Get to know our newest faculty and staff members – joining Beaver in the 2021-22 school year – below:
Megan Wu Macomber – Middle School History
I’m coming from … The Fenn School
When I’m not at work you can find me … Running, walking my dog, reading
TV show I’m binging on … Pose (on Netflix)
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Esplanade along the Charles
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Black Sun (book) and The Poppy War (book series)
My favorite color is … Red
My favorite food is … Seafood! (Lobster, sushi, clams, oysters, etc.)
My favorite animal is … Penguins
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? How the global history department and school at large is committed to social justice and DEI work.
Kristin FitzGerald – Middle School History & Humanities
I’m coming from … The Fenn School in Concord was my previous school for 11 years. Before that, I taught at Friends Academy in N. Dartmouth. Before that, I spent two years at The Potomac School in McClean, VA. AND before that, I started my career at The Brearley School in NYC, where I taught for 9 years
When I’m not at work you can find me … At the playground or skate park (or if it’s winter, skiing) with my 8 year old and 6 year old. If I get time to myself, you’ll find me walking or reading
TV show I’m binging on … Ted Lasso, The Hype, and Brooklyn 99
My favorite thing about Boston is … The restaurants
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … I’m re-reading Friday Black, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, a book of dystopian short stories that I love. I’m also reading Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
My favorite color is … Orange
My favorite food is … Cake
My favorite animal is … The sloth
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Meeting all the fabulous new people!
Amirah Mahdi ’11 – Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
I’m coming from … Opening a satellite campus of The Winchendon School in New York City!
When I’m not at work you can find me … Spending time with my nieces and nephews, going to Pilates, or hanging out with friends
TV show I’m binging on … Re-watching all of Criminal Minds
My favorite thing about Boston is … My family is here
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Becoming by Michelle Obama
My favorite color is … Purple
My favorite food is … Any kind of breakfast food
My favorite animal is … A lion
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? As an alum, I’m excited to be back at Beaver on the other side of things!
Jenn Youk See – Upper School Math
I’m coming from … The Fenn School
When I’m not at work you can find me … With my friends and family, in the garden, cooking, or curled up with a good book
TV show I’m binging on … I just finished (and loved) Starstruck, and I’m a fan of The Walking Dead. I also watch The Daily Show and Last Week Tonight
My favorite thing about Boston is … My friends and family are here, the variety of restaurants, the changing of the seasons, proximity to beaches and mountains, and generally how Bostonians are frequently outside
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Planet Money (Podcast)
My favorite color is … Blue, green, and grey
My favorite food is … Oof….far too many to list…I could more easily choose a favorite from each type of cuisine. Can you tell that I enjoy food?
My favorite animal is … Dog
Coffee or tea? Seltzer
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The progressive nature of the school.
Kit Golan – Middle School Math
I’m coming from … The city. New York City, that is!
When I’m not at work you can find me … Playing board games. Some of my favorites include Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, and Euphoria
TV show I’m binging on … Steven Universe Future
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Science Museum!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Math is Figureoutable is my new favorite podcast. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in Tomi Adeyami’s series, Children of Blood and Bone
My favorite color is … Cerulean blue, hunter green and burnt orange
My favorite food is … Sushi
My favorite animal is … Lions because I’m a Leo!
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m excited to mentor mathematicians and help my students to mathematize their lives. I’m excited about collaborative problem solving and meaningful projects that we’ll delve into while we explore mathematical relationships.
Debra Kreisberg – Middle and Upper School Instrumental Music
I’m coming from … New York City
When I’m not at work you can find me … Practicing my woodwinds and piano, reading, running, hiking
TV show I’m binging on … Call My Agent and Friday Night Lights
My favorite thing about Boston is … It’s a smaller city than New York with an abundance of arts, culture, and good food
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Great Thinkers (a collection of important ideas of Eastern and Western culture throughout the centuries – drawn from a variety of fields, from philosophy to political theory to art). A podcast I recommend is Bag Man, by Rachel Maddow – Bag Man is a deep-dive analysis into the relatively lesser-known corruption of former Vice President Spiro Agnew
My favorite color is … Blue
My favorite food is … Simple American food like roast chicken, greens, and mashed potatoes, and also Moroccan food, like Tagine
My favorite animal is … I love dogs and cats
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Forming meaningful connections with students and faculty; inspiring my students to dig deeper into their musical abilities than they ever imagined they might; collaborating with my students to create musical experiences they can build on and share with the community.
Sara Kelley-Mudie – Librarian and Educational Technology Specialist
I’m coming from … Thayer Academy
When I’m not at work you can find me … Reading, crafting or walking in the Blue Hills
TV show I’m binging on … Wynonna Earp
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Blue Hills Reservation (not technically in Boston, but near where I live)
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Too many to name! My favorite read from this summer was Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue and I’m psyched that the second season of This Land has started
My favorite color is … Purple
My favorite food is … Cheese. All kinds
My favorite animal is … Sloth
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Everyone I’ve talked to has been so eager to collaborate. I love the opportunity to think and talk about real-world contexts for education.
Elliot Clayton – Technology and Finance Assistant
I’m coming from … Northeastern University
When I’m not at work you can find me … At home with my family
TV show I’m binging on … Anything on YouTube dealing with sewing or leather crafting
My favorite thing about Boston is … The energy of being Downtown or the calm of walking the Greenway
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Bigger Pockets Podcast
My favorite color is … Green
My favorite food is … Trail mix with NO peanuts
My favorite animal is … Cane Corso or Presa Canario
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Learning the culture and community of the Beaver students and teachers.
