Meet Our Team: Megan Capozzi

As part of this back to school season, we’re sharing more about ourselves and our passions for education and Hemispheres Academy. In the first of this series, we talk with Megan Capozzi, Head of School. Enjoy watching this video and getting to know Megan.

TRANSCRIPT:

Melissa Morrison (00:06)
Hi, I'm here with Megan Capozzi, Head of School for Hemisphere Academy. And with the back to school season, we're getting to know each other better and wanted to introduce you. Tell us about yourself, Megan.

Megan Capozzi (00:26)
Well, I'm Megan Capozzi. It's wonderful to meet everyone virtually. And I am the Head of School for Hemispheres Academy. I've been with Hemispheres for over three years now before we even took our first students, and we are in our third year of having students. We're very much looking forward to this year as we expand and grow. My background has always been in teaching. I started teaching before when I was still high school teaching WSI, Water Safety to young children. Right after my undergraduate at Saint Lawrence University, I went on and got my master's at Fordham University, where I got a Master of Science and Teaching. And from there, I spent a number of years in classrooms, both private and public schools, teaching all different elementary grades. And from there, I've worked as a curriculum writer, an adjunct College Professor, and many other roles in education.

Melissa Morrison (01:35)
That is a plethora and a wide variety of educational backgrounds. What is exciting to you about Hemisphere Academy? Why are you with Hemispheres Academy now?

Megan Capozzi (01:46)
Hemispheres Academy is really an amazing community, and it's a community that's being built from the ground up. Some EFMs looked at education during the pandemic, and they realized there was something missing in the Foreign Service for families that might not have adequate schooling at post, or if there were long commutes, or if there was bullying, or if the homeschool just wasn't a very good fit. So, they got together to figure out how could a virtual school best meet the needs of the community going forward. And Hemisphere Academy is what came from that.

Melissa Morrison (02:23)
I could see that that would be relevant to anyone who is living as an expat, not just State Department. 

Megan Capozzi (02:30)
One hundred percent. For anybody that's globally mobile that wants flexibility in their child's education, because we work with families individually. So if you want to explore part of the world and you need a few weeks off of your classes, we'll work with you, help you figure out how do you make that trip or that part of your experience the focus, and then education to be the focus in other parts. So we really enjoy that opportunity that it gives us because it enables us to really reach all different kinds of learners. We're able to reach those really high functioning learners that really need to be challenged, like with AP classes, we're able to offer those, but we're also able to work with those students who might be in special education and need support. We have a lot of very talented different organizations that we work with to provide those special education services in conjunction with us.

Melissa Morrison (03:29)
I see what you mean by flexibility. It's not just timing, but also curriculum, and the class offering. I know we offer grades 2 through 12, and geographically as well, obviously, since it's a virtual school. How do you create a positive classroom environment for all students?

Megan Capozzi (03:51)
We really work to bring children together. So that positive environment is built from the ground up. We really at age bands for our hemisphere's time, which is like a homeroom time where art, music, and movement are taught along the different themes throughout the year. Not only do we look at Americana and things that might be out of an international education, but you would receive in the United States, but we also look at what do children today need to become global citizens, and what are the things that it's important to learn about yourself and to learn about the world? What are similarities that people have all over the world? And what are some differences?

Melissa Morrison (04:38)
What a great approach. Has that led to any particular moments that have stood out in your mind while you're teaching at Hemisphere Academy?

Megan Capozzi (04:46)
Yes, it definitely has because for the first year, I was one of the teacher coaches, and one of our students was having a really hard time in international school. And he came to us and we were really able to partner with services. And after two years of really successful, where he was both remedial classes as well as extension classes, where he was able to work grade levels ahead of his actual grade level, he is now transitioned back at a different post to international school and thriving. So being able to really meet the child where they were and to go forward with that child on all aspects of their education has really been a fabulous, and now learning about their success.

Melissa Morrison (05:36)
How rewarding. And it's wonderful. He's kept in touch, too.

Megan Capozzi (05:39)
es. It's really a community that we're building. So the teachers, the families, we're working to really build a community. And one way we're doing that is by speaker series, and we open up those things to the general public as well. So we're trying to build a community, not just a school.

Melissa Morrison (05:58)
That's wonderful. And I know that Hemisphere Time helps connect people and connect the different students from around the world, too. That's a wonderful opportunity that they might not have otherwise. Where are students going after hemispheres? What future do you see for them?

Megan Capozzi (06:17)
I see them as a positive contributor wherever they land. They have gone back to school in the United States. Some of our students, some of our students have continued on to different international schools. Some of them have stayed with us since we started, and they're still with us, which is absolutely fabulous. But I see that they really get a really strong base in understanding themselves and understanding commonalities amongst the world so that they're able to become really lifelong learners and able to support one another in their next endeavors.

Melissa Morrison (06:59)
That's so exciting. Thank you so much for your time, Megan, and to our viewers, too.