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Student Profiles |
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Leadership Academy
Private School Leadership
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| 2007-2009 Leadership Academy Students |
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Bett Alter is in her sixth year of teaching History and Ethics at The Gunnery, a coed day and boarding school in Washington, Ct. where she is the History Department chair and the Dean of the sophomore class. Before joining the faculty at the Gunnery, Bett and her family lived in India, West Africa and several U.S. states. Bett’s three children have happily traveled the world with her and her husband John who she has worked with in independent schools for most of their 21 years of marriage. Bett loves the outdoors, cooking with friends and listening to a variety of music. |
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Paul Baly is in his sixth year working at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, a coed day school in Columbia, SC, where his current roles include: Assistant Head of the Intermediate/Middle School, humanities teacher, and head varsity lacrosse coach. He has also served in the school’s PEAK Outdoor Program, as a football coach, and as the Dean of Students. He began his independent school career at the Storm King School in NY State and worked in the staffing industry in New York City. Paul grew up just outside New York in Westfield, NJ where he attended Westfield Public Schools through high school. He holds a B.A. in English from Roanoke College where he played on the varsity lacrosse team and an M.Ed in Secondary Education from the University of South Carolina. Paul will miss dearly his wife Liane and 1 yr old son Max while in NY for this program. However, he looks forward the professional and academic challenge and to getting reacquainted with NYC. |
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Phil Blessman is in his third year of teaching AP Physics and his first year as Science Department Chair at Culver Academies, a coed boarding school in Culver, Indiana. Before coming to Culver, Phil taught at St. Paul’s School, the Latin School of Chicago, and Conserve School. Phil loves spending time with his ten-month old twins Ben and Sophie and tries to show them as much of the world as possible. Already, Phil and his wife Audrey have taken their twins for visits to three states and Germany, and now they will spend their summer in New York City! |
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Adriana Botero is in her 9th year in an administrative position at the United World College of the American West, a coeducational boarding school in Montezuma, New Mexico. Adriana has a BS with a major in chemistry and an MA in education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction. Prior to becoming an administrator, Adriana taught chemistry for 25 years at international schools in Colombia and at the United World College in the United States. |
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Andrea Buffara is in her first year as a learning specialist at The American School of Rio de Janeiro, a coed day school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prior to this, Andrea worked 5 years as a learning specialist at Graded School in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Andrea’s area of expertise is reading where she specialized as a multi-sensory structured language teacher. Andrea holds a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University and an M.Sc. in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. She has traveled extensively around the world. She is married to Claudio and has two kids, Sophia and Ricardo. |
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Marissa Caison is in her 5th year of teaching Third grade at Springside School, an all girls day school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Marissa also leads diversity work for the Lower School at Springside. On Saturdays and during the summers she works with the Steppingstone Foundation in Philadelphia an organization that gives opportunity to underserved children to attend independent and high achieving schools. Marissa loves being outside, enjoys music, running and being near water. She is the oldest of two brothers and admires her parents who work in education and are innovators for issues of justice and equity. |
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Chris Cowherd is in his 2nd year of teaching history at Eaglebrook School, a boys boarding and day middle school in Deerfield. Chris came to Eaglebrook after three years of working in admissions and student life at Lawrence Academy. He also coaches football, snowboarding and lacrosse and lives in a dorm with 40 boys. Chris is looking forward to living in New York with his wife Sheilah and their Jack Russell terriers, Spartacus and Cassandra. Chris is originally from Gary, IN and graduated from Hotchkiss in 1996. |
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Chris Downing just finished his seventh year of teaching a wide variety of American and International history and political science courses at the Charlotte Latin School, a TK – 12 co-ed, independent school located in Charlotte, NC. Chris also serves on the Upper School Honor Council and works as the Upper School representative on the Strategic Plan Initiation Team. Besides coaching volleyball, basketball, and golf, Chris also enjoys hiking and biking. |
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Jordan Elliott is in his 6th year of teaching Islam, Buddhism and Philosophy of Religion at Oregon Episcopal School, a coed, day and boarding school in Portland, Oregon. A 2001 graduate of Colorado College and a participant in the 2005 Klingenstein Summer Program, Jordan is pursuing administrative roles while maintaining his passion for teaching the academic study of religion. For fun, Jordan participates in sports such as basketball and snowboarding, tinkers with old cars and loves living on the West Coast near family. |
