News & Views
Country School Welcomes New Faculty & Staff
New Canaan Country School welcomes several new faculty and staff members this year, including nine new apprentice teachers. “We have attracted a very talented group of educators with an impressive array of professional experiences who are passionate about children’s growth and development,” said Head of School Aaron Cooper.
Jean Beecher joins the Upper School math department. Jean graduated from Hamilton College where she received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, with a minor in Government, and was a member of the womens’ squash team. This past year Jean coached Middle and Upper School squash at NCCS and served as an apprentice teacher in Grade 5.
Jackie Britt-Friedman joins us as our Middle and Upper School Psychologist. Most recently, Jackie has provided psychotherapy to children and adolescents at The Waverly Group and has worked at The Windward School since 2012 as a school psychologist. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a doctorate from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in the School-Clinical Child Psychology Program.
Victor Catano joined our Leadership Team in July as Chief Financial Officer. Victor was the Interim Director of Finance at the IDEAL School in Manhattan. Prior to that he served as the Business Manager for nine years at the Rudolf Steiner School. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer for two years at Rockland Country Day School. Victor has served as the chair of the NYSAIS Business Affairs Council. He holds an M.B.S. from Baruch College and a B.S. from Haverford College.
Lorena Chavez joins as an Upper School Spanish teacher. Lorena has been a Spanish teacher at Ridgefield Academy for Grades 3 through 8 for the past six years. Prior to that, she was an ESL teacher with Family and Childcare Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Charter Oak College.
Rachel Kulig will be our new Safety and Health Assistant. Rachel has a B.S. in Criminology from the University of Tampa. She is a certified, trained Emergency Medical Technician and firefighter.
Robin Lindquist joins us as our new Lower School Librarian. Robin has worked as the Lower School Librarian at the Wooster School in Danbury since 2009. She has also taught information literacy skills in Grades 3 through 5 as well as Digital Media instruction in Grades 6 through 8. She holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College.
Winter Quisgard will return to the Country School as a Grade 3 Teacher. A former NCCS Apprentice Teacher and Horizons Assistant Teacher, Winter is returning to the field of elementary education after some time working as a technical designer and educator of architects. Winter holds a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College and Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Colin Thom joins NCCS as the Lower School Science Assistant Teacher. Colin served as a Grade 1 and 2 teacher at the Canaan Ridge School for several years, before joining the Maritime Aquarium in 2013, where he has served as an educator, Research Vessel Captain, and Associate Director of Vessel Operations. Colin holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Ohio Wesleyan University.
James Whittemore will teach Upper School Latin. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Classical Languages and Literatures from Dartmouth College, James returned to his alma mater, Brunswick School, where he participated in their teaching fellowship program. After just a few months, James was given his own classes, in both the English and Classics departments, teaching 10th and 9th grade respectively. Additionally, James served as a 9th grade advisor, an assistant soccer coach and assistant squash coach.
Learn more about the NCCS Faculty
Learn more about the Apprentice Program
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Jackie Britt-Friedman joins us as our Middle and Upper School Psychologist. Most recently, Jackie has provided psychotherapy to children and adolescents at The Waverly Group and has worked at The Windward School since 2012 as a school psychologist. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a doctorate from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in the School-Clinical Child Psychology Program.
Victor Catano joined our Leadership Team in July as Chief Financial Officer. Victor was the Interim Director of Finance at the IDEAL School in Manhattan. Prior to that he served as the Business Manager for nine years at the Rudolf Steiner School. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer for two years at Rockland Country Day School. Victor has served as the chair of the NYSAIS Business Affairs Council. He holds an M.B.S. from Baruch College and a B.S. from Haverford College.
Lorena Chavez joins as an Upper School Spanish teacher. Lorena has been a Spanish teacher at Ridgefield Academy for Grades 3 through 8 for the past six years. Prior to that, she was an ESL teacher with Family and Childcare Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Charter Oak College.
Rachel Kulig will be our new Safety and Health Assistant. Rachel has a B.S. in Criminology from the University of Tampa. She is a certified, trained Emergency Medical Technician and firefighter.
Robin Lindquist joins us as our new Lower School Librarian. Robin has worked as the Lower School Librarian at the Wooster School in Danbury since 2009. She has also taught information literacy skills in Grades 3 through 5 as well as Digital Media instruction in Grades 6 through 8. She holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College.
Winter Quisgard will return to the Country School as a Grade 3 Teacher. A former NCCS Apprentice Teacher and Horizons Assistant Teacher, Winter is returning to the field of elementary education after some time working as a technical designer and educator of architects. Winter holds a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College and Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Colin Thom joins NCCS as the Lower School Science Assistant Teacher. Colin served as a Grade 1 and 2 teacher at the Canaan Ridge School for several years, before joining the Maritime Aquarium in 2013, where he has served as an educator, Research Vessel Captain, and Associate Director of Vessel Operations. Colin holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Ohio Wesleyan University.
James Whittemore will teach Upper School Latin. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Classical Languages and Literatures from Dartmouth College, James returned to his alma mater, Brunswick School, where he participated in their teaching fellowship program. After just a few months, James was given his own classes, in both the English and Classics departments, teaching 10th and 9th grade respectively. Additionally, James served as a 9th grade advisor, an assistant soccer coach and assistant squash coach.
Learn more about the NCCS Faculty
Learn more about the Apprentice Program
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
