Get to know our newest faculty and staff members – joining Beaver in the 2022-23 school year below.
Ashley Garcia – Upper School Counselor and Academic Support Provider
I’m coming from … Austin Prep in Reading, MA
When I’m not at work you can find me … Spending time with my nieces and nephew, adding books to my GoodReads list, trying new food with my partner, or watching Law & Order SVU
TV Show I’m binging on … Smothered or 90 Day Fiancé TLC
My favorite thing about Boston is … The food variety!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … I’m currently reading Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis and you’ll always find me listening to The Read during downtime
My favorite color is … Green
My favorite food is … Anything my mom cooks!
My favorite animal is … My sweet pup Remi
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Being part of this incredible community and supporting students and colleagues.
Sophia Baez – Upper School Global History and English
I’m coming from … Excel Academy Charter High Schools and Uncommon Schools
When I’m not at work you can find me … Walking around East Boston, grabbing boba, or watching Bravo with my cat
TV Show I’m binging on … Only Murders in the Building
My favorite thing about Boston is … The seafood, the fall, and the proximity to the ocean
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Ear hustle, it is incredible
My favorite color is … Cobalt blue
My favorite food is … Sushi!
My favorite animal is … Cat or a bat
Coffee or tea? Cuban coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? How genuinely kind everyone. The sense of community I have felt at every turn has been incredible.
Rick Wilson, PsyD – Director of Counseling, Health, and Wellness
I’m coming from … Nobles where I worked as a consultant and then school counselor for 16 years. Prior to that, our family lived at Dana Hall School as “dorm parents” for 5 years. I also have had a large and now smaller private practice working with adolescents, adults, and families
When I’m not at work … You can find me empty nesting with my wife, Kim, riding my bike, playing/recording music
TV Show I’m binging on … This summer I really liked Outer Range
My favorite thing about Boston is … … The awesome overall vibe for food and culture, and of course, The Bruins!!!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … I’ve been listening to Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and Influence is your Superpower by Zoe Chance
My favorite color is … Green
My favorite food is … I love food and can’t really pick out a favorite…except maybe Mochi
My favorite animal is … My cats, Cricket and Milo
Coffee or tea? Coffee … unless I’m sick, then tea
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The opportunity to be part of a kind, thoughtful, and curious community.
Aviel Valenzuela – Upper School Spanish and Advisor
I’m coming from … Nicaragua
When I’m not at work you can find me … Playing pick-up soccer and having a cup of coffee while my kids play at our local playground
TV Show I’m binging on … All of the Star Wars TV shows
My favorite thing about Boston is … The Charles River Bike Path
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … I love Throughline – NPR
Coffee or tea? Definitely coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? The opportunity to contribute to the creation of a space where all students feel valued and supported and the collaborative nature of the school.
Barbie Garayua Tudryn – Associate Director of the Hiatt Center
I’m coming from … Frank Porter Graham Bilingüe, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
When I’m not at work you can find me … At my writing desk by my window, chasing free outdoor yoga all over the city, and at BC football events and games. Go Eagles!
TV Show I’m binging on … House of the Dragon … Dracarys!!!
My favorite thing about Boston is … Food, art, culture, FOOD, and the airport
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … Books: My Grandmother’s Hands, All We Can Save, Gather Together in my Name / Podcasts: CodeSwitch, On Being, Poetry Unbound, La Brega, White Lies
My favorite color is … NOT pink
My favorite food is … Arroz con habichuelas, pollo, rajita de aguacate, y mofongo con mayoketchup… yum!!
My favorite animal is … Ceiba, my black Lab granddaughter
Coffee or tea? Coffee!
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Hearing and learning from the kids, and the brilliant educators all around me
Kate O’Dowd – Middle School Mathematics
I’m coming from … Concord, NH, but I have lived and taught in Texas, Virginia, and New York before!
When I’m not at work you can find me … At a playground with my two toddlers or cooking
TV Show I’m binging on … The Rehearsal on HBO
My favorite thing about Boston is … Exploring all the different neighborhoods in the area. And, by exploring, I mean eating at great restaurants
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs (just finished!)
My favorite color is … Green
My favorite food is … A real high-quality scone
My favorite animal is … Specifically my cat Basil
Coffee or tea? Iced Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m excited that the math department is invested in exploring meaningful applications of mathematics.
Anna Jones – Upper School Counselor
I’m coming from … McLean Hospital’s Adolescent PHP
When I’m not at work you can find me … Playing with my kids!
