Jess (Skinner) Boynton ’10 (New England, Science Teacher Certification) reconnected with a fellow Antioch University graduate in a surprising and meaningful way while teaching science at Sant Bani School in Sanbornton, NH. Seeking local partners to support student engagement with the Newfound Lake watershed, she reached out to the Newfound Lake Region Association—and quickly realized that education staff member Mirka was also an Antioch alum, having graduated just a year later in 2011.
Their shared Antioch background in climate education and community-based learning laid the foundation for a semester-long collaboration focused on watershed monitoring and ecological literacy for middle schoolers. The partnership has already proven to be a fun and impactful connection.
This isn’t the only Antioch reconnection in Boynton’s teaching journey. She has drawn on resources from Brett Thelen at the Harris Center to support vernal pool monitoring on school grounds and recently connected with Russ Brummer, another alum, while collaborating with New Hampton School’s science program.
“Antioch shaped the work I do today—and it keeps showing up in the best ways,” Boynton shared.
