Benjamin Community Welcomes New Faculty, Students
Faculty and staff ushered in the start of a new school year with a virtual opening assembly broadcast from Benjamin Hall on August 5. The group, eagerly awaiting the arrival of students both in-person and remotely on opening day August 18, received divisional updates on new teaching staff and enrollment numbers.
Division Heads Fletcher Carr, Chuck Hagy, and Dr. Kristen Sheehan welcomed new teachers in their respective divisions to the Benjamin family. The group, composed of 9 new teachers across all three divisions, comes to the School with an impressive list of credentials and expertise.
Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr welcomed three new faculty members to the upper school community. Some stars, he said, are on our hands.
Emilie Johnsen joins the Upper School Science Department and will be teaching biology. A native Floridian, Johnsen has worked for numerous environmental organizations in Florida. Among her life goals is to visit all the State Parks in the United States.
Johnson is joined by Alexandra Murray ‘15, a graduate of Benjamin. Murray went on to receive her B.A. in sociology from Harvard University and has since worked for Legal Aid. Murray will be teaching courses in World History, Spanish and Law.
Rounding out the trifecta is Jason Peck, who has formerly taught at independent schools across the country and served as a Director of Theatre Arts at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. Jason’s television and film credits include among other shows and movies, roles in: the film In Her Shoes, and on television, The King of Queens, Family Law, The District, LA Law: The Movie, NYPD Blue, and three seasons on the cult-hit, Roswell. If that were not enough, a talent of his that some might not know is singing--Jason was, in his high school years, the lead singer for an LA punk band that opened for both Rage Against the Machine and No Doubt.
Head of Middle School Charles Hagy introduced four new faculty members who will join the community.
Andrea Dumont will be teaching Spanish and Social Studies at the Middle School level and comes to Benjamin with a “depth of knowledge about learning styles and how to help students be successful in the classroom,” said Hagy.
Kari Rankine joins the Benjamin community as part of the Student Services team and will serve as the “perfect compliment to our goals for students, faculty, and staff in the Middle School,” said Hagy.
Stacy Schnurr will join the Science team. Hagy said her passionate and innovative approach to teaching helps motivate and inspire students.
Mindy Rugerrio joins the Middle School community as the School’s new Children’s Librarian.
Head of Lower School Dr. Kristen Sheehan welcomed two new members to the lower school faculty.
Joanne Gange joins the lower school team as a 3rd Grade Associate who has “several out of the box thinking strategies and training that will be instrumental in lower school,” said Sheehan. Mrs. Gange served as a long term substitute in 2nd grade last year.
Pilar Loaiza will serve as a World Language teacher for both remote and on-campus students in PK3-Grade 5. Formerly at Lighthouse Elementary, Sheehan said she is extremely excited to have Loaiza join the Benjamin community as a full-time Spanish teacher
“We welcome them both with open arms to our Benjamin family,” said Sheehan.
The program was then turned over to Director of Admission Mary Lou Primm who said the School experienced an exceptionally busy summer and late Spring.
“This year was busier than I can remember in my 17 years at Benjamin. It was a whirlwind summer, a successful summer, and we exceeded our enrollment goals,” said Primm. Benjamin will welcome 219 new students and their families on opening day, hailing from as far as Canada, California, and the Northeast.
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11000 Ellison Wilson RoadNorth Palm Beach, FL 33408
Ph: 561.626.3747
A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.