Creative Writing: Gretchen McTavish
Gretchen Miller McTavish graduated from Dock in 1973. She received her undergraduate degree in English from Ursinus College and a master’s degree in English from Arcadia University. Mrs. McTavish taught at Dock from 1994 to 2021, serving as English Department chair many of those years. She also taught at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania during two sabbatical breaks. She currently lives in Sarasota, Florida, attending Covenant Mennonite Fellowship, enjoying her retirement by reading, swimming, and making comforters for Mennonite Central Committee.
Jewelry & Fabric Arts: Lynne Rush
Lynne Rush is a graduate of Bluffton University. Her fabric arts background is quilting and crocheting, and her eye for detail and appreciation of good craftsmanship was honed in her over 15 years volunteering and working at Ten Thousand Villages fair trade store in Souderton.
Culinary Arts: Jeanne McClincy
Jeanne McClincy currently serves as part-time chef at Dock Mennonite Academy. She is semi-retired after 35+ years in food services here at Dock. She enjoys cooking, traveling, gardening, and crafting in her free time. And any time she gets with her grandkids is a special time for sure!
Photography & Visual Arts: Joanne Fabian
Joanne is a graduate of Mass Art, now known as Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she majored in Illustration and minored in Photography. She went on to build a business of Illustration commissions, as well as a Sports and Portrait Photography business, retiring in 2021. She spent many years selling her Nature work at Art Festivals and Stores, and later opened Art on the Hill in Souderton, a thriving and award winning Art Gallery that showcased her work alongside the work of over 30 other local artists.
Stage Events: Shelley Berg, Laura Landes ('01), Heidi Painter
Shelley Berg taught instrumental music at Dock Mennonite Academy, where she directed the elementary and middle school bands, jazz band and handbells. She played principal horn for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra, teaches horn privately and performs with her brass quintet, Jubilant Brass. She is a member of Lansdale Presbyterian Church, where she teaches Sunday school and directs the handbell choir. She is looking forward to playing in the pit orchestra for Dock’s performance of Mary Poppins.
Laura Landes attended Penn View and Dock all the way back in the 1900s. After college, she spent 16 years teaching music at Dock's EC8 campus. Some of her favorite memories from her teaching years likely include the students in this room- early morning handbell rehearsals, middle school musicals, Bella Vocce performances, ukulele classes, and dissecting owl pellets at Outdoor Classroom. Laura currently works as the office manager at Souderton Vantage Academy, an alternative school for students who need some extra emotional support. She lives in Souderton with her husband and two daughters, Liza and Emme. They attend Calvary Church in Souderton where Laura sings on the worship team. Laura's favorite activities include singing along to 90's country music, road trips with her family, and a good game night. Fun fact: Laura grew up with Dr. Moyer and has lots of good stories if you need them!
Heidi Painter is an educator and theater director who loves bringing stories to life on stage. A 2002 graduate of Eastern University, she has been involved in the performing arts for as long as she can remember. Heidi taught English and literature at Dock’s EC-Grade 8 campus for 13 years and now teaches middle school English and directs theater at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. When she isn’t teaching or directing, Heidi enjoys family time with her husband, Dan, her twenty-one-year-old son, Ben, and her nine-year-old daughter, Evelyn.
