Landmark Stories

SamanthaDorm Life, BBQ Chicken, and Big DreamsSenior Year Campus Home: Williston HouseHometown: Atlanta, GA Before coming to Landmark, Samantha Altman ‘26 had never even gone to overnight camp—but now? “I love having a roommate!” she says. “It’s like hav...

SamFriends, Freedom, and a Little Bit of Cookie MagicJunior Year Campus Home: Porter HouseHometown: Nagano, Japan At Landmark, every day is filled with potential for Sam Oka ‘27, who’s all about action—snowboarding in the winter, biking and skateboarding in th...

LilaFriendship, Sports, and IndependenceSenior Year Campus Home: Williston HouseHometown: Telluride, CO Back at home in Telluride, Colorado, Lila was a competitive skier who has learned to love “skiing the east” with Landmark friends. “Off-campus activities an...

JadeFrom Cautious to Confident: Finding Her PlaceSophomore Year Campus Home: Campus CottageHometown: Montclair, NJ When Jade King ’28 first toured Landmark, it was cold and rainy, and everything felt huge. “I was reluctant about coming here and being so far from...

Lights UpOn Daniel Colella ’30By Jill Flemming "I always knew that I learned differently. I fit in better academically here, and I’m invested in my learning because the teachers explain concepts to help me learn." —DANIEL COLELLA ’30 Places. Lights…and C...

Practice Makes PerfectBeth Dietze, Elementary•Middle School Reading SupervisorBy Meghan Sebens Down two strikes with MomBall elimination looming, Beth Dietze stepped into the batter’s box and steadied her breath. The pitch came in. She swung. The sharp crack of h...

Building Connectionsby Bernie RomanowskiLandmark Trustee, Brian Stein P’26 When I arrived at Brian Stein’s office on a sunny June morning, the space was lively and full of energy — and three friendly dogs who clearly felt at home amid the bustle. The office bel...

A Star is BornLandmark Alum, Jack Bram ’23By Nate Efinger"Landmark offered me the skills to start rebuilding the self-confidence I had lost and this gave me the sense that I could do the work. This was very powerful." —Jack Bram '23 If you were a part of the Lan...

Sharing and Caringby Bernie RomanowskiLandmark Trustee, Spencer Smitherman ‘08 Spencer first experienced Landmark School at age 9, when he attended our Summer Program before entering the fifth grade. He and his family lived in Louisiana and decided to relocate to M...

Giving Back to the CommunityJoe Dubinski ’14, Director of Landmark School’s FacilitiesBy Jill Flemming“Landmark changed my world. It made everything that I’ve achieved in my life so far possible.” —JOE DUBINSKIPhoto: Joe Dubinski ’14 with his wife, Ali Ansara Dubinski ’15 ...

Sam Sirois '24 As a homeschooled student making a transition to Landmark in 2018, Sam Sirois faced a daunting challenge: What would it mean to work with a variety of new teachers across distinct subjects as “one of the new kids” in an unfamiliar community? Sam recalled, “It was scary at fir...

Leaving the World a Little Better Trustee Brandi Johnsonby Bernie Romanowski  Earlier this summer, a short walk down Hale St. brought me to Endicott College’s campus, which immediately borders Landmark School and shares the same world-class view of the Atlantic O...

A Family of Givingby Bernie Romanowski“When you give, you get multiple layers back. That’s always been true for our family,” Mark Moreschi told me while we sat in the Alexander Academic Library on the first truly beautiful day of May.   Joyful Spirit of Givin...

One Family’s StoryBy Chrissy KenneyLandmark High School junior Naomi Welles doesn’t complete any task casually. In third grade Naomi explained to her mom, “My mind works differently than most kids. Others think linear and straightforward, but I see and think more in a sphere.”  ...

Turning the Pageby Rob KahnMaya Najjar ’28 comes into her own at Landmark.   There was less than a minute to go in the basketball game between Landmark and neighbor/archrival Brookwood. It had been a battle of 1 point leads the whole way. With 26 seconds to go an...

Innovating and Inspiring, EverydayBy Hazel CrowleyKristine Stark makes learning meaningful and fun. About a year ago, I had the privilege of working under Kristine Stark to help set up for Jumanji Day, an annual, thematic, literary event at Landmark’s Elementary•...

My Path to Learning and LeadershipTransforming Obstacles Into OpportunitiesBy Olivia Roussel ’25  Opened the door to the girl’s bathroom. The first thing I saw was the soap. I pumped a pile of soap into my hands and started throwing it at every wall in the bathr...

