Buckingham Browne & Nichols New Hire Bios 2018-2019
Abby Ananian Student Support & Health Services Assistant Abby started at BB&N in February 2018. Previously, Abby worked at the Harvard University Center for Wellness. Abby is also the owner of Advanced Sports Group, where she oversees the marketing strategy, brand awareness, and sales of sports equipment and products. Abby has extensive experience coaching lacrosse, and was a Division 1 player and program representative while attending St. Joseph’s University.
Jonathan Anderson Assistant Director of IT for Operations Jonathan brings extensive network administration experience to BB&N. Most recently, Jonathan worked as the Lead IT Specialist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge. Jonathan also worked as a Network & Telecommunications Administrator for four years at Wheaton College. His professional career has taken him from a Network/Systems Engineer at Core Business Technologies in East Providence, RI, to Retrofit Technologies in Milford, MA, and to American Dryer Corporation in Fall River. Jonathan’s experience includes large and small LAN/WAN network and UNIX system development, and project management.
Leila Bailey-Stewart Special Assistant to the Head of School for Inclusive Communities Leila comes to BB&N with over 15 years of experience at City Year. During her tenure at City Year, she worked in New York, Little Rock, and Boston, and served in many capacities including program management, learning and development, and recruitment and admissions. Leila most recently served as Vice President of Leadership Development, designing and implementing diversity, inclusion, and equity programs. Leila currently serves on the Board of Directors for GLAD. She is also an accomplished lifestyle and portrait photographer.
Lyle (Bo) Bleckel Upper School, Mathematics and Computer Science Bo joins the Upper School Mathematics and Computer Science Department as a teacher of AP Computer Science and Advanced Topics in Computer Science. While a student at Bowdoin College, Bo worked in the Bowdoin College Center for Learning and Teaching as a study group leader and tutor, helping students learn computer programming concepts in Python as well as more advanced concepts in Systems programming. At Bowdoin, Bo also worked as the Library Student Supervisor and as a Trip Leader with the Bowdoin Outing Club. Previous experience also includes work as a Data Science Intern at Booz Allen Hamilton in Virginia and as a Maine Space Grant Consortium Fellow. As the son of teachers, Bo grew up on the campus of independent schools. He is eager to work in this school environment to help students discover a passion for computer science.
Bill Castell Middle & Upper School Academic Technology Leader We are pleased to welcome Bill back to BB&N. Bill served as Technology Coordinator at the Lower School from 2001 to 2007. Most recently, Bill worked at the Millbrook School where he served as Director of Academic Technology. Prior to Millbrook, he was a Technology Coordinator at Boston University Academy and an educational technology consultant. Bill's professional priorities include measuring the effectiveness of technology in education as it relates to student outcomes, and the balance and benefits of both "screen time" and reflective time for students. In his spare time, Bill loves to cook, particularly Japanese cuisine, and enjoys winter sports and camping. Bill is a regular participant in the Pan Mass Challenge cycling event.
Michael Chapman Upper School, Science Michael joins BB&N with eight years of experience as a Science Teacher at Boston College High School. At BC High, Michael worked with the Junior class mentoring program and new student orientation, while teaching Science to students in Grades 7-11. Michael also coached Track and Field and Cross Country, led a school Professional Learning Group, coordinated the annual school trip to Washington D.C., and created the Faculty Academic Book Club. This summer, Michael earned his Master of Education from the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University, to be awarded in May 2019. In the classroom, Michael strives to engage students in new and innovative ways to make learning a collaborative and meaningful process. At BB&N, Michael will teach forensics, honors biology, and chemistry.
Terry Cox Upper School, Science For the past two years, Terry has taught Science at the Millbrook School in New York. While teaching biology, geology, and environmental science at Millbrook, Terry also served as an in- resident dorm parent, coached varsity lacrosse and track and field, and was the Head Varsity Football Coach. As a student-athlete at St. Lawrence University (Varsity Football), Terry was also a leader of the Geology Club, a member of the Male Athletes against Sexual Violence, the Events Chair for Helping Out People Everywhere, and the Events Chair for the Black Student Union. At the Upper School, Terry will teach marine ecology and biology.