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Henry Fisher is in his 12th year of teaching mathematics at Hyde School, a coed boarding school in Woodstock, Connecticut. He earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University. Professionally, he also loves coaching, particularly basketball. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. |
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Brooks Fleming is in his seventh year of teaching English at Episcopal High School, a coed day school in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Brown University in 1996. His first teaching experience took place in Tokyo, Japan, where he worked as a conversational English teacher. Brooks enjoys playing tennis, basketball, jogging, and listening to music in his free time. Spending time with his two nephews and niece is a favorite pastime. Brooks also enjoys coaching football and soccer at Episcopal. |
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Patrick Gallagher is heading into his third year at University School, an all-boys preparatory school in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. Next year he will teach English, advise seniors as college counselor, and co-direct the school’s Study Center. He is a Cleveland-area native but ventured away first for college and then for his all-important acclimation to teaching. He spent four years at the Culver Academies, a rural Indiana boarding school, where he taught English and humanities, lived in a dorm alongside 80 boys, and coached girls’ soccer. He is thrilled to spend these summers in NYC -- home in an alternate life. |
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Mick Gee is in his 17th year of teaching science at Winchester Thurston School, a coed school in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also the Upper School Director there. Mick is originally from England, but he has lived in the United States for the past ten years. He first came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship. |
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Dominique Gerard is in his fifth year teaching Modern European History and Social History Through Art at the Montclair Kimberley Academy, a coed day school in Montclair, New Jersey. He is also the First Year Dean for the Upper School, advisor to the Student Government, and coordinator of the school’s Performing Arts Center. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Theater and he went on to receive a Masters of Arts in Modern European History from Fordham University. He volunteers with TEAM Academy, a charter school in Newark, NJ, and has organized volunteer opportunities for his students at Doctors Without Borders. His wife, also a teacher at MKA, and he have organized foreign study trips to Italy, France, and England. At home, he and his wife, Laura, have two children (8 & 10) and a terror of a dog, named Daisy. |
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Terence Gilheany is in his second year of directing the college counseling program at St. Andrew’s School, a coed boarding school in Middletown, Delaware, where he also teaches Middle East history. In his eleven years at St. Andrew’s Terence has served as boys’ residential life director, honor committee advisor, and a cross country running and crew coach. For three years he was the associate college counselor at Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. Terence earned is BA from Amherst College and his MTS from Harvard Divinity School. He and his wife Hilary are the proud parents of 15-month-old Hannah. |
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Deborah Gordon is in her 8th year of teaching middle school math at The Montclair Kimberley Academy, a coed, K – 12, day school in Montclair, NJ. In addition to teaching at MKA, Deborah is the middle school math department chair, coaches field hockey and lacrosse, and is involved with the outdoor program. Deborah earned a B.A. in economics from Brandeis University and has taken classes at Villanova University and Montclair State University. When she has some free time she can be found hiking, camping, reading, traveling the world and eating Middle Eastern food. |
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Jason Gordon is in his fourth year of teaching Social Studies at Solebury School, a coed day and boarding school in New Hope, PA. He is a Dormitory Head, serves on the Judiciary and Diversity Committees, and coaches Track and Field. He graduated with a B.A. from Yale University in 1995, has since taught a wide range of students from pre-schoolers to adults, and has taught in independent schools for the past six years. Jason is excited to return to New York City this summer where he had a short run, right after college, as a “starving musician” and where he met his wife, Christine. They have two sons, Griffin and Phoenix, and they enjoy skiing, karaoke and pretty much anything labeled “xtreme.” |
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Blaine Andrea Grossman is in her 8th year as Co-Director of the Assistant Teacher Program and her 18th year of teaching 2nd Grade at Norwood School, a private K-8 day school in Bethesda, Maryland. After attending Radford College, she began her teaching career in the District of Columbia Public Schools, teaching Kindergarten, First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grades. In her spare time, she designs houses, reads, and shares an interest in flying with her two sons. Her husband, who is supportive in all endeavors that do not involving flying, remains firmly on the ground. |
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Sean Hamer has taught 7th and 8th grade science at Charles River School in Dover, MA and 6th grade math at the Steppingstone Academy in Boston for the past two years. Sean enjoys coaching basketball, teaching chess and robotics, and instructing a martial arts elective.received a BA from the University of Massachusetts and a M.Ed in Middle School Mathematics and Science from Lesley University. After spending 10 years counseling and administrating in adolescent and adult residential programs between New York and Boston, he decided to explore a future in education. His interests extend to personal development, entrepreneurship, and writing. In the coming year, he is relocating to Providence, RI and looks forward to teaching 7th grade math and science at the Gordon School in East Providence, RI. |
