By Isabelle McAlevey ’13, Contributor
The four new teachers in the Upper School have driven race cars, created e-books, studied paleontology, and done mission work in Haiti. Here’s a quick look at the new additions:
Mr. Jimmy Gardner, a CCDS alumni from the class of 2005, is one of the newest members of the math and science departments. Mr. Gardener majored in physics and math at Thomas More College, specifically working with cars. After graduating, he moved to Washington D.C., where he worked as a professional racecar driver with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Gardner peruses his passion for cars by building his own cars and engines. He is currently working with a Navy Seal, whom he met through his parents, in developing and marketing a new weapon for the police force, of which both his parents are members. Mr. Gardner is also a devoted sports fan, his true allegiance lying with Duke Basketball.
Lisa Block joins the Country Day community as a math teacher, teaching sections of Algebra 2, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. Ms. Block is originally from Dublin, Ohio, and attended Miami of Ohio after finishing high school. Most recently, she taught at Indian Hill High School before joining the Upper School. She explained that she was drawn to CCDS because she not only loves the small school environment, but also is a big fan of the laptop program, and the creativity encouraged in a private school. Ms. Block swam all through high school, qualifying for State competition each year, and will be adding to the school community by coaching swimming this year. One child of three, her sister lives in Chicago, and her brother resides in Los Angeles. In 2008 Ms. Block interned in Chicago for McGraw-Hill working on creating E-Books, helping to make them more dynamic and enjoyable for users.
Dr. Jonathan Franzosa attended Louisiana State University, where he received a degree in Paleontology, becoming an avoid LSU football fan in the process. He first worked as a teacher in Texas before working in the Deer Park school system. Dr. Franzosa choose Country Day because of his love for the feel of a small-school environment. He has two children aged two and four.
Tiffany Okel, of the technology department, comes to us from Endagraph, a company where she worked with computers and technology. However, more prominent in her background is Ms. Okel’s work at the technology help desk at Kent State University. Ms. Okel studied animation in college. She has also participated in mission work, which allowed her to travel a great deal, most frequently to Haiti. Ms. Okel was attracted to Country Day because she was able to work with both computers and teaching kids.
Photo by Adriana Ungerleider