TV Show I’m binging on … Great British Bake Off
My favorite thing about Boston is … How easy it is to leave and get to the woods
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … All Boys Aren’t Blue (book)
My favorite color is … Yellow
My favorite food is … Mac and Cheese
My favorite animal is … Tiger
Coffee or tea? Coffee
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? Getting to know and support students longer term.
Sue-Ann Rodriquez – Upper School Global History and Social Sciences
I’m coming from … Kingston, Jamaica > New York > Boston > Tampa > Boston
When I’m not at work you can find me … Taking my son (5 year old) to the park, pool, or for a bike ride
TV Show I’m binging on … City on a Hill
My favorite thing about Boston is … Go Pats!
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
My favorite color is … I see a red door and I want to paint it … Black
My favorite food is … I am a foodie and I love trying new foods, but my favorite is Jamaican jerk …jerk chicken, pork, shrimp, fish
My favorite animal is … A horse
Coffee or tea? Coffee … Espresso, Macchiato, Americano, Starbucks frappuccino
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I am excited about teaching at Beaver for all the reasons summarized in the Beaver priorities. I love the qualities and values (such as empathy, collaboration, creative problem solving, etc.) that Beaver prioritizes in its community. I also love Beaver’s commitment to DEIJ work. I love the amazing community of educators and staff that I have already met, and I am looking forward to meeting, working, and collaborating with the other amazingly talented staff.
Ghilman Brock – Upper School Math and Physics
I’m coming from … Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
When I’m not at work you can find me … Cooking, playing video games, going on walks, or napping
TV Show I’m binging on … I haven’t been watching much TV lately. I’ll happily take suggestions!
My favorite thing about Boston is … That it’s walkable—though not very drivable
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … I’ve been trying to make it through The Lord of the Rings for a year or so. As for podcasts, I’m a fan of Know Your Enemy
My favorite color is … Dark green
My favorite food is … oof, too many to list. I’ll say nigiri and palak paneer
My favorite animal is … Dinosaurs
Coffee or tea? Both
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m very excited to work with such thoughtful students and colleagues.
Kristina Ohl – Middle School Science
I’m coming from … Arlington MA. I just finished up a year-long graduate program and took a break from teaching during that year. Before, I taught in Colorado
When I’m not at work you can find me … Gardening, hiking, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
TV Show I’m binging on … Indian Matchmaking
My favorite thing about Boston is … Being near the ocean
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … The It Girl (book)
My favorite color is … Blue
My favorite food is … Crêpes or ice cream
My favorite animal is … Dogs or Hedgehogs
Coffee or tea? Both coffee and tea!
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m most excited about teaching at a private school that shares the teaching philosophy I have about education. I believe strongly in the value of project-based learning and can’t wait to dive deeper into this approach at Beaver.
Ajani Otieno-Rudek – IT Technician
I’m coming from … teaching at Saint Ann’s School (Brooklyn, NY)
When I’m not at work you can find me … playing with my new dog, trying out a new Thai restaurant, working on music, or playing video games.
TV Show I’m binging on … Better Call Saul
My favorite thing about Boston is … the balance of being in a city while also having plenty of places where you can go to relax and enjoy nature. I’m also a huge Celtics fan and love urban farming in the city.
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … keeping my eyes out for something good!
My favorite color is … Blue/Black
My favorite food is … clam chowder & anything with Teriyaki sauce
My favorite animal is … Puma
Coffee or tea? … Both (coffee if I have to choose)
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I graduated from Beaver in 2016, so it has been fun to work with my former teachers and see how the school has changed and grown since I was a student. I’m excited to get to know and work with the students!
Luke James – Social Media Manager
I’m coming from … Northern New York and, before that, Boston University
When I’m not at work you can find me … With my dog, Jellybean!
My favorite thing about Boston is … The community of artists that inhabit it
Book I’m reading / Podcast I recommend … A History of the World in 100 Objects (podcast)
My favorite color is … Orange, pink, and black
My favorite animal is … Bats (they are very cute, I promise)
Coffee or tea? Coffee, always
What excites you most about teaching/working at Beaver? I’m excited to produce a lot of fun content showcasing the Beaver way of life!
Jellybean – Luke’s Dog
Now that I (Luke!) have access to the Beaver blog, of course I’m going to share a photo of my dog rocking her new Beaver apparel!