Celebrating Our People | 15 & 20 Years Faculty & Staff Milestones

We continue the tradition of honoring faculty and staff who are currently enjoying milestone years: 5, 10, 15, 20, as well as those who are celebrating 25 years or more on the Hill. Join us in celebrating the “milestone class” of the 2024–2025 school year as we thank them for their tireless work and commitment to Hopkins. We appreciate all who participated in this feature!

In Their 15th Year

Crystal Anniversary: “My Hopkins Moment”: Please share a moment in the last 15 years that crystallized your

Hopkins experience.

Karl Anderson - Information Security and Systems Administrator

Over the last 15 years there have been a lot of “Hopkins Moments.” The one that sticks out the most for me was at the height of COVID. I was told that in order to support remote learning, we had been given the OK to upgrade our network. Normally this process takes about a year or so to complete. We got it done in four months. That included new fiber, switches, wireless, and meeting owls across the whole campus. A complete redesign of how our network works and functions. That wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of vendors and the amazing group of people in the tech department that I work with on a daily basis. This wouldn’t have been possible any other way in such a short amount of time.

Kate Higgins ’80 - Assistant Director of Admission

My Hopkins moment occurred on a Monday morning in late October when I came back to work here after not having been on campus, other than an occasional reunion. The first announcement at Assembly was about an unexpected victory by the football team the prior Saturday. In typical high school fashion, the gym erupted with hooting and hollering. The next announcement recognized a student who had come in first in the National Westinghouse Science Competition. Immediately, he received the same genuine cheers of support. At that moment, I knew I was back at Hopkins. It is a story I tell during interviews with regularity because it says so much about the school and the community.

Christopher Maharidge - Classics Department Chair / Academic Support

My Hopkins moment tends to occur at the beginning of each year. I teach junior school Latin classes and I also typically teach AP Latin. And so each year there are students whom I once taught in our junior school and who then choose to continue in their Latin studies and eventually return to my classroom as AP Latin students. I am always impressed with the intellectual growth of these students, knowing where and when they started and how far they have come in a few short years. I also have a great deal of respect for my colleagues within the Classics department who work with and guide these students on their academic journey.

In Their 20th Year

At Home: What has influenced you to make Hopkins your professional home for the last twenty years?

Jennifer Geel - Pathfinder Director of Admissions & Operations / Science

For the past twenty years, Hopkins has been my professional home because it’s a true community of learners. Working alongside colleagues who are deeply committed to their students and to one another has been incredibly rewarding. We’re all constantly striving to better ourselves—not only for personal growth but to enrich this shared environment of learning and support. My colleagues openly share their expertise and insights, and I learn as much from them as I do from my students, advisees, and even Hopkins parents. Together, we encourage each other to read, explore, and embrace new perspectives that broaden our understanding of the world.

This community has profoundly shaped who I am as an educator, a parent, and a lifelong learner. I’ve had the privilege of watching ideas grow and come to life—whether it’s students delving into research that challenges their assumptions or campus projects like Thompson Hall, the track, and soon our new theater, all brought to fruition through shared vision and collaboration. Hopkins is a place where I not only have the chance to guide others in learning but where I am continually inspired to grow, making it an essential part of my own journey.

Gabriela Gerstenfeld - Modern Language (Spanish)

Hopkins is a place that makes you feel at home; it becomes your family. But undoubtedly, the best of Hopkins are the students: so curious, so engaged, and so grateful.

Dan Junkins - Associate Director of Advancement Services

Twenty years at Hopkins have been meaningful. I enjoy my job—each day brings new challenges and the satisfaction of making a difference in students’ lives. My work keeps me engaged, offering opportunities to learn and grow within a supportive community. Our teachers are inspiring, and the students are full of positive energy, making my work exciting and keeping each day fresh.

I’ve called Hopkins home for twenty years for a deeper reason than just enjoying my job: helping the Advancement office raise funds for financial aid and programs like Pathfinder Hopkins School. Knowing my work helps provide opportunities for the brightest students to learn at Hopkins, as a student or in Pathfinder’s academic enrichment program, gives me a sense of purpose. The Hopkins community has made these twenty years special—and I know these elements will continue to inspire me.

Teresa Picarazzi - Modern Language (Italian)

The exceptional students! Coming from university teaching twenty years ago, I was delighted to find that many Hopkins students embrace learning, do not shy away from rigor, and can reach proficiency in a short amount of time. When I first interviewed at Hopkins, the then Head of School, Barbara Riley, told me that I would find that teaching at Hopkins was similar to teaching at an excellent university in many ways, and she was right! I have also been grateful for the relative academic freedom to build and implement an Italian curriculum in consonance with our students’ enormous potential. Hopkins has furthermore provided me the administrative support (through a Summer Travel Grant and a sabbatical) to create a Sister School relationship with high schools in Amalfi and Salerno, and as a result, our students have enjoyed an enriched cultural experience through their friend-ships with Sister Schools students. Finally, the aesthetic experience of arriving at school every day to a campus as beautiful as Hopkins is motivating and uplifting.

Adam Sperling - Mathematics

Two decades at Hopkins School have flown by in a whirlwind of intellectual curiosity and meaningful connections. The most significant influence has been the people—the students, colleagues, and families—who have woven themselves into the fabric of my experience. Witnessing the growth of young minds, guiding them through both academic and athletic challenges, and celebrating their triumphs has been an immense privilege. The collaborative spirit amongst faculty and the shared passion for education have fostered a truly enriching professional experience.

Apart from the profound impact of human connection, Hopkins has provided me with many wonderful opportunities for professional growth. Opportunities to develop professionally and a commitment to continuous improvement have kept my passion for education ignited. These opportunities have ranged from curriculum development within the Breakthrough Collaborative (now Pathfinder) and guiding the growth of the math center, to contributing to the wrestling community as president of the Western New England group and serving on the National Prep Wrestling Board, to mentoring other coaches, and engaging in thought-provoking conversations with students—Hopkins has consistently offered avenues for personal and professional fulfillment. I am incredibly fortunate to have been a part of the Hopkins community for the past twenty years. My time here has been invaluable, and I am truly grateful for the chance to have grown and thrived as an educator here.

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Celebrating Our People | 15 & 20 Years Faculty & Staff Milestones