Dr. Mahoney, Head of School received his BA from Siena College, a Masters in Teaching from Fordham University and completed his Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy from Fordham University. In 2006 Dr. Mahoney was the recipient of a fellowship from our National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) identifying him as an aspiring school head. He has been a member of several evaluation teams for the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). Dr. Mahoney comes from a family full of teachers, his wife Amy teaches English at a nearby high school. After school Dr. Mahoney can often be found running around campus with his two preschool aged sons, Brendan and Patrick.

Dr. Bloom received her B.A. in English Literature from New York University and her M.S.Ed. in Child Development and Education from Sarah Lawrence College. Initially a first-grade teacher in the North Rockland Schools, she spent nearly twenty years as a Mentor in Educational Studies at SUNY/ Empire State College where she worked with adult learners seeking to complete college and graduate degrees. In addition to teaching child development, writing, children’s literature, women’s studies, and peace education, she supervised student teachers and paraprofessionals applying for New York State teaching certification. Mayra obtained a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio; her dissertation, “The Reclamation of Intelligence,” addresses the problem of “feeling stupid” throughout the life cycle. Long time residents of Nyack, she and her husband Loren, an artist, are the parents of grown children Livia and Avery.

Mr. Catano has an MBA from Baruch College, CUNY and a B.A. in Economics from Haverford College. He led the newly founded Stock Market Club for middle school students, which competed against forty thousand other teams, to rank second place statewide this year. After working in the financial sector for several years, Victor decided to return to independent schools. Prior to coming to RCDS, Victor worked as the Director of Operations and Faculties at the Children’s Storefront School. Victor also graduated from The Browning School, an all boys school in Manhattan, where he is an active alum. He plays many sports, including baseball, basketball and football, and he enjoys spending time with his family – baby Andres and wife Zahira.

Jim Fyfe, Assistant Headmaster, Upper Division Head and History Instructor, holds a Masters in Education from Bank Street College and a Ms. Ed. in Leadership in the Arts from Parsons/The New School. Before that, he earned a BA in Theater and Speech from De Sales University. He began teaching at RCDS in 2003 with Medieval & Renaissance history, then added American history and the title of Admissions Director, which he held for three years. Prior to RCDS, he taught improvisation and scene study with the Helen Hayes Youth Theater, for whom he also directed numerous productions. In a previous incarnation he was an actor, writer and director in theater, film and television, and is (he’s pretty sure) the only member of the RCDS staff who has appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Fabrice Fortin has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physics and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics from the College of Staten Island, CUNY. He has been in education for 12 years. He as taught and middle school math and science and upper school Physics at RCDS since 2001. He served on the NYSAIS Accreditation Committee for the Manhattan Country School in the Fall of 2008.

Ms. Greenwell graduated with honors from SUNY at Oswego with a B.A. in Psychology and from Columbia University School of Social Work with a M.S.W. in Individual, Group and Family Counseling and a M.P.H. in Health Administration. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in New York State. In 1982, Lorraine was published for research she conducted for the Greater New York Hospital Foundation for a study funded by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation on the Organization and Management of Hospital Ambulatory Care in New York City and then again in Veterinary and Human Toxicology for a study on How Adequate are Warnings and First Aid Instructions on Consumer Product Labels?: An Investigation.

Lorraine has been at RCDS since 1998 serving in various capacities; she has worked in the business office, on development campaigns, event planning and most recently in admissions. She is an avid golfer, loves to cook, read, and do crossword puzzles and is the mother of two daughters.

Chris Halton, Business Manager, earned a BA in 1985 from Niagara University in Communications. Chris continued her studies in Media, earning her MA from The New School of Social Research in 1987. For seventeen years she was a producer and bookkeeper for Celebrity Radio Productions in Montvale, NJ.

