Faculty Celebration: Milestones + Departures

Celebrating faculty milestones (including an impressive 35 years!), paying tribute to beloved departing faculty members (it's not "goodbye," it's "see you later"), and welcoming some new (and some familiar) faces to the team for school year 2023-2024.

Faculty Milestones:

Celebrating 35 years

Celebrating 5 years

Departing Faculty:

Alex Levin, Upper School Science Teacher

Alex Levin leaves GUS with a strong reputation as a beloved teacher and dedicated leader. Students will certainly miss his active classes that were lively, filled with activities that encourage deep thinking, discussion, and connections. Alex is a person that gives all of himself to his work, whether that was in the classroom, on the soccer or lacrosse fields, or planning the 8th grade service trip. Most of all, we appreciate the spotlight on environmental sustainability that has helped push our school forward. We are certainly a better, stronger school because of Alex’s presence. As a GUS alum, we know Alex will never be too far from GUS and we look forward to his future visits from Vermont!

Kitty Hunt, School Nurse

Kitty Hunt has been our dedicated nurse for the past 8 years. While many of her days involved rubbing backs, putting on bandaids, and securing lost teeth for the trip home after school, her impact on GUS has been nothing short of profound. Faced with any situation, Nurse Kitty is always steady and ready to respond. While every day she seemed to manage whatever crisis may arise, we certainly would not have been able to manage the covid pandemic without her wise and dedicated leadership. There are just no words to describe what her service meant to our school. Kitty has been a leader, a mentor, a friend and confidante to all and we will miss her dearly. She has no doubt earned her retirement and we wish her all the best!

Beth Riley, Director of technology

Beth Riley will be retiring in September after 24 years at GUS. From a computer teacher to a resource for teachers regarding technology and as our technology specialist, it’s hard to know what we would have done without Beth’s dedicated service. From the first Smart boards to laptops and ipads to remote learning, Beth has steered GUS through many new developments with an innovative approach to creative and intentional learning. We are grateful for her vast knowledge and her dedication to making sure we always have what we need. We are also thankful we have her around campus for a few more months! Thank you for all you’ve done for GUS, Beth!

Rebecca Raven, Preschool teacher

Becca came to us as an Endicott Fellow and we were so pleased when she stayed on as a PreK teacher. Becca has a lovely way with young people. She is encouraging, kind, and compassionate. Her colleagues have also benefited from her gentle way and have valued her strong understanding of early childhood development and education. Becca leaves GUS with many friends who are thrilled that she is having a baby boy any day now! Becca has been a true gift to GUS and we are grateful for her many contributions.

Incoming faculty:

Julia Bugeau-Heartt, School Nurse

Motivated by her experiences working with children in the Boston Public Schools and homeless shelters as an undergraduate, Julia entered healthcare recognizing it as a field where she could make a meaningful impact on children’s lives. Her nursing experience includes time at Mass General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospitals, and most recently, as school nurse at Concord Academy. Julia holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and human services from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She is excited to join the GUS community where she looks forward to supporting students as they begin to create their meaningful places in the world.

Jen Mallette ’87, Science Curriculum Coordinator

We are thrilled to welcome back GUS alum Jen Mallette as Science Coordinator, where she will be tasked with leading the science department in curriculum development and implementation. All students in every grade will benefit from Jen’s work as she works not only with the science team, but also classroom teachers to make sure that the GUS’ science program is innovative and forward thinking, while remaining focused on inquiry and project based learning. Jen attended Phillips Academy, Andover, and matriculated to Middlebury College, where she double majored in biology and environmental studies. She holds a Master’s Degree in elementary education from Lesley University. She began teaching at Madison Country Day School in Wisconsin before working at Brookwood and Tower School, and already has 13 years teaching at GUS under her belt!

Amanda Pastel, Science Teacher

Prior to joining GUS, Amanda taught life science, biology, and AP Environmental Science at Gloucester High School. She is passionate about teaching in a way that helps to spark students’ innate curiosity, widen their perspectives, build confidence, and ultimately acquire valuable skills. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Salem State University, where she also studied chemistry and educational studies, as well as a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is also a licensed massage therapist! She is excited about joining the GUS community where she sees a natural alignment between GUS’s thematic and experiential approach and her own vision of education.

FacultyGretchen ForsythJune 29, 2023