Meet Our Faculty

Challenge. Mentor. Inspire.

University School is proud of our accomplished faculty who bring local, national, and international perspectives to our school, with over 75% holding advanced degrees. Our teachers are authors, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and mathematicians, they practice what they teach.

Every day, our teachers use care and intention to fulfill our mission to create an inclusive community where each boy is known and loved. They care about each boy's interests as well as his abilities, his personal concerns, and his school performance.

At US, we believe there is no substitute for the rich relationships we intend to cultivate, and that work begins with keeping class sizes small. We maintain a school-wide class size average of about 12. As classes become more specialized, many are much smaller.

Below you can learn more about just some of our amazing faculty and hear why teaching at US is as equally amazing for them. To see all faculty and staff, please access our employee directory.

List of 3 items.

118

Full-Time Teachers
77%

Hold Advanced Degrees
17

Average Years of Tenure

Upper School Faculty

Dr. Sara Laux
Science
Director of Science Research
Science Chair, Upper School
Biology Teacher
Director of Science Research, Upper School
Science Chair, Upper School
Biology Teacher
Cleveland State University, Ph.D.
University of North Dakota, M.S.
Ohio State University, B.S.

"Teaching science empowers me to harness the curiosity of boys, encouraging them to explore questions about themselves and the world around them. I find great fulfillment in utilizing our outdoor campus to nurture a sense of environmental stewardship, empowering boys to seek solutions for the betterment of future generations."
Ashley Worthington
English
English Teacher, Upper School
English Teacher, Upper School
Head of House
John Carroll University, M.A.
The Ohio State University, B.A.

"I love teaching the boys at US because they bring such bright energy to the English classroom—their bold, creative approaches to literary study keep the practice fresh and exciting."
Dr. Tyler Yoder
History
History Teacher, Upper School
History Teacher, Upper School
The Ohio State University, Ph.D.
Trinity International University, M.A.
Cedarville University, B.A.

"I love teaching History for the same reason that I love studying it: an understanding of history helps us make sense of and bring meaning to our own world, inviting us to imagine ourselves as actors in a grand drama that's played out on the stage of life."
Devon Steve '13
Performing Arts
Director of Music, Orchestra & Glee Club, Upper School
Director of Music, Orchestra & Glee Club, Upper School
Simpson College, M.A. St. Olaf College, B.M.

"I love teaching at US because our students value the learning process; engaging deeply with a topic, a research question, or a song for their own personal growth and enrichment."
Peter Millett
Latin & English
Latin & English Teacher, Upper School
Coach, Academic Challenge
Latin & English Teacher, Upper School
Coach, Academic Challenge
Oxford University, M.A.
Oxford University, B.A.

"I love teaching boys because of their energy, because they know and they don't know, and because the experience of helping them see the difference and improve the quality of their ideas just never gets stale."
Adam Atwell
Math
Mathematics Teacher, Upper School
Head Coach, Tennis
Mathematics Teacher, Upper School
Head Coach, Tennis
University of New Hampshire, M.S.T.
Kenyon College, B.A.

"We get to encounter the same ideas and wrestle with the same problems that folks 20, 200, and 2000 years ago were interested in. Mathematics evolves but also allows comforting glimmers of universality."

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Middle School Faculty

Veronica Zawie
English
English Teacher, Grades 7-8
English Teacher, Grades 7-8
Dartmouth College, B.A.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, M.A.

"I love teaching at US because it is such a supportive and collegial environment and the boys have such great energy! Teaching English is both challenging and rewarding. I enjoy generating student excitement for reading and writing."
Terry Lipford ’98
Math
Math Teacher, Grades 7-8
Director of REACH
Coach, Middle School Football, Varsity Basketball
Math Teacher, Grades 7-8
Director of REACH
Coach, Middle School Football, Varsity Basketball
John Carroll University, B.S., B.A.

"I love teaching at University School, because I appreciate the school’s unwavering commitment to provide an exceptional education to every student in our community. It is an honor and a privilege to teach at a school that believes in the tremendous potential of young people and provides the space for young men to develop the skills and habits to be exceptional scholars and gentlemen."
Dr. Erik Carlson
Science
Science Teacher, Grade 8
Coach, Cross Country
Science Teacher, Grade 8
Coach, Cross Country
Michigan State University, B.S.
Colorado State University, M.S. and Ph.D.

"Science can enhance everyone’s life, from appreciating the natural world, to understanding how a lightbulb works, you don’t need to be a scientist to enjoy science. And boys especially are willing to get dirty, literally, while learning."
Samantha Pierce
Theatre
Arts Department Chair, Middle School
Drama Teacher, Grades 5-8
Arts Department Chair, Middle School
Drama Teacher, Grades 5-8
London Metropolitan University, B.A.
Goldsmiths University - London, P.G.C.E.
Monash University - Australia, M.A.

"As a parent and teacher I absolutely adore the fact that each boy knows he can be more than any one thing. University School teaches boys they can try it all; they can allow all parts of their personalities and passions to thrive to become multifaceted humans."
Matt McCarter
Social Studies
Social Studies Teacher, Grade 8
Coach, Middle School Wrestling
Dean, Grade 8
Social Studies Teacher, Grade 8
Coach, Middle School Wrestling
Dean, Grade 8
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, B.A.

"From economics and militaries to government institutions and elections, Global Citizenship creates an opportunity for students to explore the different dynamics that influence the modern world and also share their developing understandings of how they see our society."

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Lower School Faculty

Ellen Rothfusz
Grade 4
Chilcote Chair in Applied and Integrated Learning
Lead Teacher & Team Leader, Grade 4
Chilcote Chair in Applied and Integrated Learning
Lead Teacher & Team Leader, Grade 4
St. Joseph University, B.S.

"I love teaching at US because here our creativity and curiosity combined with our nurturing environment provide holistic support to our students and prepare them for their future challenges and opportunities."
Brittney Schaner
Grade 1
Team Leader, Grade 1
Team Leader, Grade 1
Miami University, B.S.
Ohio University, M.Ed.

"I love teaching at US because boys are so engaged in theme lessons that they ask to do their activities during their free play times."
David Barresi
Art
Art Teacher, Jr. K - Grade 5
Art Teacher, Jr. K - Grade 5
Kent State University, B.F.A.

"Sharing the world of creativity, color and imagination through visual art with my students every day has profoundly illuminated my life."
Shirley Veness
Grade 3
Lead Teacher & Team Leader, Grade 3
Lead Teacher & Team Leader, Grade 3
Cleveland State University, B.S.
California State University Channel Islands

"I enjoy working with the boys at US because they each bring a constellation of talents, interests, and hobbies that I get to know and love, and I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to be an early part of inspiring them to grow into confident lifelong learners."