Amy and David Southworth

This week we are featuring a couple as the "person" of Shelburne. Amy and David Southworth have lived in town since 1991, and have taught at SCS even longer. So here is a look at two more teachers from town, in one article!

Backgrounds: David is "at least a third generation Vermonter," who grew up in Norwich with his two brothers and a younger sister. Amy was born in Milford, Conn, and moved to Montpelier in her junior year of high school. Amy has two sisters, and a half sister and brother. She explained that it was her high school music teacher who was instrumental in her deciding to study music. She attended the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and completed her graduate study at Hart School of Music in Conn. Her post graduate work was conducted under vocal coaches from Columbia and Julliard.

David attended Colgate University, then took a year and a half off to hitchhike across the US, and then travel to Europe where he lived in Greece and Turkey. He returned to UVM to finish his degree in environmental studies, with a minor in geography. He also completed both his Masters of Education and an MS in Guidance Counseling at UVM.

Careers: Amy's first teaching position was in St. Johnsbury where she was the music teacher for approximately 600 students (K-6). She later taught briefly in Winooski and Essex Jct. before being accepting a position at SCS in 1988."It was a wonderful move, coming to a school system where arts were appreciated."

David's career path was a more direct route. He was a student teacher in Shelburne and then was hired upon graduation from UVM to teach 6th grade social Studies, and then 8th grade science.

Family: Amy and David met while teaching at SCS (with some "assistance" from fellow teacher Pam Baldwin, who felt the two young, single teachers should get to know each other. Good call, Pam!)

After dating for eight months, David asked Amy to marry him while hiking Mt. Philo. "Our honeymoon was on the Cape in 1991, as Hurricane Bob swept through." Both recall that while the hurricane raged they were stuck in a "second rate hotel" along with a stranded Little League team, The newlyweds survived the drama and returned safely to Vermont and their new home in Shelburne. They have 2 children: Ryan, 17 who will be a senior at CVU, and Caitlin, 8, who will be in the third grade at SCS.

Favorite foods: Maine lobster for Amy, and lasagna for David

Hobbies: No surprise that Amy enjoys singing and dancing. She was recently selected to join the women's chorus, Bella Voce. As her favorite musicians, she managed to single out Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming and Barbra Streisand. She worried that if she admitted liking Debussy people would look at her funny.

David's hobbies include basketball and golf. His daughter Caitlin supplied that "mowing the lawn" should be included. And his favorite band is Chicago.

Pets: "Chippy" the chipmunk, who has taken over the Southworth's garage.

First Concerts: For David, it was Sly and the Family Stone in Dartmouth: for Amy, it was The Carpenters performing in Las Vegas.

Bucket Lists: Amy and David share the dream destination of going to the Greek Islands (or returning there, in David's case). And Amy added that she would love to take her family to NYC for a week or more, "for a total immersion - plays, music, art-all the best performances."