The 2006-2007 Doty Staff

David Wells- Principal, 7th year at Doty.  David has 19 years experience as a teacher, and principal.  David graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in U.S. History and Environmental Studies.  David also has a Master’s Degree in Education from Castleton State College. David lives in Montpelier with his wife Lynn, his daughter Sarah, and his son Rhett.  David’s older daughter works for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.  He enjoys walking his dogs, canoeing, bicycling, and, as soon as the snow flies, downhill skiing.

Thomas Beach – 5/6 grade teacher.  Twenty-two years of teaching experience in public schools at Canaan Memorial High School, Worcester Elementary, and Doty Elementary.  BA from the University of Maryland; MA from Castleton State College, Vermont.  Currently teaching a multiage, fifth and sixth grade.

Susan (Sue) Evans – Reading Teacher K-6.  Sue was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She came to Vermont in 1969 to attend Windhall College.  She began her teaching career in southern Vermont at the Athens one room school.  Sue is married and has two sons, both attending the University of Vermont.  She enjoys reading, x-c skiing, going out on Lake Champlain, traveling and bicycling. 

Martha Fitch- Art Teacher, 10th year. Martha grew up in East Montpelier and attended several one room school houses there. She received her BA in Art Education from Goddard College in 1974 and her Masters in Art Education from Rhode Island School of Design in 1981. Martha has three children, Pete 25, Dylan 19, and Lucia 15, all of whom are artists, writers, and musicians. She lives with her husband Dan Bragg in Montpelier on the North Branch of the Winooski. Her interests include reading, observing nature, attending soccer and basketball games when her daughter is playing, and of course art of all sorts and cultures.

Jen Frantz- First Grade teacher.  Jen grew up in rural Pennsylvania.  She received her BA in Elementary Education and Art from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Jen began teaching at Doty in 1999.  She lives in Morrisville with John, and her slightly domesticated house cat.  Jen enjoys running, cycling, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and working on glass mosaics.

Lisa Forbes – Preschool Paraprofessional for six years.  Lisa grew up in the Central Vermont area, graduating from Montpelier High School .  She is currently enrolled in college to obtain her degree in education.  She has lived in Worcester for 21 years with her husband, Mike and children, Trevor 16 and Jennifer 11.  She enjoys time with family, scrap booking, quilting, reading and gardening.

Benton Larrow - Pre K/K teacher,9th year at Doty.  Ben was born and raised in Burlington, Vermont.  He graduated from UVM with a B.A. in Psychology.  His big adventure in life, so far, was his years working as a horticulturist, zoo keeper, and 4-H leader at the Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, New York.  His experiences with education work at the zoo prompted him to return to school in Vermont.   After getting his teaching certification at Lyndon State College he has settled in at Doty Elementary, just down the road from his home in East Montpelier, which he shares with his wife, Krista, and his son, Chet, a U-32 senior.  He enjoys his son's sports, playing music, his small orchid collection, and doing things with his family.

Anne Lynn – Paraprofessional. 

Marilyn Martin – Paraprofessional.

Sarah Mele, RN-  School Nurse. 2nd year at Doty, 11 years of nursing experience. Sarah entered the adventerous world of school nursing last year. She can be found every Monday at Doty, along with her  two children Noah (7) and Judith (5).  In her spare time, Sarah works at the Central Vermont Hospital emergency room and enjoys reading about one page of her book each night before falling asleep.

Sonya (Whitesell) Rhodes- is in her tenth year of teaching here at Doty.  She taught 3 ˝ years before that in schools at North Hero, Morgan and Middletown Springs.   She has taught students from second grade through seventh grade.  She also has had experience teaching gifted and talented, has been a Para educator (individual and special education), been and currently is on various school-based committees.  Currently, she is the Washington Central Education Association President and was on the negotiation committee this past year.  She recently got married and lives in Milton with her husband, Aaron and their two cats.