**NEW KIDS IN TOWN.** Hull Public Schools administrators and Jake’s Seafood Restaurant hosted a luncheon for teachers who are new to the district this year. From left, Theodora [Teddi] Cowden, Brian Getchell, Memorial School Principal Anthony Hrivnak, Marina Labreux, Jacobs School Interim Assistant Principal Elaine Menice, Kelsey Quinn, Samantha Leary, School Business Administrator Diane Saniuk, Hull High School Principal Michael Knybel, Daniel O’Donnell, Superintendent Judy Kuehn, Jacob Dibley, Derek Skapars, Jacobs School Principal Kyle Shaw, Hannah Hutchinson, Nancy LeBlanc, Anthony Massari, Hull High School Assistant Principal Julie Burke, Director of Curriculum and Assessment Christine Cappadona, and Director of Student Services Kristen Ryan. [Skip Tull photo]

As the school district prepares for the start of the new year on Aug. 31, Jake’s Seafood Restaurant continued its tradition of hosting a luncheon to welcome new teachers to Hull as they become familiar with the town and their new roles. Superintendent Judith Kuehn and administrators provided these profiles of teachers who will be joining the Hull Public Schools this year.

Theodora (Teddi) Cowden taught fourth grade for two years at Saint Joseph School in Needham. Before having her own classroom, she was a teaching assistant and student teacher on Nantucket. This year, Ms. Cowden will be a long-term substitute grade four teacher at the Jacobs Elementary School. Ms. Cowden received her bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University and her master’s degree from Merrimack College. She lives in Weymouth and is happy to be a part of the Hull community and to continue her teaching career here.

Jacob Dibley will be teaching mathematics at Memorial School. Mr. Dibley received his bachelor’s degree from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and his master’s degree from the University of South Dakota. He has taught in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District in Kotzebue, Alaska, overseas at the Banjul American Embassy School in The Gambia (a small country in western Africa), Wagner Public Schools in South Dakota, and for the Federal Way and Seattle school districts in Washington State. Mr. Dibley and his family have lived in Hull since 2019. His wife is a scientist who works on cancer research, and his two children will be in first and third grades in the upcoming school year at the Jacobs School.

Brian Getchell, who lives in Scituate, will be a science teacher at Memorial School this year. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and is currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at Fitchburg State. Mr. Getchell has worked in Brockton and was a substitute teacher in Cohasset prior to that. He was a youth soccer and baseball coach and taught at a marine science camp on Catalina Island in California.

Hannah Hutchinson will be teaching social studies at Hull High School. A Quincy resident, MS. Hutchinson received her bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University and has worked in Abington and summer school in Brockton, and has coached flag football and cheerleading. In her spare time, she is a drummer and enjoys playing punk rock music.

Samantha Leary will be joining the Jacobs School as a special education teacher. Ms. Leary is a recent graduate from Assumption University where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During her undergraduate studies, she student-taught in a second grade classroom at Heard Street Discovery Academy in Worcester. Additionally, while earning her master’s degree, Ms. Leary student-taught in a sixth grade special education classroom at Mill Pond School in Westborough. At Assumption, she played Division II golf for five years and was a two-year captain. Additionally, for the last eight years, she has worked as a golf instructor at South Shore Country Club in her hometown of Hingham. Teaching is Ms. Leary’s passion and she is excited to work alongside the wonderful staff and students at Jacobs Elementary.

Nancy LeBlanc has already started working at Hull High School as the lead guidance counselor. Ms. LeBlanc comes to Hull from Foxborough Regional Charter School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and her master’s degree from Assumption University. A Mansfield resident, Ms. LeBlanc is the mother of three boys – two are in college and the third is a rising sophomore in high school. She has been a National Junior Honor Society advisor, School Council advisor, and running club coach.

Marina Lebreux will be joining the Jacobs School staff as an occupational therapist. She was an occupational therapist for three years at Noble School District in North Berwick, Maine, working with students in grades K-5 and 8-12. She also worked per-diem as an occupational therapist at a skilled nursing home for three years. Ms. Lebreux received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New England. While in undergrad, she coached junior varsity cheerleading for her high school. Ms. Lebreux lives in Weymouth and is very excited to be working with preschool and kindergarten-age students in Hull.

Anthony Massari lives in Cohasset and received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University. He taught at Abigail Adams Middle School in Weymouth before coming to Hull as a Memorial School social studies teacher. This is Mr. Massari’s third career; he left the mutual fund industry to start his Boston Common Coffee Company in 2004. In addition to a love of history, he can brew a great cup of coffee and bake a delicious chocolate-chip cookie. Mr. Massari’s wife, a third grade teacher, is one of his inspirations to enter the teaching profession.

Daniel O’Donnell will be a guidance counselor at Hull High School. Mr. O’Donnell completed his student teaching at Canton High School, was a middle school counselor at Archbishop Williams High School, and a 7-12 guidance counselor at Avon Middle-High School. Mr. O’Donnell received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his master’s degree from Bridgewater State University. While at AWHS, he facilitated the after-school homework club. Last summer, Mr. O’Donnell worked in the transition program with Eddie Cameron at the high school. Mr. O’Donnell lives in Braintree.

Kelsey Quinn lives in Hanover. She received her bachelor’s degree from Endicott College and her master’s degree from American International College. This will be her seventh year teaching in the classroom. Ms. Quinn started as a fourth and fifth grade special education teacher in Medfield, and then taught second and third grade for two years in Lakeville. Before coming to Hull, Ms. Quinn taught third grade for the last three years in Groton. She will join the Jacobs Elementary School as a grade four teacher and is excited to settle down on the South Shore and become a part of the Hull Public Schools community.

Derek Skapars will be joining the high school staff as a woodshop teacher. He currently lives in Framingham. Mr. Skapars received his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and previously taught in Leominster and Barre. He also taught Adirondack chair-making at Mount Wachusett Community College. Mr. Skapars is the proud father of a baby boy named Beau who was born in July.