This year, Hackley welcomes 11 new Upper School teachers, who each bring unique experiences, insight, and goals to the Hilltop. All remarked that they were attracted to Hackley because of its outstanding academics and strong sense of community, which was evident even during their first visit.
Wil Lobko
Wil Lobko teaches three sections of twelfth grade English and one section of tenth grade English. He is one of three faculty advisors to the Dial, and wants to start a creative writing club, as well as become involved in Upper School Coffee Houses. Mr. Lobko said that Hackley is “one of the most open and welcoming campus environments” he has ever experienced.
Jon Gruenburg
Jon Gruenburg teaches two sections of Algebra I, one section of Geometry, and one section of Pre-calculus. Mr. Gruenberg will coach a girls’ basketball team during the winter sports season, and hopes to become a club advisor. He commented that he was drawn to Hackley by its “commitment to citizenship and creating people of substance, not necessarily limited to academics.”
Michael Bass
Michael Bass teaches two sections of ninth grade history and two sections of eleventh grade history. He is also a Dial faculty advisor, and hopes to work on the Coffee Houses. Mr. Bass said that he was “incredibly impressed by the students high level of academic skill.”
Michael Canterino
Michael Canterino, who spent thirteen years as a Hackley student and graduated in 2003, is substituting tenth and eleventh grade classes for English teacher Brigid Moriarty while she is on maternity leave. He will continue working on the Hilltop in yet to be specified roles upon Ms. Moriarty’s return. Mr. Canterino noted that each day, teaching at Hackley is unique and dynamic, which is “vastly different” from his insulated, repetitive, highly scheduled life as a student. He further commented that, although the campus has physically changed significantly since he was a student, he has “changed more than the school has.”
Rafi Malkiel
Rafi Malkiel instructs in Upper School concert and jazz bands, and assists teaching the Upper School choir. He hopes to “keep, or even increase, the excitement” that Eric Storkman, Hackley’s former Upper School band teacher, brought to the band program. Mr. Malkiel spent years traveling the world playing trombone with bands. He has performed with well known figures such as former President Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson.
Willie Teacher
Willie Teacher teaches Upper School acting and public speaking classes, and will direct the fall and winter Upper School plays. Mr. Teacher is a professional actor in New York City and, before coming to Hackley, was the Director of Theater at the Harlem School of the Arts. Mr. Teacher would like to “enhance [Hackley’s] artistic profile by presenting art that makes audiences think.” Mr. Teacher believes that Hackley is a place full of great thinkers and greater personalities” which “has a positive and truly contagious spirit.”
Cassandra Hatcher
Cassandra Hatcher teaches all seven sections of tenth grade health. She is the Assistant Girls’ Varsity Soccer Coach and will be a girls’ basketball coach during the winter season.
Melissa Brennan
Melissa Brennan teaches two AP Computer Science classes, two Computers I classes, and one Computers II class. Previously, Ms. Brennan helped teachers at Pace University implement technology into classrooms and, for the last seven years, taught computer science in Briarcliff, NY.
Peter Wright
Peter Wright teaches two sections of Geometry and two sections of AP Calculus AB. He is currently coaching JV Boys’ Soccer and will coach JV Boys’ Basketball as well as organize this year’s Math Team. Mr. Wright hopes to convince “anyone who thinks of themselves as ‘bad at math’ that they really are capable of succeeding in the subject.” In addition, Mr. Wright, who has engaged in a variety of excursions, domestically and internationally, hopes to “inspire [Hackley students] to venture out on their own and see the wonders of the world.”
Melanie Greenup
Melanie Greenup teaches two tenth and two eleventh grade English classes. She plans to become involved in Hackley’s global education program. Ms. Greenup said that she has been taken back by “Hackley’s school-wide unity.”
Zachary Boboth
Middle School Math teacher Zachary Boboth does not teach any Upper School classes, but plays a very important role in the Upper School, as the new Director of Boarding. For the last four years, Mr. Boboth taught and was a dorm head at Cushing Academy. Mr. Boboth wanted to work at Hackley because it just felt right. The seventh grade class [he] taught [was] an incredible group of kids and all the staff [he] met were very passionate about their jobs.”
