STAFF
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Nature Studies, Grades 1 and 3 | Imago School Board Member, Ex Officio
Diana McKee is a New Englander, having grown up in Bedford, MA and graduated from the University of Vermont with a double major in Elementary and Special Education. She taught in NH public schools for a couple of years before the first of her three sons was born, at which point she joyfully jumped in full-time as Mom and then as home school teacher. Diana’s Imago adventure began when her sons were 11, 10, and 7, when all four of them joined the school together. She spent her first 15 years teaching in the Upper School (8th English, 7/8th Science) under founder Linny Dey, and was the Upper School Activities Director. She also taught 5th and 6th Grade Science for a number of years, and as the current Head of School she still enjoys leading the 1st and 3rd graders in Nature Studies!
She and her husband Blair have been married for 33 years and enjoy frolicking with their 4 grandchildren. Some of her other delights are reading wonderful books, water skiing, hunting for frogs and turtles, and taking fish off hooks for Imago students during recess. Diana believes that there is no school as precious as Imago because of our students and their families, the faculty and staff, and the joy that is found here!
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Latin II | Eden’s Children, Great Books Instructor
Marcos Gouvêa joined Imago in 2023 as Latin II instructor, and will be Academic Dean of the high school beginning in fall of 2025.
Marcos was born in Brazil but has lived for most of his life in New England. His love of literature and desire to love God with all his mind has led to earning a BA from Williams College, an affiliate BA from Emmanuel College Cambridge, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and an MA and PhD from the University of Chicago in Classical Languages and Literatures. Marcos and his wife Devin have three daughters, all current Imago students. He enjoys cooking, reading aloud, watching and playing soccer, and talking theology and philosophy with his wife. They attend Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Marlborough.
Some of the greatest lessons he learned in Chicago were discovered in the university's residence halls, where the Gouvêa family lived for seven years as Resident Heads. Those were days for learning to listen, to speak gently and firmly, to endure by the side of those suffering. While in this position, Marcos frequently reflected on what his students had brought in from their high school experiences. He feels having been given much, the Lord is now allowing him to share the treasures with others through the growth of a high school at Imago. May he be worthy of the task!
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Director of Admissions | Events Planner | Office Manager
Marta Burbeck is a lawyer from Hungary, where she lived for most of her life. She spent 10 years working at L’Abri Fellowship in England, which was founded in Switzerland by the apologist Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith. Marta and her husband, Danny, moved to the US in 2015 and they have 3 children, all whom attend The Imago School. Marta has worked at Imago since 2019. Her passions are hospitality and bringing people together; needless to say, Imago provides ample opportunity for her to practice that! She loves literature, history, architecture, fine art museums, classical music and wooden jigsaws, but most of all, she and her husband love to host family and friends in their home.
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Eden’s Children Staff
Mandy Littlefield and her daughter joined the Imago School in 2019: Mandy as the Administrative Assistant and her daughter as a kindergartener. Mandy works in the office, but can also be seen in classrooms as a substitute teacher when needed; out at recess duty; bandaging knees; or serving as another set of eagle eyes in Eden’s Children aftercare.
Mandy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and has occasionally been tapped as a television commentator on historic events on the British Royal Family. She currently sits on the Historical Commission in the Town of Sterling, where she now lives.
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Property Manager
Tanya is from Davis, California. She and her husband, John, moved to Massachusetts in 1995 and have five children. Her eldest, Michael, is a software engineer and is the father of her grandchild, Madelyn, who is 5. Her second son, Thomas, is in the US Navy, working on a submarine and is stationed at Pearl Harbor. Her third son, Joseph, is a nuclear engineering Instructor at the US Military Academy at West Point, NY. Her daughter, Katherine, is a registered nurse in Roanoke, VA. Her fourth son, Stephen, is working on his teaching credential to teach mathematics at the high school level and he is a 1st Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Tanya often would tell people that she was blessed/cursed with intelligent children. She and John always felt that a classical education was very important for their children, and strived to keep them engaged and challenged when they were in school. John and Tanya are both “retired” but want to do as much as they can to aid the new generation, who are our future. So, it is Tanya’s pleasure to be the Financial Administrator and to keep things running well around Imago’s property.
