Curriculum Detail

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Department

English

Your skills in reading, writing, thinking and speaking will be developed and strengthened through our rigorous English program curriculum. In each year of study, you’ll be challenged by stimulating reading assignments, frequent writing projects, comprehensive vocabulary program, and oral presentations. And, if you are ready for a still greater challenge as a junior or senior, Honors English and Advancement Placement English classes are available.

Graduation Requirements

4 credits of English, at least one credit per year

English I
English for International Students I
English II
English for International Students II
English for International Students III
English III: The Black Swan Experience: Women & Multicultural Literature
English III: American Crime and Punishment 1

“Every crime destroys more Edens than our own.”--Nathaniel Hawthorne. The theme for this class is crime in American literature, starting at colonization and continuing to 1905. Part 1, fall semester, will include works by Poe, Hawthorne, Alcott, and Twain, among others. Students will lead discussions, write analytical essays, and complete a final semester project.
English III: Literature of the American South
English IV: I, the People - The Life & Legacy of James Baldwin
English III: American Crime and Punishment 2

American Crime and Punishment 2 picks up where the fall semester class left off. This semester will focus on the theme of crime in 20th century American literature and film, both canonical and popular. The class may include American authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ann Petry, James Cain, Dashiell Hammet, Jim Thompson, Raymond Chandler, Patricia Highsmith, Delores Hitchens, Helen Eustis, Dorothy B. Hughes. David Goodis, Chester Himes, Flannery O’Connor. Students will lead discussions, write analytical book reviews, and submit a final project of their choice.
Advanced English III
English IV: Put a Little "Hitch" in your Giddy-Up - The Films of Alfred Hitchcock
English IV: Whodunnit? The Murder Mystery in Literature, Film, & Popular Culture

This course will read and discuss the great writings of the mystery genre from Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone (1868,) widely considered the first mystery novel, through classic works by Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and on to more contemporary fiction. We will also screen film and television adaptations of these works and listen to examples from the age of radio mysteries, considering what resonates in different periods, including a study of the real life 1860 murder of 3 year-old Saville Kent (The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher) that set the model for the archetypal character of “the detective” and sparked a Victorian interest in murder that would develop into the mystery genre we know today.
English IV: The Foodies - Modern Gastronomy, Art, Culture, & Literature
English IV: The Documentary Idea - Reading Documentary Films Past & Present
Advanced English IV: Creative Nonfiction

Venture into the world of creative writers who choose nonfiction as their realm, or as Creative Nonfiction Magazine describes the genre, “true stories well told.” From memoir to personal essay, from lyric essay to literary journalism—creative nonfiction has it all. In this class we shall sample creative nonfiction by the best—John McPhee, Annie Dillard, Bill Bryson, Susan Orlean, to name a handful–and write some nonfiction of our own.
Advanced English IV: Creative Writing - Poetry & Short Story
Advanced English IV: Anna Karenina and the Russian Novel
Creative Writing I: Introduction

The Creative Writing syllabus is guided each semester by individual student interest and voice. Prompts will be given as needed to spark a project, including free writing exercises, structures such as the sonnet or Joseph Campbell’s concept of the “Hero’s Journey,” visual or situational reaction cards, non-literary forms such as the shopping list or instruction manual, etc. In addition, we will explore various contemporary writers’ work, including but not limited to that of David Sedaris, Zadie Smith, David Foster Wallace, Laurie Anderson, and more, depending on student interest. Students are encouraged to explore any form of non-academic writing and so may use the time to develop any such writing not assigned by another class.

Fall or Spring Semester – ½ Credit per Semester

Prerequisite: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing. Freshman with permission from Advisor.
Creative Writing II: Portrait

The Creative Writing syllabus is guided each semester by individual student interest and voice. Prompts will be given as needed to spark a project, including free writing exercises, structures such as the sonnet or Joseph Campbell’s concept of the “Hero’s Journey,” visual or situational reaction cards, non-literary forms such as the shopping list or instruction manual, etc. In addition, we will explore various contemporary writers’ work, including but not limited to that of David Sedaris, Zadie Smith, David Foster Wallace, Laurie Anderson, and more, depending on student interest. Students are encouraged to explore any form of non-academic writing and so may use the time to develop any such writing not assigned by another class.

Fall or Spring Semester – ½ Credit per Semester

Prerequisite: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing. Freshman with permission from Advisor.
Advanced English IV: By Her, About Her, For Her - American Women Writers
Advanced English IV: The World of Mythology
Advanced English IV: Literature and History of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1912
Creative Writing III: Collaboration

The Creative Writing syllabus is guided each semester by individual student interest and voice. Prompts will be given as needed to spark a project, including free writing exercises, structures such as the sonnet or Joseph Campbell’s concept of the “Hero’s Journey,” visual or situational reaction cards, non-literary forms such as the shopping list or instruction manual, etc. In addition, we will explore various contemporary writers’ work, including but not limited to that of David Sedaris, Zadie Smith, David Foster Wallace, Laurie Anderson, and more, depending on student interest. Students are encouraged to explore any form of non-academic writing and so may use the time to develop any such writing not assigned by another class.

