Thornton Academy News

It’s another Faculty Friday and today we are featuring 2006 alum Josh Pulsifer. Josh grew up in Saco and attended TA, where his love for the digital arts began. He attended Keene State College in New Hampshire, where he received his BFA degree in Graphic Design. He joined the Thornton Academy faculty in 2010 and teaches all digital art courses in addition to being the faculty advisor of Tripod, the Thornton Academy yearbook. 
 
You’ll see Josh around campus quite a bit. He is an assistant coach for the varsity football program; he has coached football since 2011 for Thornton. He was a member of the 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2018 State Championship teams. He is also the Assistant General Manager of TATV, where he helped usher in the era of live streaming of TA events, in high-definition and free, to the public. He has served also a member of the Residential Life program at TA as an off-campus dorm parent.
Josh resides in Saco with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending time outdoors, playing sports, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.    

What is the best thing about teaching at TA? 
For Mr. Pulsifer, the best aspect of teaching at Thornton Academy is the pedagogy that the Board of Trustees and the Administration creates in our classrooms, especially in the Technology and New Media Department. We have classes at TA that are not offered at other schools due to our forward-thinking Board and Administration.
 
What is a favorite TA memory? 
My favorite memory at Thornton Academy was being part of the 2012 State Championship football team. I remember being in awe of how many fans were at the State Championship game at Fitzpatrick Stadium, and then returning to TA’s campus after our victory and seeing just about everyone who was at the game swarming the front of the school. That day will always be a reminder of how strong our Thornton Academy community is and what this school means to so many.
 
 
What do you hope for your students? 
For all of my students, I hope they learn something new each day that sticks with them. I know the greatest teachers I had at TA were the ones that taught lessons that went beyond the walls of the classroom. My favorite teacher at TA was Mr. Morrison ‘74; he incorporated life lessons and ideas in his classes and on the football field that I still carry with me to this day.
 
What do you hope for the future of TA?
For the future of Thornton Academy, I hope that we continue to be a destination for students that want to learn more about emerging technologies and trends in the world of technology and new media. The world is digital now, and students that can learn more about these technologies will be well-suited to meet the needs of the digital world.
 
Faculty/Staff Fun Facts
Food: Steak and Potatoes
Book: “Moneyball” by Michael Lewis
Movie: Anything “Star Wars”