Introduction to People in New Places and to New Faces on Campus for 2017-2018 People in New Places Brian Berning with be teaching the Upper School engineering classes, in addition to his science courses. Mark Beyreis is the new Chair of the English Department. Donna Breitenstein will be teaching art at Doherty. Michelle Foster will be teaching kindergarten at Lotspeich. Janet Hill has a new title. It is the Director of Enrollment Management. Dorothy Hogston becomes a pre-kindergarten lead teacher at Lotspeich. Liz Lorenz & Meredith Brown are the co-chairs of the new Learning Support Department. Caleb Paull is the new Upper School Master Scheduler. He will continue to teach some English courses. Andi Simon will become the new Associate Director of Admission, Early Childhood. Because the timing is so critical for the Development Office, Andi has agreed to stay on in her current Development role, Director of the Annual Fund, until we can bring on board an appropriate successor. Janet Hill has graciously agreed to defer the start of Andi’s new role in Admissions until that time. Michelle Wales will be a pre-kindergarten assistant teacher at Lotspeich, in addition to working in the Encore Club. New Faculty and Staff Ann Brock - Development Database Administrator Ann is currently earning her degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati. She most recently served as the development coordinator at the Cincinnati’s Sisters of Notre Dame, where she maintained the organization’s database, as well as mailings and reports, managed the development office’s workload, coordinated events, served as systems administrator of the computer network, and assisted with other tasks as needed. Ann also worked at Great American Insurance. She has skills in Microsoft Word and Excel, Raiser’s Edge, and can troubleshoot computer problems. Nick Darnell - Director of Transportation, Security, and Custodial Services Nick studied Mount Saint Joseph University and University of Cincinnati Clermont College. He most recently held the position of bus driver at Indian Hill Schools, where he transported students safely to and from school. At Indian Hill, he took part in the regional and state Road-E-O, a competition that helps drivers develop an organizational plan. He placed second in the regional competition in 2016. He also worked as a lifeguard at M.E. Lyons YMCA and Coney Island Amusement Park. He is certified in CPR and first aid. Karla Dejean - Upper School Journalism Teacher Karla received her B.S. in journalism from Ohio University, as well as a certificate in education reporting from the Hechinger Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition to teaching, Karla is a writer and project manager in Seven Hills’ Communications Department. She previously worked as a news reporter, covering criminal justice, government, and education at several daily newspapers, including the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan and the South Florida Sun- Sentinel. She also held the position of director of public relations at Pine Crest School in South Florida. Phoebe Dierkers - Lotspeich Fifth-grade Teacher Phoebe received her B.S. in middle childhood education and her M.S. in educational leadership from the University of Cincinnati. She most recently held the position of seventh-grade math teacher at Bridgetown Middle School, where she developed activities and lessons that improved students’ physical, emotional, and social growth, and conducted small group and individual classroom activities based on learning needs. She also served as the National Junior Honor Society advisor, seventh-grade team leader, and coached seventh-grade volleyball and seventh- and eighth-grade cheerleading. She has also worked as an intervention aide at Oakdale Elementary School. Taylor Markovits - Middle School Counselor Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in studio art and art history from Oberlin College and her master’s in counseling psychology: art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She most recently held the position of assistant director at The Gardner School of Blue Ash, where she assisted in implementing operations in accordance with state guidelines that promoted a safe, nurturing, educational environment. Taylor has also worked as an inclusion coordinator and preschool teacher, grief counselor, art therapist, and group counselor. She has more than three years of clinical counseling experience with a specialization in children and adolescents, and has scheduled and managed student assessments, placements, and transitions. Charissa May-Riley - Middle School Study Hall Supervisor Charissa received her B.S. in biology from Northern Kentucky University. She most recently held the position of associate quality technologist at Kraft Heinz, where she supported the company’s food service division in various capacities and worked closely with the quality assurance team. Charissa has a background in food and food science, earning a culinary arts certificate from Cincinnati State and a food science certificate from The Ohio State University. She has also worked as a food technologist, senior quality assurance technologist, research technician, and a biologist since graduating from Northern Kentucky University. Tiffany McFarland - Administrative Assistant to the Head of Upper School & Development Office Coordinator/Assistant Tiffany received B.S. in early childhood education and associate degrees in education and business management from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a post baccalaureate professional certificate in paralegal technology. She most recently held the position of toddler teacher at Mayerson JCC, where she created and implemented a variety of lesson plans for her students. Tiffany has also worked in law offices as a paralegal and legal assistant. During her time at the University of Cincinnati, she worked as an assistant for academic affairs on the school’s Clermont campus and studied abroad in Mexico. She has completed student teaching work in the Cincinnati area. Angie Meadows - Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Angie received her associate degree in early childhood education with a pre-kindergarten certification license from Northern Kentucky University and is currently earning her B.S. in early childhood education from the University of Cincinnati. She most recently held the position of business manager at Salon Oakley, where she oversaw and managed company operations, such as payroll, budgets, and filing monthly taxes. She completed human resources work for the company as well, managing reception staff and implementing marketing and advertising campaigns. Angie has also worked as a quality assurance consultant for Home Care Pharmacy. Eric O’Connor - Upper School History Teacher Eric received his B.A. and M.A. in history from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He most recently held the position of upper school history teacher at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. At the school, Eric designed and taught a course in European history that emphasized critical thinking, analytical writing, and evaluating evidence. He also served as an advisor to clubs and an independent study course. He coached boys freshmen basketball and was an assistant coach of the boys JV baseball team. Eric was also a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, where he taught and completed research. Kristina O’Connor - Middle School Math Teacher Kristina received her B.A. in elementary education from the University of Kentucky. She also completed graduate courses in Xavier University’s M.Ed. program and a mathematics course at the University of Cincinnati. She most recently held the position of private math tutor, where she tutored students in grades six through 12 in subjects including general math, pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, and pre-calculus, and helped prepare them for ACT and SAT testing. Kristina has previously worked at The Seven Hills School as a teacher of Middle School math from 2005-06 and from 2012-16. Dana Pease - Doherty Unit III Teacher Dana received her B.A. in English from the University of Vermont and her M.Ed. from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She most recently held the position of third-grade lead teacher at Graland Country Day School in Colorado, where she enjoyed working in an ever- changing elementary classroom environment. She has also worked as a teacher at Cincinnati Country Day School, as well as Milton Academy and Newton Public Schools, both in Massachusetts. Dana has served on several professional learning committees related to education, curriculum, admissions, and technology. She also has experience in coordinating service learning projects for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Anne Simpson - Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten for 2-Year-Olds Assistant Teacher Anne received her B.S. in early childhood education from the University of Georgia. She most recently held the position of first-grade teacher at St. Gabriel Consolidated School in Glendale, Ohio, where she developed lesson plans in various subject areas and lessons to teach students responsibility and independence. At St. Gabriel, she also taught fourth-grade math and science from 2011-13. She also worked as a first-grade student teacher at Barrow Elementary in Georgia. Anne has participated in several professional development activities, including a literacy conference and a workshop