Faculty & Staff

At Thornton Academy, our faculty and staff are the heart of our school. Dedicated to providing an educational experience that is simultaneously supportive and challenging, our teachers go above and beyond, both in and out of the classroom. They have years of experience, but constantly push themselves to improve though professional development, graduate-level classes, and personal learning projects; modeling the type of learning and growth that they encourage in their students. 

Many of our students and parents say that the teachers are the best part of Thornton Academy. Explore our staff directory and featured staff profiles below to meet our wonderful and talented staff and faculty!

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Thornton Academy Faculty & Staff

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Kevin Adams

Titles: School Van Driver

Craig Agreste

Titles: Wellness Teacher, Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach, Residential Life Staff

Kirk Agreste

Titles: Middle School Wellness Teacher, TAMS Cross Country & Track Head Coach, Cross Country Head Coach

Dana Altman

Titles: Visual Art Teacher

Matthew Amoroso

Titles: Science Teacher, Driver

Kayla Arthers

Titles: JV Volleyball Coach

Barbara Barklow

Titles: English Teacher

Peter Benham

Titles: JV Boys Soccer Coach, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Assistant Coach

Meet our teachers!

Josh Delcourt, Science

Josh Delcourt has been teaching at Thornton Academy since 2013. Since his childhood, his love of wildlife and the wild places they call home has taken him all over the great state of Maine. Mr. Delcourt has introduced two new courses to Thornton Academy's curriculum: Maine Fish & Wildlife, and Trees & the Maine Forest. These popular classes bring students out into the field where they learn biology through authentic experimentation. 

Mr. Delcourt also advises the Thornton Academy Anglers' Society (T.A.A.S.), which is open to any student with a passion for fishing. A registered Maine guide and licensed U.S.C.G. captain, Mr. Delcourt has spent many summers guiding a variety of fishing adventures. 

Mike Nelson, History & Social Sciences

Mike Nelson teaches one of the most popular classes on campus: AP Human Geography. This advanced class challenges students to study the world around them and make connections between different time periods and regions. 

Additionally on campus, Mr. Nelson is a dorm parent in Trojan Hall, he advises the WorldQuest Geography Club, and coaches Freshman basketball. 

Catherine Murray, Performing Arts

Catherine Murray is the Director of Vocal Music. She directs a large Concert Choir, an auditioned Treble Choir and the Chamber Singers. She also teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory. Mrs. Murray is the Musical Director of TA’s productions, the last few being Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Pippin!

Mrs. Murray received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Maine in Orono. She also holds a Masters Degree in Music Education and a second Masters in Choral Conducting, both from The University of Southern Maine. She is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and is also busy in her own District as the District I Auditions Chair.

Ed Whiting, Middle School English Language Arts

Ed Whiting teaches Grade 8 English Language Arts at Thornton Academy Middle School. He received a B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut and earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Franklin Pierce University in 2012. Prior to joining the TA Middle School team, he taught high school English in Exeter, NH and middle school English in South Berwick, ME.

Mr. Whiting was selected as the 2022 Teacher of the Year at Thornton Academy. Colleagues and parents recognize his dedication to his students' progress and ability to be tough and fair simultaneously. 

Roula Maalouf, Languages

Roula Maalouf began teaching at Thornton Academy in the fall of 2011 as an Arabic teacher. She earned her bachelor's degree in Insurance and Economic Studies from a Université Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon before relocating to the U.S. in 2004. 

Mrs. Maalouf teaches Arabic I-III, French II Honors, and AP French. Mrs. Maalouf is also a Thornton Academy parent and serves to help welcome new students to our school community.  

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