2022 - 2023 Faculty Biographies

With the exception of our Head of School, all of our faculty are independent contractors. This means that the scheduling of their time and expertise is either on a part-time or per diem basis. The core of our strategic plan is to establish a school that is equipped to serve as a hub from which an ecosystem of learning can revolve. To accomplish this, we seek to engage performing artists and other professionals whose incomes have been disrupted by the ongoing pandemic. Being an independent school allows us to hire part-time staff in a way that will also catalyze VT's creative as well as entrepreneurial economy. This is our vision. Toward this end, we are thrilled that the following list of professionals are members of our learning community.

Judy Pullinen., Interim Head of School & Lead Faculty

Judy is a career educator with over thirty plus years of education experience in Vermont public school systems. Her career includes teaching H.S. Health, Human Service Instructor, Middle School Principal, Technical Center Director, and School Superintendent. Judy serves as Justice of the Peace, is a member of the Ludlow Planning Board, and is a member of the Ludlow-Mt.Holly Unified School Board. In her leisure time she enjoys gardening, reading, yoga, Biking and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

Gary Blodgett, Assistatnt Head of School

Gary is a retired middle school and elementary educator and school Principal, serving his entire career in Springfield, VT. In addition to the acting Assistant Head of School Gary teaches Social Studies and is also a member of the ESBR Board of Trustees. In his spare time you can find Gary enjoying time with his family and their dog Buttercup.

Horatio Travaglini, Spanish Educator

Prof. Horacio Travaglini joins ESBR this year. He is native of Buenos Aires, Argentina and has lived in Manchester, Vermont since 2016. Horacio has been teaching Macroeconomics and Microeconomics at Castleton University since January 2016. He enjoys volunteering at chess and soccer clubs when time permits and loves outdoor activities.

Roxane Blake, School Counselor

Roxane brings her years of experience to ESBR as the school counselor. Previously, Roxane enjoyed a career working as a school counselor for the Springfield School District in Springfield, Vt. Roxane enjoys all four seasons of Vermont and calls Perkinsville home.

Anne and Gerald Janauer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Instructor

This husband-and-wife team joined ESBR in year three to offer their experience teaching the integrated science program.

Toby Milne, Math Educator

Mr. Milne has been teaching math for more than four decades in both public and private schools. His goal is to help students find their way in Maths through innovative teaching and an inclusive environment. When not teaching classes or mentoring teachers, he herds cats, designs websites, and enjoys medieval reenactments.

 “Mathematics is endlessly fascinating. There are things we notice and things we question, there are insights we discover and insights we stumble over. Most important of all, there is beauty. Beauty in the patterns, beauty in the simplicity and beauty in the questions.”

Sean Whalen, English Language Arts

Sean joins ESBR this year as the English Language Arts Instructor. Sean resides in Perkinsville, Vermont with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, reading and mornings on the river with is rowing club.

Piper Strong, Art

Piper returns for her second full year of teaching at ESBR.

Susan MacPherson, Performing Arts & English Language Arts Educator

Originally from Rochester, New York, Susan has lived everywhere from New York to California plus many states in between, and is now proud to call Vermont home. As an actor, director, choreographer, teacher, producer and arts administrator she has worked on Broadway, national and international tours, at Disney World, and at regional theaters across the United States.

In addition to her ongoing actor and director career, Susan is a Vermont Arts Council Teaching Artist, teaching at Weston Playhouse, Northern Stage, Rutland High School, Windham School and Cavendish Town Elementary School. Theatre clinician experience includes Tennessee Arts Academy (professional development for high school theatre directors),  Tennessee Thespian Conference and the NorthEast Theatre Festival. Susan has also taught theatre courses at Castleton State University. She served as Weston Playhouse’s Director of Education and Outreach in 2015, and continues to advise and support Weston’s Education programs. 

Susan began her theatre career at Walt Disney World, appearing in the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review as well as other shows throughout Epcot Center and The Magic Kingdom. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Fine Arts degree at Florida State University’s Asolo Conservatory, she went on to act in regional theaters such as Barter Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Shaker Bridge Theatre, Northern Stage, Playhouse on Park and Geva Theater.  Susan has appeared on Broadway in State Fair, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and 42nd Street (Revival), and on national and international tour in Damn Yankees (with Jerry Lewis) and Billy Elliot. As a director and choreographer, she has directed and choreographed at colleges as well as regional theaters such as Playhouse on Park in CT (Steel Magnolias, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Three Little Pigs, and Little Shop of Horrors), Shaker Bridge Theatre (4000 Miles) and Weston Playhouse (Stuart Little and Schoolhouse Rock Live!).

For fun, Susan loves to hike, take pictures, bake chocolate chip cookies, and pick blueberries.