Linda graduated from SUNY Purchase in 1989 with a BFA in Dance and Composition. She was a principal member of Robert Kovich Dance Company in New York City from 1990-1991 where she performed in city, regional and international performances. She worked at Dooney and Bourke on Madison Avenue from 1991-1996, from 1994-1996 she managed the 2,500 square foot flagship store with a staff of fifteen employees. Linda received her Master’s of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in 1998 from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. She holds two New York State Professional Level Certifications, one in Early Childhood and the other in Elementary Education. Linda taught at The Town School in New York City from 1996-2006, she taught Pre-K her first year and then spent the balance of her time teaching second grade. Linda joined the Rockland Country Day School faculty in 2009, before that she was home with her children Whitney and Jack. Linda loves math and teaching math. She is delighted to be focusing her teaching on math education in The Children’s School.

Ms. Sommer earned an MS.Ed from Bank Street College in 2008 and a BA in 1992 from Bowling Green State University in French and Fine Art. Michele studied French at the Alliance Francaise in Paris and the Institut de Tourraine in Tours, France and oil painting at the Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy. In 1992, Michele was accepted into the Parson’s School of Design in New York, New York where she studied painting, drawing, and sculpture. She moved to Switzerland in 1993 where she apprenticed in art restoration of Medieval frescos with the Atelier St. Luc, a Swiss art conservation and restoration studio. Michele returned to New York City in the fall of 1995 where she completed her fine art studies at the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture. At the Studio School, Michele had the opportunity to study drawing and painting in depth with many of the most distinguished artists of the last half century, including Mercedes Matter, Charles Cajori, Graham Nickson, and Louis Finkelstein. During her tenure at the Studio School, she was selected to spend a semester at the Ecole Superieure des Beaux-Arts a Marseille, a French National art school in the south of France. Michele began teaching art at the Rockland Country Day School (RCDS) in 1998 and became the Art Department Head in 2001. While teaching at RCDS, Michele completed a Certification of Advanced Study in Art Education K-12 at the St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, earning a GPA of 4.0. Last year, Michele was named Artistic Director for the school and now heads the Fine Art, Music, and Theater Departments. She also curates the Rockland Country Day School Sculpture Garden which recently acquired a sculpture by world-renown artist, Grace Knowlton. In the spring of 2005, Michele was awarded a grant by the Arts Council of Rockland (ACOR) for an interdisciplinary Japan studies project she created entitled, Japanese Zen Gardens as Sculpture in History, Verse, and Mathematics. In September, her project was recognized at the Fall ACOR Honorarium as a successful interdisciplinary school arts education project in Rockland County. In the spring of 2006, Michele was awarded another ACOR grant for an interdisciplinary arts project entitled Native American Cultural Arts: Tradition and Innovation. In collaboration with the RedHawk Native American Arts Council, RCDS students grades 2-5 studied history, art and journal writing, make drums and rattles and learning music and dances with origins from Native American culture. In 2008, Michele was awarded the Hancock-Rubinsky Award for teaching at Rockland Country Day School. And in the spring of 2009, Michele was awarded yet another ACOR arts education grant entitled Focus on Nature through Immersion, Inquiry and Innovation. This project will enable students to develop environmental and visual literacy through outdoor classroom education focused on the natural environment, art and science.

Ms. Tedalid joined the staff of RCDS in September of 2010 as the 3rd and 4th grade teacher. Christine has a BS in Childhood Education with a minor in history from SUNY, Cortland. In addition, Christine has a Master’s Degree in Literacy and Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. Prior to coming to RCDS Christine worked as a teacher in the Wappingers Central School District for two years. During her employment at Wappingers she held positions as a Literacy Coach for grades 1-4, as a 4th grade teacher, and as a 1st grade teacher. Christine is excited about joining the staff at RCDS and helping her 3rd and 4th graders achieve great success both in and out of the classroom.

