Introducing New Hackley Faculty

Semere Baraki has joined the Upper School Math department to teach Geometry and AP Calculus. Semere has a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago and M.S. in Mathematics from New York University. Most recently, Semere was a DC Teaching Fellow in Washington, working at HD Woodson Senior High School where he taught Geometry. As an undergraduate, Semere also worked as a teaching assistant for a number of undergraduate courses and volunteered as a tutor in a number of programs. His passion for teaching and mathematics is matched by his passion for soccer.

Nicole Butterfield, our new seventh and tenth grade English teacher, returns to the classroom full time after having served as the Middle School Division Coordinator of Whitby School in Greenwich, CT, since the fall of 2005. Prior to her administrative post, Nicole taught English and Language Arts first at St. Paul’s, and then at Lawrenceville, Masters, Greenwich Academy, and Whitby. Nicole is well known for her love of Shakespeare and looks forward to bringing the bard’s words to life for our rising seventh grade students. She is also eager to bring her love of writing and creative expression to both her classroom and various extra-curricular opportunities here at Hackley. Nicole holds a B.A. in English, with honors, from Wesleyan University, an M.F.A. in writing from Sarah Lawrence College, and an M.A. from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English.

Cristina Diaz joins our Upper School Math department this year as our third E.E. Ford Fellow. Cristina graduated from Williams College, majoring in Economics and taking extensive coursework in Mathematics. She is also a gifted linguist with fluency in English, Spanish, Portuguese and German. While at Williams, Cristina was a teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Economics. In fact, as a senior, she co-taught a section of multi-variable calculus with one of Williams’ math professors. In addition, she was part of the residential life program, serving as a resident advisor. Though she will not be living in the boarding corridor this year, she will be living on campus and she looks forward to getting to know and working with our 5-day boarding students.

Michelle Foerder joins Hackley Lower School as a second grade lead teacher. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hartford and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Hunter College. Michelle comes to us with ten years of teaching experience in well-known NYC schools such as The Dalton School, The International Preschool and, most recently, Trevor Day School. She has taught all grades from pre-K through second grade. Prior to teaching, Michelle worked as an editor for Golden Books, and she authored several books as well. Michelle moves to Rye Brook from Manhattan with her husband and two sons. We know that she will contribute much to our Lower School.

Kathryn Kendrick has joined Hackley’s third grade team as an Assistant Teacher. Katie received a Bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College and a Master’s degree from Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium and the University of Limerick, Ireland. Katie is no stranger to the Hackley campus, as she worked in our PE department and subbed in the Lower School during the 2009/2010 school year. She has also subbed in the Irvington, Ardsley, Ramapo, and East Ramapo school districts for the past two years. We are pleased to have her joining Hackley on a full time basis.

Jared Liu comes to Hackley from the Washington, DC area. Jared and his family are excited to be back in admissions and back in a school with boarding. Jared's first job out of college was in admissions at St. Mark's School in Southborough, MA. His path carried him to DC, where most recently, as Director of Programs at the Alliance for Community Trees, Jared coordinated federal lobbying, trainings and communications for a national network of urban greening organizations. Prior to this, he oversaw compliance and budgeting for Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign. Jared is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where he developed not only his admissions career (as a tour guide and student interviewer) but also his passions for the outdoors and conservation (as leader of the Appalachian Mountain Club). It was also at Bowdoin that Jared met his wife, Kristin, as they sang in the choir together. Jared and Kristin now have two children. Apart from spending time with his family, Jared enjoys cooking, quilting, reading, listening to music, and playing and coaching soccer and lacrosse.

Andrew Lopez has joined the second grade team as an Assistant Teacher. Andy received a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown and a Master’s in Teaching from Manhattanville College. Andy is no stranger to the Hilltop. Husband to Madeline Lopez, teacher of grade four, Andy comes to Hackley from MS 317 in Harlem after serving as a sixth and seventh grade Social Studies teacher. Andy also taught sixth grade Math and Social Studies at JHS 123 in the Bronx. During the 2005-06 school year, Andy was a regular substitute in Hackley’s Lower School.

Shannon MacDonald joins the Hackley community after teaching for eight years in several Westchester public school systems. Although a native of Westchester, Shannon began her teaching career in Nanakuli, Hawaii, teaching kindergarten and first grade. After returning to New York, she taught in the Irvington and Carmel school districts. While in Carmel she created and implemented a district wide initiative to meet the needs of early readers. She designed and implemented a kindergarten extended day program, servicing at risk students, with an emphasis on early reading and phonemic awareness skills. Shannon has been trained in all aspects of balanced literacy - including reading and writing workshop, Great Books Foundation (shared inquiry), LitLife and Teachers College approaches. She joins the Hackley family with great enthusiasm and looks forward to building lasting relationships with the students and faculty in this warm community.