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Sarah Horgan is in her 23rd year of teaching history at Western Reserve Academy, a coed boarding school located in Hudson, Ohio. An Ohio native, Sarah came to Reserve after graduating from Kenyon College with a B.A. in political science and serving in the Ohio State House on the Legislative Service Commission. In 2000, she pursued graduate work in American Studies earning her M.A.L.S. from Skidmore College. At Reserve, she chairs the senior seminar program, teaches U.S. history, a history elective on film, and senior seminar and serves on a number of standing committees. She is the assistant coach of W.R.A.’s girls varsity cross country team. Sarah has 4 children yet finds time for gardening, volunteering, running, diving and snorkeling. Her interest in world travel most recently took her to England, where Sarah and 10 Reserve students spent three weeks in residence at the Caterham School, just 25 miles south of London. |
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Cynthia Jackson is in her 5th year of teaching biology, anatomy and physiology and life science, at the Browning School, an all-boys K-12 day school in Manhattan, New York. Her prior teaching experiences include twelve years in Atlanta, Georgia working in three co-ed high schools and five years at The Young Women’s Leadership School in East Harlem, New York. She is also a curriculum specialist and master teacher at WNET, Channel 13. Her responsibilities include writing suitable curriculum for mathematics and science; and instructing teachers, literacy and math coaches, and regional directors how to implement media and Internet technology into their current curriculum. Her other passions include taking in the latest movies and theatre, occasionally sampling some of New York’s finest cuisine, then of course, working out in the gym. |
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Timothy C. Jaeger is in his 12th year at Episcopal High School, a coed boarding school in Alexandria, VA, where he currently teaches English and serves as Assistant Head for Student Life. He has also held the positions of Director of Athletics and Head Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach at Episcopal. Prior to his arrival at Episcopal, Tim coached the Men’s Basketball Team at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC and also served as an English teacher, dorm parent, and coach at The Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA. Tim earned a BA in English from Middlebury College in 1986 and an MS in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts in 1991. He lives in Virginia with his wife, Tracy, and daughter Lina (2 ½). |
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Polly Linden moved to Nashville, TN in 1994 to teach high school mathematics at Harpeth Hall, a girls’ private day school. In addition to teaching math, Polly coaches both swimming and softball, leading the swim team to seven State championships in the past seven years. Outside of teaching and coaching, Polly is also in charge of scheduling for the Upper School. She graduated from Smith College in 1991 with a BA in mathematics. A native New Englander and avid Red Sox fan, Polly spends her summers in Vermont, where she can be spotted at the wheel of a John Deere tractor, baling hay. |
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Jeff Lippman is in his 14th year as an educator. After thirteen years of teaching history and IB Theory of Knowledge, Jeff is currently serving as the High School Assistant Principal at Graded School, a private day school in Sao Paulo Brazil. Jeff is a graduate of Duke University with an undergraduate degree in history and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. He is married to a Brazilian, Adriana, and has two children, Lucas (age 6) and Julia (age 4). Jeff’s hobbies include tennis, basketball, and playing the harmonica. |
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Tom McManus is in his 7th year of teaching English, serving as the Director of Studies, and running the College Counseling Office at Tatnall School, a coed day school in Wilmington, DE. He has also worked at Groton School in MA and as an Undergraduate Admissions Director at the University of Pennsylvania (after earning his BA there). He is married and the father of three children: Jack (8), Charlie (5) and Meg (1). Tom and his wife Micheline (also a teacher) both moonlight with ComedySportz of Philadelphia, an improvisational comedy company. |
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Lynne Meterparel is in her fourth year of teaching history at Proctor Academy, a day and boarding school in Andover, New Hampshire. Prior to teaching, she worked for the Major League Soccer team, the New England Revolution and was the General Manager of the Major League Soccer team the San Jose Earthquakes. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, jogging, coaching and reading. |
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Loren Moyé is in his 8th year of teaching 7th and 8th grade math at San Francisco Day School, a K- 8 coed day school in San Francisco, California. Loren spent 7 years teaching in San Francisco public schools before accepting a position at San Francisco Day School. He has been married for 18 years to Laura, a policy analyst, for the city and county of San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth and their Families. They have two sons, Aaron age 11 and Ellis age 8. |
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J.R. Neiswender is in his second year as the Associate Director of College Counseling at Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Princeton University in 1993, he began his teaching and coaching career at his alma mater, The Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. After two years at Kinkaid, he continued teaching at The Montgomery Academy in Alabama. J.R. began college counseling at Friends School of Baltimore, where he spent eight years as Associate Director of College Guidance and Head Varsity Boys’ Basketball coach. While in Baltimore, he was also an assistant track and field coach at Johns Hopkins University. In the mid-1990s, J.R. and a group of friends also co-founded The SEED Foundation, which opened the first inner-city boarding charter school in the nation in Washington, DC. J.R. lives in Dallas with his wife, Jane Ann, and his three children, twin girls Morgan and Ashley and his son, Patrick. |