Ms. Tull has been teaching at RCDS since 1998. She has been very active in curriculum development, theater, and fund-raising. Ms. Tull began teaching with a certification in Montessori education. She taught for many years at Brooklyn Heights Montessori School and briefly at the Montessori Center of Nyack. She holds a BFA degree from Boston University and was a professional actor prior to teaching. Ms. Tull’s continued professional development has included Orton-Gillingham and studies at Columbia Teachers College, Bank Street College and STAC. She has written and performed a one-person show entitled “Taking Up Space” as a fundraiser for RCDS and was invited to appear in the 2005 RCDS Gala under the direction of Bill Irwin. Ms. Tull has actively participated in literacy initiatives at both RCDS and BHMS. She is married and has two sons.

Ms. Whitten earned a B.A. in Psychology and Art History from the University of Buffalo in 2001. After receiving her degree, she returned to Rockland County and began her career as the coordinator of the Rockland County 4-H clubs, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Thiells, NY. Program collaboration led her to begin working as a consultant for the Rockland County Youth Bureau’s Youth Employment Program. From 2002 to 2006 Cynthia worked as a job coach and an instructor for the Youth Employment Program, which teaches job skills to local teens and helps place them in jobs. During this experience Cynthia found her love for teaching and began to further her education. In 2005 she received a dual Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and Literacy. Fall, 2007, will mark the fifth year Cynthia has been working in the RCDS Kindergarten and happily been a part of the RCDS community.

Mr. Boyer earned a BA in 1981 from Amherst College in Physics and Mathematics. John continued his studies in Particle Physics, earning his MS from Columbia University in 1983, and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989. He has been fortunate to study under and work with numerous renowned physicists, including Nobel Prize winners T.D. Lee and James Cronin. His Ph.D. research took place at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, and was published in 1990. In 1989, John moved to the New York area and took a research position at Columbia University. While there, his interest turned to astrophysics. His research on ultrahigh energy cosmic rays has been published in numerous conference proceedings and physics and astrophysics journals. John came to RCDS in the fall of 2006 where he is teaching upper school mathematics. He encourages present and past students of mathematics to try his weekly problem published in The Recorder. John is an accomplished squash player, an expert tournament bridge player who has represented the New York region multiple times at national tournaments, a golf enthusiast, and a devoted husband and father of two boys.

Ms. Eurell has a M.A. in English from Hunter College and was in the Ph.D. program in English at Rutgers University. Joan has more than 20 years’ teaching experience. Starting out as a composition teacher at Rockland Community College, Joan has also taught at Ramapo College, Empire State College, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford, CT. In between being a teacher and a student, Joan worked in publishing as an editor and writer.

Mr. Foxman received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Columbia University. Max has been with RCDS as a teacher since 2007 and attended the school for 12 years, graduating in 2003. Max has published work in The Columbia Daily Spectator, Ad Hoc, and The Eye, as well as Timeout New York. He has also worked as an intern in various newspapers and magazines, including Rolling Stone Magazine, Interview Magazine, and Nova: Science Now.

Mr. McCalla teaches Ballroom Dance to Middle and Upper School students. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Sherbrooke College, Canada. Stanley is the official coach for NYU and Columbia University. He holds the highest levels of accreditation from both Fred Astaire Dance Studio (FADS) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Stanley is a National and World Class Adjudicator and highly sought-after coach. Stanley has been an assistant choreographer for Adams Family II and Stepford Wives and appeared in the movie Dance with Me.

