Please help us in welcoming the newest members of the Tabor Academy Faculty! We hope this blog post will allow you some insight into our newest hires, why they have chosen to work at Tabor and what they are excited about in the coming year!
Loraine Snead - Director of Equity and Inclusion
Loraine Snead comes to Tabor from an extensive career as an educator and leader in independent schools. She has served as a high school division head, grade dean, academic dean, science department head, chemistry teacher and SEED leader. In addition to taking on the Director of Equity and Inclusion role, Loraine will also teach chemistry in Tabor's Science Department. She is looking forward to working with staff, students, faculty and alumni on issues of identity, equity and social justice at Tabor.
Why do you want to work at Tabor?
My interest in Tabor was heightened when I saw that there is a strong commitment towards becoming an anti-racist school. In addition, it’s known for its marine and nautical science courses and I am a scientist. But, seriously, who wouldn’t want to work at a school by the sea?
What are your goals for the year?
My goal for the year is to lead an awesome group of faculty, staff, students and parents toward personal and organizational changes as we lean into turning oppression and privilege into agency and action.
Where will you be living on campus? Or off-campus?
I will be living off campus in the town of Marion, 5 minutes from campus.
What subject are you teaching? If not teaching, what is your role at Tabor?
I am the new Director of Equity and Inclusion, and I’m honored to teach one section of chemistry.
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is changing lives.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
Kindred by Octavia Butler, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies you’d like to share?
I was a drum major in middle and high school.
What show are you currently binge-watching?
I’m not binge-watching any show cuz I don’t have internet access yet and my hotspot doesn’t work well.
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
You would find me on a long hike, a leisure walk, moving earth in my garden or desperately trying to hit a golf ball farther than 50 ft.
What’s one song or artist that puts you in a good mood?
N.Y. State of Mind by Nas
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Jay Amster - Master of Tabor Boy
Captain Jason (Jay) Amster comes to Tabor from the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, where he served as Faculty Captain and Assistant Professor of Nautical Science. He sailed as captain on the Sailing School Vessels Robert C. Seamans and Corwith Cramer taking undergraduates to sea on 6-week ocean voyages. In addition to his duties as Director of Tabor Boy Programs and Captain of the schooner Tabor Boy, Jay is an Instructor of Nautical Science and will teach celestial navigation. He has sailed professionally since 2002, and holds a USCG license as Master, 1600-tons upon Oceans, with an Auxiliary Sail endorsement. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Northeastern University. His professional interests include leadership training, group dynamics, cartography and celestial navigation. At sea and at home, he enjoys playing the guitar and singing with friends. Jay lives on Cape Cod with his wife Jill, their son Charlie and their rescue dog Yaz.
1. Why do you want to work at Tabor?
The Tabor community was inviting from my first visit, and the schooner crew were a thoughtful, articulate group of students who made me excited about the opportunity to work with them.
2. What are your goals for the year?
As Director of Tabor Boy programs, I'll be getting myself up to speed on the schooner and hoping to build on the excitement she's generated in her many decades of service here at Tabor. I'll also be settling in and looking to contribute to the Tabor community once I get my bearings.
3. Where will you be living on campus? Or off-campus?
My wife, young son and our dog Yaz live on the Cape right now, but we're hoping to find an opportunity to be closer to the school.
4. What subject are you teaching? If not teaching, what is your role at Tabor?
I'll be teaching celestial navigation, in addition to being captain of the schooner Tabor Boy.
5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
The 'light bulb' moments of understanding, and the look on students' faces when they 'get it,' whatever the 'it' in question is at the time.
6. What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
Tuning the Rig by Harvey Oxenhorn, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and World War Z by Max Brooks.
7. Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies you’d like to share?
It's not really a hidden talent so much as something I did before I started sailing - I used to occasionally conduct the concert band.
8. What show are you currently binge-watching?
Season 2 of Hanna on Amazon.
9. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Letting my almost 10-month old crawl all over me as his jungle-gym.
10.What’s one song or artist that puts you in a good mood?
Joe Pug is one of my favorite artists - an amazing lyricist and a wonderful guitar player.
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Miranda Laperle - School Counselor
Miranda Laperle is joining Tabor Academy from Rectory School in Pomfret, CT. She will assume the role of school counselor, working individually with students as well as coordinating school-wide programs focused on mental health. She earned a bachelor’s in Psychology from Colby-Sawyer College and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University. She is looking forward to joining the Tabor community with her family.
1. Why do you want to work at Tabor?
Besides the beautiful location, it became clear through the conversations I had with faculty and staff that Tabor is committed to, not only the growth of their students, but of their programming. There is a strong sense of community here, and having lived on several boarding school campuses is a really important component.
2. What are your goals for the year?
My number one goal for this year is to get to know the students. I want students to feel comfortable with me as an ally and as a support to them. I also am hoping to develop mental programming that can support the school as a whole, so that even students who don’t engage with me individually can benefit from the counseling department.
3. Where will you be living on campus? Or off-campus?
My family and I will be living in Baxter.
4. What subject are you teaching? If not teaching, what is your role at Tabor?
I will be the school counselor, doing a mixture of individual clinical work as well as developing programs that focus on social emotional learning.
