Academy Faculty Profiles
COL John Ford,
VFMAC
Academy Headmaster
COL Ford is both a math teacher and statistician, and has successfully led the integration of the Buff and Blue program in the Academy. This program has transformed the learning experience for our Cadets in grades seven through ten and resulted in increased academic performance, higher rate of parent and cadet satisfaction, and a substantially higher rate of reenrollment.
COL Ford graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations research. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the branch of Field Artillery. His first duty assignment was with the 24th Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia. During this time, he served in Operations Desert Shield and Storm. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
COL Ford served eight years in the field of service and operations management before joining the Valley Forge staff in 2002. He holds a master’s degree in math education from Widener University and is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. While at the Forge, he has taught in both the Academy and the College. He has also served as the Deputy Director of Admissions. He currently teaches in the ninth grade and is head of the Buff & Blue Program. MAJ Ford was inducted into the Order of Anthony Wayne in 2008. He lives in Prospect Park with his wife, Karen and son, Timothy.
COL Ford holds degrees from the following schools:
B.S. – United States Military Academy
M.Ed. – Widener University
Jeffrey Brown, Ed.D.
Major, VFMA
Academy Assistant Headmaster
MAJ Brown comes to Valley Forge Military Academy and College from Girard College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he served as the Principal of the Middle School for sixteen years until his retirement in June, 2010. Prior to Girard College, MAJ Brown worked in the field of correctional education for over seventeen years at the EMC and RCA Schools located on the grounds of the Bensalem Youth Development Center. While at the EMC and RCA Schools, MAJ Brown taught Social Studies while also serving as the Dean of Students and the Assistant Principal.
MAJ Brown is also very much involved in the field of higher education. He currently teaches as an adjunct instructor at both the Community College of Philadelphia and Gwynedd-Mercy College. At CCP he is a member of the Social Science Department where he teaches both Sociology and Political Science. At Gwynedd-Mercy College he is a member of the Educational Administration Department where he teaches in the fast-track Educational Leadership Program in the Graduate School of Education.
MAJ Brown began his teaching career in the School District of Philadelphia where he taught Social Studies. He has been recognized for his excellence in the classroom with numerous awards and citations. He holds memberships in the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Middle School Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals. While at Girard College, MAJ Brown served as a member of the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild. MAJ Brown is also very active in the Columbia University Club of Philadelphia where he served as Vice-President for two years.
MAJ Brown currently resides in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania with his wife Lorraine. He has two daughters, Dana and Marjorie, and one son, Jeffrey.
MAJ Brown holds degrees from the following schools:
Pennsylvania State University – B.A. Foreign Service and International Politics
Columbia University, School of International Affairs – M.I.A. International Affairs
Columbia University, Teachers College – Ed.D. Inquiry Program in Educational Leadership
MAJ Brown attended the following schools for certification programs:
Temple University – Instructional and Administrative Certification
University of Pennsylvania – Administrative/Supervisory Certification
Arcadia University – Superintendent’s Certification/Letter of Eligibility
Christine Ackerson
Librarian for Educational Support, Library
Information Literacy, 9-12th grades
Third year at VFMA, three years in teaching.
Lehigh University- B.S. in Business and Economics
Arcadia University- M.Ed. in Library Science
Pennsylvania Library Media Specialist Certification, K-12
New York Library Media Specialist Certification, K-12
1LT Christopher Bechtel
History Faculty
Ancient World History, 9th grade & Civics, 8th grade
Fifth year at VFMA, eight years in teaching.
University of Delaware, B.A. in Political Science, History Minor. West Chester University, M.A. in History
CPT Bechtel serves as an advisor in the VF rifle club. He is married with two sons.
CPT Kevin Bradley
Mathematics Faculty
Algebra I, Math Analysis, Business Math, Integrated Algebra II, Algebra II
Fourth year at VFMA&C, 6 years teaching.
Rowan University, B.A. in Mathematics
Private School Certification in Secondary Mathematics
Captain Bradley is a member of the National Council of Teacher Mathematics (NCTM). He serves as the VFMA Head Varsity Soccer Coach as well as the SAT/ACT & TOEFEL Exams Coordinator. In addition, he has received two Presidential Gold Star Awards for his service as Chairman of International Day.