In her spare time, she sings in the choir at church, gardens, quilts, reads and participates in four genealogical organizations. Tanya and John have one big fat cat, Kleo, who keeps them in line at home.
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Eden’s Children Coordinator | Morning Helper Grade 1
Debbie Parks joined the Imago School staff in 2023 and currently serves as Assistant Director of Operations and Development. Debbie helped to develop and implement Imago’s afterschool program — known as Eden’s Children — and currently serves as its Coordinator. Additionally, she spends her mornings assisting the first grade homeroom teacher. A native of New York City, Debbie holds a B.S. in Political Science and was formerly a Business Analyst in the financial services industry. Her business background, paired with her passion to learn and identify people’s spiritual gifts and connecting those gifts to serving the Church, has been the driving force behind her projects and work at Imago.
Debbie and her husband, Ian, are the proud parents of two sons and two daughters, most of whom were homeschooled at some point by Debbie, but are now all current Imago students. Although only one of four was born in New York, all of the kids somehow ended up Yankees fans.
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Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
Denise Kinney is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. As an Imago High School graduate, she was immersed in classical, Christian education from an early age, but it was not until she became a teacher and parent that her passion for classical, Christian education became fully ignited.
Denise began teaching kindergarten at The Imago School in 2015. As a Kindergarten teacher and parent of two Imago students, she is truly blessed. Having a heart for all learners and many years of experience in the special education field, Denise is also the Student Support Specialist at the Imago School. Denise holds a master’s degree in education and is a certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia practitioner.
HOMEROOM FACULTY
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Grade 1 (Fridays)
Mary Soto joined The Imago School in 2019, along with her daughter, Hannah, who attended first grade that year. She has had several roles in her years at Imago, including teaching second grade, being the Pre-K & Kindergarten Assistant, and substitute teaching, especially for Upper School math. When Imago formed a separate Pre-K class in 2024, Mrs. Soto helped set up the new classroom and stepped into her current role of Pre-K homeroom teacher. She is thankful to Mrs. Kinney, who taught her so much about teaching, and with whom she continues to collaborate. Mrs. Soto also teaches first grade on Fridays and has benefited from Miss Heikkila’s wisdom and experience as well. She loves the people that she works with and is grateful for this remarkable little school.
Before coming to Imago, Mary was a nanny for over 10 years. She has a BA in Mathematical Science, with a minor in Education from Colby College. She got certified to teach 7th-12th grade math, but realized she loved being with younger children. Mary is married to Jose, and they live in Natick with their two daughters, Hannah and Maria. The girls have been described as identical twins… only 11 years apart! Baby Maria is well known and loved around The Imago School. Mary is conversational in Spanish and gets to practice regularly with her Dominican in-laws, who don’t speak English. Her other skills include juggling and solving the Rubik’s cube. She enjoys board games, audiobooks, and spending time with friends and family. She also loves volleyball, and used to pole vault over 10 feet (many years ago)!
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Student Support Specialist
Denise Kinney is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. As an Imago High School graduate, she was immersed in classical, Christian education from an early age, but it was not until she became a teacher and parent that her passion for classical, Christian education became fully ignited.
Denise began teaching kindergarten at The Imago School in 2015. As a Kindergarten teacher and parent of two Imago students, she is truly blessed. Having a heart for all learners and many years of experience in the special education field, Denise is also the Student Support Specialist at the Imago School. Denise holds a master’s degree in education and is a certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia practitioner.
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Karin Heikkila has a degree in Elementary Education. She was born and raised in Massachusetts, but taught in New Hampshire and Virginia before coming to teach at Imago more than 25 years ago. She began her Imago teaching career in the second grade but was asked to make the switch to the first grade when Imago’s original first grade teacher stepped down. She is always amazed, but grateful, that she gets paid to do a job that she loves. She enjoys spending time by the ocean, exploring new places, and hanging out with her seven nieces and nephews.
