Faculty Level: Upper School

Lindley Shutz

Role: Associate Head of School and Dean of Academic Program, English and LEAD College Essay Teacher.
Years at DS: 14
Other Hats: Advisor of Equity Club, US advisor, Pathway counselor.
Favorite Assignment: The personal essay. I love working with students as they tell the stories of their lives. There is an amazing synergy of realizing that we are the narrators and designers of our lives in fact and in writing.
Fun Fact: As a child, I crewed our family boat from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas four times. As an adult, I have continued to explore by sea, joining National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions to Alaska and the Galapagos. I would love to live for an extended time in another country at some point.
Favorite DS Tradition: Students spontaneously say thank you to their teachers as they leave class. It speaks volumes about the caring and respect at the heart of the community.

Chris Little

Role: US Science Teacher (Chemistry, Human Anatomy & Physiology)
Other Hats: Advisor to the Red Cross club; Rock Climbing; US advisor; lacrosse and soccer coach
Favorite Assignment: The dissections are awesome in Anatomy & Physiology because the students are full of curiosity and love to get hands-on with learning about the anatomy of the heart, lungs, and brain.
Fun Fact: I play with my wife in a duo called Gravel Road. I am a certified American Mountain Guide Association instructor and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician/Firefighter for the Plymouth, NH fire department.
Favorite DS Tradition: COVID life has put a big pause on many traditions during the three years I have been here, but Halloween brings great energy and joy!

Ryan Tanner-Read

Role: History Teacher (AT American Public History, Global Issues)
Other Hats: US advisor, history department chair, curriculum committee chair, and Model UN coach
Fun Fact: I am an avid record collector (I have about 1200 records at home). I have a turntable in my classroom (four at home), and play records for students while they are working as well as to begin class. This year, I offered an Exploration Course on vinyl.

Favorite Assignment: The AT American Public History final Capstone Project. This project allows students to choose any topic in American History that has interested them throughout the year and design a project to share with the Derryfield community. It requires them to think about their topic and their experiences with various forms of communication throughout the year to choose the best form for their final project. They do real, authentic research and they develop wonderful projects. In the last two years, I’ve seen a choose your own adventure video game about turn of the century immigration, a series of escape rooms about military leadership in the Civil War, a podcast about the relationship between religion and (anti-)slavery, and art installations about the history of drag in New York City. Students have produced period newspapers, virtual exhibits, and everything in between. The creativity the students show and the passion they exhibit in researching topics that really matter to them make the project essential.
Favorite DS Tradition: The Winter Musical. I spent three years working as the Production Manager for the theater and I have fond memories of it. It’s wonderful to see another side of students I have in class who have talents I’ve never seen.

Mary Ann Watt

Role: Science Teacher (Honors Chemistry, AT Chemistry, Computer Science Practice & Principles)
Other Hats: Varsity girls lacrosse coach, US advisor, Women in STEM club advisor, science department chair
Favorite Assignment: The Unknown Lab in Honors Chemistry – although students typically work with lab partners, in this case, students have to have the confidence to work on their own to identify the specific ions (or lack of ions) in their solution.
Fun Fact: Our family lived in France from the 2008-2009 school year and I successfully resurrected my high school French skills (although now I am quite rusty again).
Favorite DS Tradition: Head’s Holiday – it is fun to see the happy, surprised looks on the students’ faces when we actually pull off the surprise, and then to see everyone having fun together.

Taylor Moon

Role: Science Teacher (chemistry, biology, AT biology), grades 9-12
Other Hats: Equestrian advisor, Green Club advisor, 10th grade Head Class Advisor, ISP committee, admissions committee
Favorite Assignment: AT biology students write a story using immune cells as characters. The personalities they develop in this assignment always impress me!
Fun Fact: I was on St. Lawrence University’s national championship riding team.
Favorite DS Tradition: Community meeting – It’s a favorite part of my week. There is so much joy and celebration of student talent, it always makes me smile.

Angela Romilla

Role: English Teacher, grades 9 and 10

Other Hats: Dean of Faculty, Breakthrough Manchester; coach for Mock Trial and Model UN.

Student Focus: I love creating student literature circles which allow for dynamic and independent discussion about the great books we’re reading.

Reina Stimpson

Role: Interim Head of Upper School, Student Life, and Leadership

Years at DS: 12

Student Focus: I partner with student leadership in almost every level of decision-making. At Derryfield, student leaders don’t just plan dances…although that’s fun too!