Welcome

New year, new faculty. As we prepare for Fall Family Weekend, we are excited to introduce the new SBS faculty, many of whom are from across the country and around the world. Their areas of expertise include maths, languages, arts, and humanities. Read on to learn more!

Roger Moncusi (he/him), while new to SBS, is not new to teaching maths. Roger, who is from Barcelona, has taught in the US and abroad for almost twenty years. At SBS, Roger is teaching four levels of maths and has previously taught technology and science. Roger has a degree in Computer Engineering from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and has completed coursework towards a degree in Pedagogy at the Universitat de Barcelona. Roger and his wife Eli Pallàs, also a new member of the faculty at SBS, live on campus with their young daughter. Roger reports, “During my first weeks at SBS, I felt very welcomed by all faculty, staff, and students. The thing that warms my heart the most is seeing how students smile and say hi to our daughter, Julia when they see her in the hallways.” 

Elisabet (Eli) Pallàs (she/her), married to Roger Moncusi, is a new Spanish teacher and houseparent at SBS. No stranger to the Valley, Eli earned a MA and Ph.D. in Hispanic Literatures & Linguistics from UMass Amherst and also holds degrees in Language Advisory Services and Linguistic Politics and in Humanities from the Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Her work focuses on contemporary Spanish culture, particularly film and theater. Additionally, Eli holds certificates in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and Advanced Language in Catalan and taught college-level language and culture courses prior to SBS. 

Adding to the language department at SBS is Will Saladin (they/them). Will is currently finishing their Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and holds a MA in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, Will earned a MA in Modern Irish Language and Literature at University College Dublin and completed their BA in French and Comparative Literature nearby at Smith College. Will, who has experience teaching at the college level, is teaching four levels of French at SBS. Will shares, “The SBS community has been incredibly welcoming from the moment I stepped onto campus in August. I'm having lots of fun getting to know the students and the adults who help make this place special. My French classes started the year off by drafting community agreements, and it was great seeing what each group values in a classroom community— lots of emphasis on collaboration, respect, and humor!”

Taylor King (she/her) has joined the SBS Visual Arts department as a faculty member and Coordinator of Geissler Gallery. Taylor holds a BFA from California College of the Arts and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Trained as a metalsmith, Taylor is a studio artist and jeweler who has exhibited her work internationally. Prior to SBS, Taylor taught art at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Virginia Commonwealth University School for the Arts, Richmond Visual Arts Center, Metalwerks, California College of the Arts Pre-College program, and The Richmond Arts Center. 

This year, we have two additions to the Humanities department. Irene McGarrity and Megan Buchanan. 

Irene McGarrity (she/her) served as a professor, librarian, and program coordinator at a number of colleges prior to SBS. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, an MSIS in Information Science from SUNY Albany, a MA in English Literature from SUNY New Paltz, and a BA in Creative Writing from SUNY New Paltz. Irene has taught diverse courses at the college level and is a published writer. Describing the beginning of the academic year as “A dizzying whirlwind of personalities, voices, creativity, and humor.”, Irene goes on to say that “SBS students are such a pleasure to get to know, and teach. From the first day, I was inspired by their wit, intelligence, and drive.”

Megan Buchanan (she/her) teaches Academic Skills in addition to Humanities. Megan earned a BA in Urban and Environmental Policy from Occidental College, a MA in English from Northern Arizona University, and a DipHE in Irish Gaelic from the University of Ulster. Megan has taught a variety of courses at both independent schools and colleges. Megan is also a poet, dancemaker and performer— her collection Clothesline Religion was nominated for the 2018 Vermont Book Award. She is currently at work on her second iteration of a collaborative performance project about nuclear power, radioactive waste, watersheds, grief, and love for the earth, titled REGENERATIONS: Reckoning with Radioactivity. This interdisciplinary work will be in residency at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center with performances on January 26 and 27. Megan describes SBS as “...a rare community, and the entire campus itself is inspiring - the historic buildings, the protective trees, the expansive views, all the horses and the birds that visit and live here. I am impressed each day by the thoughtfulness and care my colleagues embody and exude. What an honor it is to spend this year with the wonderful young humans in my classes as we explore, create and learn together.”

Welcome to SBS, new faculty, and welcome to Fall Family Weekend, families!