Chris Memoli
Director of Music
After decades of guiding musicians, winning awards, and becoming an important member of WHS, Weston’s K-12 music department director, Chris Memoli, is stepping away not just from his desk or the stage, but from the community he helped build. As the director of music for 27 years, Memoli made an impact and helped grow a program that will continue to thrive even past his departure.
Memoli has many years of experience working at Weston, and his leadership has been central to the current strength of the music program.
“When I first got here in 1998, there were about four kids in the band and ten in the orchestra,” said Memoli. “Now, there are 115 in the band and 70 in the orchestra.”
His upbeat approach to teaching has had a positive impact on many of his students over the years.
“He’s a great conductor and very enthusiastic,” said senior Bell Sun. “I’m definitely sad about his retirement.”
Memoli is also known among his students for the positive relationships he has formed with them inside of class while also showing a desire to know them as more than just musicians.
“I would say that he’s very interested in you as a person,” said junior Olivia Henriquez. “He listens to you and asks questions, not just about school but outside of school as well, so it’s much easier to grow a connection with him on a personal level.”
Many people have been wondering why he chose to retire this year rather than later and what impacted his decision.
“It’s just a function of how the retirement system works,” said Memoli. “It just makes financial sense to retire at this time and explore some new opportunities.”
His retirement won’t remove him from the world of music all together, but it will allow him to have more time for his personal interests.
“I will continue all my work at The Rivers School Conservatory, my adult orchestra, [and] I’ll teach private lessons,” said Memoli. “But I’ll [also] probably be more involved with my grandkids and do a lot of boating.”
His absence in WHS will be felt by many who will miss his leadership.
“He is simply not replaceable,” said 6-12 band director Claire Nalven. “He has spent 27 years building this into a really monstrous program.”
Mitch Finnegan
Director of Health and Wellness
Mitch Finnegan has spent 23 years being the director of the Wellness Education department for the Weston Public Schools, grades K through 12. He first got to know WHS when he started as the varsity basketball coach, two years prior to that. Throughout his years in Weston, Finnegan has also taught health classes at the high school level. After over two decades of teaching, Finnegan decided it was time to retire and pursue other activities.
“I want to do a lot of travelling. I have family all over the country,” said Finnegan. “I’m [also] looking to increase my volunteer work, [and] I’m going to probably do some work with some school districts around helping the setting up of mental health programs for students.”
Finnegan’s over 40 years of experience teaching various subjects – like history, science, and physical education – as well as working in public health has been particularly valuable when applying this experience to the WHS health courses.
“Mr. Finnegan is an expert in his field of study, and I have learned so much from teaching alongside him,” said Danielle Cooper, also a WHS health teacher. “He is always looking for a new way to relay information to students, which is why our wellness curriculum is a model program. As a boss, he has always been supportive of my ideas and has always had my back.”
Outside of classes, Finnegan always creates a warm atmosphere with his amicable interactions with students.
“He’s really just friendly. He shakes your hand every time you come in the door,” said junior Phin Shanahan. “He’ll always ask me about how my wrestling’s going. Not a lot of teachers always do that, so it’s nice for him to check in.”
Throughout the years teaching health, Finnegan has grown a lot in his mindset while educating students.
“When I was a young teacher, if any student did not pay attention, I took it very personally,” said Finnegan. “At some point, it dawned on me. It wasn’t about me. It was about the student. I learned to not take that so personally and to try to [understand] the student and what their needs are.”
Alicia Collins – English
Alicia Collins is an English teacher who has spent 28 years at WHS taking on various roles in the school. Currently teaching Creative Writing and Speech, she is also known by her colleagues as the social chairperson who organizes gatherings and celebrations for the faculty. After almost three decades of being a teacher, Collins has decided to retire in the pursuit of other activities while she is still healthy and active.
“[When I retire] I want to do some writing,” said Collins. “I want to get back into photography. I want to learn how to speak Spanish again because at some point I could speak Spanish. I want to travel, volunteer, and coach lacrosse.”
During her time at WHS, Collins has had substantial involvement in the content of the Creative Writing course.
“I have loved working with her on the [Creative Writing] course,” said English teacher Claire Schomp. “Because it’s a course she designed, she’s done a really nice job. She really has put the experimentation of creative writing at the forefront of that course. So it’s perceived as a fun class, but it’s also really good for creative writers.”
Additionally, Collins’ teaching Speech has significantly impacted many students’ abilities long-term.
“[Collin’s teaching has] instilled a lot of confidence in my public speaking ability, which I’ve actually been able to use recently, giving presentations at conferences,” said junior Sawyer Jacobson. “So, overall, her class was one of the most helpful that I’ve taken in school, so I thank [her] for that.”
Teachers who have been co-workers with Collins for many years especially appreciate her kindness outside of class.
“Every year on my birthday, I come in and she’s got flowers on my desk,” said Schomp. “It’s very typical of who she is. She just is quietly celebrating people all the time. She’s consistently helping make other people feel good.”
Collins has also felt the positive impact of other teachers throughout her time at WHS.
“I literally laugh like three times a day in the [English and history] office,” said Collins. “I work with the funniest, smartest, and most caring people. I see them interact with students with such patience and such awareness of the kids’ situation. I will for sure miss my students, and I will tremendously miss my colleagues.”
Kelly Flynn – Business
After 14 years teaching and other years working in education, Kelly Flynn, whom current students have known as the WHS business teacher and DECA advisor, is preparing to retire and end her time at WHS.
As she looks back on her career, Flynn can now recognize the different aspects of her work that have defined her experience at WHS.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is helping grow the DECA chapter,” said Flynn. “Seeing more students participate and having the opportunity to travel with them has been a great experience.”