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Eden’s Children Staff
Katrina Jakubiak first heard of classical education 18 years ago when her son was crawling on the floor of the public library. She proceeded to read every book that was written on the subject - both good and bad while having 3 more children with her husband, David. All four children were classically home schooled from the womb, if such a thing is possible. They've lived in California, Washington State, Pennsylvania and now Massachusetts. Everywhere they've lived they have found a group of other classical education enthusiasts with which to join and do life together. In 2016 they discovered The Imago School and slowly transitioned from the homeschool life to Imago life. Beginning with teaching Nature Studies for 1st-3rd grade, she then helped by substitute teaching and then tried her hand at being a Kindergarten Assistant before finding her calling as the Second Grade teacher. In 2020 and then 2022 their two oldest children graduated from Imago. The younger two are in 6th and 8th grade and are looking forward to graduating from the Imago High School! P.S. Mrs. Jakubiak was the first Imago teacher to keep a hedgehog as a class pet ;)
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Dana, a Tennessean by birth, studied at Vanderbilt University where she earned both a B.S. in Human Development and an M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling. After hearing about the Imago School’s classical Christian roots through a friend, she joined the faculty in 2008 as a part-time lower school teacher, in addition to substituting and working in the office. She currently serves as Third Grade Homeroom Teacher, where she delights in introducing her young students to U.S. geography and the beautiful diversity of our country. She especially enjoys seeing the childrens’ faces light up once they have grasped a new concept by way of hard work. Dana and her husband, Steve, are the proud parents of two Imago graduates and a yellow lab Mae, who is the unofficial “class pet” of the third grade.
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Drama, Grade 5 | Eden’s Children Staff
Annie Marquis is a pastor’s wife with three grown children and an indeterminate number of grandchildren. She grew up in Beverly and has lived in Upton for the past 21 years where her husband, Mark, served as pastor of Immanuel Chapel OPC.
Annie has been teaching fourth grade at Imago since 2008. Although she never made it to Broadway—or even Off—her BA in theatre arts has come in handy every day with her students, whether it’s drama class, characters in the current read-aloud, or a queen speaking with her loyal lords and ladies, with maybe an occasional drop-in from the Russian Lady to remind them of the cursive rule. She is as concerned with her students’ character as the curriculum and so strives to remind them to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, or praiseworthy. (Phil.4:8) Annie often says that The Imago School is an island of light in a sea of darkness. It is her favorite place to be.
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Julie Weitekamp joined the Imago School faculty in 2020 as an assistant in the first grade and the second grade history teacher. The following year, she became Imago’s fifth grade homeroom teacher. This followed years of supporting the school as a parent of three Imago students and as an occasional substitute teacher.
Julie has a B.S. in Biology from Wheaton College (IL) and an M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked for a biotechnology company and a medical research lab as well as for a refugee resettlement agency. After many years of parenting, foster parenting, growing vegetables and operating a market garden and CSA, Julie was delighted to begin cultivating young hearts and minds in a classroom setting. When not at school, Julie spends time with her family and in her garden. She also loves reading, hiking in the White Mountains, and knitting.
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Elizabeth Forester hails from sunny Southern California. She is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College where she had the privilege of reading and studying some of the greatest works of civilization, including the Bible, the writings of Aquinas, Augustine, Aristotle, Plato, and Euclid, to name a few.
Upon graduation, Mrs. Forrester worked as a Teacher's Aide at the Frostig Center, (a school for children with learning differences) whilst simultaneously continuing private, lifelong studies in voice, working as a professional mezzo-soprano singing in many concerts, oratorios, winning several vocal competitions and invariably playing the part of the boy in several operas - before finally settling down as a stay-at-home-mother in the UK with her gorgeous husband and 9 subsequent (consequent?) children.
After 16 years in England, Mrs. Forrester obtained a certificate in teaching from the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. In 2020, she, along with her family, moved to France for a year to teach at a British boarding school near Poitiers.