Building Community on the Roadby Michelle GraneseIt’s 6:45 a.m. on a sunny spring morning in Lexington, Massachusetts. Cars are gathered at a rest stop where 13 Landmark Elementary•Middle School students are boarding a bus for school. Parents are saying goodbye, offering last-minute reminders, a...

Second ChancesBy Maida Broudo P’13​On the morning of April 25, just after struggling to eat an omelet, Guido Meade P’24 put on his yellow socks, the socks that were an instant signal to the nursing staff that he “needs assistance when walking.”  AN IMPORTA...

Looking AheadBy Beth Rowen P’20Headmaster Bob Broudo oftens calls Landmark a mission with a school, rather than a school with a mission. That philosophy resonated with Thilo Henkes P’24, chairman of Landmark’s Board of Trustees. “Landmark provides the right k...

The Girl on Her Own Adventureby Hazel CrowleyWINDOW INTO A STUDENT'S LIFEIt’s the night before this article’s deadline. I’ve just lost an hour, entranced by a video game called Cuphead. I’m following a 1930s-esque grinning mug cartoon as it battles a boxing frog and spitting potato, all to a...

Pied Piper of Chill Carlton Winslowby Kevin RobertsIf you really want to understand Carlton Winslow, let’s do this properly. Pause for a minute. Put on some Coltrane. Take a few deep breaths...in through the nose...out through the mouth. Now, I doubt you really have the free time to practice that...

Tried and True: Kirk Swanson By Hazel Crowley It all started in 1981, with a litter of golden retriever puppies and a unique job offer. Recent Ithaca College grad Kirk Swanson returns home to the North Shore, intent on finding work as a gym teacher or coach. A D3 basketball forward with w...

Living the Dreamby Bernie Romanowski“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson  Derek's Remarkable JourneyFor Derek C. ‘24, the day we met was an important one. After many years ...

The Most Uninteresting Thing About Nicoleby Jeanne Talbot P ’20It was a cool spring afternoon at Landmark with a sweeping, stiff ocean breeze that rushed up the hill between the Alexander and Lopardo buildings. I saw him across the drive, and he saw me. He smiled, I think, but maybe not. It was Pa...

Coming So Farby  Chrissy KenneyDyslexia is difficult to detect in any young child; add in moving to a foreign country while attempting to master two languages, and it becomes even harder to identify. For parents Tracy Gianotti and Toseef Khan P’28, P’29, this sc...

Looking Back to See Forwardby Bob BroudoDr. Charles (Chad) Drake, Landmark’s Founder, was undeniably brilliant, passionate, charismatic, creative, and severely dyslexic. In the 1960’s, he opened the Reading Research Institute in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he diagnosed children and adolescen...

Dyslexia: A Boon or a Bane? by Ady Tibrewal, alumnus Dyslexia sounds like a made-up word. At least that’s what I thought when I was diagnosed with it. I was 10, and I had again failed many subjects. My confidence was at rock bottom. After elementary sc...

My BackpackIn Their Own WordsBy Hannah Tsouvalas, alumnaText from senior essay   I’ve always carried a backpack. Over the years, it has held books for school, practice equipment, clothes for sleepovers, and my favorite teddy bear as a kid. If you look around at s...

Giving the Advantage of Quality Educationby Brittany KenneySix years ago, Alan Dachs sat in the waiting area in the Drake Administration Building, preparing to begin his training to become a member of the Board of Trustees at Landmark School. Alan noticed a mother and son waiting for their admission...

Passion with a Purposeby Liz GeorgeANN ANDREW P’24, ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIAAfter spending a few minutes with Ann Andrew P’24, one thing becomes instantly clear: don’t let her size fool you. Small in stature but mighty in determination, Ann packs more emotion and purpose with her w...

Life as a ForestHector Simoudis ’09by Susan TomasesWhen you mention alumnus Hector Simoudis to the more seasoned faculty and staff on Landmark’s High School campus, they light up. There is no denying that Hector has left a positive and indelible mark on the institutional memory of this place. ...

Knowing MyselfBy Amira Ghobrial, alumnaI am in my third year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where I am majoring in economics. Three years out of Landmark, I realize that the opportunity to attend Landmark School was a pure luxury because I have taken so much that I learned to ...

Dorr to DorrAndrew and Kenady Dorr ’26By Jill Flemming“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”  Stitch from Lilo and StitchLilo and Stitch are a famous dynamic duo of Disney movie fame. The care ...

