This week on the FWSU STORY, we are excited to introduce new educators who have joined our growing #FWSU learning community. Today, you can learn about new teachers at BFA Fairfax!
SEAN THEORET, Technology Integrationist
Hometown: St. Albans, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, Golf, Baseball, Playing Guitar, Seeing Live Music. I am getting into woodworking.
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: University of Vermont for my BS in Math and MEd in Curriculum and Instruction and Tech Integrationist Endorsement
Teaching Experience: 10 years high school math teacher, 6 years SU math coordinator, 3 years Technology Coordinator
Why Teaching? Whether as a coach, tutor, or teacher around math, technology, or any other subject, I have always liked helping people learn and realize success.
Quotable: Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game!
DARAH ZURIT, K-2 Special Educator
Hometown: Underhill, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, art, gardening, playing outdoors with my kids
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: Lyndon State College-Undergraduate Degree in Sociology, Sierra Nevada College- Master in Arts-Teaching Elementary Ed., Vermont HIgher Education Collaborative/Castleton State College- Special Education Dual Endorsement in Special Education
Teaching Experience: Bijou Community School-(2nd grade) South Lake Tahoe, CA 2012-13, Laraway School in Johnson, VT 2013-2016 (Special Elementary Ed. mixed grades), Lowell School, Lowell, VT 2016-2017 (Middle school Special Educator)
Why Teaching? I am a life-long learner. I find inspiration in many aspects of education. I especially enjoy finding creative ways of designing learning objectives to suit the needs of struggling learners and am passionate about helping learners find their potential. I enjoy problem-solving and supporting children to understand more about their strengths, and how they can better understand and navigate their own unique places in the world.
Quotable: “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
BECKY HUDAK, High School Math
Hometown: Montgomery, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, Snowboarding, and Traveling
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: Johnson State College, B.S. in Mathematics
Teaching Experience: 5 years at MVU
Why Teaching? I’d like to make a difference, and feel teaching is a way to do that.
Quotable: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
SHANNON MCCULLEN, Literacy Interventionist Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Hometown: Essex Junction, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Boy Scouts, camping, swimming
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: University of Vermont – double major in Education and Political Science
Teaching Experience: Social Studies Long-Term Substitute Teacher at Milton High School
Why Teaching? After an internship in the Senate, I realized I wanted to work with kids more than work in government.
Quotable: “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next.” Abraham Lincoln
ALANA TORRACA, High School French Teacher
Hometown: Fairfax, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Taiko (Japanese drumming), reading, world languages, hiking, cooking, coffee
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: Houghton College BA, University of Ottawa BEd, Carleton University MA in applied language studies and linguistics
Teaching Experience: I have taught in Ontario, Japan, and Vermont, Pre-K, third grade, middle school, and ESL at St. Michael’s, and French to homeschoolers
Why Teaching? I love creating exciting new ways to learn and build skills, and I really enjoy watching students experience that “lightbulb moment” when they realize that they can do something that they didn’t think they could do.
Quotable: “Toutes les grandes personnes ont d’abord étés des enfants.” (All grown ups were once children.) from The Little Prince, Antoine de St. Exupéry
KAREN SHEARER, High School Interventionist
Hometown: Essex Junction, VT
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, antiquing, being with family and friends
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: University of Vermont Bachelors Secondary English, St. Michael’s College Masters Elementary Education
Teaching Experience: I have a wide range of teaching experience in public and private school settings and in educational non-profits. I’ve taught infants through adults.
Why Teaching? Teaching is about bringing out the best in our students.
Quotable: “For things to change, I must change.”
MARJORIE HOLLOCHER, High School Biology, and Farm to School
Hometown: Falmouth, MA
Hobbies/Interests: Running, Hiking, Lake, Gardening, Spending time with my family
Colleges Attended/Degrees Earned: University of New Hampshire BS Nutritional Science, MS Education
Teaching Experience: I enjoy to learn each day and continue to encourage children to discover the world around them.
Why Teaching? Teaching is about bringing out the best in our students.
Quotable: “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ― John Muir
The FWSU Story 