Teaching Chairs

The Charles C. and Ann W. Alexander Chair was initially established in 2007 by the Greenhill Family as the Charles C. and Ann W. Alexander Faculty Salaries Fund. The Fund became the Charles C. and Ann W. Alexander Chair by June 2008 as the result of many additional donations from Groton alumni and parents, family members, and other friends. Since 2023, Amy Martin-Nelson has held this chair.

Amy Martin-Nelson is a member of the Classics Department faculty and teaches Latin I, Latin III, and AP Latin. She began her teaching career at the Seven Hills School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and came to Groton from All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Amy has trained as a classical archaeologist and has excavated in Carthage, Tunisia, and Arras, France. She has a BA in classical archaeology from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an MA in Latin from University of Georgia.

The Lathrop Brown Chair was established in 1978 in memory of Lathrop Brown 1900 by his widow, Mrs. Helen Hooper Brown. Since 2025, John Capen has held this chair.

John Capen joined Groton’s English department in 1999. Prior to teaching at Groton, John taught in Japan, Oregon, and Maine. In addition to teaching courses in literature and creative writing, he advises the School's literary magazine, The Grotonian, and previously has advised the newspaper, The Circle Voice,  John currently coaches boys cross country and squash. He has coached JV soccer, directed plays, and ran an Upper School dorm.

John has a BA from Haverford College, an MA from the Bread Loaf School of English, and a M.Ed from Harvard University. John loves to travel with his wife and children.  During his recent sabbatical, they visited colleagues and friends in the Philippines, India, Istanbul, Morocco, and France.  This active and traveling lifestyle sheds some light on another of John’s passions, running marathons, which has taken him to some of his favorite locations in Boston, Mount Desert Island, and Rome.

The John Crocker 1918 Chaplain’s Chair was established by alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of Groton School. Since 2023, Allison Read has held this chair.

The Reverend Allison Read joined the Groton community in the summer of 2020 to serve as chaplain and director of spiritual life and to teach in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. Prior to serving at Groton, for thirteen years she was college chaplain and dean of spiritual and religious life at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She earned a bachelor of arts in English (Modern Studies) and religious studies (Christianity and Islam) from the University of Virginia, and both an M.A.R. and M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, as well as a diploma in Anglican studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Chaplain Read was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church by the bishop of New York, and before turning to educational settings served parish churches in New York City and New Jersey.

Chaplain Read oversees weekday services for students, faculty, and staff in St. John’s Chapel, and directs a group of faculty and affiliated personnel who support and lead Groton’s diverse, ongoing religious and spiritual life programs. Drawing on the school’s Episcopal heritage, Chaplain Read brings together students, faculty, and staff to carry forward vital traditions, embrace pluralism, and promote diversity and inclusion for the well-being and integrity of our school community and the world. She extends pastoral care and counsel to all Groton students. On Sundays and holy days, she conducts Christian worship in St. John’s Chapel in the tradition of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. She is a dorm affiliate and otherwise supports faculty and engages students to thrive amidst the academic, athletic, and creative arts activities at Groton School.

The Dillon Chair of the Humanities was established through the generous gift of C. Douglas Dillon 1927. Since 2010, Andy Anderson has held this Chair.

Andy arrived at Groton in the spring of 1980 to coach rowing. After returning to the consulting world for six months, he came back to the Circle in January of 1981 to teach English and work in the Admission Office. After ten years in that capacity, he switched to teaching Spanish full time, a move that was possible because he grew up in Latin America and Spain. He now also serves as Associate Head of School.

Coaching rowing is a passion for him. He has coached national champions on the club, college, and high school level, including the Groton girls in 1995. For many years, Andy was a coach for the U.S. National team in rowing; his boats won three gold medals at the World Championships. At Groton, he coaches the boys varsity boats. He writes a monthly column for Rowing magazine and has published a book, The Compleat Dr. Rowing.

Andy lives in the Richards House with his wife Cola Parker and three children.

The Geoffrey deC. Gund ’60 Teaching Chair was established in 1997 by Geoffrey deC. Gund ’60. Since 2007, David H. Black, Jr. ’80 has held this Chair.

David Black ’80 began teaching in the Science Department in 1989, after five years as an ecologist with a consulting company, where he assessed the environmental impact of projects throughout New England. Dr. Black earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard University and a PhD in ecology from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent at Canterbury, England. He used this background to develop a program in ecology and environmental science at Groton, which emphasizes field work, data analysis, and a rigorous scientific approach to the understanding of environmental issues. 
 
Outside the classroom, Dr. Black has headed a boys' dorm and coached football, basketball, squash, and crew. He runs the Conservation Corps, an environmental science–based afternoon activity. Beyond Groton, Dr. Black is involved in the stewardship of open spaces in the Town of Groton and serves as a trustee of the Groton Conservation Trust. The parent of two Groton students, Dr. Black enjoys travel, hiking, and time spent outdoors.

The Huo Family Counseling Chair was established in 2021 by Sue Fang and Yan Huo P'21 in honor of excellence in mental health counseling at Groton School. Since 2021, Sheilaann Fritz-Ellis has held this chair.

The director of Counseling and Psychological Services, Sheila Fritz-Ellis Ed.D., LCPC, NBCC, LMHC has extensive experience in counseling in the private school setting. Before joining the Groton community in 2015, she spent seven years at Deerfield Academy. In addition, she has twenty-five years of clinical counseling experience outside of the school setting. The focus of her formal education and clinical experience is on adolescent development. She earned her doctorate in counselor education and supervision with a concentration in school counseling from Northern Illinois University, where she was an adjunct faculty member. She also was an assistant professor at DePaul University and adjunct faculty at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Fritz-Ellis earned a master's at the University of Louisville and a bachelor's at the University of Kentucky, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Clinically she is trained in insight-oriented psychotherapy and has completed intensive training courses in CBT and DBT.

