Faculty and Staff
2009-2010
The Nest Early Learning Center (Three and Four Year Olds)
Nancy Aberg
Assistant Teacher
University of California Santa Barbara
Sarah Chalmers
Drama Teacher
Eastern Michigan University
Viviana Ramos
Lead Teacher, Trees Class
University of Puerto Rico; New School University
Cinthia Santos
Team Teacher, Trees Class
Leonor Silva
Lead Teacher, Rivers Class
Escola Superior de Educacao de Paula Frassinetti; Northwestern University
Emily Sytsma
Lead Teacher, Rocks Class
Syracuse University
Lower School Faculty (K-3)
Dana Baker
Teacher of Kindergarten
Calvin College
Becca Brasser
Teacher of First Grade
Calvin College
Rachel Bullard
Teacher of Second Grade
Eastern College
Wendy Fernandez
Catapult Student Support Services, K-8
New Jersey City University
Cindy Kuperus
Lead Teacher, Grades 2-5
Calvin College; Michigan State University
Melissa McCallihan
Teacher of Third Grade
University of Arizona; University of Idaho
Aiko Mauldin
Chair of Music; Director of Choristers and Music Educator for Grades K-5
Manhattan School of Music; San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Jodi Miller
Catapult Student Support Services, Grades K-8
Daemen College; City University of New York-Hunter College
Lynn Hamill
Teacher of Lower School Art
University of Padua; St. Peter's College; Bank Street College
Justin Gerardo
Physical and Health Education for Grades K-8, Basketball Coach, Outdoor Education
William Paterson University
Jenn Groff
Academic Support Specialist
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Gabriel Cuervo
Assistant Teacher, Kindergarten
Filgia Norman
Assistant Teacher, Grade 1
Mount St. Mary College
Upper School Faculty (4-8)
Clara Buckley
Art Educator for Grades 4-8
Manchester Metropolitan University; University of London
Abby Choi
Teacher of Fifth Grade
Covenant College
Sam Choi
Lead Teacher of Science, History and Ethics, grades 6-8; Teacher of Algebra, Grade 8
University of California
Kimberly Dennis
Teacher of Fourth Grade
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Wendy Fernandez
Catapult Student Support Services, K-8
New Jersey City University
Justin Gerardo
Physical and Health Education for Grades K-8, Basketball Coach, Outdoor Education
William Paterson University
Kathleen Hanson
Upper School Director, Language Arts Teacher for Grade 8
Philadelphia College of Bible, Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto; Fordham University
Cindy Kuperus
Lead Teacher, Grades 2-5
Calvin College; Michigan State University
Gary Lawrence
Math Chair, Teacher of Pre-Algebra and Algebra
Brown University
Aiko Mauldin
Chair of Music; Director of Choristers and Music Educator for Grades K-5
Manhattan School of Music; San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Jodi Miller
Catapult Student Support Services, Grades K-8
Daemen College; City University of New York-Hunter College
Tania Oro-Hahn
Teacher of Spanish for Grades 4-8 and Spanish Literature
Rutgers University
Jacquie Penfold
Director of Chorus, Music Educator for Grades 6-8
New York University
Natasha Rupke
Sixth and Seventh Grade Literature, Language Arts
Calvin College
Administrative Staff
Christine Metzger
Head of School
Calvin College; Covenant College
Gary Lawrence
Assistant to the Head
Brown University
Kathleen Hanson
Upper School Director
Philadelphia College of the Bible; Institute for Christian Studies; Fordham University
Shanna Pargellis
Lower School Director; Director of The Nest
Calvin College; Bank Street College
Kathleen Towner
Director of Administrative Services
University of MA, Amherst; Simmons College; Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Denver Seminary
Jessica Smith
Director of Development
University of Houston; University of Missouri; Ithaca College
Sebastian Olukun
Director of Admissions, School Coordinator
Rutgers University
Abigail Liu
Public Relations & Communications Coordinator
Middlebury College
Matthew Kaal
Development Assistant
The King’s College (graduating Dec 2009)
Gloria Miltner
School Secretary; Support & Enrichment Staff
Support & Enrichment Staff
Therese Abesamis
Speech Teacher
Betty Ciarlo
Saint Peter's College; Seton Hall University
Counselor
Anne Fields
Nurse
After School Music
Cristina Altamura
Piano
Tony Huang
Violin/Piano
Sylvia Jin-Ok Lee
Piano
Ning Chen
Piano
Phil Newman
Guitar