Meet the Faculty and Staff joining Beaver for the 2016-2017 school year!
Melissa Bell – Math Specialist
I’m coming from … privately tutoring students in mathematics (grades K-12) for the past 11 years. Prior to tutoring, I was a middle school math teacher in Wayland.
I’m … the Math specialist. I will primarily be working with Middle School students, but I will also be in the Enrichment Center supporting students in the Upper School.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … students and teachers are dedicated and passionate about learning. Beaver is supportive of all of its members, and I feel fortunate to be working and collaborating with such a talented group of educators.
Sharon Chen – Middle School Percussion
I’m coming from … Taiwan.
I’m teaching … Middle School percussion.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … it encourages creativity.
Jiawei Cheng – Middle School Chinese
I’m coming from … finishing a masters in Language and Literacy at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
I’m teaching … Middle School Mandarin.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … this is a school I would want to attend myself and send my kids to. I would love to make it even more supportive.
Elisha Cho – Upper School Spanish
I’m coming from … Cali, Colombia
I’m teaching … Upper School Spanish
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … I am home!
Daniel DeLeon ’11 – Upper School English
I’m coming from … Beaver’s Enrichment Center! I graduated Boston College in May 2015 and am currently working on obtaining a Master of Arts in Teaching.
I’m teaching … 9th grade English and a couple of senior electives.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … as a former student (class of 2011), I know how special the community is!
Chris Doyle – Director of Buildings and Grounds
I’m coming from … the Independent Day School in Middlefield, CT.
I’m … the Director of Buildings & Grounds.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … there is always something going on here to improve the facilities for the students and teachers, like the R&D Center. I am also excited to work with the great people I have met so far, AND I am excited that my daughter, Ardelia (class of 2023) is joining the school too.
Joanne McDaniel – Associate Director of Finance
I’m coming from … The Woodward School, where I was privileged to serve as CFO for 14 years.
I’m … the Associate Director of Finance.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … our faculty is thoroughly committed to inspiring students through innovative teaching. Our highly engaged, curious students bring life and energy to school every day, and our leadership team is dedicated to providing the resources necessary to enable such a vibrant learning community.
Matthew Micari – Upper School Science
I am coming from … working in the Pathology department at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and teaching at the BU School of Education.
I’m teaching … Upper School biology and biology electives to juniors and seniors.
I am excited to be at Beaver because … of the focus on creativity, non-traditional learning, and entrepreneurship. With a background in science, art, and entrepreneurship, I feel that I will be able to contribute greatly to the Beaver Community.
Jessica Pezdek – Middle School Spanish
I’m coming from … Fay School
I’m teaching … Middle School Spanish
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … Beaver is awesome! It is a community that lives its values.
Maya Ranganathan – Upper School History and English
I’m coming from … teaching middle school humanities out in San Francisco, CA. I’m very excited to be back on the East Coast!
I’m teaching … Upper School history and English
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … I will be entering a thriving community that fosters creativity, innovation and collaboration amongst teachers and students.
Jordan Rogoff – Middle School Science
I’m coming from … a career in design & engineering and one year in public school.
I’m teaching … Middle School science.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … it is the outlier and the community seems incredible.
Carel Ristuccia – Admissions Coordinator
I’m coming from …. being home with my kids and the Beaver Summer Camp
I’m … the Admissions Coordinator
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … I have worked at the camp for the past 6 years and know that Beaver is such a great place to work and is filled with great faculty and students.
Vanessa Savas – Middle School History
I’m coming from … teaching in both public and private schools. Most recently I was a middle school history teacher at Cambridge Friends School.
I’m teaching … 7th and 8th grade history
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … I get to be a part of a community that practices innovative, student-centered learning, and one that is committed to having young people develop a lens of social justice through which to see the world.
Brian Smith – Upper School History
I’m coming from … eight years at Middlesex School working in the Dean of Students office, teaching history, and coaching. Most recently MATCH Public Charter High School as Dean of Students and Athletic Director and developing history courses for The Virtual High School.
I’m teaching … Upper School history
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … I believe in the power of unlearning and am a fervent advocate of the new basics. Beaver is changing the learning paradigm by destroying the myth that schooling means students are buried in textbooks and busy work. The history department provides an engaging, and modern approach to the global and thematic study of history. Our distributive leadership model to diversity, equity, and justice work means the student experience is supported by ALL faculty and staff members and the themes of equity and justice are present in every classroom.
Matthew Vaeth – Middle School Strings
I’m coming from … teaching a middle school orchestra program in Columbia, South Carolina.
I’m teaching … Middle School strings
I’m exited to be at Beaver because … of the school’s commitment to new and innovative learning; as well as its growing support of the arts.
Amanda Washington – Upper School Spanish
I’m coming from … teaching English outside of Barcelona, Spain!
I’m teaching … Upper School Spanish.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … of the amazing community that encourages meaningful growth and learning.
Nicole White – Data and Campaign Services Manager
I’m coming from … Simmons College where I was the Associate Director of Operations in the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
I’m … putting the #dataqueen in Data and Campaign Services Manager.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … of the small tight knit community and collaborative environment.
Drew Zachry – Upper School Science
I’m coming from … teaching robotics and physical science at Thayer Academy.
I’m teaching … Upper School physics.
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … of the culture and emphasis put on exploration and experimentation from both the teachers and the students. I look forward to learning from both groups.
Jennifer Zevos – Middle School Music
I’m coming from … living in Boston for the past eight years to attend Berklee College of Music, and later the New England Conservatory for grad school. I am also a member of brass faculty at the Dedham School of Music, and the Natick School District.
I’m teaching … Middle School music (brass- trumpet trombone tuba)
I’m excited to be at Beaver because … it is an innovative and creative place where the arts are very well supported and the students, faculty and staff are all inspiring people!