a unique opportunity to get to know the whole student. Because of my passion for teaching and working with students, I look forward to joining the community at NHS, where I will teach History, coach, and live in Lewis. In my free time, I love traveling and surfing and have recently gotten into cycling.”
Victoria Sanchez:
“Originally from Kent, Connecticut, I spent a year in France teaching English at the Lycée Polyvalent Auguste Loubatières before coming to New Hampton School. I graduated in 2022 from Dickinson College with majors in French and Francophone Studies, Educational Studies, and a minor in History. I was also the Music Director of Dickinson’s only all-female-identifying acapella group.
I have worked in various educational programs, including preschools, summer camps, and Academic Writing at the Northfield Mount Hermon summer session. At New Hampton, I am excited to coach women’s JV soccer and lacrosse. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, singing, reading, and watching movies. I look forward to cooking with my French classes and making a new home at New Hampton School!”
Lenny Schwartz:
“My educational journey began in my hometown, a small hamlet on Long Island, New York. My passion for golf and ice hockey brought me to Franklin Pierce University, where I studied for four years, earning my bachelor’s degree in secondary education and history. Having had valuable experiences as a student-athlete at the high school and collegiate levels, I am eager to begin teaching and coaching varsity golf and ice hockey at New Hampton School.
As an enthusiastic and dedicated educator, I am thrilled by the opportunity to join the esteemed students and faculty at New Hampton School. With a deep passion for coaching and teaching and a commitment to fostering a nurturing learning environment, I firmly believe that New Hampton School’s values align perfectly with my coaching and education philosophy. I strive to make all students feel valued and important. Outside the classroom, I enjoy playing golf, listening to country music, and spending quality time with friends and family.”
Kate Laucks:
“I grew up in Poland, Maine where I first began adventuring with my family and building a great appreciation for the outdoors and its endless curiosities. I graduated from New England College in New Hampshire, majoring in Biology, before a myriad of wonderful post-college experiences, including interning at Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, climbing Aconcagua Mountain in Argentina, and teaching Biology, Ecology, AP Biology, Genetics, Physics, and Environmental Studies at the Hill School in Pennsylvania and Tilton School. Most recently, I taught and ran the outdoor program at the Beech Hill School in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. When not in the classroom, I can be found outside any time of year, enjoying all that nature offers with my family and friends.”
