Vermont Academy Appoints New Director of Vermont Academy at Mount Snow

Ben comes to Vermont Academy from Telluride Mountain School (grades Pre K-12) in Colorado where he served as the Director of Winter Sports. While there, he also garnered eight years of teaching experience instructing science and mathematics, served as director of lower school student life, and led experiential educational trips with curricular ties to geology, ecology, and cultural studies. He also developed “Genius Hour” at the school; a program focused on student-led learning to solve real-world problems and build 21st-century skills.

An experienced educator and leader, Ben is passionate about creating a community and culture that reflects core values such as respect, integrity, love of learning, and outdoor stewardship. He is enthusiastic about being a lifelong learner, staying current on best practices and new ideas, and gaining a deeper understanding of how to best support human interactions with the natural world.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the already amazing team at Vermont Academy at Mount Snow. Becoming the Director of Vermont Academy at Mount Snow is a dream come true for me,” said Ben. “I am deeply grateful and excited to have the opportunity to bring my vision to an already strong program.”

Ben is a veteran to the world of mountain sports and education, making him a fantastic fit for his new role. At Telluride, his mountain experience was extensive- including seven years of freeride/freestyle coaching experience for both snowboarding and skiing, six years of leading backcountry ski trips, and teaching avalanche education. In addition, Ben developed and implemented an industry-leading model for big mountain skiing, that combines freeride coaching with avalanche education, optimizing athletes’ understanding of what it takes to perform in extreme terrain and factors to consider when identifying a line in a competition. 

He is no stranger to the East Coast, or to secondary school life, having spent his high school years at Holderness School in Plymouth, NH.

Ben earned his B.A. in Geology at Colorado College, and his M.A. in Educational Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver. He will officially start this role in July and we are thrilled to welcome him and his family to the VA community. 

“I am approaching this position with an eagerness to collaborate with everyone and a guarantee that I will put in the hard work necessary to help Vermont Academy at Mount Snow reach new heights,” shared Ben. “I love building community and creating events that help bring people together in a meaningful way. I can’t wait to arrive in Vermont and begin dreaming with colleagues about what Vermont Academy at Mount Snow can and will be.”

Welcome, Ben!