RE Log Fall 2019

FALL 2019 Ransom Everglades LOG 43 Rydborn also served as a math and science teacher at the Summit Questa Montessori School in Davie, Fla.; The Pine School in Hobe Sound, Fla.; Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine; and in the Springfield (Pa.) Area School District. A member of the Miami Surf Field Hockey Club, she also served as a field hockey coach for three years. Mrs. Rydborn earned her BS in chemistry with a minor in mathematics at Gettysburg College. She earned her MEd at Villanova University. Patricia Sasser joined Ransom Everglades as Head of the Upper School, arriving from The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., where she served as dean of the senior class. She also led the development of the school’s first Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and taught Freshman Seminar in the Common Good, public speaking and diversity, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. She previously worked at The Madeira School in McLean, Va., where she was a major gifts officer; served on the board of Grace Academy, an independent, inter- faith, tuition-free middle school for girls from underserved families in Hartford, Conn.; and worked on the editorial board of DiversityIS magazine, a pub- lication highlighting the efforts of inde- pendent schools to increase diversity equity, inclusion and access for students and employees. Mrs. Sasser also worked as an associate producer at ESPN in Bristol, Conn. A graduate of the Madeira School, she earned bachelor’s degrees in English and African-American Studies at the University of Virginia and an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration at The George Washington University. A daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service officer, Mrs. Sasser grew up in Washington, D.C., Nigeria, Haiti, Niger and other U.S. cities. Debra Savino , Assistant Athletic Director at the RE Middle School, arrived to Ransom Everglades from Charlotte Latin School in North Carolina, where she served as assis- tant athletic director, a state champion coach and a physical education faculty member. She previ- ously worked as assistant basketball coach and associ- ate professor at Wingate University; teacher and coach at Charlotte Country Day School; assistant women’s bas- ketball coach at Queens University in Charlotte; and coach at Providence Day School in Charlotte. She also served in directorships at three non-profit agen- cies that provide support and care to people with disabilities. A seven-time state champion field hockey coach, she won numerous coach of the year awards. Ms. Savino earned her bach- elor’s degree from Clark University in Massachusetts and master’s from Winthrop University in South Carolina. Samuel Steele joined RE’s athlet- ics and physical education staff from Alexander Montessori Schools, where he served as a computer educa- tion instructor, physical education teacher and summer camp director. He previously worked at a YMCA in South Florida as an aftercare coordi- nator, youth government coordina- tor and sports director. Mr. Steele acquired coaching experience with Miami Palmetto Senior High, Miami Premier Soccer Club, Eleetsoccer PC and Pinecrest Premier Soccer Club. Mr. Steele, a Jamaica native who has a U.S. Soccer Federation “E” license, earned his bachelor’s degree in business ad- ministration from Florida International University. Joe Supple joined Ransom Everglades from Oceanside High School in New York, where he taught physical edu- cation for a decade and served as head varsity coach for the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Mr. Supple previously coached a number of sports at Lawrence High School, including varsity basket- ball, softball and football. He led his softball team to a Nassau County cham- pionship in 2015 and earned conference coach of the year honors in basketball in 2012. Mr. Supple generously volunteered his time in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, earning “Community Hero” rec- ognition for his efforts. He earned his BS and MS in health education from Hofstra University in Long Island. Samuel H. Upton , a member of RE’s Humanities Department, will teach history and English at the Middle School. He arrived to Ransom Everglades from Lee M. Thursday High School in Redford, Mich., where he taught ninth- grade English. He previously served as a student teacher at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, Mich., where he taught 10th- grade American Literature and 12th- grade AP World Literature; and Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor, Mich. He also served as an assistant account executive at Ogilvy & Mather in New York, where he assisted in the manage- ment of advertising projects and financial aspects of client projects. Mr. Upton has participated in various service projects, including working as an assistant coach for a ski team of adults with special needs known as the Upper Valley Hawks in Hanover, N.H. Mr. Upton earned his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College and MA at the University of Michigan. Amanda Zamani , who will serve as Head Athletic Trainer, came to RE from the Brentwood School in Los Angeles, where she worked as head athletic trainer and director of sports medicine. She also organized the school’s concus- sion testing and protocols, and emergen- cy action plan. She previously worked as an athletic trainer at Loyola High School in Los Angeles and Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City, Calif., and as head athletic trainer at Calabasas High in Calabasas, Calif. Ms. Zamani received her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology at California State University - Northridge and her Associate of Arts at Moorpark College in California.