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Molly O’Connor is in her first year teaching middle school Spanish at The Berkeley Carroll School, a coed, K-12 day school in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to teaching Spanish, Molly coaches soccer and lacrosse, and is beginning a community service program in the Middle School. She taught previously at The Green Vale School on Long Island and at Tabor Academy in MA. Molly is a graduate of Amherst College, where she played field hockey and lacrosse. She likes to run, cycle, read, and travel. Molly lives in Brooklyn. |
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Derick Perry is in his 12th year of teaching English at Thacher School, a coed boarding school in Ojai, CA. He coaches the Track team and Girls’ Varsity basketball. He is also a Dorm Head. He attended Dartmouth College as an undergraduate, after attending Thacher for high school. Prior to working at Thacher, he worked in the retail sales industry for 8 years. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys golf, basketball, and running as recreation. He is married to Molly Twichell Perry, and they have two daughters, Jordan (8) and Evan (6). |
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Lisa Plog is in her seventh year of teaching history, most recently at Washington International School, a coed day school in Washington D.C. Previously she taught at schools in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. She is married to Peter Carey, an independent school chaplain and has two young sons, Zachary (4) and Sam (21 months). When she is not chasing Zachary and Sam around, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and watching NFL football. |
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Carol Santos is in her 13th year as an educator at Westover School, an all-girls boarding and day school in Middlebury, CT. Spending her first three years as a Dormitory Parent and mathematics teacher, Carol also coached basketball and was Director of Diversity for many years before taking on her current role as Dean of Students more than 5 years ago. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Carol resides at Westover with Tony, her husband of 14 years, 10-year old daughter, Toni and 4-year old son, Nemahn. Carol enjoys singing, especially as part of Westover’s Gospel Choir. |
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Stephen Schools is in his 14th year of teaching upper school mathematics and in his 2nd year as Upper School Dean of Students at Porter-Gaud School, a coed day school in Charleston, South Carolina. He went to Porter-Gaud for twelve years as a student, went to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate school, and has a master’s degree in math teaching from The Citadel. He has a wife, Christy, and a 10 month old daughter, Caroline. |
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Rekha Sharma Puri has worked as a teacher and administrator in independent schools in India and New York. She currently serves as the Director of Admissions and Enrollment at The School at Columbia University. Rekha’s multicultural upbringing (she grew up in Malaysia and attended a boarding school in India before graduating from Bombay University) combined with her life in New York for the past 15 years have definitely made her a “global soul”! Her interests include art and architecture, cooking and travel; and she enjoys reading and discussing ideas with her husband, Anuj, and their son, Siddhartha. |
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Leucretia Shaw currently serves on the faculty in various roles at her alma mater, the Lawrenceville School, a co-educational boarding school in Lawrenceville, NJ. She received a BS in Spanish, with a concentration on language teacher preparation and a minor in English, from Georgetown University. While beginning her career primarily as a classroom teacher, at Lawrenceville she took on administrative responsibilities as Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Dean of Admission. She still teaches 1- 2 Spanish classes per trimester. In her spare time, she likes to read, travel, and spend time with family and friends. This native New Yorker is married with two children and heads a 10th and 11th grade girls’ dormitory on Lawrenceville’s campus. |
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John Siegenthaler began his teaching career in junior boarding school in Massachusetts in 1976 and is currently completing his 6th year teaching history and Latin at the Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York. Outside the classroom, he coaches soccer and ice hockey and heads the freshman boys’ dormitory. In addition to his role as a triple threat, he has also held several administrative positions, including Director of Admissions and Assistant Headmaster. When not fully engaged in the joyful hubbub of boarding school life, he and his family recharge their batteries in the great state of Maine. |
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Daniel Smith is in his 6th year of teaching World Cultures at Friends Academy, a coed day school in Locust Valley, New York. He received a BA in History and Russian at Brigham Young University and a MA in Social Studies at Teachers College. Dan is involved in middle school admissions, convening the middle school history department, teacher evaluations, Model Congress, co-convening a diversity committee, and coaching soccer. Dan is married to Nadia and they have 3 children: Maren (6), Harrison (2), and Norah who was born in March 2007. Dan enjoys reading books, watching soccer, and collecting board games. |
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Stephen Solberg is in his fifth year of teaching Computer Science at Holderness School, a coed boarding school in Plymouth, NH. In addition to teaching, Steve oversees the school’s website and serves on the administrative team as Director of Communications. At home, he divides his time between his wonderful wife Judith, two-and-a-half year old son Ian, and three-month old Nate. |
