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James Ackerman Year of Appointment: 1992 Departments and Courses: Director of Development and Upper School History: U.S. History Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: University of Southern California – A.B. History & Humanities; "And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time." |
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Elisabeth Alexander Year of Appointment: 2002 Department: Physical Education: Coach of Girls Tennis (Assistant Coach), Middle School Girls Soccer (Assistant Coach), Middle School Girls Basketball, and Middle School Softball (Assistant Coach) Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: University of Pennsylvania, BA Arts and Sciences, Major Fine Arts My favorite recreational things to do; spend time with my daughter Kaia, hike, surf, and float on the Delaware. My 13 month old daughter is saying her first words, walking around, and causing much loved trouble. |
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Deborah Anderson Year of Appointment: 2006 Department and Courses: Music and Assistant Director of Bands: Upper School Concert Band; Jazz Band for grades 7 – 12; Saxophone Ensemble; Brass Ensemble College Affiliation and Degree: The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. BM Mrs. Anderson is a low brass specialist. She studied the trombone with such noted trombonists as Herbert Rankin, Donald Harwood and Ronald Borror. Mrs. Anderson also studied the flute with Stanley Aronson. She is a member of Music Educators National Conference. |
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Theodora Angelos Theodora is happy to have returned to her home state to teach at RPS. She loves going to museums & movies, traveling, baking pumpkin products, and reading Walt Whitman. |
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Alyssa Applebaum Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Physical Education/Special Events: Pre K 3 and 5th/6th Grade; 11th Grade Health; Coach Middle School soccer, basketball, lacrosse and varsity lacrosse College Affiliation and Degree: B.S. Syracuse University I graduated from Rutgers Prep in 1999 and went on to Syracuse University and majored in public relations. I also played soccer for Syracuse University. |
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Leslee Atiram Year of Appointment: 2001 Department and Courses: Middle School: 5th grade Mathematics and Science; 6th grade Cycle: "A Place Called School" College Affiliations and Degrees: BA Brooklyn College; MS Brooklyn College Leslee Atiram is a founding member of the New Jersey Math Coalition. She is the Director of the Rutgers Prep Mini Camp and is an avid Rubber Stamper. Her two sons Zakariah '04 and Max '08 are graduates of Rutgers Prep School. |
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Ralph Avella Year of Appointment: 1979 Department and Courses: Upper School Science: Introduction to Chemistry & Physics (ICP) and Meteorology Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Seton Hall University, BS I have been a long time Advisor to School Council and have served as Grade Dean for many years -including the Class of 2013. I am an avid baseball fan. |
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Russ Bartlett Year of Appointment: 1995 Department and Courses: Upper School History Department Head: Foundations of Civilizations; AP US History; Literature of the Holocaust (in the English Department) Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA, Yale; M. Divinity, Harvard I am not just a teacher and department head (and Community Service coordinator) at Rutgers Prep; I am also the proud parent of two RPS students--Caleb (Class of 2022) and Ben (Class of 2023). When I am not teaching, I like to go hiking and backpacking. |
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Jeff Bennett Year of Appointment: 2004 Department and Courses: Upper School World: Latin 1 and Latin 2 Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Dartmouth College, A.B. Classics; Harvard Business School, MBA I formerly worked for a strategy consulting firm in Boston and an international securities corporation in New York City. I also co-founded Tewksbury Lacrosse Club for K-8th grade and am the assistant boys’ lacrosse coach at RPS. |
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Dennis Boyle Year of appointment: 2006 Department and Courses: Music and Choir Director: Upper School Women’s Vocal Chamber Ensemble; Women’s Choir; Development of the Solo Voice; Music Theory College Affiliations and Degrees: Montclair State University, BM; College of New Jersey, MM Mr. Boyle directs an adult choir, Philomusica, which has performed in Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center NYC, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Cathedral in Italy, and Canterbury Cathedral in England. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. |
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Barbara Carcich Year of Appointment: 1980 Department and Courses: Lower School: First Grade Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: William Paterson University – BA I like lighthouses and travel. |
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Michelle Carlisle-Fink Year of Appointment: 2007 Department and Courses: Lower School: Assistant Teacher in the Junior Kindergarten College Affiliation and Degree: Tufts University, BS in Clinical Psychology I was born and raised in Maine, love the outdoors, playing with our horses and spending time with my family and friends. |
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Stephanie Chang Year of Appointment: 2008 Department and Courses: Upper School Mathematics: Algebra II, Honors Precalculus, and AP Calculus AB Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Bucknell, BS in Mathematics Before coming to RPS, I taught for two years at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. I enjoy traveling and spending time with my dog, Zeus. |
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Carol Coe Year of Appointment: 2004 Department and Courses: World Language: Upper School Spanish 2, 3, and SCC (Spanish Contemporary Culture) Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA from Douglass College with major in Spanish and minor in French; MA from Rutgers University in Spanish Language and Literature I came to Rutgers Preparatory School after a 25 years of teaching Spanish in the NJ Public School System, most recently at Columbia High School in the South Orange- Maplewood School District. |
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Tim Cohen Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Upper School History: AP World History (10th/12th grades) and Foundations of Civilizations (9th Grade) Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA, History, University of Pennsylvania; MA, History, University of Vermont In addition to teaching history, Tim is the RPS school archivist and faculty advisor to Model UN and the History Club. |
