Department Heads

I am an Upper School Global History and Social Sciences teacher and the head of the department. A native of Philadelphia, PA, I started my career as a social worker counseling adjudicated youth and helping them transition into the home and school setting. A product of Philadelphia’s public schools, I began my teaching career with the School District of Philadelphia, where I taught history for five years at the high school level. Since 2005, I have taught in independent schools at the middle school and high school levels. I came to Beaver in 2011 and have spent the past few years supporting teachers around using technology as an educational tool to enhance instructional practices, working with new teachers, advising student groups, and incorporating technology, and social justice into my classroom practice when teaching about past and current historical events. I speak Spanish fluently and have spent time living abroad in locations worldwide, including Rwanda, Mexico City, Spain, and Japan. I have a bachelor’s degree from Chestnut Hill College and a master’s degree in secondary education from St. Joseph’s University.

I am a Jersey Girl, originally from Trenton. I moved to Boston to pursue a BFA in acting at Emerson College, which led me to Europe to study mime and to L.A. to study acting for film. After graduating, I co-founded a Boston-based theater company in which I performed, and I oversaw the artistic vision and business management. While working with my own company, I acted professionally in Boston and choreographed and performed with a modern dance company, RedShift.  I realized that as much as I loved performing, I got more gratification from sharing my passion for theater and dance with others and watching them grow as artists. I began to teach in the classroom and to direct and choreograph plays in many Boston area schools and theaters.  Eventually, I connected with Beaver, directing and choreographing in the afternoon program for more than 10 years.

I left the States to travel and teach theater in Andalucia, Spain, where I lived and worked for two years, but the performing arts chair position at Beaver lured me back to the US. I am thrilled to be back at Beaver as chair of the performing arts department, and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to merge my skills, understanding, and passion for the performing arts with our independent and creative students.  Through exposing the students to a range of performing opportunities—both curricular and co-curricular—we allow them to find and express their voice in many different ways, and we encourage them to explore differing viewpoints and unfamiliar cultures.