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Dan Spector is in his eighth year at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, a coed Nursery - Grade 8 day school in Washington, D.C., where he is Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs. Before coming to St. Patrick's, he taught at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School. He holds a BA in English from Bucknell University and an M. Ed. with an Emphasis on Reading from UVA Away from school. Dan spends time with his wife, Lindsay, also an educator, and two-year-old son, Will. All three are native Washingtonians and look forward to spending time in New York. |
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Amy Sullivan is in her sixth year of teaching French at Saklan Valley School, a coed day school in Moraga, CA. In addition to mentoring new language teachers, she is the coordinator for student presentations and assemblies. After completing her BA in Linguistics at UCSD and her MA in French Linguistics at Indiana University, she received a Fulbright teaching grant and taught English in France, where she lived for the next four years. Aside from languages, Amy’s passions are music—she is a singer and plays the guitar—and the outdoors—she very much enjoys hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. |
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Adra Valentine is in her thirteenth year of teaching art, and her ninth year at Presidio Hill School, a coed K-8 day school in San Francisco, CA. Adra is originally from Eugene, OR, and graduated from Cornell University. She and her husband, Jason Stone, enjoy traveling around the world, and rode their bicycles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1996 to raise money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. |
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Barry Wadsworth is in his tenth year as a Supervising Fifth Grade Classroom Teacher at the Smith College Campus School in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Campus School is a coeducational day school enrolling 270 children from Northampton and surrounding communities in grades K through 6. SCCS also serves as a laboratory for the training of pre-service teachers. Barry lives in Northampton with his wife Jennifer and their three children: Matthew (15 years), Camran (3 years), and Camila (4 months). Barry's hobbies include tennis, squash, ice hockey, and chess. |
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Russell Werkman teaches theater at Trinity-Pawling School, an all-boys boarding school in Pawling, NY. He came to Trinity-Pawling in 2004 via The Darrow School, a small, coed boarding school, where he was the Director of Technology. In addition to running the Theater Program, he teaches English and Public Speaking, and coaches Lacrosse. Before Klingenstein, he spent his summers as Dean of Day Students at Exploration Intermediate Summer Program - a 550 student enrichment camp at Wellesley College. Russell lives in a dorm with his wife, two young boys, and dog. He loves sailing and was once an alien on TV. |
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Lauren White holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Northwestern University. After braving the cold weather of Chicago for four years, she eagerly relocated back to her sunny hometown of Los Angeles where she currently resides. At Chadwick School, a coed K-12 day school in Palos Verdes, California, Lauren serves as English Department Chair and teaches middle and upper school English, as well as a senior Leadership class that she created. She also assists with performing arts performances and is on a team of faculty that provides support for students experiencing a range of emotional, psychological, and physical health issues. In her free time, Lauren enjoys singing, hip-hop dancing, and spending time with her husband of one year, Ryan. |
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Christopher Wilcox is in his 5th year of teaching Latin at Springside School and Chestnut Hill Academy, two coordinate single sex day schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of The University of Chicago, Chris has taught Latin at all levels including AP at both of these schools. Last summer he took his students to Italy to explore the cities of Rome and Pompeii. A seasoned trooper of the summer camp world, Chris has worked at camps for nearly ten years. During the last two summers, Chris worked as an academic dean for The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer program, and he worked as the director of a college preparatory camp held at The University of California - Berkeley. In his free time, Chris enjoys traveling (as well as travel planning!), working out, and studying Spanish (¡Ojala que un dia sera un experto con el idioma espanol!) Chris currently resides in Center City Philadelphia with his partner Paul. |
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David Wood is in his seventh year of teaching Third and Fourth Grade at The Berkeley Carroll School, a coed day school located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Next year, he will be teaching Fifth Grade English and History and serving as Fifth Grade Dean in Berkeley Carroll’s Middle School. He holds a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College School of Education. Prior to teaching, David worked as an actor performing around the country and in Europe, before settling into shows at Radio City Music Hall and enjoying time in two Broadway companies. |
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Grace Yannakakis is in her second year as Assistant Head at Green Hedges School, a coed Montessori Early Childhood – Grade 8 in Vienna, Virginia. Grace has a master’s degree in French literature and a graduate certificate in non-profit management. She previously taught French and Latin for ten years. Life is busy but joyful with three wonderful daughters, Zoena, Olivia and Delilah, whom her husband, David, will courageously care for on his own this summer. Grace’s hobbies include running, cooking, reading and daydreaming. |
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Center Bios
Faculty Profiles