Heather MacDonald (Math): My path to teaching started with one of my 8th grade teachers saying to me, “Have you ever thought about teaching some day?” Once that seed was planted, it slowly blossomed and became a reality. I started off as an Electrical Engineering student but quickly realized that it was the math that I really loved at the heart of the engineering. I switched my major and received my Bachelors degree in Math and a Masters degree in Education, both from UVM. This is my 6th year at CVU but my 17th year teaching math and I’m really excited to share it with you in Chittenden Core! When I’m not teaching math, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 2 children, Callie (9 years old) and Alexander (6 years old).
Molly Tonino (English): I grew up in Charlotte, VT and graduated from CVU in 1999. After studying English and Art History at college in Baltimore, MD, I returned to set up home base in my favorite place (Vermont, of course!) to be a ski bum, a waitress, and a traveler while I figured out what job I wanted to do in my life. Back then, I would have been surprised to know I would end up teaching at my own high school, but in fact, it’s been one of the best decisions of my life. I have been at CVU for fourteen years, teaching all kinds of upper-level classes like American Literature, Film, Writing, and the Holocaust and Human Behavior. This will be my tenth year teaching ninth grade in the Core. I live in Waterbury and spend my time back-country skiing and riding the lifts at Stowe, mountain biking, hiking, swimming-hole hopping, eating delicious food from my family’s garden, going to concerts, and playing outside with my two kids (Dean, 3 and Daisy, 5) as much as possible.
TJ Mead (Wellness): I teach Project Adventure and Personal Health in the Chittenden Core. This will be my 17th year teaching in Chittenden Core and 18th year teaching at CVU. I am also a proud alumnus of CVU, so I’ve experienced this place from both perspectives. As noted above, at school you’ll be working with me in two different Wellness classes. Project Adventure is a non-traditional Physical Education class where we challenge each other to take healthy risks, grow and learn through games, initiative tasks and low ropes course elements. In Personal Health, we will focus on building skills that will help you navigate important teen issues. When I am not at school I am either at home playing Legos and soccer with my kids or at the gym. I am a lover of all things fitness and exercise related. I love the pursuit of health and wellness, reading about advancements in nutrition and exercise, playing games and sports and talking with students about their experiences in the sports and fitness world. I am looking forward to another great year in Chittenden Core and at CVU.
Chittenden Team Fun Fact: TJ was the University of Vermont Teacher of the Year 2021 Recipient
Katie Mack (Social Studies): I have spent most of my adult life gradually moving north, having grown up in Baltimore City, attending college in New Jersey, and finally landing in Vermont in 2004 as an Americorps VISTA. I received my Masters in Education from UVM and spent my first years at CVU teaching in the Upper House before landing in Chittenden Core. This is my eighth year on the team - it’s hard to believe that next year will be my 17th year teaching! I so enjoy teaching Humanities in the Core Program where students get to explore what it means to be human and how, through story, we construct identities and institutions to organize and understand our world. I also love team-teaching - Molly and I have worked for the past year to integrate the Harkness method of instruction into our class. Outside of school I love being active - running, playing tennis, and my new obsession - the Peloton bike. I also enjoy taking my poorly behaved corgi Gravy on long walks, reading, doing the crossword, and spending time with my husband and kids.
Claire Thibeault (Special Educator): Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be an educator. I would constantly ask my sister to play “school”, giving her extra worksheets my third-grade teacher would print off for me. I made my way from Massachusetts to Vermont for my undergraduate studies at UVM in Secondary Education with a dual endorsement in Special Education and decided to stay in the area as I began my post-graduate path! This is my first year in the Chittenden Core and I could not be more excited to work alongside outstanding educators and your students to help foster inclusive and fulfilling learning environments for all individuals. In my free time, I like to be on the water or in the mountains, read, and cook (or at least attempt to).
Andrea Boehmcke (Science): I have been fortunate enough to be teaching Science for 26 years. I grew up on Long Island, NY, where I spent most of my time swimming and working at the beach. It is also where my career began teaching Biology. After marriage and the birth of our first child, my husband and I decided that it was time for a change and we moved to the beautiful state of Vermont. We are now a family of five and spend most of our time together snowboarding, mountain biking and sitting on the sidelines watching lacrosse and football. As a self proclaimed “Science geek”, I especially enjoy being outdoors and exploring nature. As an educator, I continued my career in Vermont at Colchester High School, teaching mainly Biology and Forensic Science along with some Chemistry and Physics. I joined the CVU community seven years ago and am very excited for another year with both CVU and the Chittenden core.