The Fessenden School

Caleb Thomson graduated from Fessenden in 1979 after spending three successful years as a 5-day boarding student in grades 7-9. After Fessenden, Caleb matriculated to Suffield Academy and then to Ohio Wesleyan University. Caleb certainly knows and understands the "Fessenden experience." Caleb served as a dorm parent for nine years, currently coaches the Varsity Soccer team, runs several clubs and lives on campus with his wife Annie and two daughters Katie and Meggie. Caleb still enjoys playing competitive soccer, traveling and spending free time with family and friends.

Greg received a BA from the University of Vermont and an MBA from Boston University. He joined the Fessenden community in the summer of 2005 and has prior business experience at Viacom Boston (WBZ-TV 4 and WSBK-TV 38), Digital Broadband Communications and Gannet, Welsh & Kotler Inc. In addition to his admissions responsibilities, Greg coaches soccer, hockey and lacrosse and chairs the Red & Gray Key Club at Fessenden.

Margaret received a BA from Dartmouth College in 1993 where she majored in English and received her certificate in elementary school teaching. She joined Fessenden in 2005 after two years in London with her family. Prior to her time abroad, Margaret worked at Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a placement firm for teachers and administrators in independent schools. She also served as a Spanish teacher, admissions officer and coach in Deerfield, MA, for several years before that. Margaret enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her family, playing field hockey and lacrosse and spending her summers at Forest Lake Camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Margaret lives in Needham with her husband, son (F’16) and daughter.

Deborah Lyons has been a member of the Fessenden community since 1980. Having majored in business administration at the University of Connecticut, she joined Fessenden as a member of the Business Office staff and worked in that department until 1999 before joining the Admissions and Placement team in August of that year. Her husband Jack is a teacher at Fessenden. They have lived on campus since 1989 as dorm parents and part of the residential life program.

Laura joined the Lower School Admissions team in 2011. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and an M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Fessenden community as a Kindergarten teacher in 2008, she taught at Friends Select School in Philadelphia, PA, The Episcopal Academy in Devon, PA, and Shore Country Day School in Beverly, MA. In addition to her teaching experience, Laura served as the Acting Director/Senior Associate Director of Alumni Affairs and Development in the Northeast Regional Office for Cornell University. She lives in Winchester with her husband and two sons and enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking and music.

Mbakwe received his Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of the Holy Cross and his Masters in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University. He joins the Fessenden community after spending nine years at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. While serving as the Wellness Director, Codman's program received the 2011 Gold-Level Massachusetts School Wellness Award from the MA Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Public Health in recognition of the school’s innovative programs. In May 2012, Mbakwe was awarded the Globe 100 by The Boston Globe which recognizes the top innovators in Massachusetts. In addition to his admissions responsibilities, Mbakwe coaches during all three athletic seasons and is an adult facilitator for VOICE, one of Fessenden's affinity groups. He lives on campus with his wife and two sons, and in his free time, enjoys reading to his sons and playing basketball with family and friends.

Sarah Rose joined the Admissions team in 2003. Prior to that she taught Kindergarten and First Grade for five years at Fessenden. Sarah also has teaching experience at Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, Connecticut and the St. Peter's School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sarah received a B.A. from Bowdoin College and a M.A.T. from Manhattanville College. Sarah lives in Needham with her husband, Graham, and their sons, Peyton and Alastair. She enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing and cooking.

Sue joined the Admissions Office in 2000. Although new to Admissions, she has been a member of the Fessenden community since 1988 in many roles which have included dorm parent, tutor, advisor, Kindergarten teacher and parent. Sue earned her BA at Skidmore College. She lives on campus with her husband, Peter, who is the Director of Athletics and Summer Day Camp with their two sons Cory '03 and Scott '06.