Karen Dilley Lower School, Counselor (leave coverage) Karen comes to BB&N from the Stamford American International School in China. While at Stamford, Karen helped create programs, policies, and systems, in addition to being a caring and dependable counselor to their school community. Karen provided classroom teachers support while launching a school-wide, social-emotional curriculum. She created weekly friendship, social skills, and lunch bunch groups for students, and connected families of students with higher needs to external agencies for additional support. Karen also helped students with conflict resolution, addressed bullying, and helped teachers create student behavior plans.
Kindyll Dorsey Associate Athletic Director We are happy to welcome Kindyll back to BB&N. She coached the BB&N girls varsity basketball team from 2012 to 2014, and taught Physical Education at BB&N from 2011 to 2014. Kindyll has also served as the Assistant Women’s Basketball coach at the College of the Holy Cross and Northeastern University. Kindyll was a four-year member of the Boston College Women’s basketball team, where she was a captain her senior year. Kindyll is currently earning a Masters of Sports Leadership from Northeastern University.
Chris Gaines Upper School, Arts Chris’ passion in sharing the craft of film with others, lead him into his career as a film teacher. In 2001, Chris started the Real to Reel Filmschool at RAW Art Works in Lynn, MA. Reel to Reel students are able to validate their own stories and experiences through the creation of films. RAW is a youth arts organization, offering a variety of free programming for students ages 7-19. Chris has served as the Artistic Director and founder of the program for the last 17 years. Chris also runs and owns a production company, entitled Littlest Astronaut. Projects have included photography, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and short narrative productions. Additionally, Chris has served as Board Chair and Executive Director at Central Productions, a non-profit support organization for local independent filmmakers. Other professional experiences include work as a Filmmaker and Consultant at Artsbridge, a non-profit Palestinian/Israeli coexistence program, Editor and Producer at Marketspace, and Assistant Director and Floor Manager at KUAT-TV in Tucson, Arizona. Chris is excited to transition into the independent school world, and brings with him a passion for filmmaking and storytelling.
Tara Gohlmann Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer Tara started at BB&N in July 2018. Previously, Tara served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Boston College High School. At BC High, Tara was responsible for Advancement & Fundraising, Buildings & Grounds, Information Technology, Admissions & Enrollment, International Programming, the Business Office, and all Ancillary Services. Tara has also served as Acting CFO/Business Manager at the North Bennet Street School in Boston and Director of Finance at Abpro Corporation. Tara began her career in Finance at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Manager, responsible for Fortune 500 clients in both New York and Beijing. Tara brings to BB&N a wealth of experience ranging from her time in the business world, to submitting a Charter School application, to working and studying in China.
Julie Gray Chief Advancement Officer In July 2018, Julie came to BB&N from Dana Hall School in Wellesley, where she had been the Director of Advancement for the past 12 years. Julie also served as the Director of Development at Tenacre Country Day School for 10 years, and was at The Fessenden School as the Director of Annual Giving for six years. Julie is a consummate educational advancement professional. She understands deeply the art and joy of connecting a school's mission with the lives and experiences of its many different community members. Of the numerous highlights of Julie's 28- year career in independent school advancement, the most impactful has been her incredibly strong legacy of building lasting, meaningful relationships between her schools and their constituents.
Darcell Hines Upper School, Kitchen Utility Attendant Darcell officially joined the BB&N team in April 2018, but has been working as a temporary employee in Upper School Dining Services since 2017. Prior to arriving at BB&N, she worked as a Customer Care Representative at BMC Healthnet Plan. Much of Darcell’s culinary experience comes from her time as a Chef working at Panera, Texarkana Christian Care Center, and Best Western Inn & Suites. Darcell has a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Big Dig Diner, and has taken culinary arts coursework at Bunker Hill Community College.