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Jill E. Cooper, Ph.D. Year of Appointment: 2000 Departments and Courses: Upper School Science, Upper School History, and College Counseling: Psychology, AP Psychology, The History of American Science & Medicine (a sophomore elective) College Affiliations and Degrees: BS in biology from Bucknell University; Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from Rutgers University Dr. Cooper came to Rutgers Prep after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in antibiotics history and the history of stress at Rutgers University's Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research. Previously, she worked as Assistant Director of Admission at Bucknell University. |
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Eireann Corrigan Year of Appointment: 2000 Department and Courses: Upper School English: English I; English II; Advanced Placement English Literature Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA, Sarah Lawrence College; MFA, New York University An alumna of Rutgers Prep, Eireann Corrigan has written four books for young adults - You Remind Me of You, Splintering, Ordinary Ghosts, and the upcoming Accomplice. She is married to Jeffrey Salzberger, a teacher in the Upper School History Department. |
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Paula D'Introno Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Library/Media: Lower School library specials and Middle School Information Literacy, 6th – 8th grades College Affiliation and Degrees: Rutgers College, BA in English and Art History; MLIS from Rutgers University, School of Communication and Information I love to travel also work at the public library on the weekends. |
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Graig Domanski Year of Appointment: 2006 Departments and Courses: Upper School Science and Math: Foundations In Science; Algebra I and Algebra II Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BS, Rutgers University; MS, National University Grade Dean for the Class of 2010 and Assistant Girls Volleyball Coach. I enjoy spending time with my wife and twin daughters, with family and friends, and going to the beach. |
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Stephen Duffy Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Upper School Principal and English: English III Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: B.A., English, Middlebury College; M.A.; English Literature, Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College; Ed.M., Educational Administration, Columbia University Stephen Duffy is a native of Boston and a loyal supporter of his hometown teams, especially when the Red Sox play the Yankees! He loves Irish literature, good theater, Block Island, Cajun food and working at Rutgers Prep. |
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Circe Dunnell Year of Appointment: 2001 Department and Courses: Visual Arts: Drawing & Design; Introduction to Painting; Advanced Drawing; Critique & Production I; Critique & Production II College Affiliations and Degrees: BFA: University of Massachusetts at Amherst; MA of Fine Art: New York University Circe Dunnell is a practicing visual artist, (circedunnell.com) working in mixed media, encaustic (molten pigmented wax) and digital photography. She has exhibited in Graz, Austria, New England, New York and New Jersey. Circe has been a long-standing member of Studio Montclair since its inception in 1996. She grew up at Brooks School, a boarding school where both her father and uncle taught English and has been involved in education ever since. A native of northern Massachusetts, Circe has made New Jersey her home since 199 |
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Nandini Dutta Year of Appointment: 1997 Department and Courses: World Languages Department Chair: Upper School Spanish C & C, Spanish L&L, Spanish Language AP Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: M.A. (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of New México) When not teaching, I like to travel, meet new people and learn about new cultures, their lives, languages and food habits and come home and practice those skills at home. |
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Jennifer Elliott College Affiliation and Degree: Westminster Choir College, Rider University, BA. Jennifer Hall Elliott has had the honor of performing in the Westminster Symphonic Choir under Ricardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, and Kurt Masur among others. The highlight of her college choir experience was performing along with a select group of Symphonic Choir members in Leonard Bernstein’s East Coast Memorial Service at Carnegie Hall. She is presently studying for her Kodaly Certification at Hartt School of Music and while there, she is a member of the Hartt Kodaly Choir directed by Ed Bolkovac. She is a member of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators. Ms. Elliott enjoys spending time with friends and family and volunteering at a local Living History Farm. |
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Nancy Engblom Department and Courses: World Languages: Upper School Latin III, Honors Latin III, Latin IV, Honors Latin Literature, Elegy, and AP Vergil I grew up in Plainfield, leaving New Jersey in my teens for school, work, and family. I enjoyed time as a stay-at-home Mom, explored numerous opportunities and academic interests, and have circled back to share what I learned to revere long ago, in a school not far away from where I began, in a much-changed community that still feels like home. |
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Debra Fehl Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Lower School: Pre Kindergarten Assistant Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Rollins College, BA English and Art History I am always mindful that my actions, no matter how big or small, have an enormous impact on a student's life, future and self esteem. |
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Nes Forney Year of Appointment: 1980 Department: Physical Education and Health Department Head Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: University of Charleston BA; Emory University MAT Two years of baseball, two years of college golf. Have coached Varsity boys soccer, Varsity Girls soccer and 7 & 8 Boys soccer. Coach Varsity Swimming and have coached Varsity Boys Lax and Varsity Golf. My passion is Golf and I am also a teaching professional during the summer. |
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Allan Furtek Year of Appointment: 2002. Department and Courses: Upper School Science: General and AP Physics Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BS, Chemistry, University of Massachusetts; Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Southern California I spent almost 28 years in industrial R&D working for Union Carbide Corporation and Mobil Corporation before coming to RPS. I'm a Vietnam veteran having served as a combat infantryman. After all these years spent in the sciences, I haven't lost my love for the field. My personal goals are to learn something new each year about an area of physics. |