After nearly 20 years away, Mrs. Forrester is back in the country of her birth and settling into life in New England. She and her family currently reside in Harvard in the big guesthouse of a Benedictine monastery.
Mrs. Forrester is delighted to be teaching at the vibrant, Christ-centered Imago School, (joined by her 3 youngest in attendance: Inigo, Octavian, and Cicely), where the image of God is seen and treasured in every student.
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English, Grades 7 & 8 | History, Grades 7 & 8
Jenifer Christensen received her B.A. in English at Wheaton College, IL, in 1990, and an M.A.T. in English 9-12 from Tufts University in 1992. She is the proud parent of five Imago graduates, and hopes to make that six in 2025!! She loves her work at the Imago school, where she has been serving in different capacities since 2010. Currently she teaches English and history in the Upper School, where she is grateful every day for the chance to explore deep truths with her students, both in great literature and in tracing the course of history. It is a great privilege to share treasures of knowledge and beauty with young people, who have such lively minds and honest questions, along with a desire to understand what it means to know and love Christ. When she is not at school, Mrs. C. can be found cooking, talking to one of her many children, hiking, sailing, going to art museums, walking her large dog, and occasionally house-cleaning.
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Upper School Activities Coordinator
| Science, Grades 6-8 | Pre-AlgebraNathaniel de Vries has been teaching various mathematics and science classes at the Imago School since 2020. From 6th grade to the Upper School, he loves showing students beautiful mathematical concepts and captivating their wonder with the intricate design found in God’s creation, teaching them about His “two books” of revelation. In 2020, Nathaniel received a Bachelor of Science in traditional mathematics with minors in physics and music from Worcester State University. Outside of school he enjoys time with his wife and family, growing vegetables, observing stars, planets, and other astronomical phenomena, and walking in the woods in search of ferns and fungi.
ADDITIONAL FACULTY
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Upper School Geometry Teacher | Eden’s Children, Math Club Instructor
John Bottini began working at The Imago School in 2022 as a volunteer, starting and leading the school’s Math Club. John became the school’s Geometry teacher at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. He joined the school’s Board of Directors in the summer of 2023 and became the Treasurer shortly thereafter. John worked as a pension actuary from 1986 to 2022, advising large employers on the design, funding, accounting, and compliance issues associated with their defined benefit plans. John was a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and Enrolled Actuary under the Joint Board of the Enrollment Actuaries, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
John has a B.S. in Chemistry from Stanford University and an A.M. in Chemistry from Harvard University. John and his wife, Tanya, live in Framingham and attend Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Marlborough. They have five grown children.
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Upper School Chapel | Imago School Board Member | Former Head of School
Daniel Burbeck has taught in various educational settings for over 20 years, including outdoor education, tutoring/mentoring programs for at-risk youth, public and private school classrooms, L’Abri Fellowship, and, since 2017, The Imago School. He currently teaches Algebra and leads chapel services daily in the upper and lower schools. His three children have graciously endured their father's presence at their school every day, and his wife Marta routinely makes up for his failures and foibles with her charm and inexhaustible energy. He enjoys fixing things of all sizes, from small broken figurines to car suspensions to roofing systems.
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Both Ellen and I have been Imago parents to our 4, now married children; 2 boys 2 girls (the score is tied) as well as teachers here at Imago.
I have been the Imago Upper School PE Teacher for over 20 years and really love that role, mainly because I love the kids and want to build them up.
In my view, groups of people working together towards a common goal are very much like a sports team. Think about it - family, classroom, workplace, community are all teams in many ways. My ultimate purpose as a follower of Christ, however, is that our Imago teams will represent Jesus well as His body. We each have our own gifting and every member matters. It’s no secret that I approach each game with a vision of victory, but whether we win or lose, we compete with grace.
I’m proud to let you all know that over the years, the kids have taught me and confirmed this principle:
They can do more than they thought they could, and that they enjoy more than they thought they would.
