Tao Smith, head of school at Killington Mountain School (KMS), recently announced that three key positions at the ski academy have been filled to match the school’s continued expansion and growth. Deb Newson, director of student life and assistant director of school operations and former freestyle program director, has been named assistant head of school. Holly Morse leads the academic faculty as the new director of academics and Josh Bullock has been appointed to the newly formed position of strength and conditioning coach for all athletic disciplines.
“We are experiencing incredible growth at KMS both academically and athletically and these three key positions are now filled with talented, dedicated professionals that will continue to motivate and enrich our student body,” said Smith. “As we continue to grow both athletically and academically, it is important that these areas work in tandem, and Deb and Holly will create the synergies necessary to make that happen. Having Josh on board only strengthens our existing athletic programs, giving added focus to dryland training and conditioning. I’m looking forward to working closely with all three of them.”
Newson will be responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the school, ensuring that academic programs work in tandem with athletic ones in order to provide the best overall academy experience for KMS student-athletes. Last year, she moved from a leadership role in the freestyle program to director of student life and assistant director of school operations for the ski academy.
Newson became the freestyle program director in 2006 after serving the school as assistant program director and mogul coach since 1998. She has been the chairperson for the USSA Freestyle Membership Committee and for USSA Eastern Freestyle since 2003. Her coaching experience ranges from introducing new student-athletes to freestyle skiing to working with veteran competitors seeking to prove themselves in national and international competition. She coached U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team Member Michael Morse (KMS ’99) as well as Junior World Dual Mogul Champion and U.S. Ski Team Member Bryan Zemba (’10), and U.S. Development Group members Nick Keating (’10) and Kelsey Alpert (’07). She holds a master’s degree in secondary education from Castleton State College. Newson was the USSA Domestic Freestyle Coach of the Year and the USSA Development Coach of the Year in 2010.
Holly Morse will take the helm of the school’s academic program, leading the faculty in creating student-focused, small-classroom instruction. Morse has been an educator in Vermont for more than 20 years, including eight years as an administrator. She is a former principal and has coordinated alternative programs for high school students. She also has served on curriculum and assessment committees both on the district and state levels. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership with a K-12 principal endorsement from Castleton State College and a bachelor of science in elementary education and environmental science from Keene State College.
Josh Bullock will lead the strength and conditioning program at KMS as the school’s first full-time strength and conditioning coordinator. Prior to joining KMS in March 2012, Bullock served as the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Redlands. While at the University of Redlands, Bullock oversaw the strength and conditioning programs for 21 NCAA sports, serving approximately 550 student-athletes, a staff of nine coaches and 25 student-employees. In addition to his duties as the head strength and conditioning coach, Bullock was the director of the campus fitness center and instructor of two undergraduate-level courses in strength and conditioning. He holds a bachelor of arts in liberal studies with a minor in physical education from the University of Redlands and a master’s degree in management, also from the University of Redlands. This summer, he will complete his second master’s degree in kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University. Bullock is one of 308 Registered Strength and Conditioning Coaches in the country as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also a USA Weightlifting-certified coach.
Killington Mountain School is a fully approved Vermont independent school whose mission is to inspire students to pursue excellence in academics and athletics in a culture that promotes integrity, leadership, responsibility, and respect. The school offers a new full-term academic program in addition to its winter-term program. To learn more about alpine, snowboard, freestyle, freeskiing, and cycling training and opportunities, visit www.killingtonmountainschool.org or call 802.422.KMS1.