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Hannah Garrow Year of Appointment: 2009 Department and Courses: World Language Department: Spanish 2, Spanish 3 and Spanish Conversation and Culture College Affiliations and Degrees: B.A. Williams College; M.A. New York University Before working at Rutgers Prep, Hannah spent two years teaching Spanish, French and English in a small independent school in northern Virginia. She enjoys reading, cooking, exploring new languages and cultures, and watching nature specials. |
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Florence Gange Year of Appointment: 1999 Departments and Courses: Dean of Faculty and Upper School English: English II and English III Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: SUNY @ Plattsburgh, BA, Secondary English Education; Prior to joining Rutgers Prep, I taught public school English and spent many years in the Pharmaceutical Industry where I focused on management training and development. I am the proud parent of recent RPS graduates (twins) who are now attending colleges in the Boston area (Babson College and Boston University). I also serve on the board of education for my local public school district. I enjoy reading best sellers, watching classic movies, cooking a variety of dishes, listening to rhythm and blues and classic rock, attending craft shows, and shopping, shopping, shopping. |
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Scott G. Gill Year of Appointment: 2002 Department and Courses: Director of Student Counseling Services: peer leadership Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Rider University; MSW from Rutgers University Mr. GIll is a trained therapist in the treatment of adults, couples, children and adolescents. He has experience in both academic and clinical settings. In addition to his work at Rutgers Preparatory School, Mr. Gill is a therapist for Comprehensive Mental Health Services in Pennington NJ. Mr. Gill is an accomplished athlete, having played sports on high school teams and college teams. Mr. Gill loves playing soccer and spending time with his wife Tara and his two boys Logan and Brody. |
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Diane Glace Year of Appointment: 1983 |
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Anne Glennon Year of Appointment: 1990 Department and Courses: Upper School English Department Head: English I, English III; senior electives (Shakespeare;/Mythology) College Affiliations and Degrees: BA English Trinity College(D.C.); Postgraduate; University College, Dublin, Ireland; MA Ancient and Medieval History Seton Hall University; Ed.S. Supervision and Administration Seton Hall University I have just completed my 25th year as an adjunct professor in the Department of Classics and General Humanities at Montclair State University. In recent years I have taught General Humanities I, similar to a Western Civilizations course with the emphasis on intellectual history and the arts. In days of yore, courses have included Mythology, Greek Civilization, Roman Civilization, General Humanities II, and Etymology. |
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Allison Gratzer Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Upper School Mathematics Department Head: Precalculus, AP Calculus BC, Multivariable Calculus College Affiliation and Degree: Princeton University, BA, Physics Allison joined the RPS faculty directly after graduating from college. In her free time, she particularly enjoys cooking, traveling, and playing in the backyard with her nieces. |
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Christine Henry Year of Appointment: 2008 Department and Courses: World Languages: 8th grade French; Independent middle school French Study Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: French literature Master Program at the University of Denver, Colorado and at the University of Boulder, at Boulder, Colorado. Completed all coursework in the Teaching International Languages Master Program at California State University, Chico. My birthplace is significant to me because my deep interest for international languages and cultures must have originated from it: I was born in Annecy, Haute-Savoie. France. Growing up surrounded by ancient vestiges, I developed at a very young age a strong curiosity for the different cultures that had left their imprints on the land and its people. |
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Makiko Highton Year of Appointment: 2008 Department and Courses: Visual Arts: Middle School Art 5, 6, 7, 8. College Affiliation and Degree: BFA, Rhode Island School of Design After years of working in SoHo as a Graphic Designer and Design Director, Makiko began a career as an art educator. She has taught students in grades K-12 in public, charter, and independent schools. Her artwork is mixed media and encaustic based. [Encaustic is an ancient painting medium dating back to Egyptian times, and uses pigment that is suspended in beeswax and combined with resin.] |
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Anne Jablow Year of Appointment: 1993 Department and Courses: Lower School: 4th grade, reading, math, and science College Affiliation and Degree: BS from The College of New Jersey in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood. Certified to teach grades Prek-8th I love to travel, plan, read and teach! I did my senior thesis on appropriate technology in the classroom before we even had laptops in the classroom. |
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Lenore Kaufman Year of Appointment: 1990 Department and Courses: Lower School: Kindergarten Collegiate Affiliation and Degrees: BA Geography, MS Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Teacher of the Handicapped Certificate Educational trends come and go - good teaching practices remain forever. My major goals are to help develop qualities and skills that will enable children to function effectively in their world. Honesty, empathy, kindness, ability to make good decisions, independence and being able to work well as a team member, along with academics that are developmentally appropriate are of prime concern. "Hard work is true joy" our RPS motto, is experienced on a daily basis in kindergarten. |
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Christine A. Kazal Year of Appointment: 1990 Department and Courses: Lower School: 4th grade, language arts, social studies, and reading College Affiliations and Degrees: Moravian College, B.A. in Political Science/History; Kean College of New Jersey, New Jersey Teacher Certification, Grades K-8 I was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, a city in Central Appalachia. My connection with the mountains continues with friendships I've made with folks in the Southern Appalachian mountains, namely, Letcher County, Kentucky. |
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Siobhan Kelly Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Upper School English: English I and II; senior electives – Journalism and Contemporary Literature Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: B.A., Trinity College; M.A., Ph.D, Binghamton University Siobhan Kelly came to RPS after thirteen years of college teaching. She loves the beach, writing, and losing herself in a good book. |
