Faculty Level: Middle School

Ross Feitlinger

Role: MS Science Teacher, grades 8 and 6
Other Hats: 8th grade advisor, boys MS soccer coach, MS alpine coach, a wide variety of exploration blocks
Favorite Assignment: Making a Difference project. It happens in the spring for the 8th graders. In 8th grade, science is an environmentally focused class. We have been studying pollution and to wrap up the unit, I have the students create a proposal of how they can make a difference in their community environmentally.
Fun Fact: Before coming to Derryfield I was a zipline guide in the summers.
Favorite DS Tradition: The 8th grade retreat – I love when we take the 8th graders up to the White Mountains to go for a hike and be outside.

Karen Robichaud

Role: Science Teacher, grades 6 and 7
Years at DS: 23
Other Hats: MS cross country coach, 7th grade Head Class Advisor
Favorite Assignment: The Bear Brook winter ecology field trip – It gets the students outside to experience ecology first hand, but also gives them an experience that builds their confidence.
Fun Fact: I’ve hiked all the trails in all the AMC White Mountain Guide, hiked all 48 4000-footers in all seasons, hiked all of the NE 100 highest peaks and all of NH 100 highest peaks. I’m currently working to complete the grid (all 48 peaks in all 12 months – that’s 576 summits!) and am currently at 67% complete.
Favorite DS Tradition: Any maroon vs. white competition! They’re fun, bring us together as a school, and get middle and upper school students together.

Samantha Mandeville

Role: Geography and Civics Teacher, grades 6 and 7

Other Hats: Yearbook advisor, Community Meeting organizer, 6th grade Head Class Advisor

Favorite Assignment: The Disney EPCOT project – 6th graders propose a new world pavilion to add to the World Showcase at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. It’s a country project with a dash of entrepreneurship. I love this project because it gets students excited to learn about new countries and cultures while also being creative and active.

Fun Fact: I’ve been to 25 countries, taught in Thailand and Peru, and backpacked Europe.

Favorite DS Tradition: Thanksgiving Baskets – It’s an opportunity to give back to our communities and to support those in need, and really brings our students together for a good cause.

David Baroody

Role: English Teacher, grades 7 and 8

Other Hats: Coach for MS girls’ soccer and Varsity Nordic

Fun Fact: Everyone knows me for the bow ties I wear to school!

Michelle (Mimi) Coombes

Role: Math and Finance Literacy & Entrepreneurship teacher; grade 8

Years at DS: 29

Fun Fact: My husband and I run a state-of-the-art recording studio and we’ve hosted musically-inclined Derryfield students for their Independent Senior Projects.