Department: History
Lisa Nordstrum
lnordstrum@sfprep.org7th Grade New Mexico History. Lisa graduated from The Colorado College with a major in Southwest Studies and a minor in Women’s Studies, earned her NM K-12 teaching certification at the University of New Mexico, and has completed many graduate-level courses in a variety of Southwestern topics. A native Santa Fean from a family of educators, Lisa has taught and tutored in local public and private schools. Lisa has worked in the museum world as well: as a field researcher in northern New Mexico with the School for Advanced Research; as an educator at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and in the development of educational programs for the New Mexico History Museum. One of her primary goals as an educator is to create meaningful learning experiences for students to discover the significance of multiple perspectives and narratives in the telling of a comprehensive story of the past. Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, especially while exploring the outdoors in our beautiful state of New Mexico.
Department(s)
“Prep is a place where students and teachers venture on varied paths of learning experiences, whether it is in the classroom completing independent research and group projects, or hiking through Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks and exploring local museums. At Prep we delve deeply into our pursuit of knowledge and community connections.”
Gabriella Masoni
gmasoni@sfprep.orgWorld History 1. Born in Rome and raised in Washington, DC, and Paris, Gabriella holds a BA from the American University of Paris, an MA in humanities from California State University, plus International Baccalaureate and Academic Language certifications. Fluent in Italian and French, Gabriella’s international experience honors her students’ uniqueness with a cultural diversity perspective. Her dedication as an educator embraces Prep’s student-centered mission: empowering self-advocacy, sparking curiosity through exploration, and fostering academic skills with confidence. When not in school, Gabriella’s passions are family, friends, reading, skiing, and planning her next Greek island vacation.
Department(s)
Rachel Kesler
rkesler@sfprep.orgHistory, 12th Grade Class Sponsor, DEIJ Coordinator. Rachel Kesler grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, before moving to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. There, she graduated with honors in History and a double major in Native American Studies, and much of her work focused on oral histories and 20th-century Native American History. Since then, she’s worked at Choate Rosemary Hall and the Thacher School, teaching United States History, American Government, Native American Studies, and a host of other electives. She lives with her cats, Goose and Luna, and enjoys running, hiking, mountain biking, cooking, reality TV, and reading in her free time.
Department(s)
Aaron Schubach
aschubach@sfprep.orgHead of School. The 2023-2024 school year marks Aaron’s fourth year as Head of Santa Fe Prep. He brings 23 years of experience in independent school education, working with students, teachers, staff, parents, trustees, and alumni in four independent schools in Colorado and New Mexico. Aaron recently concluded six years as Head of The Colorado Springs School. He earned an undergraduate degree in History from Colorado College and master’s degrees from St. John’s College and Columbia University. In his free time, he enjoys high-country adventures with his family.
Department(s)
Tom Mix Hill
tmixhill@sfprep.orgWorld History. Tom holds a B.A. in history from Pitzer College and an M.A. in social science and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago, where he taught for five years during his doctorate training. He has worked in the New Mexico public schools and internationally in China and has 10 + years of teaching experience at the secondary level. Tom has taught both general world history and AP world history. Historical knowledge and thinking, in his view, are essential for navigating today’s complex world. In addition to content knowledge, Tom’s classes focus on foundational skills like essay-based writing and public speaking, evaluating evidence, and understanding how the past shapes the present and future. Tom enjoys hanging out with his dog, riding horses, cooking, listening to music, and reading.
Department(s)
Dina Jansen
djansen@sfprep.orgGlobal Studies. Dina received her bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Indiana University and a graduate degree from St. John’s College. She continues to take classes and is currently working towards adding a special education endorsement to her New Mexico teacher’s license. Dina has been a classroom teacher for 25 years, teaching history, health, and English courses. She has also worked as part of the administrative team at Santa Fe Prep and eventually decided to transition back to the classroom because she missed teaching. In addition, Dina is an avid reader and enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and running.
Department(s)
Sam Ritter
sritter@sfprep.orgDavis New Mexico Scholarship Director, History. Sam graduated from Carleton College with a degree in history and religion before moving to Santa Fe, where he worked for the organization Citizen Schools at De Vargas Middle School while receiving his Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley University. In 2012, Sam began working at Breakthrough Santa Fe at Santa Fe Prep, where he eventually served as Co-Director of that program. In 2017, Sam became the Director of the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, the largest private scholarship program designated solely for New Mexican students in the state’s history. Throughout his tenure at Prep, he has taught various upper school classes in the history department. When not at work, Sam likes to play music and explore the great outdoors.
Department(s)
Mark Bixby
mbixby@sfprep.orgDean of Students, 11th Grade Class Sponsor, History Teacher. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Master of Arts in liberal arts from St. John’s College. Mark teaches the 11th-grade U.S. History course that covers the colonial period through WWII. The class offers a wide variety of instructional materials, including traditional text, primary and secondary source scholarship, as well as fiction, essays, podcasts, etc. As the students are kids of the Southwest, the class also includes a great deal of regional history and current events discussion to further connect them to the problems and possibilities of their home region.