Chris came to RCDS in the fall of 2001 where s began working in the Upper School supporting the Head of School and the Business Office, becoming the Business Manager in 2009. Chris lives in Bardonia with her husband Mark of 21 years. Her son Stephen attends Canisius College in Buffalo where he will be a sophomore this fall. Her daughter Angela has been attending the RCDS since the 8th grade, and will be senior this fall, graduating in the 50th anniversary year.

Ms. Khateri has a B.A. in Political Science and Scandinavian Studies from U.C., Berkeley and a Masters in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Michele brings a broad-based development experience from her previous work at an independent school and various human rights, women’s rights and educational organizations. She attended Castilleja School, an all-girls school in California, where she continues to be involved as an alumnae Class Agent. Michele has a bilingual background and is fluent in Danish and conversant in French and Persian.

Tricia came to RCDS in December of 2000 as the first grade’s teaching assistant and after school care provider. Through the years Tricia has held many different positions for RCDS such as; Teaching Assistant in Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten, Director of After School, Accounts receivable under the guidance of Michele Schwartz but her favorite position was the Physical Education teacher for Grades Pre-K to 6th grade. Now she is the voice of RCDS and will greet you with a smile as you enter the Children’s School. An exciting time will happen this January when her daughter Lilyanna will join the Pre-Kindergarten class and Tricia will step into yet another roll as an RCDS parent.

Ms. Nodelman graduated from Smith College with a Bachelors and went to UC Berkeley for graduate school. She returned to New York, worked in publishing and public relations, married her husband, Len, and started a family. She never intended to teach – but somehow or other, backed into it. She accepted a teaching position at Rockland Country Day School,— thinking that she would stay there for one or two years and then move on to what she really wanted to do. Ellen has now been at RCDS for over 35 years with a brief hiatus into retirement. She was quickly brought back to lead our extraordinary college guidance program. Ellen has managed to teach many different classes at RCDS and serve in many different capacities. She has also become our de facto historian and is working on the 50 year history of RCDS.

Mr. Romanowicz graduated from Pennsylvania Military College and earned a graduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University. His experience at several day and boarding schools has help him become familiar with all aspects of school life and the admissions process. He is married and has four grown children. Ron is an aficionado of Sherlock Homes and a lacrosse fan, a sport his oldest son played in high school and college.

Chef Rose’s path to professional cooking started later in life. Although Rose grew up in her parents’ highly successful Italian restaurant in Ottawa, Canada –she spent the first twelve years of her career in the broadcasting industry. However, Rose was always cooking for her friends, performing the odd catering jobs, and baking holiday treats for all of her friends and colleagues. The turning point for Rose came after she read, and was inspired by, Julia Child’s biography “Appetite for Life.” She followed her dream, enrolled and was awarded a scholarship to study at a culinary school in Boston. Circumstances led her to New York City where she studied and later graduated with honors from The French Culinary Institute.

Armed with her diploma and her life experience from the family business, Rose worked as a Rounds Cook at a country club, interned at Saveur magazine, and freelanced for various chefs (including celebrity chefs) during the past four years. Rose was the Sous Chef at the Calhoun School in New York’s Upper West Side, where she developed recipes and prepared meals for the schools’ nationally recognized lunch program. She helped manage a high volume kitchen responsible for creating ethnically diverse, green market influenced foods. Rose worked for Abigail Kirsch Culinary Productions as a Crew Leader and Cocktail Chef, before joining Rockland Country Day School.

Ms. Dickson maintains a private practice as a learning specialist, teaching students with special educational needs. Honey has consulted with a variety of agencies in Rockland and Westchester Counties such as Armonk Associates for Learning and Development and the Foundation for Religion and Mental Health in Nyack. Prior to establishing her private practice, Honey planned and developed Strawtown Elementary School’s first program for students with learning disabilities. Well respected and appreciated by all students, Honey, with her class, developed a nature trail in the woods behind the school that carries her name. During her stay at Strawtown in the Clarkstown School District, she was recognized as New York State Teacher of the Year. From 1995 to 1997 Honey traveled to Uruguay in South America to develop and teach in all special programs for students K-12 at the Uruguayan American School in Montevideo.

