Christian Bancroft
Originally from Houston, I moved to Philadelphia after receiving my PhD from the University of Houston. As the recipient of a Michener Fellowship, I am the author of Now Sing: Reflections of Modernism andQueering Translation (under contract, Routledge) and A Ghost Has No Fantasies, which was a semifinalist for the 2018 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award and the 2017 Lena-Miles Wever Todd Prize for Poetry. I also co-edited the 2018 Unsung Masters Series volume, Adelaide Crapsey: The Life and Work of an American Master. I live in Keil Hall with my fiancée, Adrienne Perry, who works as an assistant professor in Creative Writing at Villanova University. I chose Mercersburg—among many reasons—because of the community and the school’s devotion to reinventing itself through its curricular development and its vision forwhat education means in the twenty-first century. Frankly, I’m most looking forward to getting to know the students this year. I couldn’t wait until classes started. I love geeking out about tons of things with other people, like films, art, literature, music, writing, running, cooking, Buddhism, social and environmental activism, traveling, fashion, and all things Texas.
Andy Brown
My name is Andy Brown, and I am joining the Mercersburg faculty as a teacher of Robotics, Rapid Application Development, and Maker’s Lab. I have spent the last ten years in public education teaching technology education and career readiness programs. Coming to Mercersburg Academy was an easy decision because of the school’s culture and the emphasis on the subjects that I am teaching. I am also excited to have the opportunity to be the head football coach and lead the shift to eight-man football. When I am not in the classroom or on the football field, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our two boys. A fun fact about me is that five years ago I started to get into endurance sports and have completed a few races over the years. Cycling and running have become my best stress relievers. I am hoping that one day I will get in good enough shape to complete a half Ironman race.
Tim Kerr
I am a graduate of Mt. St. Joseph High School (Baltimore) and Washington College, where I was a four-year member of the lacrosse team. I am entering my fourteenth year as a high school teacher, and I have served as a lacrosse coach at the youth, high school, college, and international levels. My wife Carrie and Ihave a girl and a boy, Riley (5) and Hayden (3). For six years, I taught full time at a public high school in Maryland and coached lacrosse at Washington College. Both professions required a substantial amount of time,and I felt it would be better for my family to pursue opportunities that allowed me to teach and coach at the same institution. The legendary Karl Reisner (former Mercersburg baseball and wrestling coach and history teacher) informed my brother-in-law of an opportunity at Mercersburg to do just that. I immediately fell in love with the Mercersburg community upon arrival. I pinch myself daily and am truly excited to start my work with students, faculty, and staff. I can tell you that I am genuinely intrigued by Irving-Marshall week. There are certain things that must truly be experienced to understand them, and I have a feeling that week fits in that category. A fun fact about me is that during my senior year of high school I learned to play the drums! 17 years and three bands later, I still play, albeit on a much quieter kit, and love every second. I hope to be able to set up a few jam sessions in the Burgin with the incomparable Mr. Morgan!
Justine O’Connell
I’m Justine O’Connell, the Director of Global Programs and a Spanish teacher. I’m originally from Doylestown, PA but lived in Chile from 2016 to July of 2019. I chose Mercersburg because I was lucky enough to “live” the Mercersburg experience for two months in 2018 and 2019 when my students from Colegio Alemán came for their exchange. Since the first cold January day, I loved the gorgeous campus and amazing students and faculty I met. Everyone welcomed my students and me at the time, with open arms, and I thought, “What a great community this is.” I’m really looking forward to learning more about the traditions and history that makes Mercersburg a unique place to live and work. I’m also looking forward to really challenging myself to learn everyone’s names! Something interesting about me is that I am one of six kids and now I have eight nieces and nephews!
Ryan Tyree
Hey, people, Mr. Tyree here! I’ll be teaching English to sophomores and seniors this year, and I’m joined by my family: my wife Haley, the new Testing Coordinator, and our two kids, Holden and Addie. We’ll be
living down in the Borough, so you may spot me at One North! Although I didn’t go to college to become a teacher, a heart-to-heart with my mother (it was at Subway) got me on the path to becoming an educator, and now I’m entering my eighteenth year as a classroom teacher. One of the biggest factors for choosing Mercersburg was the people I met over the years who had come to school here or worked here. When Haley and I visited for our interview, their stories proved to be the prelude – we were so impressed by the reception and genuine warmth we received from faculty and students. Another reason I’m thrilled to be at Mercersburg is the opportunity to take my passion for coaching squash and extend it to an entire program. I’ve coached co-ed camps for many years in the summer, but this will be my first chance to helm a boys and a girls squad, so I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to see what the future holds for squash
at Mercersburg. One thing that happened that I still find hilarious is the time I sang a duet with Bobby Brown in a Mobil station on the Merritt Parkway. Although I may get asked about this more by the grown ups than the students at this point, it’s a fun story.