Country School Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

Holly Donaldson Casella '04 joins us as Director of Alumni Affairs. Holly holds a B.A. with honors in Public Policy and a minor in Environmental Studies, Hamilton College. She has held several positions at Americares since 2011 including: Development Officer, Individual Philanthropy; Manager, Donor Engagement & Special Events; and Senior Associate, Leadership Gifts.

 

Rebecca Comizio joins as a School Psychologist working with our students in Beginners through Grade 5. Rebecca holds a B.S. in Secondary English Education and Philosophy from Central Connecticut State University, an M.A. in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University, and an M.A. in School Psychology from Iona College. She was most recently a school psychologist and director of social-emotional learning for The Stanwich School in Greenwich. Her previous experience includes serving as a consultant for The Waverly Group and working with the Mamaroneck, NY school district.

 

Mauricia Gardiner is a Grade 6 Homeroom Teacher. She holds an M.A. in Childhood Education from Hunter College and a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Bryant University. She was a Grade 5 teacher at Explore Charter School in Brooklyn, NY and Grade 3 teacher in Covington, KY.

 

Pamela Ha-Stevenson joins us as a Database Manager in the Advancement Office. She holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and previously served as Development Database Manager at Person-to-Person in Darien.

 

Kisha Palmer will serve as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the 2017-2018 school year. Kisha was the Director of Women as Global Leaders at the Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA for eight years. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and a B.A. from Vassar College.

 

Lindy Toczko is a Performing Arts Teacher. Lindy holds a Masters of Music Education from Columbia Teachers College and a Bachelors of Music Education degree from New York University. Lindy was a preschool assistant teacher, after-school care supervisor and long-term substitute teacher at The Country School in Madison, CT. Prior to that, she was a music teacher at PSMS 161 Pedro Albizu Campos School, in Brooklyn, NY and the Assistant Director of the NYU children’s chorus.

 

Helga Tomalá is a World Language Teacher, teaching French and Spanish. Helga holds an M.A. in Latin Literature from Wesleyan University and a B.A. in Classical Studies and French from Hunter College. Mostly recently, she taught Spanish for grades 6-12 at Lyceum Kennedy International School. Prior to that she was an online Latin and Spanish teacher with Middleburyinteractive.com.

 

Wendy Root is a Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher. She holds an M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Simmons College and a B.A. in English from Bates College. Wendy most recently was a Grade 5 teacher at Greenwich Country Day School; she has also taught Grade 4 at GCDS. She was previously an elementary school teacher in the Greenwich public schools for nearly a decade.

 

Alex Wellman joined on July 1 as the Head of Upper School. Alex holds an M.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in English and Spanish Literature from Middlebury College. Alex was the Assistant Director of College Guidance and Sophomore Class Academic Dean at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT, since 2008. He has held several other positions there over the years: Freshman Class Dean, Upper School Admission Associate and English teacher. Prior to his work at GFA, Alex taught English and Spanish for one year at Kimball Union Academy.