For Dr. Fritz-Ellis, being a counselor at a residential preparatory school is a lifestyle, not a career. She enjoys being a part of the greater community setting and engaging with students, faculty, and staff outside of her office.

The Lawrence Family Chair in History and World Affairs was established in 1988 through the generosity of James Lawrence ’26 and John Lawrence ’27, children of James and John, and John’s son-in-law, Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld. Since 2024, Eric Spierer has held this chair.

Eric Spierer joined Groton's faculty in 2016 and teaches world history and United States history. He graduated with distinction from the Columbia University - London School of Economics dual MA/MSc program in international and world history, and he was the joint recipient of the Richard Hofstadter Prize for Best Dissertation. Eric earned his bachelor's degree at Wesleyan University, where he was a history major and a varsity rower. Prior to graduate school, Eric was a paralegal at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City and taught history at The Derryfield School, his alma mater, in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

The Murphy Family Chair for Asian Studies was established in 2009 by the Grayson M.P. Murphy Family to provide an endowment to fund Asian studies at Groton School, with particular emphasis on Chinese language and culture. Since 2015, Shannon Jin has held this chair.

The LuAnn S. Polk Coeducation Chair was established in 2002 by the Coeducation Committee and other members of the Groton School community to recognize Mrs. Polk’s twenty-five years of service to the school and her commitment to coeducation. Since 2024, Mary Ann Lanier has held this chair.

Mary Ann Lanier joined Groton's faculty in 1999 and has enjoyed a varied career as a performer and educator. Her performing credits range from movie soundtrack recordings and a showcase at the pop/rock music industry festival, South by Southwest (Austin, TX) to singing Zarzuela roles with the Jarvis Zarzuela Festival (Napa, CA) and premiering new works with the MIT Wind Ensemble. She performs operas, oratorios, musicals, recitals, improvised music, and particularly enjoys singing American music. Mary Ann is a founding member of the American Classics Concert Series. For many years, Mary Ann was co-director and principal soprano with the Boston-based touring educational opera group, Opera to Go. She has served on the music faculties of Tufts University, Wellesley College, Bridgewater State University, New England Conservatory, Brooks School, and MIT. Mary Ann earned a bachelor of music degree at Oberlin College Conservatory, where she studied with the great vocal pedagogue, Richard Miller. She holds a master of music degree from Boston University and a doctorate in music education. 

The W. Homer and Helena P. Smith Chair in Chemistry was established in 1995 through the generosity of Homer P. Smith ’25 in memory of his parents. Since 1998, Sandra L. Kelly has held this Chair.

Sandra Kelly came to Groton in 1998 as an interim teacher, having just completed a two-year, post-doctoral position in analytical chemistry at Tufts University. She teaches introductory chemistry, AP Chemistry, and has sponsored tutorials on topics ranging from biochemistry to food chemistry. Sandra has a BS from the University of Indianapolis and a PhD from Washington University. She is a head of Kelly’s Dorm, an Upper School girls residence. She is married to Bob Kelly and has two children, Aiden and Rylee.

The Wallace Chair in the Performing Arts was established in September 2017 by the Monte J. Wallace Foundation, on behalf of Anne H. and Monte J. Wallace P’75, ’77, ’79, GP’12, ’17, FTR ’73-’79, John H. Wallace ’75, FTR ’93-’96 and W. Gardner Wallace ’77, P’17, in honor of the Chair of the Theater and Dance Department. Since 2022, Laurie Sales has held this chair.

Before becoming the director of Groton’s Theater Department in 2008, Laurie Sales spent three years as assistant director of education at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. During this time, she wrote Lucky Girl, a piece of educational theater and a touring production, which explored the topic of domestic violence. Laurie has worked at the Tectonic Theatre Company alongside Moises Kaufman, the legendary playwright and director. Her work has earned many awards and honors in the field of writing and directing. Her play, As Far As We Know, which was performed in the NY Fringe Festival and the Encore Series, earned five stars in the publication Time Out NY. Laurie has a BS from Northwestern University and was a professional director at University of Washington.
 
At Groton, Laurie directs three mainstage shows and teaches courses in writing, public speaking, playwriting, theater, and the creative process. When she can find the time, Laurie enjoys photography, travel, four-legged friends, and various service opportunities.

The Thomas S. Williams Chair was established in 1992 by the bequest of Henry S. Williams ’44, in honor of his brother Thomas S. Williams ’45. Since 2007, Katharine Leggat has held this Chair.

Katharine Leggat joined Groton after teaching at Northfield Mt. Hermon School from 1980–83. Her first job after graduating from college in 1978 was teaching in a tutorial school at Waterville Valley, a stint primarily intended to support her skiing “habit.” At Dartmouth College, Kathy majored in geography and played field hockey and ice hockey, a team she helped start during her first year there.

Like many faculty at Groton, Kathy has worn numerous hats over the years: full-time mathematics teacher, dean of students, acting assistant head, dorm head, coach of varsity field hockey and girls ice hockey.  She is currently the academic dean, teaches in the mathematics department, is a field hockey assistant coach, and a dorm affiliate.

During free time, Kathy gardens, skis, reads, and enjoys being on the water. She lives on campus with her husband, fellow mathematician Jonathan Choate.