Ms. Predovic began teaching acting at RCDS in 2003, and is responsible for directing the fall drama, Middle School video, and spring musical. Her directing work at RCDS has included YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, THE 1940′S RADIO HOUR, THE LARAMIE PROJECT, GREASE, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, CRIMES OF THE HEART, THE COP AND THE ANTHEM, OKLAHOMA!, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, MY CLIENT CURLEY, and SHE LOVES ME. Marsha brings to Rockland Country Day School over thirty years of experience as a professional actress, having performed in New York City as well as with many of our nations leading regional theaters. Marsha received her training as a member of The Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University for which she received a B.F.A. in acting. She has experience in educational outreach, taking improvisation and theater games to schools throughout the Northeast. She is associated with Ohio University’s summer theater program at The Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod as a frequent professional guest artist as well as a member of The Friends of the Monomoy. Marsha was nominated for a 2009 County Executive Award through the Arts Council of Rockland for excellence in Arts Education. Marsha’s son, Casey, is a 2005 graduate of RCDS and a 2009 graduate of the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2005, the Predovic family was honored to receive the RCDS Schoenberg Family Service Award. Besides her teaching and directing responsibilities at RCDS, Marsha, along with husband Dennis, (also a professional actor), continue to volunteer their help with scenery design, costuming and advising on Student video productions.

Ms. Perez earned a BA and a MA in Spanish from the University Lumiere Lyon II in France and a BA in Education from the University of Jersey city. Elisabeth Perez was born and raised in France and spent one year in Spain during her master degree and many of her summer growing up. Elisabeth knows also Catalan and some Italian. Elisabeth came to RCDS five years ago where she has been teaching French and Spanish in the Children School, Middle School and Upper School. Last year she also helped students prepare for their French AP.

Mr. Roues is a published songwriter and seasoned performer. Mr. Roues has had the great good fortune to have played, written and recorded with many of his musical heroes. Some of the highlights of his career include jamming with B. B. King at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in July 2002, working in the studio with the Johnny Johnson (Chuck Berry’s late piano player and bandleader), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Wayne Kramer (MC5), writing and recording with the hall of fame soul songwriters, Dan Penn and his keyboard genius writing partner, Spooner Oldham, Lonnie Mack and sharing the stage and/or bill with Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Luther Allison, Howlin’ Wolf, Vassar Clemens, Pinetop Perkins and The Sun Rhythm Section to name a few. His current bands include the reunited neo rockabilly band Finn & the Sharks of which he was a founding member, rockin’ Zydeco quintet, The UpSouth Twisters, Big Jim Wheeler & Wheels of Fire and the Roues Brothers all featuring the original music of Billy and his brother Steven “Muddy” Roues. Billy writes, produces and plays with 4 bands and his label, UpSouth Recordings, features CD’s with music from each band. Many of their songs have been featured in films, videos and television productions seen worldwide and have been covered by other artists. Billy is entering his fifth year as an instructor at RCDS and his second summer conducting the Blues Rock Workshop RCDS Summer Program for teens aged 10-17. Enrollment for the 2010 Summer sessions will begin in January 2010.

Mr. Simpson has been teaching at RCDS since 1997. He holds a bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English and Drama and a masters of teaching degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. He is the present Humanities Department Chairperson and the faculty advisor for the forensics and debating league. While teaching at RCDS he has participated in professional development programs at Bard College, Manhattan University, and St. Johnsbury Academy. His teaching experience includes middle school and high school courses in English and history, AP history, creative writing, improvisation, forensics and drama.

Ms. Spira received a BA in Biology and German Translation from Queens College of the City University of New York in 1978 and a MS in Secondary Education from St. John’s University in 1981. She began her career in teaching at Saint Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, New York, hired immediately after completing her student teaching at that same school. While at Saint Francis, she partnered with St. John’s University to mentor student teachers in their BA program. After moving to Rockland County, Joan accepted a position at Dwight Englewood School. However, her desire to help children overcome their difficulties with math and science prompted Joan to establish her own business, Master Mind Tutoring Service, in 1983. To this day, Joan focuses her program on core curriculum by diagnosing and teaching to her students’ individual learning styles, a pursuit that has satisfied her passion to educate children in both math and science. Joan has truly enjoyed re-entering the classroom to teach at Rockland Country Day School and looks forward to continuing to make learning a positive experience for her students.