Something My Dad Would’ve Doneby Brittany KenneyOpportunities are often circumstances that require us to choose a path. But what happens when the opportunities we often take for granted—those to learn, excel, and create a fulfilling life—are not available? Ibrahim El-Hefni’s foundation has s...

From Dallas, Texas, to Landmark and Back Michael Solis '87by Susan TomasesMichael Solis is informal, friendly, and unassuming. He prefers to talk about his kids rather than himself. One would never know from meeting this warm and chatty alum that he is the creative mind behind award-winning retail...

Leaning InBy Susan TomasesTeddy Pollack is a junior at Landmark School. She’s friendly, fast-talking, smiles easily, and comfortably offers that she’s happy here. Teddy is a day student, traveling from Arlington, Mass. every day. She plays volleyball, basketball, and tennis at Landmark and also ...

This Is It John and Heather Leslieby Brittany KenneyAs John and Heather Leslie left a Landmark Admission visit with their son Nick, a seventh grader, there was an unusual silence in the car. John and Heather feared the worst. School was a growing source of anxiety for them all—and yet here they w...

Knowing the ScoreBy Bini Hill, alumnusText from senior essay"Music has undeniably shaped me as a human being."  I was born in Ethiopia to a deeply religious family who didn’t listen to secular music. When I was almost four, after a year in an orphanage, I was adop...

Chambo the Change-Makerby Carl GasowskiCirca 2014, there was a computer lab in the Computer Building on the High School campus, and the Technology Department resided there. It was around then that Bill Chamberlain planted the seed that resulted in the growth and relocation of the department into tod...

Wendy Taylor Views of the Atlantic Ocean—and a Fulfilling Careerby Rob KahnListening to Wendy Taylor reminisce about her Landmark career brings to mind the wisdom of Mark Twain: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never work a day in your life.”  Wendy reflects on her 44 years of facul...

Triathletes Train with Viking Spiritby Danielle FigueiraKristen Lamb P’22, ’24 (Elementary•Middle School parent) and Jaquelin Hubbard (EMS teacher) have already accomplished the milestone, competing in seven and eight Ironman races respectively, while Jenni and Alex Leikikh P’20 (High School...

The Many Hats of Deirdre Mulliganby Hazel CrowleyWhat can you do with a marble, a balloon, a funnel, a magnet, a few dominoes, and some popsicle sticks? According to alums of Deirdre Mulligan’s “Rube Goldberg” unit in middle school science, you can use them to (usually) flip a coin. But accord...

Alumni on the Waterby Susan TomasesThe range of fields that Landmark alumni pursue is vast. This summer, we talked with members of our alumni community who have pursued passions to find their life’s work on and near the water. Here are their stories.  ...

John Fettig: Little Shop of ChancesBy Chris MurphyThe scraped knuckles from fighting rusted bolts, the welts on the legs from tools dropped, the perpetually dirty hands, the burn marks from that wayward acetylene torch, along with the call about the broken down van on Route 128, are all coming to an...

A Rebel Buys In Charles Altuzarra '06By Joe RoseLiving and Working in Southeast Asia, Charles Altuzarra ‘06 has found success building on his “Landmark Foundation.” Diagnosed with a language-based learning disability when he was 17-years-old, Charles Altuzarra arrived at Landmark School in ...

Making Things Make Sense Faculty Member Meg Arnio by Avery McNiff In a bright and orderly elementary classroom, a group of seven students settles in for class. They go about their routine seamlessly. One student passes out the subject folders, which are organized in rainbow order. Another stu...

BY THE BOOK Landmark’s librarians create a safe haven in the stacks By Hazel CrowleyBoth Linda Sylvester (EMS) and Amy Veling (HS) remember always wanting to be teachers. Linda SylvesterElementary•Middle School LibrarianInspired by the storied career of a grand...

College: It’s Only a GameIan Alsop ’20by Susan TomasesWhen Ian Alsop ’20 started as a freshman at the University of Hartford, the COVID-19 pandemic was raging. Students were lonely in their dorm rooms or at home learning remotely and, let’s face it, school was just not what it’s supposed t...

Continuing a LegacyEric Alexander was a student at Landmark School from 1979 - 1984, where he was well known as “Ricky from Texas.”  Often sporting a cowboy hat and boots, Ricky radiated joy and kindness wherever he went. His time at Landmark School helped him to realize his strong personal and...

Life Lessons Gabriella Pecoraroby Gabriella Pecoraro, alumnaIt all started when I was in first grade. I can recall one eventful day walking back into my class from recess. The teacher strolled to the front of the room and announced that it was now reading time. I sat down to read like all my other ...

