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Summer 2012
Oak Meadow Student Wins National Writing Competition
Oak Meadow 8th grade student Haley Coe won the YES! National Student Writing Competition with her essay entitled “A Lesson on Life.” Haley, who has been enrolled in Oak Meadow School since second grade, wrote about her life as a home schooled student. Her essay will be published by YES! in their February issue. YES! is an independent, ad-free magazine of solutions for building a just and sustainable world. The magazine goes out to the public, as well as to 25,000 teachers across the country. (To find out more about YES! Magazine and to read Haley’s award winning essay, visit http://www.yesmagazine.org.) Congratulations, Haley!
Oak Meadow’s
Michelle Simpson-Siegel
Named Executive Director
We are excited to announce that Oak Meadow Curriculum and School has appointed Michelle Simpson-Siegel to the position of Executive Director. Lawrence Williams, Oak Meadow’s Co-founder and President, who served as Interim Executive Director, notes that Michelle already brings with her a wealth of Oak Meadow know-how. As High School Program Director, she developed a solid understanding of all aspects of Oak Meadow. Lawrence reports, “Under Michelle’s leadership, I’m confident Oak Meadow will enter an exciting new stage of growth and development.”
Michelle’s professional and educational background is a perfect fit with Oak Meadow’s focus on environmental awareness and stewardship, and on helping students develop strong reading and writing skills. Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Education and English from the University of Rhode Island. She pursued her graduate degree in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England. Before coming to Oak Meadow, she taught English at Northfield Mount Hermon, was a Learning Specialist in the Massachusetts public schools, and worked as a Program Director for The Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Michelle is looking forward to witnessing Oak Meadow’s continued progress as a leader in homeschooling and distance learning. She notes, “2012 promises to be a dynamic year in which we guide our organization into its next phase. Oak Meadow is an empowering option for students and their families; our curriculum and our school provide families with a model that promotes a lifestyle of learning.” As Executive Director, Michelle hopes to guide Oak Meadow in creating new ways to serve and support homeschooled students and families worldwide.
Oak Meadow Welcomes New Faculty Members
David Rosner, M.Ed., K-8 Faculty
David Rosner received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Classical Music from Oberlin College, and a Master of Education from Manhattanville College. He joins the Oak Meadow faculty as a 5th through 8th grade teacher and high school math teacher. In addition, David runs an independent tutoring business in Westchester (NY) County where he works individually with students in math, history, writing and standardized test preparation. When he’s not teaching, David enjoys hiking, nature, art, music, cello, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Megan Buchanan Cherry, M.A., High School Humanities
Megan holds degrees in Urban and Environmental Policy and in Creative Writing/Poetry. She has taught English, bilingual literacy, creative writing, learning skills and dance for over 15 years, and her poems and essays have been published in national magazines. Megan has lived in California, Arizona, Ireland, and France, and now lives in southern Vermont with her husband, teenager and toddler. In her free time, she loves to go for long walks on dirt roads, read, cook, sew baby quilts by hand, and grow vegetables.
Ted Thornton, M.A., M.Div., High School Humanities
Ted Thornton is a frequent lecturer and panelist on Middle East affairs and Islam. He has presented workshops on teaching about the Islamic world at professional conferences in Cairo, Montreal, San Francisco, and Boston. He has led student travel-study programs to Egypt, Turkey, Portugal, Jordan, Brazil, and South Africa. In addition to his Oak Meadow teaching, he specializes in the creation of online resources and web-based applications linking students and teachers around the world.
Peter Siegel, M.S., High School Music
Peter Siegel’s musical credits include Grammy award winning mandolin tracks on the Best Children’s Album of 2010 and a guest appearance on the nationally syndicated, Etown. He’s played venues around the country, including Newport Folk Festival and the Kennedy Center, and shared the stage with Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, and many more. Certified in the Orff and Kodaly methods, Peter also holds degrees in music and political science, as well as an advanced degree in environmental studies.