Faculty Bios: Grade Two Team
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Faculty Bios: Grade Two Team Kendra Aber-Ferri is the library director and transliteracy integration specialist. Kendra received a M.A. in library and information science from Syracuse University and also holds a M.F.A. in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence University. Kendra has 15 years of experience as a published poet, teacher and library media specialist. Michael Ackerman (Mike), LMSW, joins Nashoba Brooks as a maternity leave substitute for Gretchen Herter, our school counselor, during the fall term. Mike holds a B.A. from Vassar College and a M.S.W. from Fordham University Graduate School. He has extensive experience working with elementary and middle school students in a variety of settings, including his recent work at the Parkside Elementary School in New York. Mike will work closely with our consulting psychologist, Jenn McLean, throughout the fall. Kara Angeloni Williams teaches preschool through grade three art. Kara holds a B.A. in art history and visual arts from Bowdoin College. She has a M.A.T. in art education from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. She has taught at the Kennedy/Longfellow School in Cambridge and the Winn Brook School in Belmont. Lisa Bennett is the director of academic support. She develops and implements learning support plans for students, coordinates tutoring, and administers and interprets assessments. Lisa holds a B.A. in psychology from Brown University and a M.Ed. in reading, language and learning disabilities from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Lisa has worked at Dearborn Academy and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. Paul Benzaquin teaches music to students in the preschool through grade three. He has two bachelor’s degrees; the first from Hunter College, the second from the Aaron Copland School of Music in music education with chorale emphasis where he also studied at the graduate level. Paul has taught at the Shady Hill School in Cambridge and at the San Francisco Friends School. Heather Budd is the lower school learning specialist. In addition to teaching reading, Heather works closely with teachers and parents to develop and manage learning support plans for students in preschool through grade three. A graduate of Smith College and Lesley University, Heather is a reading specialist and has experience working with children ages 2 through 14 in a variety of settings. Holly Cassa is the extended day coordinator and the coordinator of before- and after-school programs for the lower school. A graduate of Lesley University, Holly has 12 years of experience running after-school and early childhood programs. For the last nine years, Holly has served as the program supervisor and special activities director for the Town of Concord Recreation Department. Kirsta Davey is the lower school literacy specialist. She began at Nashoba Brooks School in 1990, serving as a connecting class and kindergarten teacher. She earned a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and a M.Ed. from Lesley University. Gretchen Herter is the school counselor. Gretchen holds a B.S. in counseling and a M.A. in clinical mental health counseling/school adjustment from Lesley University. In addition to working as an adjunct professor at Lesley University, Gretchen has worked as a school counselor at Milton Academy and Hillside School. 200 Strawberry Hill Road, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 Telephone 978.369.4591 | Facsimile 978.369.9223 NASHOBABROOKS.ORG Leta Kniffin is the language arts learning specialist in the lower school. Prior to joining Nashoba Brooks School in 2003, her experience includes private practice and work in schools in Arlington and Winchester as well as the Institute for Learning and Development. Leta holds a B.A. from Boston University and a M.A. from New York University. Arminda Lawrence (Mindy) is the library and transliteracy integration specialist. She holds a B.A. from Brown University in history and American civilization and a M.L.S. from the Catholic University of America. Prior to joining Nashoba Brooks School, Mindy served as a librarian at the Park School in Brookline, MA. Samuel LeHardy (Sam) is the instructional technology fellow. Sam brings a combination of school experience and technology expertise to this role. In addition to working as an Americorps volunteer, teaching middle school students, and serving as a mentor to students in an after-school program, Sam also ran his own technology support company and served as an Apple Genius since 2011. Christine McCarthy is the instructional technologist. Christine holds a B.A. in history and a M.B.A. from Bentley University as well as a M.Ed. from Marymount University. Working in independent schools for the last 12 years, Christine has combined her love of classroom teaching and her expertise in educational technology instruction in various independent school roles. Most recently, Christine has served as an academic technologist at the Potomac School in McLean, VA. Megan McGuin is the maternity leave substitute in physical education, covering for Jenn Young. An accomplished athlete, teacher, and coach, Megan holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware and a M.S. in education from Utica College. Megan will work closely with Jenn and the rest of the department at the start of the year to ensure a smooth transition for our lower school students. Jenn McLean is our consulting psychologist. Jenn holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. in clinical psychology from Antioch University, an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College. Jenn has extensive experience working with local schools and universities including the Walker School, Brown University, and Charles River School. Nicole Myers teaches second grade. She has a B.A. from Denison University and a M.Ed. from Lesley University in elementary education. Prior to joining the Nashoba Brooks community, Nicole taught grade one at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. Annelie Nygren-Mitchell is a preschool and extended day teacher. She holds a B.S. degree from Framingham State College. Annelie has taught at C.A.S.E., Concord Public Schools, the Fiske Elementary School in Lexington, and at the Concord Children’s Center. Jane O'Connor is the assistant head of the lower school. Jane is a graduate of Hampshire College, and holds an Ed.M. with a concentration in human development and psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jane has previously served in a variety of roles including dean of student life at the Cambridge School of Weston, director of admission at Breakwater School, and assistant head of school at George Stevens Academy. 200 Strawberry Hill Road, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 Telephone 978.369.4591 | Facsimile 978.369.9223 NASHOBABROOKS.ORG Elizabeth Porter (Lizbie) is a grade two homeroom teacher. Lizbie has a B.A. from St. Lawrence University and a M.Ed. in elementary education from Lesley University. Lizbie began teaching at Nashoba Brooks School in 2002. Amy Riddle teaches Spanish to students in grades two through five. Amy holds a bachelor's degree from Tufts University and a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts. Amy has taught Spanish at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels and ran her own business teaching Spanish to children ages three through nine years old. Jennifer Rutherford (Jenny) is a math specialist for students in grades two and three as well as a lower school reading teacher. She has a B.A. from Colby College and a M.Ed. in elementary education from Lesley University. Caroline Padden Waters is the full-time substitute working with teachers and students in preschool through grade eight. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Caroline has served as the part-time substitute and supervised study coordinator at Nashoba Brooks. She has worked in many capacities at Summer Fenn, and has been an assistant preschool teacher at the Kingsley Montessori School. Kelly Western teaches science to students in kindergarten through grade four. Kelly has a B.A. from San Diego State University in science education. Kelly began teaching science to elementary, middle school, and high school students in 2002, including six years at Milton Academy. Kelly is also a certified Hatha Yoga instructor, and ran her own yoga studio in Colorado, complete with a yoga camp for children. Jennifer Young (Jenn) teaches physical education to preschool, kindergarten, and grades one and two students. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in kinesiology. 200 Strawberry Hill Road, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 Telephone 978.369.4591 | Facsimile 978.369.9223 NASHOBABROOKS.ORG .