Inspiring Mentors

Our "Gold Standard" Faculty
The EXPLO faculty and staff have often been described as setting the "gold standard" for summer programs. This does not happen by accident. Recruiting, training, and retaining creative, energetic, responsible, and engaging people is a high priority for EXPLO.

Teachers Who Are Involved in All Aspects of Student Life
EXPLO looks for adults who can be exceptional role models, can inspire students to new heights, and people who genuinely enjoy spending time with young people. We travel across the United States each year recruiting an extraordinary group of people. Almost all EXPLO faculty and staff live on campus throughout the summer so that they become part of the extended EXPLO family. Students see faculty and staff not only in the class, but in the dining halls, on the playing fields, and on field trips.

A Rigorous Selection Process
EXPLO faculty and staff is primarily comprised of exceptional college and graduate students, supported and supervised by experienced teachers, educational administrators, and professional practitioners. All EXPLO faculty and staff go through a rigorous hiring process that includes lengthy written applications, personal interviews, reference checks, and background checks for criminal history and sexual offender history.

Top Notch Professional Development
EXPLO has a particular philosophy about teaching and learning and we can't assume that because someone has been working in education that they will understand our approach. Consequently, once EXPLO hires someone, there is a lengthy professional development program that is required of all faculty and staff, regardless of previous experience. Because substantive learning is tied to good teaching, EXPLO has put into place an extensive professional development program that continues through the summer, including regular classroom observations, feedback, and evaluation.

Heading the Program

David Torcoletti is the Head of all EXPLO programs on the campus of St. Mark's. David has worked at EXPLO for more than ten years. He works for Exploration year-round and moves to campus each summer with his family so that he can personally oversee the operations of the program. David is intimately involved in the hiring of each staff member, with curriculum planning, and with the development of all policies and procedures used at the program. Prior to working at EXPLO, David was the Dean of Students at Milton Academy, and a School Dean, teacher, House Head, and teacher at Northfield Mount Hermon School. He is often called on to do consulting work with private day and boarding schools regarding student life issues. David is a summa cum laude graduate of Ohio University and earned his M.F.A. at Bard College as a Milton Avery Scholar.

Meet Some of Our Summer Faculty

The following is a partial listing of our 2012 EXPLO at St. Mark's faculty and staff.

Becky Craig Fleps is a teacher and curriculum consultant for Imagine Environmental Charter School. At Imagine, Becky develops curriculum and coaches a dozen teachers on curriculum implementation. Last year, she was a Heinz Environmental Teacher Fellow where she coached 22 teachers in science curriculum design and implementation. While a member of Teach for America in St. Louis, she was named runner-up for “Teacher of the Year” two years in a row at her school. Becky graduated from Carleton College with a degree in psychology, and earned her masters in elementary education at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Becky has served as both an instructor and a curriculum advisor at EXPLO, and this summer will be the Director of Curriculum.

Tim Watson is EXPLO’s Director of Admission during the academic year. He serves as a committee chair for alumni interviewing for the Bowdoin College admission office. Tim is a graduate of Bowdoin College with a degree in government and legal studies and a minor in education. During his time at Bowdoin, Tim played varsity football and intramural softball, student-taught fifth grade at the Longfellow School in Brunswick, and studied political science for a semester in Florence, Italy. He will return this summer as the Dean of Students.

Lisa Summergrad is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Haverford College where she earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing. At Haverford, Lisa co-founded a student-run musical theater group and was the editor of the literary magazine. She also selected and trained student advisors for first-year orientation, and worked as a residential advisor for first-year students. Lisa has been with EXPLO for nine summers and works during the academic year as the Assistant to the Head of EXPLO at St. Mark’s. She returns this summer as the Main Office Director.

Andrew Smith graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in English and adolescent education. While in college, Andrew spent a semester teaching elementary students in Ghana, and worked as a substitute teacher for a local high school. Recently he taught eighth grade English and reading in the West Irondequoit Central School District. He has worked at EXPLO as a theater teacher, lifeguard, residential advisor, and this past year joined the Norwood office as the Assistant to the Director of Curriculum. This summer, he will return as the Director of Programming.

Adam Van Der Sluis is an admission officer for Macalester College. He travels extensively on behalf of the College, interviews prospective students, and participates in the admissions committee selection process. Adam is a graduate of Macalester College where he studied applied mathematics. As an undergraduate he was active in the college’s residential life programs, serving as an RA for two years and shaping policy as a member of the Student-Staff Advisory Board. He has been an instructor and a Residence Director, and this summer will be the Assisant Dean of the Focus Programs and Main Campus.