Captain Bradley presently lives on campus with his wife Marcie, their dog Ruby and cat Jinxy.
Ms. Mary Brown
Adjunct, World Languages
Latin, 9-12th grades
Fifth year at VFMA, 37 years in teaching.
Saint Joseph’s University, PA Department of Education Certificate in Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision, 2011
Bryn Mawr College, Non-Profit Executive Leadership Institute Certificate, November, 2007
Bryn Mawr College, Post-Masters Continuing Studies Program, Classical Languages, 1996-2005
Villanova University, PA Department of Education, Professional Certificate, Classical Latin/French, 1976
Villanova University, M.A. Classical Languages, 1974
Villanova University, B.A. French, Classical Latin, Philosophy, 1971
Mrs. Brown is currently serving as the Executive Director of The Classical Association of the Atlantic States. In addition, she has taught Latin, over the past thirty-six years, at Main Line schools including Harriton High School, Lower Merion High School, Delaware Valley Friends School, and now Valley Forge Military Academy. Her volunteer service includes the Rosemont-Villanova Civic Association Sports Program at Harriton High School (Co-Director, 1980-2007), AIDS Alive/Speak Up! of Rosemont, PA (Education Board) and Teen Learning Community (Founder-Sponsor), a Main Line community service program which helps students to raise money for various non-profits. In 2011, Brown was appointed to the Board of Directors of Lower Merion/Narberth Public Access TV. Brown was cited by Who’s Who of America’s High School Teachers from 1994-2006, and was selected, in 2001, as the recipient of the Lower Merion High School (Ardmore) John “Fritz” Brennan Award for Outstanding Contribution to School and Community. In 2004, Brown was the recipient of the Classical Summer School Award of the Classical Society of the American Academy in Rome. Brown is also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international sorority of educators, and an officer of The Philadelphia Classical Society.
COL Terry Conroy
English Faculty
English 4 and Public Speaking, 12th grade & PG
Twenty-sixth year at VFMA, 36 years in teaching.
Creighton University, B.A. in English and Physical Education
Served four years in the Air Force 1967-71
COL Conroy has been teaching for 36 years. He spent five years in catholic schools and five years in public schools in Omaha Nebraska. He has coached the varsity basketball team at VFMA for 25 years and the varsity baseball team from 1984-96.
COL Gerald Cupo
Middle School Faculty
Life Science & Civics, 8th grade
Earth Science, 7th grade Middle School Character Education (25 years)
Director of CCD
Thirty-fourth year at VFMA, 34 years teaching.
COL Cupo developed a Middle School Intramural program and has been directing the program for 19 years. He is also the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach.
COL Cupo belongs to the following professional organizations: National Science Teachers Association; American Baseball Coaches Association; and a member of the Norman Vincent Peale Center for Positive Thinkers.
During his time at VFMA&C he received the following awards: Excellence in Teaching Award (3); President's Certificate of Appreciation, and the Order of Anthony Wayne.
His family includes his wife, Barbara, daughters Mary Kelly, Christina Garcia, Jennifer Caliri, son Gerald Jr. and five grandchildren, Bobby, Danny, Joey, Noah, Rachel and a new edition Max.
CPT Brian Fetterman
English Department
English 2 (American Experience) and Creative Writing
First year at VFMA. Taught at the Nationally recognized Blue-Ribbon high school of Hatboro-Horsham for 12 years where he coached boy’s varsity tennis and was a recipient of SMART classroom via the CFF (classrooms for the future) grant. Taught at Wissahickon High School (Redbook and Philadelphia Magazines top 50 public schools in the country) for 4 years.
Graduated from West Chester University with a B.S.-Education/English and an M.A. in Communications. Earned 30 additional graduate credits from Arcadia and University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Assistant faculty advisor of Academy Rifle Club. He resides in Horsham, PA with his wife, and two children – Logan and Arden. He enjoys time with church and family and in his spare time enjoys literature, film, tennis and mountain-biking.
LTC Vicki Flood
Middle School Faculty
Mathematics, English, Language Arts, 7-8th grades
Eleventh year at VFMA, 49 years teaching.
