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Faculty

Ellie DesPrez joined the Burroughs faculty in 1998. She chairs the English Department and teaches 7th-grade English, 12th-grade English and an honors English senior seminar, as well as yoga classes conducted through the after-school fitness program. She is faculty sponsor of the Middle School Creative Writing Workshop and faculty co-sponsor of Knits for Needs. Prior to coming to Burroughs, DesPrez taught at Gallup High School (New Mexico), Ladue Horton Watkins High School, Clayton High School and Washington University. She completed her bachelor of arts degree in English and philosophy at Vanderbilt University. She holds masters degrees in English and American literature and in teaching, as well as a doctorate in English and American literature, all from Washington University.

Barry Albrecht '96 joined the Burroughs faculty in 2006. He teaches 9th and 11th grade English and is an assistant varsity football coach. Albrecht holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in English from Washington University.

Jeff Dee joined the Burroughs faculty in 2008. He tutors in the Academic Support Department and coaches basketball and baseball. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Dee taught English and coached baseball, track and cross country for 30 years in the Parkway School District. He served as chair of the English Department for his last four years at Parkway West. Dee holds a bachelor's degree in English from Carleton College and a master's in English literature from Washington University.

Michael Dee '76 joined the Burroughs faculty in 1991. He teaches 9th and 10th grade English, coordinates the outdoor education program and is a member of the May Project Review Board. He is certified by American Canoe Association as a whitewater kayak instructor, and he keeps bees on the Burroughs campus. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Dee taught English at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), as a second language in Spain, at Gill/St. Bernard’s School (New Jersey) and at Rutgers Prep School (New Jersey). He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Amherst College and a master's in English from Johns Hopkins University.

Joy Gebhardt joined the Burroughs faculty in 2004. She teaches English. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Gebhardt taught at Delia School of Canada in Hong Kong, The University of Chicago's Writing Program, Sewickley Academy (Pittsburgh) and The Avery Coonley School (Illinois). She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont and a master's in English from the University of Chicago.

Madelyn Gray joined the Burroughs faculty in 1990 as principal of 11th & 12th grades and as an English teacher. While continuing to teach, she became the director of the College Counseling Department in 1997. She retired from that department following the college placement of the Class of 2010. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Gray taught in the New York City School System, the Ballston Spa School System in New York, the McKinney School System in Texas, and the Oakland Maximum Security Facility and The Kiski School in Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in developmental psychology from the University of Texas.

Bob Henningsen joined the Burroughs faculty in 1981. He teaches English I & II and an honors English IV seminar and is a college counselor. He is also a member of the Outdoor Education faculty. Prior to  Burroughs, Henningsen was a teacher’s assistant at Washington University and taught English at Mason City High School in Iowa. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Northern Iowa, a master's in writing from Washington University and a master's in Anglo-Irish literature from St. Patrick’s College-Ireland.

Gloria Ezekiel Kweskin joined the Burroughs faculty in 1990. She teaches English I, English IV and an honors English seminar. She also sponsors Spectrum and ALS Helping Hands. Prior to Burroughs, Kweskin was a teaching assistant at Washington University. She holds a bachelor's degree in comparative literature/education and a master's in literature/medieval literature from Washington University.

Karen McCray joined the Burroughs faculty in 2006. She teaches 8th grade English, English III and an honors English seminar. Prior to coming to Burroughs, MCray taught at Lindbergh High School and as an adjunct professor for St. Louis University. She was also a writer/editor for Zaner-Bloser, Inc. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and American literature from Indiana University-Bloomington and a master's in education and English from Southern Illinois University.

John Pierson joined the Burroughs faculty in 1993. He teaches English II and IV, and an honors English seminar. He also teaches and directs in the Theatre Department. He is coordinator of Drey Land, a member of the outdoor education faculty, a senior class sponsor and a May Project advisor. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Pierson taught, coached, and was a dorm parent for four years  at the Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, CT. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and physical education from the College of Wooster and studied in the actor’s training program at Circle in the Square in New York. A working actor, he is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Screen Actors Guild.

Rebecca Richardson joined the Burroughs faculty in 1982. She teaches 7th and 10th grade English. Prior to coming to Burroughs, she was an English teacher at Parkway North Senior High. She has a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and a master's from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Rick Sandler joined the Burroughs faculty in 1987. He teaches 8th grade English, English III and an honors English seminar. He is a faculty sponsor of the Student Court and Amnesty International. He also assists with the school's community service program. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Sandler was an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming and taught at the Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Wayne State University, a master's and doctorate in folklore and mythology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Melissa Simonds joined the JBS faculty in 2009. She teaches English and is a faculty sponsor of the student literary magazine. She is also a college counselor. Prior to coming to Burroughs, Simonds was a college counselor and English teacher at MICDS.  Before moving to St. Louis, she was the dean of college counseling at Lake Forest Academy, and taught  English at The Isidore Newman School, Tabor Academy and Rumsey Hall. Simonds holds a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Yale University and a master's in English from The Bread Loaf School of English (Middlebury College).

 

 

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