Flynn’s students in both the classroom and in DECA also recognize aspects of what will be her legacy after she departs.
“I learned a lot about pitch decks, which I later used in DECA,” said junior Afraz Rafan. “A lot of the skills she taught me helped in other areas too.”
Students also remember Flynn for the supportive and understanding environment she created in her classroom.
“For all three years that she taught me, she’s been nothing but nice. She’s very understanding if you’re having a stressful week,” said Rafan.
Looking ahead, retirement will change her daily routine and open up time for new opportunities for personal interests and a different pace of living.
“I still plan to work in some capacity, but with fewer hours and more flexibility,” said Flynn.
During her time as assistant principal, the role she originally held at WHS, Flynn was known for her leadership and strong connection with the school community.
“She served under multiple principals and adapted well to different leadership styles while always remaining fair and consistent,” said teacher Don Benson. “That’s what made her such an effective assistant principal.”
As she prepares to move on, Flynn will be missed by those who worked most closely with her.
“She caused [DECA] to grow among the student body, and I can’t really imagine [it]without her,” said junior David Spada.
Michael Sanford – Technology
Micheal Sanford has spent almost 11 years as a technology integration specialist as well as a district technology coordinator in Weston, and in those 11 years, he has spent five years teaching Technical Integration or Digital Literacy to freshmen at WHS. After his initial career in the tech sector and his more recent years working in schools, Sanford has decided to retire and focus on other commitments.
“My wife and I had kids early and always promised each other that we would travel when we got older,” said Sanford. “Now we’re older. The kids have moved out, they’re adults. So it’s time for us to travel.”
As a digital literacy teacher, students believe that Sanford teaches important topics very effectively.
“I think that Mr. Sanford’s best qualities are that he’s honest, both with his students and with himself,” said sophomore Avo Bell. “He teaches kids about bias in the media, topics and life lessons that are really, really prevalent, especially in today’s society. He was really an exemplary teacher.”
Teachers who have known Sanford for a long time also agree that his character is especially suited for the many roles he has at WHS.
“A lot of times technology can be stressful,” said math teacher Claude Valle. “Your computer’s not doing what you want it to do, or you can’t get something to work, and he’s always really good about it. [He says] ‘It is fine, we’ll figure it out,’ sits down with you, and makes things work. So he’s in a really important job, and he has the right personality for that job, just being so even keeled.”
Reflecting back on his time at WHS, Sanford has realized that he has changed a lot in the way he teaches his students.
“I would consider myself an empathetic guy and thought I was patient,” said Sanford. “I’ve learned to be more of both things because of the really valuable lessons I see in students and how hard they work to overcome challenges.”
Ma Ya Tao – World Language
After 20 years of teaching, Ma Ya Tao is preparing to retire and end her time as a Mandarin teacher at WHS.
As she looks back on her career, Tao has enjoyed teaching a wide range of learners at WHS and also recognizes how much they have taught her along the way.
“Higher achievers are really easy to teach, but some students inspire me because I am always thinking about how I can better support them,” said Tao. “That motivates me to continue researching and finding new ways to help them succeed.”
Over her years at WHS, Tao was known among colleagues for helping shape the school community through her cultural perspective and dedication to language education.
“Ms. Tao brought an incredible level of cultural diversity and instructional variety to the WHS community,” said world language teacher Dr. Cortland Mathers. “She represented one of the most unique languages in our department, and she did so wonderfully.”
Her students have also appreciated all that Tao has brought to her classroom.
“Having Ms. Tao as a teacher was a really structured experience,” said sophomore Jacob Wu. “She always had a clear plan – whether it was Quizlet sets, worksheets, or speaking activities – and she made sure we stayed focused in class all the time.”
Looking ahead, Tao’s retirement will shift her away from the daily routine of school life and open up time for new opportunities.
“I would like to continue educating, helping people in my community, and focusing on my health,” said Tao. “I also hope to travel across the country and explore places I have never had the chance to visit before in America.”
The lessons Tao taught her students extend well beyond the language she taught, and as she leaves WHS, many recognize her impact.
“I think the way she challenged us to always give our best is something that will stay with many students long after she’s gone,” said junior Nick Fa. “She made hard work a habit for us.”
Alejandro Yegros – World Language
Former WHS Spanish teacher Alejandro Yegros, who taught here for 27 years from 1998 to 2025, retired earlier this school year. Many of Yegros’ previous students and colleagues remember him well.
“He was a good teacher, a good guy,” said senior Theodore Dreyer. “He had a great way of teaching that wasn’t
boring, and he had good energy.”
During his time here, Yegros learned many lessons from his experiences teaching students.
“I think it’s important that you try to see the good in students even if they do things that annoy you,” said Alejandro Yegros. “It’s important not to take things personally and carry negativity about students with you.”
Colleagues of Mr. Yegros respect his career as a teacher.
“Sr. Yegros is an engaging teacher that knows how to connect with all kinds of students,” said world language department head Kathleen Baker. “He meets students where they are and knows how to motivate them to improve their language skills.”
Yegros has made an impact, whether that be designing the website Conjuguemos.com or bringing his students on field trips.
“I think my best memory of Yegros was this one assignment,” said senior Tanner Guardino. “There’s this authentic Mexican restaurant in Waltham called Guanachapis, and for an assignment, we had to practice ordering food [there.”
Working with students and teachers at WHS was enjoyable for Yegros.
“I really liked it when a class felt like a family, and I was fortunate to have many classes that had that vibe,” said Yegros. “I felt lucky [collaborating] with my colleagues because everybody was chill.”
Yegros now enjoys his retirement by creating various types of humorous art.
“My plan is to focus on caricatures,” said Yegros. “I’m a caricature artist and I’m doing a lot of events that I like.”