Zaira Santiago – Associate Head of School for Special Projects
I’m coming from … The Nutmeg State
When I’m not at work you can find me … Reading a book, hanging out with friends and family, or exploring/learning something new
TV show I’m binging on … Ted Lasso
My favorite thing about Boston is … There is always something new to discover!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … My favorite Podcast is Stuff You Should Know— I’ve been listening to it for over 10 years – and there is still stuff I don’t know!
My favorite color is … I don’t really have one, but I tend to like blues, reds, and purples
My favorite food is … Anything my mom cooks (Puerto Rican food)… and pizza!
My favorite animal is … Aside from beavers, of course, penguins are pretty darn cute
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m excited about joining such an inclusive and collaborative community and an institution that doesn’t just want to be a leader in the field of education, but is willing to redefine and “expand the nature of school.”
Joshua Garver – Middle School Strings
I’m coming from … Arlington, MA
When I’m not at work you can find me … Spending time with my family, playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, and practicing the violin
TV show I’m binging on … The Expanse
My favorite thing about Boston is … The music and arts scene!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … (Book) Every Song Ever by Ben Ratliff
My favorite color is … Blue
My favorite food is … Anything and everything my wife cooks
My favorite animal is … Greyhounds
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The chance to be part of a supportive, innovative teaching community!
Colleen Sheldon – Administrative Assistant in the Head of School’s Office
I’m coming from … Working in hospitality at the Westin Boston Waterfront
When I’m not at work you can find me … Dining out hopefully. But if not dining out, I’m cooking
TV show I’m binging on … Recently finished Mare of Eastown, now back to The Sopranos
My favorite thing about Boston is … Autumn in Boston and Boston sports
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … For podcasts, anything true crime or stand up comedy
My favorite color is … Black, maroon, or forest green
My favorite food is … Seafood – lobster, oysters, crab
My favorite animal is … A lion
Coffee or tea? Tea
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The inspirational students!
Billye Toussaint – Upper School English
I’m coming from … The Noble and Greenough School
When I’m not at work you can find me … Running, cycling, kayaking or rock climbing
TV show I’m binging on … I’m not so much of a tv show person, but I have been reading a lot of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, especially afro-futurism
My favorite thing about Boston is … All of the different neighborhoods. There is something for everyone
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Burn by Patrick Ness (Recommended by Sara Kelley-Mudie)
My favorite color is … Pink and orange next to each other
My favorite food is … Tofu banh-mi
My favorite animal is … Okapi
Coffee or tea? Tea
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m most excited about being somewhere that prioritizes creativity and innovation.
Bruna Ferranti ’12 – IT Intern
I’m coming from … Boston, MA
When I’m not at work you can find me … Playing video games or falling down a YouTube hole
TV show I’m binging on … The Great British Bake-Off
My favorite thing about Boston is … Dine Out Boston. (Happens twice a year, all gourmet restaurants are heavily discounted. Yum!)
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Too many to list
My favorite color is … Lilac purple
My favorite food is … Brazilian food
My favorite animal is … Dogs!
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Excited to be back as a staff member and meet all the new staff and learn as much as I can!
Abby Hewett – Facilities Operations Worker
I’m coming from … Regis College
When I’m not at work you can find me … At home with my 2 corgis Lily and Oliver or on the tennis court
TV show I’m binging on … Always have Brooklyn Nine Nine on
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Red Sox
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Billie Jean King’s autobiography All In
My favorite color is … Blue
My favorite food is … Chocolate ice cream
My favorite animal is … Moose
Coffee or tea? Hot Cocoa
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Being a part of the Beaver Community.
Chai Reddy – Director of Upper School
I’m coming from … Honolulu, Hawai’i
When I’m not at work you can find me … On my couch
TV show I’m binging on … I am in a dry spell since Mandalorian and Cobra Kai finished
My favorite thing about Boston is … I’m still too new to have a favorite thing, but I hope to find something soon
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Since I have a 3 year old, it’s a lot of Bear Snores On, Bear’s New Friend, etc.
My favorite color is … Blue
My favorite food is … My mom’s cooking
My favorite animal is … Wolf
Coffee or tea? Water? I don’t drink coffee or tea
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Having the opportunity to meet so many new students, educators, and families.
Ryan Carty – Buildings & Grounds
I’m coming from … Steel fabrication
When I’m not at work you can find me … On the golf course
TV show I’m binging on … Friends
My favorite thing about Boston is … Sports
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Tony Robbins
My favorite color is … White
My favorite food is … Spaghetti bolognese
My favorite animal is … Horses
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? To build relationships and bring value to the students and faculty.
Morgan Muschamp – Engineering and R+D Team
I’m coming from … A year at sea on the Roseway educational schooner
When I’m not at work you can find me … Working on my boat, hiking, or at the beach
TV show I’m binging on … American Horror Story
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Red Sox and Fenway Park
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … The Coddling of the American Mind / Honestly with Bari Weiss
My favorite color is … The rainbow, I can’t decide!
My favorite food is … Pasta and meatballs with red sauce
My favorite animal is … My cat, Jackson
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? All my colleagues are welcoming and kind, and the culture of teaching AND learning.
Cynthia Cassella – Upper School English
I’m coming from … Roxbury Prep High School in Hyde Park
When I’m not at work you can find me … Reading, watching anime, or playing video games
TV show I’m binging on … The Good Place
My favorite thing about Boston is … The proximity to beautiful natural spaces
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Currently reading Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor
My favorite color is … Green
My favorite food is … Too many to name, but I definitely can’t get enough of pupusas, french fries, or sushi
My favorite animal is … A cat
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The sense of community and warmth within the building.