MMA Welcomes New Members to the Team
Missouri Military Academy will welcome a group of new faculty and staff members for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.
Mr. Charles A. "Tony" McGeorge is the Academy's tenth president. Mr. McGeorge began his term July 1. He comes to MMA after serving as the principal of McGeorge & Company, which provides consulting services to independent schools and colleges in the areas of marketing, strategic planning, organizational dynamics and Board relations. Before that, he led Valley Forge Military Academy and College as president.
Mr. Marcos Benavides will serve as MMA’s chemistry instructor this year. He previously taught physical science and biology at Mexico High School. Mr. Benavides is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Kingsville.
Mr. Christopher Bain is the school’s new art instructor. He will also be the assistant head soccer coach. Mr. Bain attended Winchester School of Art in England before continuing his fine art studies in the United States, obtaining a Master’s degree in fine arts at Boston University.
Mr. Phillip Dunbridge joined MMA as the Director of Admissions in June. He was previously working in the admissions office at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. He obtained a Master’s degree in fine arts at Harvard University.
Mrs. Gailyn Fennewald will be the Middle School’s computer literacy instructor. She will assist middle school cadets with effective ways to learn with technology. Mrs. Fennewald served Mexico Public Schools for 29 years before beginning her time at MMA. She achieved her Master’s degree in business education and vocational education at the University of Missouri.
Mrs. Lawanah Gillette is MMA’s new Director of Health Services. She will manage the Cadet Clinic on campus and also assist the Academy physician Dr. Joseph Fugaro. Mrs. Gillette has served patients in different capacities, including at nursing homes, hospitals, and patients’ homes. She earned her Bachelor’s degree of science in nursing at Truman State University.
Ms. Cheryl Lu has been added as the school’s second English-as-a-Second-Language instructor. ESL is a class that helps the Academy’s international students learn and understand English in a more intensive setting. Ms. Lu previously served as an English teacher for the YMCA program in Philadelphia. She was also an English instructor at Upper Darby High School in Philadelphia. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Pictured (L to R): Gailyn Fennewald (Computer Literacy Instructor), Greg Maximovitch (Web Design/Information Technology), Michelle Martinez (Admissions), Robert Olive (English), Cheryl Lu (English as a Second Language), 2nd Lt. James Poettker '08 (Residential Faculty), Charles A. "Tony" McGeorge (Academy President), Marc Benavides (Science), Phil Dunbridge (Director of Admissions), Christopher Bain (Art), Andrea Vollrath (Spanish), Eric Reynolds (History), Nick O'Neil (Information Technology)
Ms. Michelle Martinez is the Academy’s newest Assistant Director of Admissions and International Relations Coordinator. She will specialize in recruiting international students and working with their families. She is fluent in Spanish and earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from California State University at Fullerton.
Mr. Greg Maximovitch joins the MMA staff as the instructor of the Web Commerce and Game Design classes. He will also assist the Educational Technology department. Mr. Maximovitch assisted the U.S. Army in military intelligence for five years before becoming an instructor at the Hart Career Center in Mexico, Mo. He earned a Bachelor’s degree of Science in management from William Jewell College.
Mr. Robert Olive is now a member of MMA’s English department. He will teach cadets English II, British Literature, and Creative Writing. Mr. Olive taught English at Harrisburg Academy and York Preparatory School in Pennsylvania. He was also the faculty advisor of the broadcast club at those schools. In addition to teaching English, Olive coaches running backs for the varsity football team. He earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts.
2nd Lt. James Poettker is a 2008 MMA alumnus who has become a part of the residential faculty. He is a 2012 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, where he obtained a B.A. in history. Mr. Poettker will assist the commandant’s staff.
Mr. Eric Reynolds is the newest member of MMA’s social studies department. He will instruct cadets in world history as well as military history. He previously taught AP World History and AP Human Geography at Dunbar High School in Florida. Mr. Reynolds is also the head soccer coach. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an engineer, and earned a Master’s degree in military history from Norwich University.
Mrs. Andrea Vollrath is the Academy’s Spanish instructor. She will teach all levels of Spanish. Mrs. Vollrath previously taught Spanish in the Hermann, Mo. and Paris, Mo. school districts. She earned a Master’s degree of the Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.