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English

English - Third Form

Third Form English focuses on developing the skills to write clearly, read literature effectively, use grammar correctly, and expand one’s vocabulary. Novels, plays, poems, and short stories are read and discussed. Students learn to annotate literature to help improve reading comprehension and an emphasis is placed on active reading. Throughout the year, students write journals, paragraphs, poems, and short stories with a focus on improving each student’s understanding of grammar, mechanics, and syntax. Vocabulary is studied through literature-based words and the Wordly Wise program. Literature, both fiction and nonfiction, is studied in connection with the era being studied in history as well as the topics learned in science.

Texts used in the Third Form during the past few years

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

The Phantom Tollbooth: A Children’s Play in Two Acts by Susan Nanus

Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness by Donn Fendler

The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin
English - Fourth Form

Fourth Form English focuses on literature through the study and discussion of novels, plays, poetry, and short stories, with a specific focus on literary terms and text-based analysis. Through literature-based words and the Wordly Wise program, students develop vocabulary through contextual use and practice. During the year, students learn how to create well-structured and organized sentences, before moving on to paragraphs. Throughout the year, students will have exposure to and practice in writing poems, journal entries, and short stories where they will develop both creative and thoughtful literary responses. Grammar and conventions are taught through exercises and written expression. The text, Grammar for Writing, published by Sadlier is used to support grammar and writing instruction.

Sample Texts used in the Fourth Form in the last few years

A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck

As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Refugee by Alan Gratz

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Pearl by John Steinbeck
English - Fifth Form

Fifth Form English focuses on literature, through the reading and analysis of novels, plays, poetry, and short stories. Students make connections to common themes and discover the voice within writing, and students will learn to use criticism and analysis through textual evidence in discussions. Through literature based words and the Wordly Wise program, students develop vocabulary through contextual use and practice. The development of students’ writing focuses on a well-developed, detailed, and structured paragraph, and students work toward the five-paragraph essay. Students are also exposed to creative writing techniques. There is a focus on grammar, conventions, mechanics, and sentence variation through writing and book exercises. The text, Grammar for Writing, published by Sadlier is used to support grammar and writing instruction.

Sample Texts used in the Fifth Form in the last few years

A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Booked by Kwame Alexander

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Catcher in The Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

The Hound of The Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
English - Sixth Form

Sixth Form English focuses on literature, through the reading and analysis of novels, plays, poetry, and short stories. Through class discussions, individual and peer work, and written expression, students make connections to common themes, perspectives of the writing, ties to the world around them, as well as learn to use criticism and analysis through textual evidence. Through literature-based words and the Wordly Wise program, students develop vocabulary through contextual use and practice. The development of students’ writing focuses on expository paragraphs and fully supported essays, as well as some creative writing. There is a focus on conventions, grammar, mechanics, and sentence variation through writing and book exercises. The text, Grammar for Writing, published by Sadlier is used to support grammar and writing instruction. An honors section accommodates those students who have demonstrated exceptional ability in English and above average academic motivation as seen by the English department.

Sample Texts used in the Sixth Form in the last few years

1984 by George Orwell

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Bradon Kiely

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Fences by August Wilson

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Lord of The Flies by William Golding

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Witness by Karen Hesse

Nicole Lavin-Williams

English Department Chair; Dormitory Advisor

Greenfield High School
University of Massachusetts - B.A.
University of Massachusetts - M. Ed.

nlavinwilliams@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Since becoming an Eaglebrook faculty member in the fall of 2014, Nicole has taught Fifth Form Algebra and Fifth and Sixth Form English classes. She also occasionally offers two popular electives, Sports Shorts and Problem Solving. Nicole and her husband Lucas are advisors and live on campus in their home by the tennis courts. They have two children, Ülla and Fischer, two dogs, Tucker and Rocket, a cat, Johnny-No-Home, and nine chickens (whose names are too many to list).

Outside of Eaglebrook Nicole likes to spend time with family and friends. She also enjoys reading, knitting, and quilting. But, Nicole’s favorite thing to do is head out for a long-distance run.
Alexander Bogel

Teacher; Dormitory Advisor; Coach

University of Massachusetts - B.A.

alex.bogel@eaglebrook.org
Bio

Alex joined Eaglebrook in 2021 and currently teaches Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Form English, and he especially loves teaching poetry and writing. He is an out of dorm advisor for Kravis House and coaches all three seasons. Prior to Eaglebrook, Alex was the Academic Dean at nearby Stoneleigh-Burnham School, and before that taught English at Athol High School in Athol, MA, and worked in the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Writing Center. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

When not teaching, Alex likes to read, cook, hike the woods, and wrestle with crossword puzzles. He lives in Shelburne, MA, with his wife, Schuyler Bogel, Eaglebrook's Director of Advancement and Communications, their twin daughters Eliza and Ainsley, and their dogs, Dilsey and Hugo.
Kathryn Congleton

Teacher; Dormitory Advisor; Coach

Pace University - B.A.

kathryn.congleton@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Kathryn came to Eaglebrook in 2020 following five years serving has Kents Hill School's Director of Global Programming, Director of International Student Support, and Dorm Head. Kathryn currently teaches Fifth and Sixth Form English and lives and advises in Taylor House. She lives with her husband Grady their son, Crew, and dog, Chip. Kathryn received her B.A. from Pace University. Kathryn and her family are avid trail enthusiasts. They love taking long walks on the bike trail and enjoying the outdoors. She is also a passionate amateur chef and loves creating complex dishes from scratch with her family.
Paul Cyr-Mutty

Teacher

Connecticut College - B.A.
Wesleyan University - M.A.L.S.
University of Pennsylvania - Ed. D.

pcyrmutty@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Paul B. Cyr-Mutty is the school’s Dean of Teaching and Learning. He also directs the Eaglebrook Center for Middle School Teaching and Learning. He has been a faculty member since 1986, and in that time has coached football, skiing, and tennis. During his tenure, he has also served as Dorm Head, English Department Chair, and Safety Coordinator. Paul graduated from Middlesex School and Connecticut College, received his MALS from Wesleyan University, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017.

