Three beloved teachers will leave Marlborough at the end of the school year: Director of Studies and History and Social Sciences Instructor Jonathon Allen, English Instructor Brett Quimby and Violets Giving Circle Coordinator Amanda Lovrien. All of them have made an immense impact on programs and students at Marlborough. 

Jonathon Allen 

Jonathon Allen will leave at the end of the 2025-26 academic year to take on a new role as the head of upper school at another institution. During his time at Marlborough, Allen has been the head of the History Department and was a core member in the initiative that created the Global Futures Institute (GFI). Reflecting on his time at Marlborough, Allen spoke on what pulled him to the school. 

“Over the course of my career at this school, I have witnessed firsthand the pure magic that takes place at a girls’ school,” Allen said. “The girls’ advantage is very real and I have felt honored to teach courses, ranging from AP French and Honors Modern World History to AP World History and GFI Seminar 3, to students who care about both the what and the why of what they’re learning.” 

The news, which was described as “bittersweet” by school leadership, marks the end of Allen’s 11-year tenure at Marlborough. 

“Leading the History team as History Department Head during 2020-21 and navigating our new world during the trifecta of a global pandemic, racial reckoning and political polarization was both the most challenging and the most formative moment for me as a leader,” Allen said. “I grew so much from that one year and better understood what it meant to take care of a team, to engage students in an ambiguous and volatile world and to put people over everything else.” 

Allen will continue his career as the head of upper school at La Jolla Country Day School. He described his excitement for leading a 9th through 12th grade co-ed student body just outside of San Diego. 

As he prepares to leave, Allen hopes students recognize how driven the Marlborough faculty is and that they should not take that for granted. 

“I hope that students remember, even when the weeks are long and times are hard, that the adults on campus have dedicated their lives to deepening students’ learning and ensuring their well-being. They truly care,” Allen said. 

Brett Quimby 

Quimby started his 16-year-long career at Marlborough in 2009 as a substitute for a history teacher. He decided to stay on campus as an English teacher because he liked his students, colleagues and the structure of Marlborough’s education. 

Since his first year, Quimby has held the roles of 9th grade student dean, dean of student life, teacher of a Middle School after-hours arts program and even led an improv group. Quimby also reflected on his appreciation for teaching both the Middle School and Upper School classrooms. Outside of Marlborough, Quimby has a master’s degree in English and has grown his family. 

“In some ways, I feel like I have adulted in my time here. I met my wife, got married and had kids, so life has happened to me since I’ve been here,” Quimby said. 

When asked about the favorite class he’s taught, he couldn’t pick one. He said that having taught all grades, he has appreciated each one of them. Throughout his time at Marlborough, he has learned to become a better teacher and mentor each school year. 

“I’ve learned continuously how to work better with students and how to get students to shine,” Quimby said. “I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues and learned a lot from families and the administration, went to a lot of professional development and became a better educator overall.” 

From surprising students in the inaugural Spirit Week staculty dance to seeing students reunited after COVID, Quimby has countless memories at Marlborough. He also spoke about seeing students come together in response to gun violence and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. 

“Seeing students be passionate and want to engage and also seeing the school try to meet them where they were and support the students on what they want to do has been really powerful as well,” Quimby said. 

Looking ahead, Quimby and his family will be moving to Panama, where he will teach at an international school. Quimby said it would be a great opportunity and an adventure. When asked if he had any last words for the Marlborough community, Quimby teared up and read us an anecdote from his farewell email to the faculty. 

“I wanted to cultivate a sentiment of awe at how education should make us feel connected to something larger than ourselves. I have felt that here with you,” Quimby said. “Because of that, I want to say how grateful I am for our time together.” 

Amanda Lovrien 

Violets Giving Circle (VGC) Adviser Amanda Lovrien will leave Marlborough at the end of the school year. Lovrien, an alum of Marlborough, returned to campus to guide the VGC group through planning large-scale events and giving grants to various community organizations. 

In her professional career, Lovrien created her own freelance event production company and built expertise in running charities. She worked with ESPN for a decade and helped with red carpets and the Super Bowl. Even while leading an extremely active career, Lovrien found time to offer her services to Marlborough. 

“I figured while I was young enough with the energy and the time, this is the way I would give back to the school,” Lovrien said. 

Lovrien reflected on how her unique role of having students for two years has led to special experiences and bonds. 

“I meet them their sophomore year, and then I get to keep them my junior and senior year, so the bonds that happen over all the different events we have is really special,” Lovrien said. 

In 11 years of organizing events, Lovrien spent countless hours guiding students on how to run a large-scale operation, including branding, logistics, ticketing, programs, audio and visuals. In grant years, she teaches students about 501(c)3 organizations, how to give grants and what a request for proposal is. 

With the Super Bowl and Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, Lovrien decided to exit Marlborough this year. 

“It’s amazing what these girls have done,” Lovrien said. “I’ve had the program for 10 years, and it was in existence 10 years before me, so it seemed like a natural time to go.” 

When asked for her last words to the Marlborough community, Lovrien reflected on the immense gratitude and respect she has toward teachers and her students.