Jeremy Thompson

South African native Jeremy Thompson has returned to Mercersburg Academy after a six-year hiatus.  In 2020 Thompson moved to Tampa, Florida. He describes his previous stint here as an “amazing experience,” and his return to Mercersburg as “happy, busy, and exciting.”

Thompson enjoys all aspects of biology, and in his words, “Being able to work with teenagers and teach biology at the same time, that’s a win.” His classes are structured but relaxed. Thompson wants his students to enjoy science. 

Thompson hopes that his students will learn more about themselves as well as biology. “There’s a lot they learn about themselves in their first year at school, and I know that I’m a part of that. They’re going to come away from my class not remembering a whole lot of work, but they’re going to remember a lot of other things. Did they enjoy it? Did they mature in some way? Did I challenge them? Did I allow them to grow in some way as a person?” 

Thompson enjoys helping others through his knowledge of biology. If he weren’t a teacher, he would be a physician. “My kids always ask me for medical advice. If someone needs something, I’m always the one fixing it.”

Outside of class Thompson enjoys working out. He likes biking, running, and swimming. “I do triathlons. I don’t do a lot of races, but I tend to work out everyday.” 

Thompson also enjoys outdoor education. In the winter he will coach snowboarding. Thompson also coached hiking, biking, and kayaking during his first time at Mercersburg.

Thompson's advice for students? “Make the most of every opportunity given to you. Don’t try and specialize. Do as much of everything as you can.”

Morissey = Jada

Julie Morrissey joins Mercersburg Academy this year as the new Assistant Dean of Students for Inclusion and Belonging. Previously working at a Quaker K–12 day school as a middle school assistant director, Morrissey was seeking a new challenge and a role specifically focused on fostering community. The newly combined position at Mercersburg aligned perfectly with her background in student life and her passion for equity. 

Her position spans working around student inclusion, supporting affinity groups, overseeing the behavior feedback system, and enforcing school guidelines while helping teachers to feel equipped to help students navigate hard moments. Additionally, Morrissey collaborates closely with student leaders, including the Mosaic mentors and the Civics Board. Morrissey noted, “I’m really excited about working with more students, specifically the Mosaic mentors, and their work in supporting their respective student unions... [and] seeing how I can help them get more events off the ground.” 

Although this is her first year living and working at a boarding school, Mercersburg is not unfamiliar to her. During her middle school years, Morrissey attended Mercersburg’s summer swim camp for several consecutive years, calling her return to campus a “full-circle moment.” 

Now living in Fowle with her family, Morrissey has quickly adjusted to campus life, describing her first few weeks as “busy, enlightening, and fun.” Beyond her administrative responsibilities, Morrissey enjoys going on walks, playing air hockey in the student center with her son, and cheering on the Eagles. “Go Birds!”

As she settles into her new role, Morrissey emphasizes her commitment to being an approachable resource for everyone on campus. Her primary message to students this year is simple: “Be kind to yourself... we’re all just doing our best.” Above all, she wants the Mercersburg community to know that her door is always open and that she will always listen.

Williamson = Aidan

Matthew Williamson has always been a musician. A native of Maine, he started out with piano and voice, becoming a soprano in an operetta when he was 10 years old, and continuing through high school, but being unsure what he wanted to do. He decided music was the career he wanted to pursue at Williams College after majoring in English and music, where he also learned the pipe organ and became the head of the Guild of Carilloneurs.

After attending the Choral Chameleon Institute in NYC, Williamson earned his masters degree in choral conducting at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, specializing in piano, organ, and historical performance practices. After he taught the university’s show choir (an ensemble with over 100 members) for a semester, he decided he wanted to incorporate teaching into his career. Searching for jobs, Williamson found a position here at Mercersburg.

Outside of music, Williamson loves to cook, hike, and bike. He recently cooked Thai red curry and hopes to go hiking once his workload dies down. He enjoys scenery and “the small things in life.” 

“I've been in a lot of great educational settings in the middle of nowhere. I feel like I'm sort of coming home with Mercersburg. And I am really grateful to the community for making it feel like home. I feel like this is exactly where I belong.”

Klein = Deetya

Charlie Klein joins the school as an economics teacher and thirds soccer coach. Klein hails from Baltimore and attended the University of Richmond, where he studied business, finance, and economics. He worked in finance, but decided to step into teaching, starting as a substitute and full-time assistant teacher at Calvert School in Baltimore. He has joined the Penn Fellows Program to earn his master's in education since arriving here.

He was motivated by his time working as a summer camp counselor. “I always felt like growing up in elementary and high school, I could always find that disconnect between the students and teachers,” he said. “I always felt like I could bridge the gap well.”

His experience at Mercersburg has already been a positive one: “So far, the experience has been great. I’ve had a lot of support from the faculty, especially as I go from teaching third and fourth graders to now high schoolers and AS Econ,” he said. 

The campus culture has also stood out to Klein: “You can just see it looking at people holding the doors without even thinking twice about it. Everyone’s saying hi when you pass by. It’s something I haven’t seen at other schools.”

Klein played soccer through high school. “I think I make practices pretty fun, and a lot of the thirds team is there to have some fun, and that’s exactly what we do,” he said.

In class, he favors hands-on practice: “I like to do a 10-minute lesson to start, and then we’re practicing... learning by doing.” 

For students feeling stressed about school, he offers encouraging advice: “Teachers aren’t out to get you... They want you to do well. Use the resources you have. Ask for help, because the teachers want you to know it. That’s their job.”