Kielynne Banker teaches high school biology at Sacred Heart High School. She majored in biology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she also earned her teaching certification. Kielynne taught dance at the Valley School of Dance and was a teaching assistant at Hobart for the Common Ground class for incoming college students. Kielynne returns to EXPLO at St. Mark’s as the Assistant Director of Curriculum.

Kyle Geiste is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design where he majored in photography. He spent several years working for EXPLO full time in Norwood, first as an Admissions Officer, and later as the Assistant to the Director of Curriculum. Currently he works full-time for Apple Creative, where he continues to pursue his interest in teaching and technology. At EXPLO he has served as a photography instructor, a Residence Director, and the Assistant Director of Curriculum. This summer he returns as the Assistant Dean of West Campus.

Sarah Dewey is a teacher at the Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Massachusetts. She graduated from Williams College with a degree in art history. During her time in college she played volleyball and lacrosse, sang in an a capella group, gave tours for the admissions office, and was a tour guide for a local art museum. She spent part of her junior year studying abroad in Spain. She returns to the Dean’s Office this summer, this time as the Assistant Dean of the Day Program.

Allie Jane is a graduate of George Washington University, where she majored in studio art. She now works at Westborough High School. She studied art in Florence, Italy and spent many summers working at camps. She returns this summer as an art instructor.

Masha Kuznetsova is in her final year at Macalester College where she is studying psychology and anthropology. A native of Russia, Masha attended the United World College in Norway. She has volunteered at a children's hospital in Russia and worked at a refugee camp in Norway teaching English. She will return to EXPLO at St. Mark’s as a Residence Director.

Michael Bottinelli is a student at Bowdoin College, where he is majoring in neuroscience. At Bowdoin he is a tour guide for the admissions office, a goalie on the varsity lacrosse team, and the programming director for the College House. He also mentors a fourth grader at a local school, and plays on the golf team. He joins EXPLO as a chemistry instructor.

Elizabeth Douglas is currently studying history at Haverford College. On campus, she is a coxswain for the crew team, a tour guide, the news editor for the college paper, and co-president of the Haverford Student Council. She has worked at Sturbridge Village as a costumed interpretor, and interned at the Women’s Law Project in Philadelphia. She has also taught a variety of types of dance to younger children. She joins EXPLO this summer as an instructor.

Najah Magloire is a philosophy and French double major at Colby College. In school, she works with children through Best Buddies, and is active in the French Club and Colby Conversations on Race. She has interned with both the Urban Assembly and the US Attorney’s Office. She is also fluent in Haitian. This summer, Najah joins EXPLO at St. Mark’s as an instructor.

Sharafudin Mirzayee is an undergraduate at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. A native of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sharaf was one of two students chosen to participate in the Afghan Scholars Initiative, which led him to attend the Hotchkiss School, a prominent boarding school in the United States. He spent last summer working for Jamati Crisis Planning in Kabul. He joins EXPLO as a program assistant.

Alexis Kramer is an elementary instructor at the Hampshire Country School for boys. She is a graduate of Colby College, where she majored in English and minored in education. At Colby, she was the captain of the Colby Mock Trial team and sang in the chorale. She is a certified EMT. This summer she will return as an instructor.

Eugene Prymak is currently an undergraduate at Swarthmore College, where he intends to pursue a degree in engineering. At Swarthmore he plays varsity basketball, a sport that he has taught as a camp counselor at Blue Star and Jack McCloskey’s Basketball Camps. He is also a native of Poland, and fluent in Russian. He returns as a physics instructor.

Matt Richey is completing his studies in theology and English at Boston College (BC). At BC, Matt is a tour guide and an outreach greeter for the admissions office, a volunteer teacher's assistant at the Jackson Mann Preschool, and a team captain for Relay for Life. He has worked as a head lifeguard and swim instructor in his hometown, and for the past two summers taught engineering at EXPLO at St. Mark’s. He is excited to return as a Residence Director.

Ghariza Sujak Bakir is studying anthropology at Macalester College on the Kofi Annan Scholarship. A native of Singapore, Ghariza attended the United World College in Norway, where she was a house coordinator for the student council and the secretary-general for the Model UN team, which involved organizing hundreds of students across Europe. She has worked as a media intern for the Malay News and Current Affairs and at the Discovery Vacation Science Camps. She is fluent in Bahasa. She will serve as an instructor this summer.