Fall or Spring Semester – ½ Credit per Semester

Prerequisite: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing. Freshman with permission from Advisor.
Journalism

Department Faculty

Kieran Conrad

English Department Chair; English Teacher

kconrad@chathamhall.org
Bio

Kieran Conrad joined Chatham Hall in 2024 as Chair of the English Department, bringing experience as an English educator and a leader in residential life, advisory programming, and academic support and innovation. He served as English Department Chair at independent schools in the U.S. and abroad. Before coming to Chatham Hall, he most recently worked as a curriculum developer, mentoring and unifying the deans of academics, students, and residential life toward the School’s values and mission statement, at a school serving neurodivergent students.

Certified through his graduate program to establish and lead writing centers, Kieran has founded peer-led writing centers at every school where he has taught, helping students strengthen their voices and leadership skills—an initiative beginning in the 2026-2027 year at Chatham Hall. Since 2018, he has been coaching students through their college essays, including work with College Essay Guy. Kieran earned his M.A. in English with a focus on rhetoric and writing from Middlebury College. He loves the tradition of singing “Silent Night” by candlelight in Chapel. Known for his creative and playful approach in the classroom, he often brings surprise and delight to his students’ end-of-year reflections. Outside the classroom, Kieran enjoys reading, writing, basketball, fitness, meditation, and spending time with his dog.
Michelle Andrade P'27

Director of Marketing and Communications

mandrade@chathamhall.org
Bio
Michelle Andrade joined Chatham Hall in 2024 as Director of Marketing & Communications, bringing extensive experience in independent school marketing, communications, and brand strategy. A graduate of Belmont University and Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, she previously served as the founding Director of Communications and Special School Programs at the Episcopal School of Nashville and later as a member of the marketing and communications team at Ensworth School.

As Chatham Hall's chief storyteller and brand steward, Michelle leads the strategy, execution, and oversight of the School’s marketing, communications, and brand initiatives. She oversees internal and external communications, enrollment marketing, publications, website and social media strategy, photography, videography, and creative storytelling while partnering across departments to strengthen enrollment, advancement, community engagement, and institutional visibility. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and their lively household of pets, walking whenever she can, and singing in her church choir.
Cameron Ayres

English, Creative Writing, & Photography Teacher; Theatre Department Director

434-432-5240

cayres@chathamhall.org
Bio
Prior to coming to Chatham Hall in 2016, Cameron Ayres received a B.A. in both theatre and French from the College of William & Mary and a M.F.A in studio art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Having attended an independent school as a student, Cameron is familiar with the boarding school environment, with his favorite Chatham Hall tradition being the Lantern Ceremony.
Sridha Chadalavada

English Teacher; Dorm Advisor; Learning Support

schadalavada@chathamhall.org
Bio
A proud Chatham Hall alumna, Sridha Chadalavada returned to Chatham Hall as an English & Learning Support Teacher after graduating from Pomona College in 2024 with a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. As a student, she felt empowered by the Chatham Hall community to embrace new opportunities, including participation in Student Diplomacy Corps and iQuest.

Sridha recently completed a Fulbright fellowship in Spain, where she taught secondary school students and mentored students participating in Model United Nations Conferences. She is excited to return to the community that shaped her academic and personal growth, share her love of literature, and experience beloved traditions again—especially the Lantern Ceremony, her favorite.
Lola Ibrahim

English Teacher; Dorm Advisor

librahim@chathamhall.org
Bio
Lola Ibrahim joined Chatham Hall as an English Teacher, bringing a global perspective shaped by a life spent across cultures and four continents. An educator, writer, and strategist, she explores the stories that shape who we are, the societies we create, and the futures we imagine.

Drawing on experience in education, international affairs, and nonprofit leadership, Lola believes literature invites students to ask difficult questions, embrace complexity, and discover the joy of ideas. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from George Mason University and a Master of Liberal Arts in Government from Harvard University. She is passionate about helping students see literature as an invitation into another way of being human.
Mara Jarrett

History & English Teacher; CAMS; International Student Coordinator; Coach; Dorm Advisor

mjarrett@chathamhall.org
Bio
Mara Jarrett joined the Chatham Hall community in 2021 after teaching ESL and history electives in South Korea. She holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith and an M.A. in History with a specialization in globalization from Arkansas State University. With academic interests spanning Middle Eastern and Asian studies, geography, philosophy, and ancient history, Mara brings a global perspective to her teaching. At Chatham Hall, she serves on the duty team, coaches, and advises students. A former rugby and softball player, she also loves music and theater.