Villanova University, B.A. Mathematics
Villanova University, M.A. Mathematics/Mathematics Education
Pennsylvania Certification Mathematics
LTC Flood enjoys attending all the VFMA sporting events, school dances, musical performances, and other cadet activities and taking pictures of our wonderful, talented students.
Ms. Janet L. Ford, M.S.
Guidance Counselor for 4th, 5th, and 6th class cadets
Second year at VFMA, Ten years in education as a teacher and guidance counselor
University of West Florida, B.A. in Special Education/Learning Disabilities
Gwynedd-Mercy College, M.S. in Secondary School Counseling
Pennsylvania Certification in Secondary School Counseling
CPT Christopher Hahn
History Faculty
World Religions/Modern World History, 10-12th grades
Fourth year at VFMA, five years in teaching.
B.A. History and Journalism from Rowan University. M.S. Teaching from Rowan University
LTC Fred Hoopes
Guidance Counselor
ESL Instructor, Institute for International Studies & Training, Japan
Ohio Wesleyan University, B.A.
West Chester University, M.A.
LTC Hoopes has received the Order of Anthony Wayne, Excellence in Teaching and the President’s Gold Star awards. He is a volunteer with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. His interests include adventure travel, hiking, and kayaking.
1LT Taini Hsu
ESL, World Language Faculty
ESL, Chinese, 9-12th grades
One and a half years at VFMA&C, 13 years teaching ESL in two-year colleges in Taiwan, 10 years teaching Chinese at Chinese schools.
BA, History, National Cheng Chi University, Taipei, Taiwan, 1977
MA, History, St. John’s University, New York, 1981
Certificate: Instructor of college & university, Minister of Education, Taiwan, 1991
Certificate: Course for the training of teacher of Mandarin Chinese, Taipei
Language Institute, Taiwan.
Certificate: Docent at Delaware Art Museum, 1997
Certificate: Non-profit Management Certificate course, University of Delaware, 2004
Certificate: 120 hours of STARTALK Summer Intensive Chinese Teacher Certification and Professional Development program, 2007
1LT Hsu grew up in an artistic environment which she has been cultivated and enriched by the beauty of art throughout my life, as a result she devoted herself to educate people to appreciate art as a Docent at Delaware Art Museum. In 2007 she established Hanlin Chinese Culture Association, a non-profit organization with mission to promote Chinese art and culture to the general public. She am also an amateur painter in oil painting, and loves reading and traveling.
1LT Hsu has two daughters, Jenny, who graduated from Columbia University now working at MAD architecture in Beijing, and Maggie whowill be a junior at Cornell University.
1LT Josh Irvan
Art, 7-12th grades
First year at VFMA&C, 12 years in teaching.
Kutztown University- Masters of Education (2004) and Art Education Certification (1997).
West Chester University (WCU): Bachelor of Fine Arts (1994)
1LT Irvan will be the advisor for the yearbook this year. He has been a running coach since 1994, and is a certified personal trainer. Running is his passion, and he has competed in marathons and ultra-marathons since the age of 18. He enjoys architecture and model building, and also teaches at the Community Art Center in Wallingford. He lives in Delaware County with his wife Denise.
Paul Kazanjian
Biology Instructor/ AP, Honors, and Standard Biology
1 year at VFMA/1 year teaching
Neumann University, BS in Biology; Minor in Chemistry
Paul loves teaching biology to high school students! Outside of school, he enjoys many outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and fishing. Paul also coaches a middle school track & field team in the spring. He is also a member of the Ecological Society of America and enjoys doing amateur research studies on White-tail Deer.
CPT Rick Mathisen
Science Faculty
Science, 10th grade
University of Connecticut, M.S. in Chemistry
CPT Mathisen hopes to use his practical experience and expertise in Chemistry to make this year as fun and interesting for his students as possible. He also studied engineering at Northeastern University in Boston.
While in graduate school he invented and patented a chemical that could sense what was going on around it and communicate this to a computer like a chemical neuron. The Air Force is using this technology in their stealth aircraft to sense fractures. Soon after that he patented one of the smallest circuit boards in the world, which is now being used in smart bombs by the Army. Searching for something less destructive he became Director of Research for a company that developed a machine to clean up toxic waste. This led to a composter that could eat 55 gallons of toxic waste per day by turning it into carbon dioxide and salt. It earned him an award for the best new technology nation-wide for hazardous waste destruction, and he was featured on TV shoveling horse manure with the governor of California! He has taught science for the past couple of years in an effort to spark a renewed interest in the sciences so we can solve some of our greatest challenges today!
