Three Faculty Members are Recognized With First-Ever Faculty Excellence Fellowships
MKA is proud to announce that Brittany O’Neill, Laura Demaria, and Dr. Marc Tuazon are the first-ever recipients of the 2023-2024 Faculty Excellence Fellowships. This inaugural program was designed to recognize excellence in and commitment to teaching at MKA by providing significant financial awards toward pursuing professional educational degrees. Faculty candidates were carefully considered by a selection committee according to their genuine commitment to MKA’s mission; academic, intellectual, and pedagogical excellence and promise; and dedication to honing their social-emotional and inclusive competencies. Their financial need, including the amount of educational debt they currently carry, was also considered. Three Fellowships will be awarded annually: one to a new teacher in their first five years at MKA and two to faculty who have taught at MKA for six or more years.
Third grade teacher Brittany O’Neill joined MKA in January 2021, providing support and individual, small group, and whole class instruction in all curricular areas. She holds a Master of Science in Bank Street College of Education’s Museum Education program and is certified as an elementary school teacher. Brittany’s training to consider how to make museums equitable, accessible, and engaging for all visitors translated seamlessly into the classroom. A collaborative and inspiring teacher, Brittany’s background in visual arts education informs her pedagogical approach, which encourages students to “reflect thoughtfully, think critically, and design creatively.”
An effective thought-partner for colleagues and a valuable resource for students and families, Laura Demaria is the Director of Academic Support (Pre-K–12). She is currently pursuing a one-year Master’s degree (MSEd) in Independent School Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, a learning experience she describes as “transformative” for her own professional growth. Laura joined the Middle School faculty in 2007 as a Social Studies teacher and has spent recent years as a Middle School Learning Specialist. The Independent School Leadership program has broadened her study of diverse experiences, neuroscience, and emotion in the learning process. It has provided her the opportunity to study with experts in their fields and to bring that knowledge back to MKA colleagues, students, and families.
Upper School biology teacher, Dr. Marc Tuazon, began teaching at MKA in 2016 and holds several degrees from both Rutgers University and Montclair State University, including his undergraduate and master’s degrees and a PhD. Marc engages and inspires students, and in the words of one of his students, “He’s definitely very good at generating interest in science and biology…He finds ways to make crazy knowledge accessible and make people who aren’t interested, interested.” Marc has been an integral part of collaborative efforts to revise Science Research Honors opportunities and has collaborated with colleagues to offer new, interdisciplinary coursework in Biomechanics and Physiology. He has also served as a co-advisor for the Shades of Color group and participates in the new AAPI Affinity group at the Upper School.
MKA is a school for professional educators where excellence in teaching is normative, ongoing professional growth is expected and supported, and educators are honored and respected for their daily contribution to the success of our students. This new fellowship program reflects our commitment to these values by helping to attract, retain, and mentor the very best faculty and educational leaders. Not only does it celebrate individuals who demonstrate excellence in their field, but it also honors the diversity within our community and those who embody our school's mission and values.
This new program was made possible through a lead gift by Linda and Brian Sterling P’12 ’14, with the intention to advance excellence in teaching and the school’s commitment to increasing the diversity of MKA’s faculty. This philanthropically-funded program will remain a fundraising priority to ensure ongoing recognition and financial support of our faculty every year.