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John Kendall Year of Appointment: 1983 Department and Courses: Upper School English and Middle School Computers: English I (9th grade); Advanced Placement English Language and Composition (11th grade); 7th grade robotics and introduction to computer programming Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Princeton University, English, BA; Goddard College, Writing, MA John has been married to his wife, Liz, for 32 years, and has two daughters, Rachel (27) and Sarah (23), and a dog, Pepper (3). He has read books for pleasure all his life, became involved with multimedia and robotics because of their creative possibilities, and loves to encourage student writing in a wide variety of forms, from participating in the Dodge Poetry Festival and the RPS Writing Day, to teaching A. P. Writing, to advising Excelsior, Prep's literary magazine. |
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Mary Klinger Year of Appointment: 1984 Department and Courses: Director of Athletics: Upper school Physical Education; Middle School cross country coach and Varsity Girls Basketball coach Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Douglas College, Rutgers University, BS., Athletic Administration I grew up in southwest Philadelphia, am 1 of 8 children, and I'm a twin. I love reading, golfing, and spending as much time as I can at the beach. |
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Tara Klipstein Year of Appointment: 1992 Department: Director of Admission College Affiliations and Degrees: Douglass College BA; Graduate School of Education, Rutgers, Masters in Education I am a "lifer", began in Kindergarten, graduated class of '81, have taught Junior Kindergarten, Lower School French and Spanish, have served as Principal of the Primary School, and now in second year as Director of Admission grades 7 -12. Married David, '81, and have three sons who attend or have attended RPS. |
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Shelley Krause Year of appointment: 2004 Department and Courses: Co-Director of College Counseling: Junior and Senior Seminar College Affiliations and Degrees: Brown University (BA in Comparative Literature) and University of Pennsylvania (MS Ed.) Shelley Krause is a storyteller and a fan of networked learning, haiku, and dark chocolate. Prior to joining the RPS community, she worked in undergraduate admissions at both UPenn and TCNJ. |
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Karin Krauszer Year of Appointment- 2000 |
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Catherine Krtil Year of Appointment: 2009 Departments and Courses: Upper School Learning Specialist and Upper School English: English III Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA, Manhattan College; MS Ed, Lehman College of the City University of New York Catherine joins RPS with extensive experience in the academic, social and emotional support of students with special learning needs in a college-prep environment. After several years in California, the NYC native is thrilled to be home on the East Coast! |
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Mythili Lahiri Year of Appointment: 2004 Department and Courses: Lower School: Kindergarten Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: B.A. Political Science - Barnard College, Columbia University; I was a management consultant for Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture) for six years. After having three kids, I decided to change my career and become what I had always said I would be from the time I was a kid - a teacher. I went back to school and started working at Rutgers Prep in 2004. |
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Pablito Lake Year of Appointment: 2004 Departments and Courses: Upper School Computer Education Chair and Upper School Mathematics: Collegiate Affiliation and Degrees: BS and MS Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology I enjoy spending time with my family, sports, video games, and calypso music. I am a member of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). |
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Jacque L. Lamb Year of Appointment: 1998 Jacque Lamb came to teaching after a career in molecular biology research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, returning to her academic roots in the field of chemistry. She is an avid sports fan, passionate Red Sox fan and an accomplished baker. |
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Michael Lamb Year of appointment: 1998 Department and Courses: Physical Education Grades Pre Kindergarten through 11th grade; Middle School Cross Country; Middle School Wrestling; Head Coach Varsity Wrestling; Middle School Softball College Affiliation and Degree: Rutgers College, Rutgers University B.S. I have coached Rutgers Prep Wrestling to 8 Prep B State Championships since 2001. I also enjoy being the Camp Director for Rutgers Prep Summer Blast Day Camp. |
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Marie Leslie Year of Appointment: 2008 Department and Courses: Lower School: Junior Kindergarten College Affiliations and Degrees: University of Edinburgh, Scotland, M.A.; Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh, P.G.C.E.; Member, General Teaching Council for Scotland I was born and raised in Scotland. I worked as a research assistant in the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. I also held a variety of teaching posts in Scotland, Oxford, and London before moving to America with my family in 1993. |
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Charles Lid Year of Appointment: 2006 Department and Courses: Visual Arts: Ceramics College Affiliation and Degree: B.F.A. Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University Since leaving college I have dedicated myself to mastering the ancient art of firing wood fueled kilns, through a forged relationship with Peter's valley craft center. I have had the privilege to work for and with many renowned international artist/teachers. Currently I am working as an assistant to Peter Callas a wood firing ceramic master. |
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Jami Lippencott Year of Appointment: 2001 Department and Courses: Lower School: Junior Kindergarten Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: University of Phoenix, AA Jami Lippencott is the proud mother of a son and a daughter, both graduates of Rutgers Preparatory School. She enjoys spending time in Montana where she grew up as well as travel and outdoor adventure with her husband. |
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Geoff Loose Year of Appointment: 2004 Department and Courses: Upper School History: Advanced Placement Economics; U.S. History; and Foundations of Civilizations College Affiliations and Degrees: Kenyon College (A.B. Economics, concentration in public policy); My experiences working in politics and sports help make me a better teacher, because it really gives me a sense of how important writing, creativity and critical thinking are in the real world. Those are the traits that I try to develop within my students. |