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Eden’s Children Program, Advanced Art Instructor
Margo Dalsass began teaching Art in the Imago upper school in 2018. In 2023, she took on grades 5 and 6 as well, and also currently teaches an Advanced Art class in the Eden’s Children after school program.
Growing up in a large family of artists, Margo has been surrounded by creativity and a love for beauty all her life. She obtained a BFA in Graphic Design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and worked in several marketing and design agencies before taking an extended break to stay home with her children. During those years she began a jewelry making business and fell in love with printmaking, but it wasn’t until beginning to teach at Imago that she discovered a true passion for sharing her love of beauty and creating with others. She finds new joy every day helping students appreciate and participate in the world’s great wealth of beautiful things.
Margo and her husband, Charlie, are very proud parents of six crazy, musical kids. When their youngest son graduates in 2025, they will have tallied 54 student-years at the Imago School!
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Eden's Children Staff
Abby Gordon is the Pre-K Assistant Teacher and part of the Eden's Children staff. She majored in Humanities, and has since grown vegetables on an urban farm, wrangled children and teens at after school and summer programs, and home schooled a kindergartener. She enjoys history field trips, picture book biographies, and sharing both with her husband (an Imago alum) and son (a current Imago student).
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High School Academic Dean | Eden’s Children, Great Books Instructor
Marcos Gouvêa joined Imago in 2023 as Latin II instructor, and will be Academic Dean of the high school beginning in fall of 2025.
Marcos was born in Brazil but has lived for most of his life in New England. His love of literature and desire to love God with all his mind has led to earning a BA from Williams College, an affiliate BA from Emmanuel College Cambridge, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and an MA and PhD from the University of Chicago in Classical Languages and Literatures. Marcos and his wife Devin have three daughters, all current Imago students. He enjoys cooking, reading aloud, watching and playing soccer, and talking theology and philosophy with his wife. They attend Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Marlborough.
Some of the greatest lessons he learned in Chicago were discovered in the university's residence halls, where the Gouvêa family lived for seven years as Resident Heads. Those were days for learning to listen, to speak gently and firmly, to endure by the side of those suffering. While in this position, Marcos frequently reflected on what his students had brought in from their high school experiences. He feels having been given much, the Lord is now allowing him to share the treasures with others through the growth of a high school at Imago. May he be worthy of the task!
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Student Aide
Susanna Hannon, a former Imago student, rejoined the school in 2023 as the Physical Education Teacher for grades Pre-K through 6. This academic year, she is continuing in this role, as well as assisting in the Kindergarten and working as the aide for a student with special needs. Sue graduated from Trivium School in 2020. Prior to coming to Imago, she worked as a full-time nanny. She is currently studying nutrition coaching and personal training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Susanna has a newfound passion for country line dancing and can often be found learning a new dance during her spare time.
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Eden’s Children, Recorder Instructor
Julie Joyner began her relationship with the Imago School in 2015 when her granddaughter, Ella, became a Kindergarten student. After being introduced to and observing this wonderful community, Mrs. Joyner looked for ways to contribute by volunteering. When a music teacher position opened in 2017, she was ready to jump in.Having taught in many different capacities over the last 40 plus years (public school,camps, Christian school, private lessons, and church), Julie brings much experience to her classes. She graduated with a degree in vocal performance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she met her husband, Frank. Mrs. Joyner thinks she has the best job in the whole school and cannot believe she receives a paycheck for having so much fun with her students!
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Kathy and her husband Stan reside in Westford and have two daughters who were well educated at Imago. Kathy grew up learning commercial art in her father's printing business and earned a B.A. in Art and Psychology from Bates College, where she was able to study in Paris for a short term. With teaching certification and an M.Ed., she taught elementary and middle school Art for 11 years in NH Public Schools as well as continuing education for adults. After establishing an Art program at Dayspring Christian Academy, Kathy came to Imago, and has taught Art for 25+ years. She has had articles published in Arts & Activities (now School Arts) magazine; the last featuring the work of an Imago student. Kathy's students have been successful in national as well as regional Art competitions, and several have gone on to have careers in Art.
