Friday Feature: New faces of Thayer

To get to know our new faculty and staff a little better, we asked them to answer a few general questions about themselves. 

Today, we learn more about:

• Admissions Operations Manager Molly Sacco
• Upper School History Faculty Tim Hirsch
• Upper School Science Faculty Lynda Chikwendu P '27, '30
• Upper School Hale Learning Center Learning Specialist Kayla DiBari

Meet Molly Sacco

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite book: Girl With a Pearl Earring
Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Mother Teresa

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Be kind. Always... even when people make it really difficult.

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?

Work hard in school.

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

A day spent with family and friends on the beach.

Meet Tim Hirsch

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Indian or Thai food
Favorite book: I love to read nonfiction books about politics/sports/current events. I don't have a favorite, but I just finished a book called Red Card about corruption at the World Cup.
Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Being a huge sports and politics fan, I’d love to invite Bill Bradley to dinner. Given that he played in the NBA, was a senator from New Jersey, and ran for president, he would have great stories to tell.

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

I will always remember the general advice from my 7th grade teacher at Williston Northampton School. He used to always say to every class, “You snooze, you lose!” For some reason, that advice/saying always stuck with me and helped inspire me to be a very hard worker in school. Also, the best advice I will remember from my Dad is to “do what you love to do each day.” This advice helped me switch careers from law to education.

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?

I wish I’d known about investing and economics. I especially wish I’d known to buy stock in Apple!

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

My perfect day would be spent in Wellfleet on the Cape with friends and family. The day would definitely include tennis, beach, Mac’s On the Pier, and the sunset. If we could fit it in, it would also include a trip to Fenway for a Red Sox game or Gillette for a Revolution game!

Meet Lynda Chikwendu P '27, '30

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Sushi with spicy mayo
Favorite book: I don't have one
Favorite movie: The Gladiator

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Queen Esther

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Don't compare yourself with others. 

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school? 

You don't have to map out your entire future now.

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

Taking a walk/hike; spending some quiet time in prayer, gratitude, and reflection; and spending some time with loved ones over a savory meal.

Meet Kayla DiBari

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Homemade pasta and meatballs
Favorite book: The Energy Bus
Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Princess Diana

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Don't trade what you want in the moment for what you want in the end" - Coach Tilton

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school? 

Stretch more

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

Summer day on Squam Lake, out on the boat with family and friends