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Steven Loy Year of Appointment: 1992 Department and Courses: Headmaster and Upper School English: senior elective courses - Comedy Fiction and Detective Fiction College Affiliations and Degrees: BA in English from Princeton; MA in Educational Administration and Policy from Stanford; Ed.D. in Educational Administration from UCLA |
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Robert Marotto Year of Appointment: 1983 Department and Courses: Middle School Assistant Principal, 5th & 6th Grade Latin College Affiliations and Degrees: BS in History, Kean College; MA in Educational Leadership, Fairleigh Dickinson University |
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Heather Masterpol Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Middle School Science Department Head: 6th and 7th grade Science College Affiliation and Degree: Cook College, BS Natural Resource Management (Conservation and Ecology) Heather has taught a variety of courses at Prep over the years. In addition to teaching at Prep, Heather teaches Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Jazz at a local dance center. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her three dogs. |
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David Mazsa Year of Appointment: 1973 Department and Courses: Upper School Science Department Head: AP Biology and AP Environmental Science Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Lehigh University, BA, Biology; Cornell University, MS, Aquatic Ecology I worry that too many of us humans don't appreciate the beauty in a clear winter night sky, a periwinkle flower, and the scales on a butterfly wing. We overlook so much beauty as we become physically and mentally immersed in our machines. |
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Laura W. McClanahan Year of Appointment: 1996 Departments and Courses: Visual Arts and Computer Education: Art and Architecture; Architecture II; Computer Design for Print and Web; Multimedia Design Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BA, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA; Art Education Certificate, Parsons School of Design and Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY; MFA, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD Laura is an exhibiting artist showing abstract photography, photograms and video. She states about her work, "I am looking for origins and the source of life. Through a study of water phenomena I am questioning what makes something alive. In my own style of scientific investigation, I invite the viewer into a constructed world. Glass objects become subjects. Invisible micro details become visible. |
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Susan McCloskey Year of Appointment: 1981 Department and Courses: Visual Arts: Art Pre-Kindergarten-Fourth Grade Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: University of Massachusetts, B.A., Art History Susan McCloskey is an avid photographer and has studied photography in Paris, Tuscany, and Toulouse. Ms. McCloskey is also an Olympic weightlifter who holds national records and is a former World Master champion. |
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Stacy McMillen Year of Appointment: 2002 Department and Courses: Upper School History: U.S. History; American National Government; Advanced Placement American National Government. Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: B.A., UCLA, double major in History and Political Science; graduate work in History and Political Science at Vanderbilt University. In her free time, Stacy tries to keep up with her 9 year old son; gardens; cooks; reads; and does her level best to be outdoors as much as possible. |
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Anne McNamara Year of Appointment: 1995 Department and Courses: Middle School: 6th grade Math and English; 5th grade Computers College Affiliations and Degrees: Trinity College (Washington, DC) BA American Studies; Anne also earned a degree in Business from Brookdale Community College in between her degrees from Trinity and Drew. She is certified in Elementary Education (grades 1-8), English (grades 1-12) and Social Studies (grades 1-12). Anne is a member of Families with Children from China. |
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Pascal Meier, Ph.D. Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Upper School Science: Honors Chemistry. Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Idaho State University (BS); Princeton University (MS, Ph.D.) Dr. Meier is a native of Switzerland. He moved to the States when he was 19. His native language is French, but he also speaks Italian and German |
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Tony Mento Year of Appointment: 1996 Departments and Courses: Director of Learning Support, grades 5-12 and Middle School History Department Chair: 7th Grade American History College Affiliation and Degree: West Virginia University, BS Education For the past ten years, while Tony Mento has been the Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Basketball Team, the Argonauts have compiled six Patriot Conference Championships and two Prep State Championships. |
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Kevin Merges Year of Appointment: 2000 Departments and Courses: Director of Sustainability/Globalization Programs and Upper School Mathematics: Discrete Math A & B Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: SUNY Albany - BS Math; Sage Colleges - MS in Education; Rutgers, Graduate School of Education Doctoral Candidate My educational research interests are online collaborative learning as it relates to discrete mathematics, fractal geometry, and chaos theory. At RPS I work with Sustainability, Diversity, Technology Integration, and Upper School Scheduling. I enjoy carving fruits and vegetables in my free time. |
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Benjamin Messinger-Barnes Year of Appointment: 2009 Department and Courses: Upper School Mathematics : Algebra II; Algebra II Honors; Precalculus Collegiate Affiliations: Wesleyan University - B.A. in Mathematics, Economics Mr. Barnes is an avid bassist, co-founding and playing in both a soul/funk trio "Barefoot Junction" as well as a bluegrass group "Uncle D. Todd and the Drybag Boys." During the summer, Mr. Barnes spends his time in Maine taking 11-13 year old boys on canoe expeditions throughout the North Woods rivers and lakes as a camp counselor. |
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JoAnn Miller Year of Appointment: 2000 Department and Courses: Lower School: 3rd grade College Affiliations and Degrees: University of Scranton-BS; Teacher Certification from Rider University Graduate Department; NJ Certified Teacher K-8 Aside from teaching 3rd grade at RPS, I have taught Reading Workshop in the Summer School program, worked in ASP, Study Hub, run after school clubs, and tutored students. When I am not at school, I love being home and spending time with my husband and three young sons. I enjoy taking cruises, going to the beach, running/walking, cooking, and reading. |
