USN welcomes new faculty

by Amy Woodson, Jeff Greenfield, and Quinton Walker, division heads

Meet the newest faces in USN classrooms.
Anna Stern joins the USN faculty from the Wayland School in Wisconsin. At her previous school, Ms. Stern was involved in a wide variety of teaching and co-curricular pursuits, including teaching in the history department, leading numerous student organizations, and serving as a dorm leader for the school's boarding program. At USN, Ms. Stern will teach courses in the history department — including a newly-redesigned course for sophomores — and coach in the swimming program. Ms. Stern holds degrees from Washington University and the University of Wisconsin.

Kristin Droege comes to us from our neighbors at Vanderbilt University. Originally setting out to teach high school science, Dr. Droege dove deeply into her field of biochemistry, ultimately leading her to her successful defense of her dissertation. An avid traveler, Dr. Droege will take the lead of USN's environmental science course as well as teach chemistry. In addition to her doctoral degree, Dr. Droege holds a Bachelor of Arts in Science Education from Northern Illinois University. As you're reading this, Dr. Droege is fulfilling a lifelong dream of spending some time in Peru.

Omari Booker is a practicing artist in the Nashville community. He joins the art department to share in some of the 2D art teaching responsibility. Oil paintings are Mr. Booker's predominant medium, but charcoal, chalk pastels, and acrylic paintings are essential building blocks of his work. His artist statement on his website reveals a bit more about his beliefs around art and creativity. "Omari takes a process-oriented approach to his art, embracing it as a therapeutic modality through which he is able to express his passion for the freedom and independence that the creative process allows him to experience." Mr. Booker holds a degree in graphic design from Tennessee State University.

Andy King joins our faculty as a Middle and High School visual art teacher. Mr. King experience is impressive, having most recently taught for 12 years at Pope John Paul II High School where he also served as chair of the fine arts department. He earned his Bachelor in Fine Arts at Sewanee University and a master's degree in art education at The Academy of Art University. Mr. King brings a thoughtful and reflective approach to teaching art, and an understanding of the importance in building relationships with students as a launching point to bring forth their most creative and experimental work. Away from school, Mr. King is the proud parent of two young children and a lover of fishing and other outdoor pursuits.
 
Ida Fields steps in as our sixth grade math teacher. The last four years Ms. Fields has taught math, among other subjects, in fourth grade at Carter-Lawrence School, and she has served as an anchor among Horizons teachers in the summers at USN. Ms. Fields earned her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and her master's degree in teaching and learning: making math relevant in the lives of her students and building connections across subject areas comes naturally to her, and our students will be the beneficiaries of her experience and commitment to learning that has a high life-worthiness value.  
 
Harrison Nam joins our math faculty as our eighth grade algebra and advanced algebra teacher. He's a graduate of Vanderbilt University and served most recently as a middle school math teacher at Meigs Magnet School. Mr. Nam is warm, energetic, and knows his math instruction, but perhaps most impressive to his students is that he's an accomplished magician and a collector of cool sneakers. After all, those are pretty solid attributes in Middle School: he'll be a favorite in no time.
 
We must be living right because our beloved Susan Casey has taken on the administrative assistant position in Lower School for the coming year. Mrs. Casey has been a part of the Lower School community for some time. She has been the utility player for us in countless situations and steadfastly keeps students and teachers at the center of her work. She will bring that same attention to detail to command central in lower school. You'll see Mrs. CSey at the desk on the first floor, you'll hear her calming voice if you call the office, and no doubt you will also receive important communications from her about upcoming school events and announcements. One of the greatest strengths Mrs. Casey possesses is the near perfect recall of every child's name and some fun fact that lets them know Mrs. Casey cares about them. Join me in welcoming her in this new role.
 
Also new this year is Barbara Voehler. She, too, has long been in these halls wearing many different hats. She has covered for teachers who have had babies in second, third, and fourth grades, and has been a teaching assistant with Betsy Hoffman in first grade. Mrs. Voehler also worked as a lead teacher for the Horizons program this summer. Truly a woman who can bat from many positions, we are thrilled to welcome her to the third-grade team on a permanent basis. Join me in welcoming Mrs. Voehler to the teaching faculty.

Piper Jones '08 is filling in for Dajuana Hammonds' Middle School classes during the fall semester while Mrs. Hammonds is on maternity leave. Ms. Jones, a familiar face to many students as a USN alumna and finalist on American Idol, has plenty of experience teaching and working as a professional singer. Many students know Piper from her past stints around campus and will be excited to have her lead their vocal music classes this fall. Monykah Tyson will take over Mrs. Hammonds' High School classes. Ms. Tyson holds a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theater from University of Tampa.

Be sure to read the next newsletter to meet Dena Meiste, Marcia Terry, and Heather Davis, the newest staff walking USN hallways.
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USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.