MAJ Michael Pachella
History Faculty
Psychology and Sociology, 11-12th grades
Fifteen years at VFMA, 16 years in teaching.
Slippery Rock University, B.A. in Sociology
West Chester University, Teacher’s Certification; Social Studies
Cabrini College, Enrolled in the Graduate Degree Program
MAJ Pachella began his career at Valley Forge Military Academy & College in September of 1996 teaching Civics and Geography for the 7th and 8th graders at the Middle School. In 2008, he moved to the high school where he currently teaches Psychology and Sociology. He has coached numerous VFMAC teams during his tenure, and is currently coaching the College Cross Country team, the College Men’s Basketball Team, and the Academy Junior Varsity Baseball team. Michael resides on campus with his wife, Carrie, and three children; Alex, Holly and Jack.
2LT Jennifer Scholl
English Faculty
English, 8-9th grades
Second year at VFMA, four years teaching.
Cabrini College, B.S. in Elementary Education (Minors in Psychology & Religious Studies)
St. Joseph's University, M.S. Education (specializing in Instructional Technology)
Certifications in Elementary Education, Middle School English, Middle School Math.
2LT Scholl received a Gold Star in 2008 for Excellence in Teaching. Outside of VFMA, she volunteers with AWB (Acting Without Boundaries), a program for students with disabilities who enjoy acting. This past summer, she taught SAT Prep at VFMA's summer camp. She also enjoy reading, writing, traveling, and cycling.
COL Lee Temperton
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Calculus (Honors), Calculus (Regular), Pre-Calculus, 11-12th grades
Years at VF: 1970-72, 1974-79, 1980-Present; 38 years at VFMA / 39 years in teaching.
Eastern College, B.A.
West Chester University, M.A .
Others attended: Syracuse University, Cortland University, Cabrini College
Certifications: Permanent Certification in Mathematics, and also certified to teach AB Calculus
COL Temperton is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). He is an advisor for the Political Action Club, and Close-Up Club. COL Temperton is married to his lovely wife, Jill and has two children, Richard and Judy, and three grandchildren, Owen, Jake and Brayden. He has received the following awards: Order of Anthony Wayne (VFMA&C), Army Commendation Medal from the U.S. Army, Graduates Medal (7), Excellence in Teaching (2).
MAJ Timothy Tynan
History Faculty
AP U.S. History, AP European History, Modern European History, U.S. Government, Civics, World War II, 11-12th grades
Twenty-eighth year at VFMA, 14 years in teaching.
Penn State University, B.A.
Providence College, M.A.
Certifications: AP U.S. History and AP European History.
MAJ Tynan is an advisor for the Political Action Club, Military History Club and Close Up Program Coordinator. Since coming to Valley Forge, he has received the Order of Anthony Wayne (VFMAC), Gaspar Roca Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Graduates Award.
1LT Jennifer Worthington
Spanish instructor / Spanish 2,3, and 4
2nd non consecutive year at VF, 6 years teaching
2000 B.A. in Peninsular Spanish Literature, Smith College, Northampton, MA
2002 M.A. in Spanish, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
2002-2003 Additional Coursework at PhD level in Spanish
2008-2009 Coursework in Education at University of Phoenix and University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
2009 Issued Postgraduate Professional License for the Commonwealth of VA with endorsement in Spanish pre-k-12.
Jennifer Worthington is originally from the Philadelphia area and attended Great Valley High school. She began taking Spanish in 7th grade at what was General Wayne Middle School and never stopped. During her college years at Smith College she spent her junior year abroad in Córdoba, Spain with a program called PRESHCO. After completing her master’s program for Spanish at the University of Virginia and more coursework towards her PhD she decided to begin teaching in high school instead of pursuing a career as a professor. Her first job was teaching here at Valley Forge in 2005-2006. After that year she ended up back in Virginia teaching at a public high school in Spotsylvania County, VA and then as a regular and Long Term Substitute in Albemarle County, VA. After beginning her own family she decided to return home and once again is back at Valley Forge.