Introducing Our New Faculty and Staff

As we prepare to embark on this new school year together, I am thrilled to introduce the new faculty and staff who have joined the community. Two individuals have returned to Monument Street after prior roles with the School. They are: 

Elise Mott, who joins us as Assistant Director of Secondary School Counseling, sixth grade English teacher and advisor, and athletic coach. For the past three years, Elise served as Director of Community Impact and Founding Humanities Teacher at the New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) in Marlborough. Prior to NEIA, she enjoyed 26 years as a Social Studies teacher at Fenn and chaired the department for 12 of those years. Elise also skillfully led Fenn’s Service Learning Program as its Director for four years.  

Will Blumenthal, a familiar face to Summer Fenn families, will embrace a number of roles this school year. He will coach in all three divisions, enabling the use of Fenn’s ropes course by Lower School students and those Middle and Upper School students who choose Outdoor Adventure as one of their sports selections. Will will also lead enrichment programming after school and serve as a Faculty Associate supporting the academic program.

For the past two years, he managed the Challenge Course for Summer Fenn, and for seven prior seasons served as a camp counselor leading specialty camps in video production, canoeing, and LEGO animation as well as archery range master and adventure programming specialist. Will was also a member of Fenn’s Auxiliary Team during the 2020-2021 school year as we followed strict COVID protocols to remain open with a healthy and safe community. 

We are equally excited to welcome these new employees to Fenn: 
 

Tim Coakley joins us as a coach this fall while pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration at Endicott College. Last May, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Lasell University, where he also excelled as a baseball pitcher. Tim has also been employed in the Concord Country Club Pro Shop since 2022, helping to maintain shop and course operations and to support tournaments held at the club.  

Susanna Hernandez will expand our Language Department team as a new eighth grade Spanish teacher. Susanna offers extensive experience teaching the language (primarily as a tutor) to students of various ages and abilities. Beyond her tutoring work, Susanna enjoyed a science career conducting medical research and managing clinical trials, analyzing and testing medical equipment, and helping to advance oncology research, among other responsibilities.

Finnbar (Finn) Murray joins Fenn as our new Assistant Director of Athletics. This month, Finn was awarded his MBA from Bryant University after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Kenyon College in 2023. While at Kenyon, Finn was a member of the football and lacrosse teams, captaining both teams in his senior year. Among other athletic honors, Finn garnered All-American recognition for the 2023 lacrosse season and all-conference recognition in both sports. Finn has also applied his love of sports to coaching youth in grades 1-8 and is eager to put that experience to good use across Fenn’s athletic program.

Heather Stewart expands our talented Arts Department team as Fenn's new Music Coordinator and Music Teacher. She brings a wealth of experience to these new positions, having taught for more than 20 years at schools including Shady Hill School, Martin Luther King Open School, Berkshire Country Day School, The Park School, Groton School, Waldorf High School, and most recently Maynard Public Schools. Heather's expertise will not only enrich Fenn’s music program across all three divisions, but she will also lead Fenn’s Treble Chorus and guide the community in song during All School Meetings on Mondays and Fridays.