Honey began her career as an educator teaching third grade students at Haverstraw Elementary School. After completing her Masters Degree in reading at Bank Street College she was invited to teach at the Bank Street School for Children. Honey holds an additional Masters Degree in learning disabilities from Long Island University and has completed extensive studies in the Orton Gillingham method, which she continues to study. She is certified by the New York State Education Department in elementary and special education.

Ms. Kurtz attended Northfield Mt. Hermon, a preparatory high school with a very similar mission statement to the Rockland Country Day School. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Clark University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Washington University and is certified to teach Kindergarten through Sixth Grade in both Missouri and New York.

After graduate school, Bonnie was a Lead Teacher at the Washington University Nursery School in St. Louis, taught Kindergarten at the New City School, nationally known for its Multiple Intelligences curriculum, and looped with those classes to 1st Grade. While there, she was elected Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees. Bonnie also taught at the National Child Research Center in Washington, D.C., where she incorporated Cued Speech, a form of visual communication for the Hearing Impaired, into her general education class. Bonnie was the American Sign Language Instructor in the RCDS Upper School for four years and served as Faculty Representative to the Board. She is now beginning her eleventh year as a classroom teacher in the RCDS Children’s School.

Bonnie’s community service in the Nyack School District, where she grew up, is extensive. She served on the Pre-K Committee for New York State’s Education Department for Raising Standards and was on the hiring committee for the district’s Assistant Superintendent, Reading Recovery Teacher, and Middle School Librarian. She served as the Vice President of the Upper Nyack Elementary School PTA, created and ran Upper Nyack Elementary School’s Invention Convention, and chaired the school’s annual Book Fair for four years. Bonnie also served as a judge at North Rockland’s Science, Invention, and Technology Exhibition and was on the School Committee for the Stern Academy of Jewish Education. Bonnie has presented at the NYU Child Study Center, with her husband, Dr. Steven Kurtz, on Managing Classroom Behavior: Helping Children with ADHD Get the Most Out of the School Day.

Ms. Montgomery graduated from Manhattanville College in 2003, earning a BA in Psychology. After graduation she worked in Manhattan with the Cavaliers Athletic Club, where she coached a wide variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, and football. Amanda is currently pursuing her Master’s of Education in Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy at Manhattanville College.

Mrs. Morelli joined the staff of RCDS in 2005 as a humanities teacher and school nurse. She moved to the Children’s School in 2006. Marie’s background as a registered nurse serves her well in her position as the fourth and fifth grade math and science teacher. Prior to joining RCDS Marie taught Pre-K and Kindergarten for three years. Over the past few years, Marie has taken the initiative to help the Children’s School become more technologically savvy. The laptop program, that all students in her class participate in, is motivating and challenging. In addition, Marie has taken web design courses and integrates Smart Board technology into her classroom, which has enhanced her program immensely. The 4th/5th grade math and science web site can be found at http://www.rocklandcds.org/grade/4-5/. Marie has also taken training in Preventing Academic Failure Through Multisensory Approach. Marie coordinates the community service activities for the 4th and 5th grade by taking her students on monthly visits to Thorpe Senior Center. Marie is actively involved with the community and has been a member of Rockland County Girl Scouts since 1997. Marie has three children which keep her extremely busy. Marie has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from CCNY as well as a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Pace University.

