In the last few months, Groton has welcomed five new faculty members to the Circle: Abby Frantz, Genevieve Fowler, Christopher Whiteman, Joshua Duclos and Eric Spierer, all of whom will contribute new skills and interests to our community this year.
Abby Frantz is the newest addition to the Counselling Office. Ms. Frantz holds five years of experience working in the ER at Boston Children’s Hospital in emergency psychiatry. She has held various positions in outpatient therapy from private practices to integrated care. Ms. Frantz lives in Sudbury, MA with her husband Chuck, her two-year-old son Owen, her dog Maisy and her cat Tyrone. In her free time, Ms. Frantz loves to read and watch TV. She is a foodie and an avid fan of desserts. As a child, Ms. Frantz’ mother worked at an independent school. She hopes to bring a fresh skillset and perspective to the Counseling Office this year.
Genevieve Fowler is joining the School as an intern in physics. She graduated from Groton in 2012 and received her degree in mechanical engineering from Yale this summer. She worked there at the Center of Engineering, Innovation and Design, helping both students and faculty with projects ranging from dorm room improvements to research-equipment construction. This year she teaches Introductory Physics and, in the fall, assists Mr. Hall in teaching Engineering and the Design Process. Ms. Fowler will live in Parent’s House. Outside of class, she enjoys archery, reading, and rock climbing. When asked what brought her to Groton, she said that she was drawn in by the sense of community between students and faculty. After graduating college, she learned of Groton’s construction of new science spaces and wanted to contribute her knowledge and skills.
Christopher Whiteman is our new Chaplain. Rev. Whiteman served as organist and choirmaster for thirteen years at his home church in Dorchester, MA. He has previously been a seminarian at various parishes in the Boston area, including Trinity Church in Melrose, St. Michael’s in Milton and the Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin in Roxbury. He was also the chaplain of Boston Medical Center for a summer. Apart from leading campus religious services, he will be teaching two sections of Sacred Texts. Rev. Whiteman enjoys reading, listening to music, and cooking in his spare time. He cited his reasons for choosing Groton as the strong commitment to divinity and the passion for learning shared by students and faculty.
Joshua Duclos joins the Groton School community as a teacher of history and ethics. He earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Connecticut College. Originally, Mr. Duclos was interested in pursuing archaeology, but he found himself asking philosophical rather than technical questions, so his professors recommended he study philosophy. Since then, he has pursued his passions for history and philosophy. After college, Mr. Duclos worked for a St. Paul’s summer program the summer after college, where he taught ancient history and philosophy. He also studied and taught philosophy on a Fulbright Scholarship in the Czech Republic from 2008 to 2009. He will teach sections of Ethics, World and the West, and Sacred Studies. Outside of school, Mr. Duclos runs and coaches boys soccer. He has also founded the Philosophy Club, in which members read philosophical works and hold club discussions. As a new faculty member, Mr. Duclos says that he would like to inspire “enthusiasm for the subjects [he] teach[es] and the idea that the humanities are every bit as critical for being an enlightened citizen as the sciences.”
Eric Spierer joins the Groton campus this fall as a history teacher. Prior to working at Groton, he graduated from Wesleyan University, where he majored in history and rowed on the crew team. Mr. Spierer worked after graduation as a paralegal at a law firm in New York City. Mr. Spierer eventually left New York City and returned to his study and passion of history, teaching a history course at his alma mater, The Derryfield School in Manchester, NH. As a graduate student, he attended Columbia University and the London School of Economics, earning master’s degrees in global history from both schools. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Spierer enjoys reading The New Yorker, running, and watching the Food Network. As a new member of the Groton community, Mr. Spierer says, “I am incredibly excited to join Groton School, and I am looking forward to a great year.”
We are excited to welcome these new faculty members on campus, and look forward to living and learning with them.