Jennifer Rhoads has joined the Upper School Performing Arts department to teach Introduction to Acting and direct the fall production. Jennifer brings extensive experience from all aspects of the theatre world to the classroom. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Rhode Island College and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Direction from Drama Studio London. She has taught at St. Dunston’s College and Tonbridge School and worked as an actor, director, and producer with several theatre companies in London. Jennifer is a familiar face on the Hackley campus. She, her husband Kevin Rea (Assistant Headmaster and Upper School English teacher), along with their two children have been part of the Hackley community since 2004. We look forward to Jen’s work as a classroom teacher and director.

Krystle Rosado joins Hackley as a new Assistant teacher, and will be a member of the first grade team. Krystle received a Bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University and will receive a Master’s degree in Literacy from CUNY Hunter College this December. From 2008-2010, Krystle taught a third grade class at the Mary McDowell Center for Learning in Brooklyn. Her training and expertise in Orton-Gillingham/ Preventing Academic Failure will be an asset to our Lower School and we look forward to learning from, and with, her.

Ted Sonneborn has joined Hackley as Assistant Teacher on the third grade team. Ted received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Juniata College and looks forward to work towards a Master’s degree this fall. Ted has experience teaching through his work at Manlius Pebble Hill School, an independent school in DeWitt, NY. His experience at DeWitt included in various capacities across all three divisions. In addition, Ted coached both soccer and volleyball. Ted comes to Hackley highly recommended by Upper School math teacher Steve Frauenthal, as Ted served as a counselor at Steve's camp for the last seven summers. We have learned that Upper School English teacher, Regan Russell, taught Ted in eleventh grade.

Wade Tonken joins Hackley as Administrative Assistant, Performing Arts / Music Institute Coordinator. He brings extensive experience as a composer, producer, engineer and music technology expert to Hackley. He has spent many years in the commercial music industry writing and producing for film, advertising, and television. He has served as consultant to a number of companies involved with music technology such as Apple, BMI, DigiDesign, and the Jacob Burns Film Center. He has composed music for many broadcasting organizations including HBO, ABC, Nickelodeon, and PBS. Wade is no stranger to Hackley. He has been involved with our music technology classes for the past two years, teaching in the Middle and Upper Schools.

Miryah Walters, our new eighth grade math teacher, comes to Hackley from St. Luke’s Lutheran School in Orlando, Florida. There she taught Sixth Grade Math, Pre-Algebra, Honors Algebra and Honors Geometry. She also designed and taught an elective entitled, “Sports Games and Math Two” in which she helped students explore the connection between sports and mathematics. While at St. Luke’s Miryah also served as an assistant coach for seventh and eighth grade boys’ soccer, as the media center coordinator, and as the school’s accreditation leader. She also led the math department’s curricular revisions for grades K-8. Miryah holds a B. A. from Concordia University.

Andrew Ying is the newest member of Hackley’s Upper School Science department. Andrew is a summa cum laude graduate of SUNY Binghamton with a B.S. in Applied Physics. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, Andrew taught at Rocky Mount Academy in North Carolina. At Rocky Mount, Andrew taught Physics, Astronomy and Earth Science and coached tennis and cross country. After several years of teaching, Andrew was accepted to the Ph.D. program in Columbia University’s Department of Applied Physics and Applied Math. While in graduate school, Andrew remained committed to teaching, as well as his research. He was a teaching assistant at Columbia and an instructor at the American Museum of Natural History. Realizing that he missed classroom teaching and working with high school students, Andrew began to search for teaching positions and we were thrilled to hire him. This summer, Andrew completed his dissertation. He will be testing out his new moniker “Dr. Ying” this fall with his students in Physics 9 and Chemistry.

Familiar faces, new places:

In addition to our new faculty, we are pleased to introduce a few familiar Hackley faces who are serving in new roles this year.

Katy Bowers, who came to Hackley last year as an Upper School History teacher, is also teaching eighth grade history this year.

Bill Davies, History Department Chair, is teaching seventh grade history in addition to his Upper School assignments.

Cyndy Jean, who joined Hackley three years ago as a Lower School teaching intern, has joined the Middle School faculty, teaching fifth grade English.

Melissa Boviero, Middle School science teacher, has added the role of Middle School Diversity Coordinator to her responsibilities.

Merideth Maddox, Drama instructor, is also serving this year as Seventh Grade Dean.

Jenny Leffler, formerly seventh and eighth grade English teacher and Seventh Grade Dean, is now Ninth Grade Dean, and is teaching ninth grade English in addition to a continued role teaching eighth grade English.