5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I love that as an educator you can reach so many more students than you could with individual counseling. I get the opportunity to teach students more than just academics, I teach them how to be social humans.
6. What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
I love anything by Kurt Vonnegut and Chuck Palahniuk, and of course Game of Thrones.
7. Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies you’d like to share?
I love yoga, reading, and have recently started learning to crochet during quarantine.
8. What show are you currently binge-watching?
Dark on Netflix and the Office is on a running loop.
9. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Playing with my children at home
10.What’s one song or artist that puts you in a good mood?
a. Yoste
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Nicole McLaughlin - Ceramics
Nicole McLaughlin, class of ’16, is returning to Tabor after completing her B.F.A. in ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute. While at the Art Institute, she served as a teaching assistant in the ceramics department. In the spring, her art work was awarded first place in a national exhibition of undergraduate ceramic art hosted by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) and was named as a 2020 Art Axis Fellow. The Fellowship aims to increase diversity, equity and access in the ceramic arts, with the explicit goal of adding unique perspectives across the field. Nicole returns to campus as the Ceramic Arts Teaching Fellow and will serve as a dorm parent in Bushnell. She looks forward to teaching and working with students in the place that sparked her love of ceramics and art.
1. Why do you want to work at Tabor?
As an alum, Tabor holds a special place in my heart. It feels perfect to be returning to the place where my eyes were opened to art and my love of ceramics flourished. The teaching fellowship position in ceramics felt like a great opportunity to reconnect with the Tabor community, continue to grow as an artist and educator, and inspire a love of ceramics and art among students with the help of the Braitmayer faculty.
2. What are your goals for the year?
My goal for this year is to bring a diverse perspective to the ceramic studio. I hope to expose students to a wide variety of artists, new concepts, and ideas that will foster an environment where students will feel brave enough to try new things. I often ask myself if I’m “playing it safe.” This phrase serves as a reminder that we can only grow if we push ourselves past our comfort zones. I hope I can encourage students to be brave and take risks within their artistic pursuits!
3. Where will you be living on campus? Or off-campus?
I will be living on campus— living and serving as a dorm parent in Bushnell.
4. What subject are you teaching? If not teaching, what is your role at Tabor?
I am teaching wheel working, hand building, and sculpture in ceramics.
5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
Working with clay is so much about learning the material’s responsiveness to touch. My favorite part about teaching ceramics is watching students learn how to work with a material that is both challenging and rewarding. I am excited to see the students' skills develop as they find creativity in the studio.
6. What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
One book that immediately comes to mind is The shape of Craft by Ezra Shales. The book answers the question about craft: What do we think of as hand crafted or authentic? I first read the book during my undergrad and it was a game changer for me! As for podcasts, the two that I frequent are Tales of the Red Clay Rambler and Freakonomics.
7. Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies you’d like to share?
I am passionate about learning new fiber processes, specifically techniques of textile production! These processes include natural dye and embroidery. Even though some of these processes cross over into my artistic practice, I enjoy making simple things like tablecloths and placemats.
8. What show are you currently binge-watching?
I'm not currently binge-watching anything but the last show I flew through was I Know this Much is True. I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you are looking for a show that is emotionally compelling with unique cinematography, I would definitely recommend it!
9. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
You will mostly likely find me working in the ceramics studio. I love being in the studio on the weekends because it's the time I feel most productive and driven to make!
10.What’s one song or artist that puts you in a good mood?
For me, the best songs are those that bring you back to a specific moment in time or place. The song that does that for me is “Even the Darkness has Arms” by the Barr Brothers.
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Natalie Passarelli - Science
1. Why do you want to work at Tabor?
Through my interviews at Tabor, it was clear to me that the faculty here are very down to earth. I loved hearing how active and hands-on the classes here are, and how the students love to capitalize on Tabor's unique location. I'm so excited to be part of this strong campus community!
2. What are your goals for the year?
Being a young teacher, I'm excited to make connections with my students. I remember my high school experience fondly, but I can also empathize with and guide students through the struggles of being a scholar in today's era. Especially in a time as tumultuous as this, it is important for students to feel they have someone to go to for genuine, relevant advice.
3. Where will you be living on campus? Or off-campus?
I am living on campus, down on the water in Wee House!
4. What subject are you teaching? If not teaching, what is your role at Tabor?
I will be teaching Chemistry.
5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I love the hands-on nature of teaching, particularly in the field of chemistry. It is fun to watch a student become more excited and engaged with the material once they are able to use it in a "real world' sense.
6. What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
I will always be a big fan of the Harry Potter series. I also love Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, and Playing for Pizza by John Grisham.
7. Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies you’d like to share?
I grew up training in the martial art of Tae Kwon Doe, eventually obtaining a black belt. Other than that, I love to ski, sing, and cook Italian food.
8. What show are you currently binge-watching?
I am constantly binge-watching Grey's Anatomy. That show will never end.
9. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Doing something outdoors. Whether it's hiking, skiing, or swimming, you can always find me doing something active and fun with my friends.
10.What’s one song or artist that puts you in a good mood?
Maggie Rogers is one of my favorite artists. My a cappella group in college loved her songs, especially Alaska, so it makes me think of them!!