Ms. Rocco is a native New Yorker whose love affair with music began as a young child. Her passion and talent for music helped gain entrance into an enhanced music program in elementary school, the district and borough orchestras as a violist and various parts in HS musicals. Maria enjoyed a career in musical theatre, playing a range of leading roles. While undertaking extensive studies with NYC’s premier vocal coaches, music theorists and dance instructors, Maria landed parts as lead vocalist in a variety of singing groups which traveled and performed in rock and jazz circuits as well as on radio, and television. One such girl group toured with a Latin dance song which shot up to the #1 spot on Billboard charts. Maria also appeared in a number of MTV videos and film, and sang background vocals for many recording stars. After touring with her band, Maria began an extensive career, singing and appearing on television and radio commercials while writing for and performing in numerous in-house music video productions for the fashion industry. After marriage and two children she worked as lead vocalist for the Peter Duchin and Hank Lane orchestras and at the same time became certified to teach a pre-school music program to toddlers. Maria eventually decided to head back to college to study Music and earned her Bachelors degree and teaching certificate in Music Education at the Brooklyn College Conservatory, where she graduated with high honors. Maria now brings her love and passion for music to her position as Music, Movement and Drama instructor at the RCDS Children’s school where emphasis on the Orff Schulwerk approach to music is explored.

Cait attended Michigan State University from 1975 to 1979, studying microbiology and public health. She received an A.D., Science, from Parkland College (Illinois) in 1980, and an A.D., Nursing, from Palomar College (California), in 1984. Cait was awarded certification in Pediatric and Adolescent Nursing from the American Nurse’s Association in 1988 and has maintained certification in the specialty ever since.

Coast to coast moves with her family allowed her the opportunity to work in a variety of pediatric settings throughout the country. After the move to New York in 1991, Cait taught in the Nursing Program at Rockland County Community College. In 1995, she was hired in the Adolescent HIV / AIDS program at Westchester Medical Center as staff nurse. She helped develop and implement the newborn HIV testing and parent education program. In 2005, Cait received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University. She then began substituting in the school districts and joined the RCDS community in September 2006.

She grew up in southeast Michigan, but since her marriage to husband, Mark, has lived on both coasts of the U.S. On weekends she and Mark, and/or their children, hike the trails in Rockland and Harriman. For restoration of mind and soul, she quilts!

Ms. Schachter earned her B. A. from Queens College in 1979 with her primary focus being Sociology. Concurrently, she worked part-time as a nursery school assistant teacher with three and four year olds at a cooperative school in her neighborhood. She took a hiatus from her education and taught English as a second language at the Berlitz School of Languages in Liège, Belgium for two and a half years while living abroad. Upon her return to the United States, Jacquie switched gears for the next few years and worked at a small firm selling advertising time to radio stations as a research assistant. Subsequently, Jacquie worked as a research analyst for two additional years at Telerep, Inc., a Manhattan based firm which sells advertising time to television stations throughout the nation. Jacquie returned to Queens College full-time in 1977 to complete her B. A. She followed the accomplishment of her undergraduate degree by attending graduate school at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work in Manhattan, New York and earned her M. S. W. in June of 1981 after two years.

Jacquie began working at RCDS as the Kindergarten assistant teacher in April of 1997 where she apprenticed with the veteran teacher. After five years she was given the opportunity to become the head teacher of a Pre-Kindergarten class and partnered in developing the program that exists today. Over the eight years the program has flourished and evolved into a nurturing, safe, creative place where children thrive socially and academically through their love of learning.

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. 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.

Mr. Breland, who has been an avid beekeeper since 1973, encourages students to maintain a respectful attitude toward the bees, and would like to establish beekeeping as the “gentle art” it once was. Students also learn about the value of the insects and their part in food production. Approximately one-third of the world’s food supply depends on pollination by honeybees.

Ms. Erickson is a published photographer, writer and teacher deeply rooted in the tradition of fine art. She earned her BA and MFA Degrees in Photography /Studio art and taught black and white and color photography, digital printing and digital textile printing to hundreds of students at prestigious workshop settings and colleges across North America. With a highly successful 25-year career working in the photographic industry, Ms Erickson brings RCDS students encouragement and creativity backed with real-world experience. Her photographs and writings have been widely exhibited, and published in numerous books and articles, including Photographic Possibilities, Exploring Color Photography, Photography 6th Edition, Ellis Island: Echoes of a Nation’s Past, View Camera Magazine, Japan Camera, and Holy Ground Two.