Nicole Kahn Middle School, English Nicole believes that education should engage and challenge students' views of themselves and the world. She has extensive experience in independent schools across the United States. Nicole comes to BB&N from Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, where she taught Middle School English and History, served as 7th Grade Dean of Students, and co-led the school's Social Justice Affinity Group. Nicole has also taught at Shady Hill School, the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco, San Francisco Day School, and the Brooklyn Friends School. Throughout her career, Nicole has been deeply involved in developing programs aimed at the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A talented musician, Nicole has played viola in both chamber and orchestral groups. She enjoys many active pursuits including dance, yoga, skiing, rock climbing, and travel.
Rebecca Lombardo BB&N Fund Director With over nine years of fundraising and program management experience, Rebecca joined the BB&N Advancement Team in July 2018. Rebecca began her advancement work at Wheelock College, where she held the roles of Events Coordinator, Associate Director of Annual Giving, and Director of Annual Giving. Most recently, Rebecca was the Director of The Fay Fund at the Fay School in Southborough, where she developed and implemented strategic fundraising plans that included identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of constituents to increase unrestricted annual dollars and overall constituent participation.
Jill Lubie Lower School, Integrated Arts Jill worked for 18 years as the Visual Art Teacher at the Edith C. Baker School in Brookline, teaching Grades 1-8. In 2007, Jill was selected for Teacher of the Year by the principal, faculty, and 8th grade students. Jill was also a member of the committee to create the Brookline K-8 Art curriculum. Jill is a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher. She is an alum of Dedham Country Day School and Noble and Greenough School.
Sasha Lyons Upper School, History and Social Sciences Sasha comes to BB&N with over eight years of teaching experience. At Boston University Academy, Sasha taught History and English, and oversaw the school’s Writing Academy. Sasha graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and received her Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. In addition to teaching Russian language and literature courses as a graduate student and then as a lecturer at Harvard, Sasha worked as a freelance translator and art curator in Prague. Sasha has published articles on Russian poetry in peer- reviewed journals, as well as several translations of literary and academic texts. She is fluent in five languages and the proud mother of twins.
Daniel McClure Upper School, History and Social Sciences Daniel joins the BB&N History and Social Sciences Department from The Wheeler School, where he taught World History and Twentieth-Century History for the past two years. Previously, Daniel was an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an Assistant Professor at Grand Valley State University. He has also worked as a researcher at Harvard University and a lecturer at Smith College, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Daniel earned his doctorate in African-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His dissertation examined the intersections of art, culture, politics, and social movements in postwar Boston. Daniel’s ongoing interests include the study of art, public culture, collective memory, and social thought.
Catherine Mills BB&N Fund Coordinator BB&N welcomed Catherine to its Advancement team in June 2018. Prior to joining BB&N, Catherine completed a Study Abroad program in Ecuador, where she collaborated with engineers to form a construction plan, schedule, and expectations for building a school in Lumbisi, Ecuador. While in Ecuador, Catherine cultivated in-country investments for the project by meeting with local businesses and community leaders to discuss funding opportunities. At Purdue University, Catherine held several internships including an internship at the American Heart Association. Catherine has also traveled to Honduras, where she participated in a mission trip to provide medical attention to remote villages.
Robin Morrow Lower School, Grade 1 Homeroom Robin will be joining the first grade in the fall as a Grade 1 Teacher. Robin has been a familiar face on the Lower School campus since 2015. At BB&N, Robin worked as a long term substitute in Kindergarten North, Grade 2, and Grade 1. Robin is highly valued in the BB&N community for her warmth, incredibly positive rapport with children, integrity, and dedication to her students through her teaching practice. Robin is a gifted teacher with a deep understanding of how to support students as unique and individual learners. Robin holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Special Education (Moderate Disabilities Pre-K-8). In addition to her classroom teaching, Robin continues to work as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with clients in their homes and in other community settings.
Joseph O’Brien Maintenance Supervisor Joe came to BB&N in February 2018. He brought with him many years of construction and maintenance experience. Joe is a skilled carpenter with extensive knowledge of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Joe was a Lead Carpenter for Rob Way Construction in Norwood, MA and the President of Cambridge Contracting, Inc., a small remodeling company. He is a NARI certified carpenter and remodeler.
