At Avon Old Farms School, we pride ourselves in being experts at teaching boys. Our faculty do more than just teach. They serve as coaches, advisors, and mentors as well. This summer, we welcomed four new educators to our ranks. Below, we introduce you to the new faces in our community: 
 

Erik Assadourian ’95 

English Department

Erik Assadourian grew up in Avon and graduated from Avon Old Farms in 1995. He is excited to return to campus this year to teach English. After graduating from Avon, Erik received his degree from Dartmouth College.

Erik has spent the past 25 years studying and writing about sustainability. He spent 16 of those years at the Worldwatch Institute, where he co-authored over a dozen books and directed and co-directed seven. These explored many topics, but his favorites were: consumerism, economic degrowth, sustainable communities, environmental education, and civilizational collapse. While at Worldwatch, Erik also designed a climate expansion for the board game The Settlers of Catan (Catan: Oil Springs) and taught environmental studies at Goucher College.

He now directs the environmental organization, the Gaian Way. He also serves as Corporate Ecoforum’s editor-in-chief, producing a weekly news briefing for corporate sustainability officers. And he is a Visiting Scholar at Wesleyan University as part of its College of the Environment Think Tank for 2026-27, which is focused on collapse.
 

Qadree Ollison

Mathematics Department

Originally from Niagara Falls, NY, Qadree Ollison is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a student-athlete and member of the Pitt football program. Following his collegiate career, he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and went on to play professionally in the National Football League (NFL). His experiences as both a student-athlete and professional athlete have shaped his approach to leadership, mentorship, and working with young people.

Today, Qadree brings those experiences into both the classroom and athletics, teaching Algebra II with Trigonometry and coaching football. He is passionate about helping students and student-athletes build confidence, challenge themselves, and recognize their potential.

Qadree hopes to use the lessons and experiences from his own academic and athletic journey to positively impact the next generation and prepare students for success both in and beyond the classroom.
 

Ryan Shapiro

Mathematics Department

Ryan Shapiro has joined Avon as a teacher in the Math department. He has always had a passion for mathematics and education going back to his time at Trinity College, where he graduated in 2010 with a degree in mathematics.

For the last 16 years, Ryan worked in the insurance industry where he was responsible for data analysis and pricing models. Now, he is extremely excited to shift gears and pursue his passion for teaching at Avon Old Farms.

Ryan grew up in western Massachusetts but currently resides in Simsbury with his wife Maggie, three daughters Eden, Robin and Vivian, and a whole slew of pets. In addition to his responsibility teaching calculus, Ryan will be helping coach JV soccer and basketball in his first academic year.
 

Dylan Skinner

Science Department

Dylan Skinner is originally from Monroe, NY, and went to Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. There, he played ice hockey for all 4 years he attended, was a part of model UN, and worked on the school yearbook. Skinner says he wanted to work in a place that would cultivate a similar tight-knit relationship between students that he experienced at his own all-boys private high school. He then attended Elmira College where he majored in biology and biochemistry and added a minor in chemistry as well. He would go on to earn his Master’s at Western Governors University.

Skinner arrives at Avon with almost a decade of teaching and coaching experience. He will be teaching honors living systems, biotechnology, and AP biology this year. He will also be coaching thirds hockey in the winter and thirds tennis in the spring.

He has been married to his wife Dr. Jessica Foertsch DO for three years. The couple welcomed a son, Liam, in April this year. They also have a pet rabbit, Cinnamon.