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John H. Miller, ‘86 Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Middle School Principal, English 8 and Spanish 1B Collegiate affiliations and degree: B.A. International Relations, Tufts University; Candidate for Masters in International Educational Administration, Lehigh University John grew up in Rahway and attended Rutgers Prep from 7th grade through High School. When he’s not at school, he and his family are likely to be in Mexico or on a baseball field. |
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Valerie Minakawa Year of Appointment: 2002 Department and Courses: World Languages: Japanese I, II, III, IV, and Spanish I Collegiate Affiliation and Degrees: Dickinson College, BA in East Asian Studies and Spanish Raised in a South American family, Ms. Minakawa also sought to explore the other side of her heritage and spent two years living and teaching in Shizuoka, Japan, prior to Rutgers Prep. She loves traveling, karate, latin dancing, and Slow Food. |
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Stephen Mitchell Year of Appointment: 2000 Department and Courses: Middle School: 6th grade History and 7th and 8th grade Latin Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Tulane University, BA in Latin and History I am a native of New Orleans and love eating Creole food, dancing to funk music, and spending time with my family and friends. |
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Gail Moskowitz Year of Appointment: 1998 Department and Courses: Lower School Assistant Principal and Math Coordinator: Teaching PK, JK, K Guidance Classes; Summer School Assistant Director; Reading Workshop Coordinator College Affiliation and Degree: BA from Smith College I have been involved with Rutgers Prep since 1985 when my daughter entered kindergarten. My role in the community has evolved from volunteer to teacher and administrator, as my commitment to RPS continued to grow and I joined the faculty upon my daughter's graduation. |
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Mark Nastus Year of Appointment: 2000 Department and Courses: Middle School English Department, 7th Grade Level Coordinator, 7th Grade English Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Boston College, BA English Mark Nastus is also a graduate of Rutgers Preparatory School, class of 1994. He coached varsity and junior varsity basketball for 10 years and still serves as the assistant coach for varsity baseball and swimming. |
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Scott Neal Year of Appointment: 1990. Department and Courses: Middle School Mathematics Department Head: Algebra 2, Algebra 1 and Algebra 1A; assistant coach with the girls' varsity basketball team. College Affiliations and Degrees: Bethany College, BA in Economics; Saint Joseph's University Wife Amy works in the South Brunswick School District, daughter Katie is a sophomore Forensic Science major at Hofstra University, and son John is a junior at South Brunswick High School. |
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Gary Neiditch Year of Appointment: 2002 Department and Courses: Webmaster, Upper School Mathematics: Algebra IB; Head Volleyball Coach College Affiliations and Degrees: BS, Rutgers University I enjoy playing all types of sports but mainly volleyball. I also enjoy playing the guitar and working with students to prepare for their SAT test. |
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Lisa Nelson Year of Appointment: 2009 Department and Courses: Student Counseling Services: lower school character education College Affiliations and Degrees: Quinnipiac University, BA in Psychology; The College of New Jersey, MA in Counselor Education: National Certified Counselor Along with my passion of helping others, I enjoy coaching middle school volleyball and tennis. As a recent graduate, I am dedicated to furthering my professional development as I work towards my LPC, attend conferences, and take continuing educational credits. |
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Mary Kay Papa Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Lower School: Lead Teacher of Pre-Kindergarten Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School, LPN; Kean University, CDA I am a mother of two RPS alumni, and am a practicing nurse with 34 years experience in geriatrics and pediatrics. My love of children brought me to my second career as a pre-kindergarten teacher 12 years ago. Some of my interests are reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with my family and two grandchildren . |
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Susan PatersonYear of Appointment: 2005 Department: Certified Athletic Trainer for student athletes in grades 7 – 12. Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: West Chester University, BS Sports Medicine Prior to joining RPS faculty Susan worked at a physical therapy office in Pennsylvania that provided rehab to minor and major league athletes from the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Association. |
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Vivian Pérez Year of Appointment: 1996 Department and Courses: World Languages: Spanish 1 to 6th and 7th grades and Spanish 2 to 8th grade; 7th grade advisor College Affiliations and Degrees: Kean College of New Jersey, AA in Accounting; New York University, Certification in Translations Program Viv was born in Guatemala, came to the U.S. at age one, and was raised in Hoboken, NJ. She joined RPS a few years after commencing a career in the finance field. She is a member of the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages, the Foreign Language Educators of NJ, and the National Network for Early Language Learning. She enjoys cooking, traveling, music, dancing, the outdoors, football, and spending time with family and friends |
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Lisa Peterson Year of Appointment: 1990 Department: Music and Director of Bands College Affiliations and Degrees: The College of New Jersey BA; The College of New Jersey MA Mrs. Peterson is a freelance musician, on the French Horn, in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. She is a member of Music Educators National Conference. |
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Valerie A. Pierce, Ph.D. Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Upper School Science: Biology, Honors Biology, Introduction to Forensic Science Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Rutgers University, B.A. in Biology/ French; University of Chicago, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Physiology. Valerie Pierce is a New Jersey native who lived and traveled around much of the US during her research career and still enjoys traveling, hiking and outdoor activities. She co-captains the Rutgers Preparatory School academic team and is interested in technology uses in education. She also probably qualifies as a Sudoku addict. |
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Lanetta Putnal Year of Appointment: 2007 Department and Courses: Lower School: Kindergarten Assistant Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Stetson University, BBA Lanetta enjoys ballroom dancing, gardening and anything Disney. She is the parent of two RPS middle school students. |
