Home Community Blog NEW FACULTY AND STAFF 2025-26

Below you will find a list of the talented new faculty and staff who will join our learning community next fall.

This new cohort is well-trained and brings a broad and deep experience to ÂÌñÉç from around the country
and right here in Utah. This large incoming group of faculty and staff is reflective of ÂÌñÉç’s healthy and
growing enrollment—ensuring high levels of teaching expertise and maintaining low student-faculty ratios.

We look forward to welcoming these new colleagues to ÂÌñÉç later this summer and to you meeting
them at our Opening Family Brunch on August 23.

LOWER SCHOOL 

ANNIE TAYLOR – CLASS III TEACHER
Education: 
Southern Utah University, M.A., Education
University of Utah, B.S., Behavioral Science and Health

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Early Light Academy in Daybreak, Third Grade and Kindergarten Teacher

RYLEE STOUT – CLASS IV TEACHER
Education: 
Western Governors University, M.S., Curriculum and Instruction
Winona State University, B.S., Elementary Education

Recent Teaching Experience: 
The Langley School, First Grade Teacher
The Evergreen School, Fourth Grade Teacher

NATALIE BROWN – PREK-4 TEACHER 
Education: 
University of Utah, B.A., Human Development and Family Studies

Recent Education Experience: 
ÂÌñÉç, Extended Day Teacher, Substitute Teacher
Newcastle School, Preschool Teacher

POWELL WALKER – LS CHESS SPECIALIST
Recent Experience:
Power Chess, Founder & CEO
U.S. Chess Federation, Candidate Master
Ranked Top 100 chess player in the U.S.

BRITTANY GROESBECK – PREK-4 TEACHER
Recent Experience: 
Big Blue Swim School, Owner

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL 

JENNIFER BLAKE – DEAN OF STUDENTS 
Education: 
Harvard Graduate School of Education, M.Ed., Educational Administration
Middlebury College, A.B., American Literature

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Associate Head of School, Rowland Hall
Co-Director of College Counseling, Marin Academy

TOM BRENNAN – MS/US MATH 
Education: 
University of Utah, M.S.
University of Utah, B.S.

Recent Teaching Experience: 
University of Utah, Math
ÂÌñÉç, Math Teacher

PAUL CHUNG – MS/US MATH
Education: 
Westminster College, M.A., Teaching
Miami University, B.F.A., Graphic Design

Recent Teaching Experience: 
The McGillis School, Math Teacher

RAY MAKUSIEWICZ – MS/US PE
Education: 
Curry College, B.A., Business Management

Recent Experience: 
Skyline High School, Head Varsity Defensive Lacrosse Coach
Off Highway Van, Customer Experience Manager

CHANDLER KENDALL – MS/US HISTORY
Education: 
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, M.A., Classics
Brigham Young University, M.A., Comparative Studies
Brigham Young University, B.A., Classical Studies

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, MS/US Latin Teacher
University of North Carolina, Graduate Instructor
Brigham Young University, Graduate Instructor

KAITLYN RUSSELL – MS/US HISTORY
Education: 
Utah Valley University, M.A., Constitutional Government – Civics & Law
Utah Valley University, B.S., Philosophy – Ethics

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Utah Valley University, Philosophy Professor
Utah Valley University & West High School, Ethics Bowl Instructor
University of Utah, UPEP Teaching Assistant

LINDEN JONES – MS/US SCIENCE
Education: 
Bates College, B.S., Biology, Premedical Track

Recent Teaching Experience: 
The Masters School, Upper School Science Faculty, Middle School Science Faculty
University of Maine 4H Learning Center, Outdoor Educator

ANDY GILL – MS/US SCIENCE TEACHER & SCIENCE DEPT CHAIR
Education: 
University of Exeter, M.Sc., Biological Research Methods
University of Bristol, B.Sc., Zoology

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Verde Valley School, Science Department Head, IB Coordinator, Science teacher

JENIFER GILL – MS/US ENGLISH
Education: 
West Virginia University, M.S.J., Journalism
Harvard University, M.L.A., Creative Writing and Literature
Shepherd College, B.S., Broadcast Communications

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Verde Valley School, English and Theory of Knowledge teacher
Sedona Red Rock High School, English teacher

NATHAN FLORENCE – MS/US ART
Education: 
Utah State University, M.A., Art Education
Swarthmore College, B.A., Art

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Art Teacher, Artist in Residence
Weilenmann School of Discovery, Artist in Residence/Outdoor Education/Mobile Classroom Director

KAMERON KAVANAUGH – DIRECTOR OF CHORAL PROGRAMS
Education: 
University of Utah, D.M.A., Choral Conducting
Brigham Young University, M.M., Choral Conducting
Brigham Young University-Idaho, B.M., Choral Music Education

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Sound of Ages, Founding Artistic Director
Spanish Fork High School, Director of Choirs

VICTORIA RADER – DANCE ACADEMY TEACHER
Education: 
University of Utah, B.F.A., Modern Dance

Recent Teaching Experience: 
Lehi High School, Dance Teacher
The Allure Creative, Dancer/Director of Choreography 

STAFF

DANIKA CALVIN – MS/US COUNSELING INTERN
Education: 
Brigham Young University, B.S., Psychology

Recent Experience: 
Lakeridge Jr. High, School Counselor Intern

ADDISON JOHNSON – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Education: 
Brigham Young University, B.A., Political Science

Recent Experience: 
The Helix School, Development Manager
Raise the Future, Development Manager 

TRANSITIONING TO NEW POSITIONS AT WATERFORD SCHOOL  

Natalie Brown – PreK-4 Teacher 
Brittany Groesbeck – PreK-4 Teacher
Mercedes Hale – Dance Academy Teacher & LS Playground Monitor
James Harris – MS/US Science Teacher
Ryan Judd – Athletic Director
Lexi Kemp – Class VI Dean
Ann Henriksen – Class VII Dean
Kimi Miyashima – Class IX Dean
Craig Morris – Athletics Teams Coordinator
Julie Ransom – History Department Chair
Heidi Somsen – Art Department Chair

EXITING & RETIRING FROM WATERFORD SCHOOL  

Our faculty and staff are the core of ÂÌñÉç, they are the ones who ignite the passion and shape the character of our students, they play an integral part in inspiring our students towards lives filled with meaning and purpose. We are so grateful for the many invaluable and incredible contributions made by those faculty and staff members departing ÂÌñÉç—without their immeasurable efforts and devotion to the liberal arts, our school would not be the same wonderful place of inspiration and curiosity that we love so deeply. We thank them for their many years of service. 

Skyler Anderson 
Ray Barton (retiring)
Michael Bonham
Sadie Brower 
Saige Cushing
Sherry Egan

Brad Hayashi
Josh Hirsh
Errol Heuer (retiring)
Willem Scott King
Emily Mortenson  
Priscilla Stewart 

Katherine Stokes   
Karla Stucker
Jennifer Tripp  
Kirsten Walker

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