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Center for Learning Inquiry

Center for Learning Faculty

List of 3 members.

Peter Ahlfeld

Director of the Center for Learning & Coordinator of the MAPS® Program / Math Faculty / 9th Grade Class Dean

Clark University - BA
University of Connecticut - MA

Bio
Peter Ahlfeld joined Vermont Academy as the Director of Learning Skills in 2020. He comes to us from The Mountain School at Winhall where he most recently served as the Head of School. Peter has extensive experience working in education as well as serving students with learning differences. Previously, Peter was a Dean at The Long Trail School in Vermont and a math teacher and administrator at The Forman School in Connecticut.

He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Masters's degree in Educational Psychology and he received a B.A. in Mathematics from Clark University. Peter has over thirty years of experience in school communities where he has been dedicated to creating positive learning communities. Peter will be commuting to Vermont Academy but staying overnight when needed.
Amy Lanterman

Center for Learning Faculty

(802) 869-6686

Johnson State College - BS

Bio
Amy Lanterman joined the Vermont Academy Learning Skills Department in 1989, after teaching special education in the local public schools for several years. She has a B.S. in elementary and special education and Vermont State teacher certification for K-12 special education. Amy thoroughly enjoys working with young people; in addition to teaching in Learning Skills, she coaches the dance team and is the director of ASISST, the Academy’s student assistance program. Her outside interests include dance, yoga, kayaking, gardening, running, hiking, and “easy” bike rides.

She loves to read, and her favorite authors include Margaret Atwood, Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, Russell Banks, Jane Hamilton, and Michael Cunningham. Her favorite quote is, “The greatest hindrance to learning is fear.” (Ned Hallowell); her role model is her high school guidance counselor, who showed her the power of kindness. Amy lives in Saxtons River and is the mother of VA alumni Jenna '94 and Evan '97.
Jenna Kotch

Center for Learning Faculty

Lindenwood University - BA
Naropa University - MFA

Academics

Center for Learning

Our Mission

We work closely with students to become stronger learners. Through a partnership with our caring, dedicated, and knowledgeable staff , students develop self-awareness, learning about their strengths and using those to overcome their challenges. In this way, we help students become independent learners and develop skills they will use throughout their lives.

"The level of love and support I’ve received at Vermont Academy is insurmountable. Simply put, this place is more than a school." - Ani '19

The work we do with students during their time at Vermont Academy helps to develop behaviors that foster self-advocacy and independence. Our students become comfortable accessing resources on their own, preparing them for a successful college career. While some of our Center for Learning students have diagnosed learning differences, others do not. Our tutors help with key skills such as organization and time management – a struggle for almost all teenagers, regardless of learning style.

Our Learning Specialists Focus on Four Core Areas to Enhance a Student's Learning Experience:

List of 4 items.

1. Building Motivation and Confidence

A lack of motivation and confidence are often tightly intertwined in a student. Low motivation and confidence can manifest in a lack of attention, productivity, and performance. Helping a student build self-awareness, self-advocacy, and self-efficacy--as well as finding competency anchors in things he or she already loves and feels comfortable with--are what Vermont Academy's Learning Specialists do very well. Helping students unlock their potential is extremely rewarding work.
2. Coaching for Executive Function and ADHD

Many students struggle with executive function. This means they find it difficult to organize or regulate themselves. Sometimes this presents as an inability to organize a notebook, or to filter and choose appropriate interpersonal behaviors. Vermont Academy's experts in executive function use research-based approaches to offer strategies and tools to combat challenges that arise for students with difficulty in executive function.
3. Managing Long-term Projects

Project management is a skill that we often teach in the Learning Center, assisting a wide variety of students. One of Vermont Academy's missions is to prepare all students for college-level work. Therefore, teachers will often assign projects that require planning, organization, and discipline. Students must learn to manage their time, materials, and resources to achieve success. Our Learning Specialists teach students how to construct timelines and utilize approaches to complete projects on time and at a level of personal excellence.
4. Tutoring for Specific Subjects

In addition to partnering with students to improve executive function, organization, long-term planning, and general study skills, each Learning Specialist has expertise in specific subjects. Vermont Academy offers tutors who specialize in chemistry, biology, physics, all math subjects, history, writing, literature, and Spanish. All together, the Learning Center team has expert content knowledge in nearly every subject taught at the Academy.