When not busy with school business, Paul enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, kayaking, sailing, and reading. He has also completed several marathons and Ironman triathlons.

Paul, his wife Jo, and their dog Marika all reside in Swift House. The couple has two children, Sarah '05 and Aaron '08.
Zachary Mandell

Teacher; Dormitory Advisor; Coach

Rollins College - B.A.
University of Central Florida - M.A.

zack.mandell@eaglebrook.org
Bio
An Eaglebrook alumnus (200), Mr. Mandell has been an educator for the past 7 years. He graduated with his Associate of Arts from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and his Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College. Before becoming an educator, he worked in the film and television industry in several different roles assisting the production. He earned his Master’s of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Central Florida and immediately moved to Massachusetts with the intent to pursue a career in independent school education. His interests and hobbies lie in geek culture and a love of gaming (digital and in-person), graphic novels, and film. He is an avid runner, an amateur chef, and an enthusiast of the written word.
Mark Mariani

Teacher; Dormitory Advisor; Coach

Middlebury College - B.A.
University of Massachusetts - Amherst - M.A.

mmariani@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Mark has been a member of the Eaglebrook faculty since 2000. He teaches Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Form English classes and coaches soccer, basketball, and track and field. He also heads the Sunday Meeting Committee. Mark is presently affiliated with Kravis House, but lived and advised in various dorms for twelve years. He and his wife Karen and their two sons Gavin, and Griffin now live off-campus in their 1830 farmhouse in Montague. Much of the home and the barn, has been rebuilt since a house fire in 2010. The world’s largest springer spaniel, Hudson, also resides with the family.
Mark enjoys reading historical nonfiction, baking chocolate chip cookies and drawing comic book action heroes. His drawing interest has sparked an elective offering in which he teaches students his craft. During the summers, Mark does two things he truly enjoys, painting houses and building dry-stack stonewalls. He also spends much of his time driving his boys to camps and activities but he still manages to get in some time for his other hobbies; splitting wood by hand and writing poetry.
Jennie McAvoy

Teacher

Oberlin College - B.A.
Hunter College C.U.N.Y. - M.A.

jmcavoy@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Jennie is a graduate of Oberlin College where she earned an A.B. in French Language and Medieval Studies, and of Hunter College of C.U.N.Y. where she earned a Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She has been an ESL/ELL teacher for 29 years, the last 21 of which have been at Eaglebrook. Jennie shared that strange as it may seem, she particularly enjoys teaching grammar and helping students unlock the mysteries of the English language.

After living in the dorm for twelve years (the first two in Halsted and the last ten in Flagler) with her husband, Bart, and their two children, John '09 and Amelia '11, her family now lives off-campus in South Deerfield. In addition to teaching and raising her children, both of whom grew up on campus and are Eaglebrook graduates, Jennie is a folksinger and is a member of the Franklin County Musicians Cooperative, Coop Concerts. She invites you to check out her music on iTunes.
Kelvin Sanchez

Teacher; Dormitory Advisor

kelvin.sanchez@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Originally teaching in Scarsdale, New York, Kelvin has joined the Eaglebrook community as a Third Form English and Science teacher. In addition, they are also an out-of-dorm advisor in Taylor House. While not teaching, they can often be found honing their craft as a creative writer or a novice chef. Kelvin is thankful to be joining the team, and hopes to inspire a similar level of wonder and curiosity that past teachers had cultivated within them!
Karinne Syers

Teacher

Brooklyn College (MFA) CUNY Graduate Center (PhD) - MFA, Ph.D.
Hampshire College - BA
Mountain View High, CA

karinne.syers@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Karinne joined the Eaglebrook faculty in 2023 and teaches Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Form English. She’s been working as an artist and educator for twenty-five years. She has taught locally at Amherst College, Bard Microcollege Holyoke, and the Hartsbrook School. She lives in Amherst with her family and spends her spare time writing plays, editing audio, making short films, building narrative video games, and volunteering at the Hospice of the Fisher Home.
Annie Thompson

Teacher; Dormitory; Coach

Simmons University - B.A.
Emerson College - M.A.

annie.thompson@eaglebrook.org
Bio
Annie has been a member of the Eaglebrook faculty since 2022. She teaches Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth form English and coaches Pickleball. She is currently an advisor in Flagler house. She and her wife, Courtney, and their son Marlow live off-campus on a farm in Buckland. They are currently home to 4 goats, 20 chickens, and two cats.

In her free time, Annie enjoys baking, playing tennis, and walking around the farm. She is a former Div III athlete and played softball at Simmons University, in Boston. She is looking forward to being a part of the Eaglebrook community this year.