TA News

A crew of beloved veteran teachers retired from Thetford Academy at the end of the school year. Together, these five educators dedicated the equivalent of over a century of service to students at Thetford Academy and other schools in their careers. 

Listed in order of their years of service at TA, the retirees include:

• Jennifer Gernhard, who joined the TA faculty in 1997-98
• Karyn Neubauer, who joined the TA faculty in 2004-05
• Chris Schmidt, who joined the TA faculty in 2011-12
• Tiffany Badams and Elizabeth Dowe, who both joined the TA faculty in 2023-24

Jennifer Gernhard’s 29 years at Thetford Academy encompassed teaching generations of students to prep and cook food as an art and a science; as preparation to live a healthy life; and, as a way to care for others and an act of love. We will miss her embrace equally of middle school and high school students, her culinary talents, and the enticing aromas that fill the arts wing daily.

Karyn Neubauer taught at TA for 21 years, supporting students with exceptional art talent as well as those still learning the craft. She engaged students in a variety of media – painting, collage, ceramics, print, and more. The art studio under her leadership was a humming, joyful, welcoming space that encouraged students to stretch their skills, explore, and create.

As Chris Schmidt tells it, he never intended to become a shop teacher but fell into a job that suited him well and enjoyed his 14 years teaching ‘design technology’ (as we now call it) at TA. He guided middle school and high school students to design and build creations big and small, from a well-turned bowl, to a crafted bedside table, to a timber frame structure. One of his legacies will be the beautiful student-created buildings around campus.

Tiffany Badams and Elizabeth Dowe each taught at Thetford Academy for just three years, but brought decades of classroom experience with them from other states. They echoed each other when expressing how glad they were that they capped their teaching careers at TA – praising colleagues and students alike for the warm and welcoming school culture and the spirit of kindness that prevails at TA.

We wish these amazing educators well in this next chapter of their lives, as they look forward to more time with family, friends, hobbies, and new adventures! And a special congratulations to Karyn and Chris as joint winners of the 2026 Dedicated Employee of the Year Award (following in Jennifer’s footsteps, with her 2024 award)!

Listen to an audio story created by Teaching & Learning Coordinator Kristen Downey. In recorded interviews with their colleague Kristen, retiring teachers Jennifer, Karyn, Chris, Tiffany, and Elizabeth reflect on the paths that led them to the classroom; the stories, colleagues, and students they’ll never forget; and what comes next. As they look ahead to retiring (or “pivoting” as Tiffany likes to say), they share their plans and hopes for the future.