Dr. Jennifer Price Head of School Jen's journey spans an impressive range of teaching and leadership roles. Most recently, Jen served as Superintendent of North Andover Public Schools, overseeing a system comprised of eight schools and 4,800 students. Jen led the North Andover district through an extensive strategic planning process, focusing on student inclusion, professional development, and implementation of a consistent, rigorous curriculum. Prior to her Superintendent post, Jen was principal for nine years at Newton North High School, where she was acclaimed for leading the 2,000-student high school through its transition to a new, $198-million facility. From 1999 to 2003, Jen was a housemaster at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, where she served as headmaster for one quarter of the school. In the late 1990s, she taught history and coached softball and field hockey at Maynard High School, where she was named Teacher of the Year two consecutive years.
Brianna Smith ‘10 Assistant Director of Alumni/ae Programs As a BB&N lifer, Brianna is excited to return to her alma mater. While a student at BB&N, Brianna was the Girls Varsity Basketball Captain and Annette Johnson Prize winner. Most recently, Brianna worked as a Private Dining Assistant and Head Hostess at The Bancroft Chophouse. Previously, she was a Marketing Intern at Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group. Brianna has served as a volunteer mentor at the Cardinal Shehan Center, as well as at Books, Basketball and Neighbors in Cambridge, where she helped middle school students with their studies & basketball skills.
Scott Tang Upper School, History and Social Sciences Scott has experience teaching at a variety of independent schools, including Dexter Southfield School, Kingswood Oxford School, Beaver Country Day School, Moses Brown School, and Westminster School. Throughout his extensive time at independent schools, Scott has taught History, and also acted as the advisor to the newspaper and chess club, served as an assistant coach for basketball and squash, and a worked as a senior projects advisor. Prior to teaching high school, Scott was an Assistant Professor at Trinity College and California State University, Fullerton. At BB&N, Scott will teach American and Global History, Global History, and United States History.
Ana María Valle Upper School, World Languages Ana María brings to BB&N a wealth of experience, having taught Spanish for the past 22 years. During the 2017-18 academic year, Ana María taught Spanish at BB&N’s Upper School on a temporary assignment. Prior to BB&N, Ana María taught both Middle & Upper School Spanish at the Brimmer & May School. She has also taught at The Hun School of Princeton, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, and Princeton Day School. Ana María is a native Spanish speaker from Colombia who believes in using a variety of teaching methods to adhere to the wide range of student learning styles. Her greatest interests and passions are developing new ways of teaching Spanish, helping her students love the Spanish language, and working collaboratively so students become aware of similarities and differences between cultures.
Mara Vatz Upper School, Mathematics and Computer Science (leave coverage) Mara is returning to the Mathematics and Computer Science Department this fall for one trimester. She has over 7 years of experience teaching Upper School math, previously at Middlesex School, and most recently as a long-term substitute at BB&N. Mara has also taught at Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, WA and Montrose School in Medfield. Mara is passionate about the environment, serves on the Arlington Tree Committee, and enjoys volunteering for a local food-rescue organization..
Alice Wang All School, Admissions Associate Alice is a familiar presence at BB&N. She is a BB&N parent, and has been working with the Admissions Department and Upper School Parent Association since 2014. Alce is also an Admissions Ambassador for her alma mater, Dartmouth College. For the past 5 years, Alice has worked as a Research Analyst, identifying and interviewing lead scientists as expert witnesses for a broad range of litigation cases. Alice’s career has included work as a Preschool Science Specialist at the Parkside Preschool in Newton, where she developed and designed age appropriate preschool science curriculum. While at Tufts University, Alice served as a Teaching Assistant in various Biology classes. At the Repligen Corporation, Alice worked as a Research Assistant, studying the effects of platelet factors involved in cancer treatment.
Kelly Wulff ’09 Upper School, Nurse Kelly comes to BB&N from Tufts Medical Center, where she most recently worked in the Cardiomyopathy Unit. Prior to Tufts, Kelly was a Registered Nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital and a Nurse in the Orthopedic Unit at Johns Hopkins’ Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC. Kelly is currently earning her Master of Science in Nursing from Boston College, and is expected to complete her degree in 2020. A 2009 alum of BB&N, Kelly is excited to return to the BB&N community.