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Denise Quenault Year of Appointment: 2001 Department: Director of Summer Programs Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Elementary Education Degree and Minor in Special Education from Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland. I am one of 111 grandchildren! My parents are both one of 12...makes for fun and entertaining family gatherings. I also enjoy spending time exercising, reading, watching movies, going out to dinner with my husband JJ, vacationing, and running around endlessly with my 2 beautiful boys, Chase and Kane! Life is wonderful and I am truly blessed! |
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JJ Quenault Year of appointment: 2000 Department: Director of Publications/Photographer, Head boys Lacrosse Coach Collegiate Affiliation and Degrees: Rutgers University, B.A. fine art JJ coached the boys lacrosse team to its first State championship in 19 years in the 2009 season, and was named the Home News Tribune Coach of the Year. |
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Sherry M. Riggi Year of Appointment: 2000 Department and Courses: Co-Director of College Counseling: Junior Seminar & Senior Seminar Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: B.A. in Speech Communications, University of Rhode Island; M.A. in Education, Seton Hall University Mrs. Riggi worked in College Admissions at three different colleges/universities prior to joining the RPS community. In 2006, (along with two colleagues at RPS) she began presenting at conferences nationally and regionally on the various challenges that adolescents face in the college process. Mrs. Riggi and her husband are also the parents of twins, who fully enjoy being RPS students. |
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Katherine Moran Riley Year of Appointment: 1989 Department and Courses: Middle School English Department Head: English 8 Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: AB- Goucher College; MLA- Johns Hopkins Univ.; MA, PhD- University of Pennsylvania I continue to be intrigued about how students learn and am always looking for ways to catch and keep their attention. I'm eager to share all kinds of literature with them and hope to make them lifelong readers. For relaxation, I do yoga and fold paper, two activities that keep me centered and put me in the students' shoes so that I better appreciate what it is like to learn as well as teach. |
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Kathleen M. Rusyn Year of Appointment: 1983 Department and Courses: Lower School Principal and RPS Summer School Assistant Director - (Faculty) Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Kean College of NJ - BA Education, NJ Certification - Elementary Education K-8, Minor - Music Director of Music/Organist/Adult Choir Director - St. Anthony of Padua RC Church (NPM) Weekends at the Jersey Shore aboard "Kathie's Toy 2" |
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Laurence Santowasso Year of Appointment: 1996 Department and Courses: Dean of Students and Physical Education/Heath: 9th Grade Health Education; Middle School Wrestling Head Coach; Varsity Baseball Head Coach (14th year) Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Bethany College, History and Education I’m a Rutgers Prep graduate from the class of ’91. I was a 4-year starter on the Bethany College baseball team and returned to Rutgers Prep to continue my baseball career as a coach. I was awarded the 2003 and 2009 Star-Ledger Prep Coach of the Year and have sent numerous graduates to college to continue playing baseball. |
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Robert Saunders Year of appointment: 2008 Department and Courses: Music and Director of Orchestras and Independent Music Instructors: Upper School Orchestra; Chamber Orchestra String Ensemble College Affiliation and Degree: Duquesne University, BS Robert Saunders is a founding member of the Appalachian Mountain Boys string band. He has also played with the Steel City String Quartet and currently for the Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra. He is a member of the American String Teachers Association |
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Matthew Shifman, RPS '72 Year of Appointment: 1983 Department and Courses: Middle School: Math 7 and 8 Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Case Western Reserve University BA; Rutgers University Ed. M. |
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Susan Sodtalbers Year of Appointment: 2003 Department and Courses: Lower School: 1st grade Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: BS, Centenary College Susan grew up on a small family farm in Warren County, NJ. She was a two sport college athlete; soccer and an All-American basketball player. She is an avid runner and has completed 3 marathons, 6 half marathons, and dozens of smaller races. She is currently registered for the 2010 Goofy's Race & Half Challenge in Disney World (a back to back half and full marathon). |
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David J. Sorin, CPA, Esq. Year of Appointment: 2006 Departments and Courses: Associate Director of Development and Upper School History: Fall Term: Issues in Macroeconomics and History of Western Political and Economic Theory: From Aristotle and Plato to Machiavelli and Marx; Spring Term: Issues in Fiscal and Monetary Policy and Microeconomics and History of Western Political and Economic Theory: The Advent of Liberalism, Capitalism, and Globalism Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: BS, NYU; JD, Fordham University School of Law Dave Sorin is a CPA and a Lawyer who joined RPS faculty after a career as a Corporate Finance and Securities Attorney and Managing Partner of the New York and Princeton Offices of an international law firm. He also is a Professor of Law at Drexel University. |
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Mariana Stevenson Years of Appointment: 1999 Departments and Courses: World Languages, Director of After School Programs, and Gym Care Coordinator: Lower and Middle School Spanish Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Universidad Del Salvador, Buenos Aires – Argentina, B.A.; I am a native of Argentina. I love studying and teaching different cultures. I enjoy reading and listening to music of diverse styles. I love learning in general. |
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Patria Leroy Sullivan Year of Appointment: 1986 Department: Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid College Affiliations and Degrees: Carleton College BA/Philosophy; Lesley College M.Ed. Computer Education Over 23 years I have developed a sincere love and appreciation for Rutgers Prep. During the past 7 years, however, my passion for the School has only grown stronger as I continue my experience as a parent of three Rutgers Prep students. |