Spelling Success on Her Own TermsBy Sunaina Hoon, alumnaMy fifth grade English teacher at my school in New Delhi, India, admonished me loudly, saying “Sunaina! Are you not paying attention again! How are you going to cope with senior school if you make silly mistakes like these?” ...

Dyslexia and Humanitarian Diplomacy Sam Vigersky ’98By Susan Tomases and Sam VigerskyOne Alum’s Journey to the UNAn interview with Sam Vigersky ’98, Landmark School Trustee and Senior Humanitarian Advisor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. In the fall ...

In Honor of the Redirection of Kathie Babcock by Jill Flemming Like a ship on the ocean, every boat has a captain whose job is to navigate the waves, decide a course of direction, and adapt their travel plan as they see fit. As elementary program coordinator and academic advisor, Kathie Babcoc...

Jim Kent: Helping Students Take Flightby Bob BroudoJim Kent is an invaluable Landmark veteran who joined the High School Counseling Department in the mid ’80s. While Jim did teach for a bit in his early years, his primary role has been helping students to take flight by better understanding their ...

Punster, Legend, Landmark Classic Karl Pulkkinen retires after more than five decades of service.By Hazel CrowleyIt turns out that, in addition to Landmark School, a few other cultural icons turned 50 years old this past year. The year 2021 commemorated the 50-year anniversary of the Apollo 14 miss...

Giving BackBrian Hagale '05By Carolyn Orsini NelsonBrian Hagale was fortunate to have his learning challenges diagnosed at an early age. He was only 12 years old when he left his home in Houston, Texas, and moved into the North Campus dorm at what is now our Elementary•Middle School (EMS) campus i...

Self Awareness and a Hands-On ApproachJake Andrews ’08by Susan TomasesI’m on a phone call with Jake Andrews who is driving through Boston on his way to a site meeting for his family-run floor contracting company, Saulnier Epoxy Floors. We’re talking through hands-free Bluetooth technology, but...

She’s Got A Lot to Giveby Claire Sullivan​Service. It’s fundamental to the ethos of Landmark, and we encounter acts of it daily on both the High School and Elementary•Middle School (EMS) campuses. In times of crisis, calls resonate to help those suddenly without. Bags of clothing and boxes o...

Selfless Service by Bernie Romanowski Trustee Joe Morgart P’12,’22 I met with Joe Morgart for coffee near his office in downtown Boston on a rainy December morning, one of those rare days with no traffic, great parking, and light crowds. As expected, Joe ...

Sparking Joy for 45 Years by Hazel Crowley “I’m having this odd sense of deja vu,” quipped Debby sarcastically, as we sit down in her office for a brief interview. It’s springtime, so she’s squeezed me in between marathon sessions of MCAS, informational interviews with new teacher ca...

Prepared for the Next Challenge by Taylor Nault, alumna My name is Taylor Nault, and I’m a senior at Landmark High School from North Hampton, New Hampshire. I came to Landmark eight years ago to work on my reading and writing skills. Not only do I have a learning disability, but I also have ...

A Decades-Long Appreciation For Landmark’s TeachersAlthough they are firmly entrenched in Jacksonville, Florida, the Petway family has a long, multi-generational history with Landmark School. Unlike today’s environment where the multiple definitions of learning disabilities are getting more att...

Landmark's Green DayOne of the cornerstones of Landmark’s approach is teaching self-advocacy and encouraging students to put the skill into practice. Isabel West ‘20 and August Reid ‘20 did just that when they recognized a problem on campus, sought a solution, and approached the administration...

Launching Movers and Shakersby Danielle FigueiraAfter months of trying to best educate their daughter, Julia ’23, in their home district in Illinois, the Bottarelli family learned about Landmark School from their pediatrician, a friend of longtime Landmark Trustee, Martin Slark P’01. ...

True Blue Alumna Taylor Patten ’07by Susan TomasesTaylor Patten ’07 is spunky, cheerful, and positive—especially when she reflects on her Landmark High School experience. She stands out in a crowd and not just because she tastefully wears bright and energetic shades that most of us are too af...

Teaching Science, and a Whole Lot Moreby Susan TomasesGeorge Ratermann ’79, P’10 is friendly, approachable, fast talking, and can be counted on to sport one of his trademark Hawaiian shirts. He’s also one of four alumni/ae on Landmark’s Board of Trustees. George came to Landmark in the “ea...