The 2016-17 school year is now in session for New Canaan. Students are not the only new faces on campus around the district. With the first day of school underway, meet the new teachers and administrators from East, South and West Schools; Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School.

East School

Meghan Finn

• Grade 2
• Last position – Graduate Writing Intern at Southeast Elementary School in Mansfield, CT
• Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut

Alison Philips

• School Psychologist
• Last position – District Behavior Specialist in the Stamford Public Schools
• Six-year degree in School Psychology from the University of Connecticut

Lindsay Stilwell

• Library Media Specialist
• Last position – Library Media Specialist at the Sherman School in Sherman, CT
• Master of Library Science from Kutztown University

Stephanie Conti

• Grade 3 LT Sub
• Last position – Teaching assistant at NCPS
• Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from Western CT State University

Margaret McGowan

• Grade 2 LT Sub
• Last position – Long-term substitute teacher at West Elementary School in Grade 1
• Bachelor Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Bonaventure University

Jenna DiRocco

• Grade 1
• Last position – Interim Kindergarten teacher at Westover Magnet Elementary School in Stamford
• Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Western CT State University

South School

Jennifer Pritt

• School Psychologist
• Last position – Private Practice
• Doctor of Psychology from Yeshiva University

Calla Tabaka

• Library Media Specialist
• Last position – Third Grade Teacher at King’s Highway Elementary School in Westport
• Master of Science from Southern CT State University

Elizabeth Peckham

• Grade 2
• Last position – Instructional Assistant at South School
• Master of Arts from Manhattanville College

Stephanie Pelling

• Grade 2
• Last position – Grade 3 teacher at Read Elementary School in Bridgeport
• Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University

Christina Pertesis

• Grade 3 (LT Sub)
• Last position – Grade 3 teacher at Booth Hill School in Trumbull
• Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Fairfield University

Lily DeYoung

• FLES
• Last position – Grade 8 Spanish teacher at Amity Middle School in Bethany, CT
• Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education from Quinnipiac University

West School

Michelle Buyer

• Grade 3
• Last position – Numeracy Intern at Verplanck Elementary School in Manchester, CT
• Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Connecticut

Kerry Zrenda

• Grade 4
• Last position – Reading Interventionist at Kings Highway Elementary School in Westport
• Masters of Arts in International Education Development from Teachers College, Columbia University

Hollis Hefferan

• Grade 2
• Last position – Elementary Teacher at Rockwell Elementary School in Bethel
• Masters of Arts with Teaching Reading Concentration from Sacred Heart University

Laura Craighead

• School Social Worker
• Last position – School Social Worker at Fairfield Public Schools
• MSW from Boston University School of Social Work

Saxe Middle School

Abigail Duncan

• Art
• Last position – Art Teacher at Darien High School
• Master of Arts in Marketing Communications and Advertising from Emerson College

Christina Fulco

• Social Studies (6)
• Last position – History and Geography teacher at Hillcrest Middle School, Trumbull
• Bachelor of Science in History, Secondary Education from Southern CT State University

Sarah Broas

• 5-8 ELA Coordinator
• Last position – Literacy Specialist at Helen Keller Middle School in Easton
• Master of Science in Reading from Southern CT State University

Allison Hujar

• Social Studies (8)
• Last position – History teacher at Wilton High School
• Master of Arts in Education from the University of Connecticut

Julie Reeves

• Long-term Sub Math (6)
• Last position – Substitute in the New Canaan Public Schools
• Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University

Lauren Russell

• Speech and Language Pathologist
• Last position – Clinical Practicum at Blythedale Children’s Hospital
• Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Sacred Heart University

George Petrakopoulos

• Technology Integrator
• Last position – Library Media Specialist at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, CT
• Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Fairfield University

Jaclyn MacQuarrie

• Latin
• Last position – Student teacher at Barrington High School in Barrington, RI
• Bachelor of Human Science and Services: Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences: Classical Studies, History from the University of Rhode Island

Amber Harris

• Music (Elementary General and Saxe Strings)
• Last position – Student teacher at Fox Lane Middle School, Bedford, NY
• Master of Arts in Teaching: Music from Manhattanville College

Brennan McCormack

• Social Studies
• Last position – Hartford Sport and Medical Sciences Academy
• Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Social Studies Education and History as well as a Master of Arts in History and Social Studies Education from the University of Connecticut

Andrew Faugno-Fusci

• Social Studies – Grade 8 LT Sub
• Last position – Long Term Substitute in PE and Health in Wilton High School.
• Juris Doctor from UCONN School of Law and MA in Teaching from Sacred Heart

Samantha Bachman

• Guidance Counselor
• Last position – School Counselor Intern at Bethel Middle School
• M.S. in School Counseling from Western CT State University

Leandra Fernandez (LT Sub)

• Spanish
• Last position – Spanish teacher/substitute in the Norwalk Public Schools
• Masters in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University

Rachel Kiley (LT Sub)

• Math
• Last position – Student teacher at Toll Gate High School in Warwick, RI
• Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and Mathematics from University of Rhode Island

New Canaan High School

Kelly Zilly

• Family and Consumer Science
• Last position – Family and Consumer Science teacher at Ridgefield High School
• Master of Education from Roger William University

Rachel Martinich

• Business/STEM
• Last position – Business teacher at Jonathan Law High School
• Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University

Ellen Fitzpatrick

• English
• Last position – Student teacher at Fairfield Warde High School
• Master of Arts in Teaching of English from Teachers College, Columbia University

Daniel Melzer

• Physical Education / Health
• Last position – PE/Health teacher at Stamford High School
• Master of Education from Sacred Heart University

Olivia Patrizzi

• Social Studies
• Last position – Social Studies Enrichment Intern at Mansfield Middle School
• Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut

Elizabeth Skudzienski

• Special Education
• Last position – Special Education teacher at Ridgefield High School
• Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Connecticut

Jacquelyn Whiting

• Library Media Specialist
• Last position – Social Studies teacher at Joel Barlow High School
• Master of Science from Southern CT State University plus Library Media certification through ARC

Jonathan Schwartz

• Social Studies
• Last position – Professor of Social Sciences at Bard High School Early College, Queens, NY
• Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Virginia

Megan McCauley

• English
• Last position – Student Teacher at New Milford High School
• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and English from Western CT State University

Mark Foster

• French
• Last position – French teacher at Kings Academy in Madaba, Jordan
• Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Connecticut

Michael Joshi

• Social Studies
• Last position – Teacher at K423 Brooklyn Frontiers High School in Brooklyn, NY
• MA in Teaching of Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University

Krista Deiana

• Social Studies
• Last position – English Teacher at Stamford HS
• Master of Educational Studies in Literacy from Manhattanville College

Alexa Schlechter

• Technology Integrator
• Last position – Elementary Technology Leader in the Danbury Public Schools
• Masters in Educational Technology from UCONN and Masters in Teaching from Sacred Heart University

Alexander Amaru

• Physical Education (LT Sub)
• Last position – Summer School teacher of Physical Education / Health at Newtown HS
• BS in Physical Education (minor in Health Education) at Eastern CT State University

Administration

Lenore Dweck

• Special Education Administrator
• Last position – Educational and Behavioral Consultant
• Master of Science degree in Education from Teachers College Columbia University

William Tesbir

• Special Education Administrator
• Last position – Speech and Language Pathologist at New Canaan Public Schools
• Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Southern CT State University

System

Susan Bliss

• Student Support Coordinator
• Last position – Private Practice in Ridgefield, CT
• Ph.D. in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, MA

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