With an avid interest in nature and horticulture, she also holds a Master Gardener Certificate from Rutgers. As owner of WAZOBIRD STUDIO, she specializes in botanical imagery for interior design. In contrast, her personal photographic work explores the unknown and unseen. Wendy teaches Photography I, II and Advanced Photography, and Contemporary Media Communications. Wendy also is an adjunct professor of photography at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Her commercial website is: http://wendyerickson.com.

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. Herrera earned his BA in Biology, and Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Mercy College, NY. He is entering his seventh year as a Math and Science adjunct faculty at Mercy College. Mr. Herrera has recently completed his Master’s in Banking and Business Administration. He is married and has two wonderful children. Mr. Herrera’s multi-potentialities include soccer, swimming, Tai-chi, dancing, and live music.

Mr. Hilgenberg has been an active performer on the New York City scene for over ten years. After receiving his Bachelors (1997) and Masters (1999) in Music Performance from NYU, he has toured the world with several jazz and Latin bands including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdes, and Jose “El Canario” Alberto. With the Chico O’Farrill group, he is on two Grammy nominated CDs and has been featured in several films, including Calle 54 and the Thomas Crown Affair. The band has performed every Sunday at Birdland in New York since 1997. In 2005, Hilgenberg also toured extensively with the national tour of Movin’ Out, the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp broadway show. Prior to RCDS, Hilgenberg taught music at St. Josephs College in Brooklyn, NY, and taught trumpet at NYU. He has one CD, Rasa (Double Time Records, 2000) as a bandleader and currently leads his own jazz group, the Matt Hilgenberg Quartet.

Shannon Hubertus went to Daemen College in Buffalo, NY to earn a Bachelor of Science. She majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. She began teaching life sciences at RCDS in 2002. During this time she earned a Master of Science in Education, with a focus in Biology, from Fordham University in New York, NY. Shannon currently resides in Carmel, NY.

Ms. Hurley is an alumnus of Rockland Country Day School. She graduated from Manhattan College in 1998 with a BS in Elementary Education as well as a minor in Sociology. After being certified to teach in New York State, she began teaching fourth grade for two years at PS 86 in the Bronx. Jennifer then pursued her masters in Literacy and Reading from St. Thomas Aquinas College, while teaching 7th and 8th grade Humanities and Journalism at Rockland Country Day School. Ms. Hurley has been trained in Marilyn Burns Mathematics, Teacher’s College Writing Program, Preventing Academic Failure Through Multisensory Approach, Multisensory Education at the Dyslexia Association of New York. From 2001 to 2009, Jennifer taught third grade in the Children’s School at RCDS.

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. Muñoz teaches Children, Middle and Upper School Spanish. She has been at RCDS since 2000. She earned a BA and a MA in Modern History in 1982 from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain and a MA in Secondary Education from the State University of NY at New Paltz in 1992. She taught Spanish to students from USA at the Institute Ponce de Leon in Madrid. She came to the United States in 1987 to study English. She was offered to teach beginning and intermediate Spanish courses at the State University of NY at New Paltz were she was a lecturer for three years. While teaching at SUNY New Paltz she did her student teaching at Newburgh Free Academy at Newburgh, NY and completed all the requirements to obtain the New York State Teaching Certificate. She also taught at the Language Immersion Institute at New Paltz and at the Waldorf elementary school Mountain Laurel School grades 1st trough 6th for three years. In 1991 she moved to New York City to teach Spanish at The Dalton School where she was an instructor for 9 years. She taught Spanish 6th through 12th grades in beginning and advanced courses. Her teaching under the Dalton Plan gave her invaluable experience in progressive education and differentiated learning. She was an adviser of the Amnesty International Club and Community Service Program. She was an active member of the Diversity Committee at Dalton.Luisa’s daughter Amalia has been a student at RCDS since kindergarten.

