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Shipley Welcomes Seven New Colleagues for 2025-2026

Shipley is proud to welcome seven new colleagues for the 2025-2026 year. Read a short bio about each new colleague.

tim bickhartTim Bickhart, Head of Lower School
Tim is a lifelong elementary educator with over 30 years of experience teaching and leading in local districts, including Haverford Township, Upper Dublin, and Upper Merion. With the exception of three years teaching middle school, his career has been devoted to elementary education, driven by a deep belief in the power of teachers to positively shape students’ lives. A native of the area, Tim earned his undergraduate degree from Calvin University and a graduate degree in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph’s University. Now in their third year as a Shipley family, Tim, his spouse Jeannie, and their two sons, Henry and Jack, are proud members of the community. He is especially inspired by Shipley’s motto—Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing—which he sees as a powerful guide for parenting, teaching, and leading with compassion and purpose.
 
mariaMaria Carini, Director of Student Support and Well-Being
Maria Carini served as Coordinator of Counseling Services at Merion Mercy Academy, where she supported students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs through close collaboration with families, staff, and outside providers. An active member of the Student Support and Emergency Response Teams, she oversaw Safe to Say Something reports, led the Mental Health Matters Club, assisted with admissions, and contributed to learning services and mandated reporting. A Licensed Professional Counselor with both a B.A. and M.S. from Villanova University, Maria taught in its Counseling and Education program and presented nationally on topics including ADHD and the impact of trauma. She was honored with NAMI’s Carol Caruco Innovation Award for her outstanding work in supporting youth mental health.
 
williamWilliam Sutton, Middle School History and SEED Teacher
William Sutton joins The Shipley Middle School as a teacher of History and SEED (academic preparedness) and serves as Gr. 7 advisor.  With a BA in History from Harvard University and two years of experience teaching middle school in the Boston area, he brings a depth of history knowledge and passion, a disciplined approach to research, a natural intuition about the middle school child.  
 
averyAvery Strickler ’12, Middle and Upper School SEED Teacher
Avery returns to Shipley in her new role as a Middle School and Upper School SEED teacher and 9th grade advisor. Avery previously served as the Assistant to the Director of Student Support and Positive Education. Since her time at Shipley, Avery has earned her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and has gained valuable experience in the field of mental health and substance use. Her expanded expertise will further enrich her work with students and the broader school community. 
 
rachelRachel Ramirez ‘05, Upper School Academic Support
Rachel joins Shipley's Upper School as an Academic Support Teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Special Education from American University and brings over 15 years of experience as a learning specialist, classroom teacher, and grade-level dean. Rachel has worked with middle and upper school students in independent schools throughout Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC. She is passionate about supporting students as they discover their strengths, develop self-awareness, and grow into confident, independent learners. A proud member of Shipley’s Class of 2005, Rachel is excited to return to the community that helped shape her own educational journey.
 
karissaKarissa Zechman, Assistant Athletic Director
Karissa joins us after four years as Assistant Athletic Director at Pottstown High School, where she was also the assistant Varsity Soccer and Flag Football coach. She is a graduate of Daniel Boone High School where she was a four-year varsity starter on the soccer team. Karissa then went on to graduate from West Chester University with a B.S. in Science in Marketing.  She will continue as an assistant soccer coach here at Shipley.


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814 Yarrow Street
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Phone: 610-525-4300
Fax: 610-525-5082
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.