School Name

Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Peter Neissa came to the U.S. to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He found his passion in writing and teaching, and continued his studies at Harvard University, where he pursued a master’s degree in Latin American literature, and then at Boston College, where he received his doctorate in Hispanic studies. A veteran educator, Neissa has been teaching at private preparatory schools and universities for 30 years: at Boston College, he was awarded the Donald J. White prize for excellence in teaching; at Harvard, he was awarded the Derek Bok prize for excellence in teaching for eight consecutive semesters. Neissa spent eight years teaching at Phillips Academy, where he served as Spanish department chair and the head of the world language division. At Brooks, Neissa also serves on the Diversity Leadership Council. He and wife Louisa have three young daughters and two dogs.

Rob Neaton joined Brooks School as the golf coach in 2023. He is a Level 2 PGA Associate and the assistant golf professional at North Andover Country Club. His main focus is teaching lessons to students of all ages and inspiring them to improve their games. Neaton holds the course record of 63 at NACC and competes regularly on the NEPGA circuit, where he won the New England Assistant's Association Player of the Year award in 2022.

Babette “Babs” Wheelden serves as arts department chair, a visual arts teacher, director of the Robert Lehman Art Center and a member of the diversity leadership council. A native of Wayzata, Minnesota, she has taught and coached in independent schools on the east coast for close to 30 years. Wheelden spent 22 years at Kents Hill School in Maine, where she served as dean of faculty and chair of the arts, as well as taught AP Art History, AP Studio Arts and Environmental Photography. She was also director of the school’s Gruss-Bard Gallery and coached varsity golf and junior varsity tennis. Wheelden began her career in education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from which she received the Byron Smith Capstone Fellowship for graduate studies. She has an M.Ed in Integrated Arts from Plymouth State University, serves on the Educator Advisory Board for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and is a member of the Experimental Art Group in Rockport, Massachusetts. In addition to the arts, Wheelden continues to chase the dream of breaking 90 on any golf course and spends summer days paddle boarding on Lake Cobbosseecontee in Maine. Mother of sons Drake and Fenix '22, she and husband Todd Wheelden (assistant athletic director for operations) live on campus in Buhl House, where she serves as dorm head of Whitney House and the couple's Portuguese Water Dog, Maverick greets the community.