Jolaine Peace, Humanities Instructor, arrived at RCDS in 2004 after 3 years teaching English and assisting in the Special Education department at Ardsley High School in Westchester County, New York. Graduating Top Ten in her high school class, Jolaine graduated Magna cum laude with a BA in English from Bethany College, Bethany, WV in 1972. A recipient of the Rotary Club International Fellow Scholarship, she studied at the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in England and received a Masters in Shakespeare Studies in 1974. It was during her time in England that she and her husband John began their rare book collection that John has presented at RCDS. This collection includes a Fourth Folio of Shakespeare and a boxed set of Dickens’ Pickwick Papers in parts. Her previous careers include running a food import business, bookselling, managing human resources for a consulting firm in Westchester and parenting four daughters.

Jolaine competes in New York Road Runner races as a member of Bob Glover’s Greater New York “Screaming Yellow” Racing team. She earned elite runner status when she consistently scored points for the team and currently ranks top ten in her age category. Though her favorite distance is 5 miles, she also runs half-marathons and her best performance was in a 4 mile race in Central Park.

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.

Elizabeth Scoville comes to RCDS after earning her M.Ed. from Harvard University focusing on Peace Education. Elizabeth’s main interest is in studying educational programs that foster cross-cultural understanding and dialogue. After receiving her B.A. in International Studies from Colby College, Elizabeth taught and studied abroad: as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, as a teacher in a small village in Scotland, and as an international student in Madagascar, France, and Thailand.  With this international experience, Elizabeth became interested in cross-cultural relations and peace, especially in educational programs that promote dialogue between youth from opposite sides of conflict.  After returning from the Peace Corps, she worked at Seeds of Peace, an organization that brought youth from opposite sides of conflict together to attend a summer camp in Maine. As a trained facilitator, Elizabeth led dialogue groups in Seeds of Peace’s only domestic program which focused on talking about issues of race and diversity in the United States. After her work in Maine, Elizabeth took all of these interests to Harvard University to study best practices in promoting peace through education, receiving her M.Ed. in 2005.

Elizabeth is happy to bring her interest in cross-cultural relations to RCDS. She teaches World History, Global Issues, Psychology, Sociology, and Medieval and Renaissance History in the Middle and Upper Schools. She also just came back from a trip to Korea, where she met with RCDS families of international students from Korea. In her free time, she likes to ski, hike, do yoga, take dance classes, and of course, travel.

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.

Chuck Stead, writer, storyteller, and environmental educator is a resident of the Ramapo Mountain area of southern New York State. Chuck has family roots that run deep in local history. As a storyteller Chuck’s narratives are a unique blend of family folklore, regional history, and social commentary.

Ms. Viscardi is a visual artist who is the Middle and Upper School Instructor of Studio Art, Studio Critique and Art History. Her mixed media work, widely exhibited in solo exhibitions and group shows, have won several awards and are in numerous private collections. Ms. Viscardi’s teaching life is enhanced by both her academic fine art training and by her extensive career in various commercial professions, which include interior design, editorial illustration, and scenic art.

Ms. Viscardi is currently an Adjunct Professor of Art at Ramapo College in New Jersey. She is a curator and exhibition coordinator at the Carriage Barn Art Center’s Betty Barker Gallery, and affiliate of the New Canaan Society for the Arts, New Canaan, Connecticut.

Ms. Viscardi is also a portrait artist working on commission from her Connecticut studio.

Ms. Viscardi’s sculptures will be on view this fall at the Blue Hill Cultural Center, Pearl River, NY. The exhibit will include Phoenix Rising a large mixed media sculpture that won a 2nd place award in the exhibit Journey: Stories My Mother Told Me at the Barnum Museum in 2008. Future shows include paintings at the Geary Gallery in Darien, CT. Ms. Viscardi recently exhibited paintings at the Kresge and Pascal Galleries at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, a show which featured Adjunct Faculty in the Contemporary Art Department.

Ms. Viscardi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from C.W.Post College of L.I. University, after studying for two years at the Toledo Museum of Art School of Design in Ohio. She holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in mixed media from William Paterson University in New Jersey.