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Mary K. Szeles Year of Appointment: 1986 Department and Courses: Music Department Head: Upper School Men’s Choir, Doo Wop/Barbershop, Madrigal Singers College Affiliations and Degrees: Goucher College, BA; Westminster Choir College, Kodaly Certification Mrs. Szeles is a graduate of Rutgers Preparatory School . She is on the Artistic Advisory Board of the Princeton Girlchoir having been the director of the Semi-Tones. She studied piano with Olga Von Till and voice with George Woodhead and Flore Wend at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Organization of American Kodaly Educators and the Music Educators National Conference. |
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Robert Szeles Year of Appointment: 1991 College Affiliation and Degree: The Johns Hopkins University, BA History Department and Courses: Middle School History: 8th grade, "The United States in the World" Bob also is the Head Coach of the Boys Varsity Soccer Team. He enjoys singing, reading, and days spent at the beach. |
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Sean Thorne Year of Appointment: 1996 Department and Courses: Middle School English Department Head: English, history, and drama to 5th graders and Physical Education to 7th and 8th. Also, monitors the Weight Training room after school for Upper School varsity athletes. College Affiliations and Degrees: The College of New Jersey, BA in History; Bank Street College, Master of Science in Education/ Early Adolescence. Sean Thorne began teaching right after college. After teaching 7 years at The Hudson School, Hoboken, NJ he joined the faculty at Rutgers Preparatory School. His research on how children use imagination with play in the writing process has been published in an anthology and online (http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/firstperson/edutaining). This research is ongoing in conjunction with a research partner from the National Institute of Health. |
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Jennifer Thumann Year of Appointment: 2007 Gardening and family are two things I could not be without for any long periods of time. |
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Cora Turlish Year of Appointment: 1994 Department and Courses: Drama Department Head: Drama 7; Drama 8; Upper School Acting and Advanced Acting: Scene Study College Affiliation and Degree: A.B. Princeton University Directs two Upper School drama productions each year; past shows include “The Laramie Project,” “The Five Hysterical Girls Theorem,” and works by Shakespeare and Moliere. |
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Mark E. Tyree Year of Appointment: 1991 Department and Courses: Physical Education and Health: Physical Education; Health; Middle School Coach (Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse) Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: BS Sociology; Rutgers University I believe that there's much more to athletics than just winning games. Athletics provides life lessons in strategy, personal discipline, teamwork, self-confidence, and a healthy competitive spirit. |
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Erin Varga Departments and Courses: Lower School Technology Teacher, Special Events Coordinator and Asst. Varsity Cross Country Coach Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: New York School of Interior Design and Kean University I not only work at Rutgers Prep, but I am also the parent of two Rutgers Prep students; my daughter Kiera is now in the 5th grade, and my son Daniel is in the 3rd grade. I love running and spending as much time as possible outdoors. I have run numerous races, and I am the race director of the Jimmy D Memorial 5K in New Brunswick, NJ. My true passion is running my non-profit, The James D'heron Memorial Foundation, Inc. and raising funds and awareness for burn survivors and the fire services. "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Colleen Vinchur Year of Appointment: 2007 Department and Courses: Lower School: 2nd grade Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Rutgers University In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family. I'm Patrick and A.J.'s number one fan at football, basketball, hockey, and baseball |
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Wendy Winograd Year of Appointment: 2001 Department and Courses: Upper School Student Counseling: Interpersonal Communication and Student Leadership Development/PL Lab Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: Brown University: BA in English and American Literature; Wendy Winograd maintains a private practice in Chatham, New Jersey working with adolescents, adults and couples. She earned her MSW from New York University and is currently an Advanced Candidate at the New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis. One of her favorite activities at RPS is running the annual Blood Drive. |
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David Wise Year of Appointment: 2000 Departments and Courses: Upper School Assistant Principal and Upper School Mathematics Department Head: Upper School Statistics / AP Statistics Collegiate Affiliations and Degrees: St. Andrews Presbyterian College, BS; University of Georgia, MEd, David Wise has taught and coached in independent schools throughout his career. His interests include running, reading, and listening to bluegrass music. |
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Samantha Withum Year of Appointment: 2005 Department and Courses: Lower School 2nd grade Collegiate Affiliation and Degree: Douglass College, Rutgers University,BA Mother of 3 boys, enjoys cheering for Rutgers and the NY Mets, and of course, her sons' teams, loves sharing stories and laughing with her students, and spending time with her family and friends. |
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Year of Appointment: 1996 Department and Courses: Visual Arts Department Head: Upper School Photography 1, 2/3, 4/5 College Affiliations and Degrees: MFA: Cranbrook Academy; BFA: Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University; BA: Rutgers University Scot J. Wittman exhibits his work internationally, enjoying representation in galleries on both coasts of USA as well as Rome, Reykjavik and other European cities. Documentation of his work is found on his site www.mapographer.com. Another passion, also on an international scale, he competes professionally in the world of Frisbee. |
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Carole Glantzow Zboray Year of Appointment: 1980 Department and Courses: Middle School Science: 8th grade Science; Middle School Girls Lacrosse Coach; Varsity Girls Head Lacrosse Coach; 8th Grade Level Coordinator; Director of Summer School College Affiliation and Degree: College: Cook College/Rutgers University BS Carole spent her formative years in Philadelphia and thus her “phillie accent” can still be heard. She is a member of the US Lacrosse Assoc., National Science Teachers Assoc. and NJ Science Teachers Assoc. Carole played Varsity Lacrosse at Rutgers University. She and her registered therapy dog, Boo, visit assisted living homes in the area. |















































































































