Meet new High School faculty

by Quinton Walker, head of High School

Our new faces in High School are Theater Director Lily Palmer, Spanish Teacher Waldir Sepulveda, Math Teacher Andy Hedman, English Teacher Michael Hansen and Algebra II Teacher Allison Van Konynenburg.

Andy Hedman, Waldir Sepulveda, Michael Hansen, Allison Van Konynenburg and Lily Palmer.
Joining our Theater Department as its new director, Lily Palmer is making her way to us from Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida. At Seminole, Palmer was instrumental in linking the theater department with both the school community and the greater Tampa community. Palmer also served as a screenwriting professor in San Jose, Costa Rica. She is no stranger to Nashville and is looking forward to returning. Palmer grew up here and is a graduate of St. Cecelia Academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Birmingham Southern College and master’s degree from Lipscomb University.

Waldir Sepulveda joins us to teach Spanish in our World Language Department. He makes his way to us from Pope John Paul II High School where he was the language department chair.    Waldir has lived in a host of really interesting cities: Medellin, Colombia and New York City among them. Here’s some trivia: determine which High School faculty member Sepulveda taught in college. Sepulveda is working to complete his doctoral degree from Tennessee State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.  

Andy Hedman comes to us from the Canterbury School in Fort Myers, Florida, where he has taught all levels of mathematics and computer science. A twin, Hedman is thrilled to relocate to Nashville with his wife and two kiddos. In his spare time, he’s an artist, lover of nature, and a published author on extraterrestrial intelligence. Andy graduated from “Dunk City” (Florida Gulf Coast University) in Fort Myers.  

Michael Hansen comes to USN from the University of Chicago where he served as a lecturer in the English department.  A published poet, Hansen will teach sophomore and junior English courses. We’re also thrilled Michael’s family is joining the community; his son Julian is a proud member of the Class of 2031. Hansen holds undergraduate degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and a doctorate from the University of Chicago.  

Allison Von Konyenburg, who wants to be known as Ms. VK, is a native Californian. She’s spent her most recent years teaching at Brentwood High School. There she taught a range of math courses, particularly Algebra I and II. At USN, she’ll dive into our Algebra and Precalculus courses. Fun fact: if she weren’t a teacher, Ms. VK would either be a gameshow host or an event planner. Allie holds her Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.  

Head Boys’ Basketball Coach and Admissions Officer Mike Jones, now in his sixth year at USN, also is taking on the role of High School service learning director this year.
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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.