About Us
Welcome to Team Synergy! We are very excited to welcome you all to our community. The term “synergy” describes a situation where the final outcome of a system, or community, is greater than the sum of its parts. Team Synergy will strive to celebrate each individual student’s unique ways of learning while strengthening the communication and cooperation skills necessary for the combined success of our team. We will work to foster an appreciation for learning within a community atmosphere where all students can thrive and meet the challenges of school.
Team Synergy is a single year, 8th grade team of approximately 75 students and three core teachers.
Mr. David Baroody teaches Language Arts and Social Studies. This is his 10th year in the classroom, having taught in Vermont, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Baroody enjoys hiking, gardening, and skiing, and is an avid runner, looking forward to completing the Race to the Top of Vermont at the end of August. He lives in Burlington with his wife Bethany and son Arden, who was born July 1st.
Ms. Lisa Windhausen teaches Science and Algebra. In science, 8th-graders explore the properties of matter, chemical reactions, force, motion, and the universe. In algebra, students will follow a high school-level textbook, including a mid-term and final exam. Outside the classroom, Lisa enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening, and skiing. She lives in Burlington with her husband, Jeff, and her son, Dylan.
Ms. Alaina Palombo is excited to start her first year as a classroom teacher responsible for Math and Social Studies, though she has worked with middle school students in Williston and Burlington for the past two years. She will be covering early American history in Social Studies and can't wait to jump into linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships in Math. Ms. Palombo lives in Burlington where she enjoys exercising outdoors, reading, and cooking.