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Ana Tremble joined The Imago School in 2024, bringing her passion for nurturing young minds and her diverse educational background to the classroom. Originally from Brazil, Ana holds degrees in Law and Education. Before transitioning to teaching, Ana pursued a successful career in law, but the birth of her daughters inspired a shift in her professional journey.
Guided by her love for children and commitment to fostering their growth, Ana has found joy and fulfillment in her role as a kindergarten assistant teacher. Her experience as both a mother and an educator brings warmth and understanding to her interactions with students, helping create a welcoming and supportive learning environment.
Ana is delighted to be part of The Imago School community and feels blessed to contribute to the education and development of young learners.
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Monica Wang and her son Joseph joined the Imago School in 2023: Monica as a Pre-K Assistant Teacher and Joseph as a preschooler. Monica primarily works in the Pre-K classroom, but sometimes also helps in Kindergarten when needed. Monica previously worked as an English teacher in China and loved the young children whom she taught. She thanks the Lord for hearing and answering her prayer by providing her with work at the Imago School.
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Drama, Grades 6-8 | Latin I
Steven James Weibley began directing music and drama at the Imago school in 1996, with four years off when his responsibilities as pastor required more of his time. He graduated with a B.S in Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, teaching music in the Lancaster, PA city schools, and later continuing his studies in preparation for ministry as a Byington Fellow at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He took post-graduate courses at Reformed Theological Seminary (ABD) under RC Sproul among others. His two sabbatical terms at Cambridge University enabled him to take theology, exegesis, and advanced Hebrew in the British context, and theology of music under Jeremy Begbie. Upon retirement, after 35 years as Associate Pastor and then Senior Pastor at Carlisle Congregational Church in Carlisle, MA, he was blessed to return and take on additional hours as our Latin I teacher.
Steve Weibley has delivered and published papers on the writings of his favorite author, the British Congregationalist John Owen, and serves on the Executive Council of the New England Reformed Fellowship, leading music at their annual Bolton Conference.
He and his wife Deb have been married for 41 years in 2024 and live in Clinton (he finds Deb to be God’s very greatest blessing to him). They enjoy visiting their son Joshua Caleb, an Imago graduate, in Brooklyn, where he works as a professional artist.
He is a composer of several orchestral works, orchestrator and arranger of the music for our Lessons and Carols program, author of some 20 choir anthems and 50 scripture songs, announcer and third clarinetist for the Chelmsford Community Band, and creator of intricate Scherenschnitte (paper “scissors cuttings”), a 17th century Pennsylvania German folk art.
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Art Assistant, Grades 1-4 | Eden’s Children, Science Club Assistant
Starting in 2016, Emily Wheeler has had all four of her children attend Imago. While her oldest two children have since aged out and gone on to another classical school, tutors there have said that they and other Imago students have come well-prepared for the challenges of a classical high school.
In the fall of 2021, Emily started working at Imago as an aide in the 2nd grade under the tutelage of Katrina Jakubiak, but when the need arose in January of 2022, she jumped in to teach 4th grade science. Additionally, she has taught 5th grade math for a number of years and serves as an assistant for both Art (grades 1-4) and the Science Club. As a parent and a teacher, Emily feels grateful for the Imago community as it provides laughter, Christian support, and quality relationships for her entire family.
Emily has loved science and math for most of her life. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences and then a Master of Science in Aqueous Geochemistry. After spending several years working as an environmental consultant remediating gasoline contamination of soil and groundwater, she took a job with the EPA in Kansas. At the EPA, she had the privilege of cleaning up abandoned, large-scale lead mining Superfund sites. Emily stopped working to focus on her children, upon becoming a mother, when her family moved to New Mexico, Idaho, and ultimately Massachusetts. She and her husband, Kyle, continue to parent their three girls and one boy (and Pomsky, “Basil”) with the help of the Imago School. When she is not enjoying teaching, Emily likes to rockhound, read, spend quality time with Kyle, and dream up new experiments for her classes.