Faculty and Staff
2011-2012
The Nest at Mustard Seed (Three and Four Year Olds)
Nancy Aberg
Assistant Teacher, Rocks and Rivers Class
University of California Santa Barbara
Clara Buckley
Lead Teacher, Rivers Class
Manchester Metropolitan University; University of London
Sarah Chalmers
Drama Teacher
Eastern Michigan University
Ryan Dominguez
Assistant Teacher, Sky Class
Rutgers University
Julie Ahn Lee
Lead Teacher, Trees Class
Dowling College; Bank Street College of Education
Christina Manfredi
Lead Teacher, Sky Class
Rutgers University; College of St. Elizabeth
Cinthia Santos
Assistant Teacher, Trees Class
Emily Sytsma
Lead Teacher, Rocks Class
Syracuse University
Lower School Faculty (K-3)
Dana Baker
Kindergarten
Calvin College
Becca Brasser
First Grade, LS Team Leader
Calvin College; New Jersey City University
Rachel Bullard
Second Grade Mentor
Eastern University
Rachel Carter
Kindergarten
University of Georgia; Teachers College, Columbia University
Gabriel Cuervo
Assistant Teacher, Kindergarten
Amy de Jong
Assistant Teacher, Second and Third Grade
Calvin College
Cassandra Hinnen
Assistant Teacher, Kindergarten
Drew University
Cindy Kuperus
Third Grade
Calvin College; Michigan State University
Filgia Norman
Associate Teacher, First Grade
Mount St. Mary College
Jen Paffenroth
Second Grade
Covenant College
Upper School Faculty (4-8)
Sam Choi
Science, History and Ethics, grades 6-8
University of California
Melissa McCallihan
Fourth Grade
University of Arizona; University of Idaho
Natasha Rupke
Sixth and Seventh Grade Literature, Language Arts
Calvin College
Rachel Sprague
Language Arts, Grades Seven and Eight
Rutgers University (BA and MA)
Lauren Spurgin
Fifth Grade
Azusa Pacific University
Academic Specialists
Clara Buckley
Upper School Art; Shared Space Coordinator
Manchester Metropolitan University; University of London
Lynette Connell
Catapult Student Support Services
Auckland Business College
Lynn Hamill
Lower School Art; Shared Space Coordinator
University of Padua; St. Peter's College; Bank Street College
Gary Lawrence
Math Chair, Teacher of Pre-Algebra and Algebra
Brown University
Aiko Mauldin
Music Chair; Director of Songsters, Choristers and Music Educator for Grades K-5
Manhattan School of Music; San Francisco Conservatory of Music; New York University
Jodi Miller
Catapult Student Support Services, Grades K-8
Daemen College; City University of New York-Hunter College
Tania Oro-Hahn
Spanish, Grades 4-8
Rutgers University
Jacquie Penfold
Director of Chorus, Music and PE, Grades 6-8
New York University
Administrative Staff
Thomas Postema
Head of School
Calvin College; Columbia University
Reynaldo Barrera
Facilities Manager
Sandra Carey
Development Assistant
Pace University
Jennifer Gautier
Office Manager
Montclair State College
Kathleen Hanson
Director of Grades One to Eight
PBU; Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto); Fordham University
Gary Lawrence
Director of Finance and Operations
Brown University
Abigail Liu
Public Relations & Communications Coordinator
Middlebury College
Gloria Miltner
School Secretary
Shanna Pargellis
Director of Early Learning (preK and K)
Calvin College; Bank Street College
Michele Boerman Postema
Director of Admissions and Community Relations
Calvin College
Sebastian Olukun
Business Administrator and Registrar
Rutgers University
Jessica Smith
Director of Development
University of Houston; University of Missouri; Ithaca College
Support & Enrichment Staff
Therese Abesamis
Speech Teacher
Betty Ciarlo
Counselor
After School Staff
Sarah Chalmers
Drama
Ning Chen
Piano
Kimberly Dennis
Pros (Percussion, Recorder, Orff, Servants)
Andi Gunden
Flute
Tony Huang
Violin/Piano
Sylvia Jin-Ok Lee
Piano
Robert Mitchell
Piano
Phil Newman
Guitar