New Faculty 2022-2023
We are thrilled to welcome (and welcome back!) a number of new staff + faculty members for the school year 2022-23.
This school year, we welcomed the single largest cohort of new faculty + staff to GUS in over ten years, including two new administrators, two new staff members, and nine new faculty members. Learn more about each of them below - and be sure to say hi when you see them on campus!
Administrators
Brad Belin, Assistant Head of School for Curriculum + Program, Director of Upper School
Brad is an experienced and innovative curriculum designer, whose work is rooted in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. He earned his BA from Quinnipiac University and a MA from Loyola University - Maryland. Brad comes to us by way of Berwick Academy and The Fessenden School, and has extensive experience in Project-Based Learning, specifically teacher training around how to. He is an exceptional educator and is already working to help GUS be more GUS by focusing on curriculum evaluation and assessment. Brad has also played a valuable role in DEI efforts at his former schools. We are also excited to have Brad as the new point person for the upper school.
Katie Chhu, Director of Admission
Katie Chhu is an experienced educator and admission professional. She joins us after twelve years at the Landmark School in Beverly where she directed online programming and served in the admission office. She earned her BA from the college of the Holy Cross, and an MS in Education, Moderate Disabilities, from Simmons College. We are very excited about the knowledge she brings regarding finding the best fit students and her commitment to DEIJ work.
Joseph Jean-Mary, Director of Auxiliary
Joe is passionate about providing children with the skills to excel socially, athletically, and emotionally. Heearned a BA from The George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in English Language and minoring in Criminal Justice. He has spent much of his life involved in summer camps and auxiliary programs. He attended Belmont Day Camp at the Belmont Day School as a youth, became a counselor and after school teacher as a young adult, and grew to be the Associated Director of Auxiliary Programs. His most recent position as Interim Camp Director was at Summer at Park at the Park School in Brookline, MA. We are excited to bring his energetic and child-centric approach to all aspects of auxiliary and summer programming at GUS!
Staff
Emily Ahearn, Assistant to the Head of School
Emily is a resourceful, reliable, and experienced operations professional. She joins the GUS team after spending over ten years in oil trading operations. She earned her BA from Wheaton College, where she was inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame for Indoor Track and Field. She is also a Certified Veterinary Technician! She’s excited to join the GUS team to support an institution that takes pride in its core beliefs and community. We are lucky to have her!
Lisette Lara, Associate Director of Auxiliary Programs
Lisette is an experienced professional, with a diverse work history spanning retail, supervision, clerical work, childcare and instruction. She is passionate about working with children and giving back to the community. She has earned various professional certifications, and is currently pursuing her AS in Computer Applications at North Shore Community College. Listette joined the SUMMER@GUS team as a Group Counselor this past summer and we’re lucky to have her joining our team full time! In this position, she will support auxiliary programming throughout the year, including aftercare, EXPLORE@GUS afterschool programming, FUN@GUS vacation programming, and SUMMER@GUS summer programming.
Rich Nickerson, Buildings + Grounds Staff
Rich joined us in the fall of 2021 and quickly worked his way into the hearts of all on campus - faculty, staff, and students alike! At any given moment, you might find him building sinks in pre-K, putting a fresh coat of paint on classroom walls, or helping to build the set for the eighth grade musical alongside eighth grade students. Rich has been a welcome addition to our team and made an immediate impact on the GUS buildings and grounds, and community since joining us last year!
Faculty
Margaret Monteith, 8th Grade Humanities Teacher
Margaret Monteith is an accomplished writer and experienced educator. She earned a BA from the University of Southern California, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an MFA from Brooklyn College, The City University of New York. She has taught at The Browning School, Friends Seminary, Brooklyn College, Dexter Southfield, the Meadowbrook School of Weston, and, most recently, The Woodward School for Girls. Her writing has been published widely and has been critically acclaimed.
Kate Doyon, 7th Grade English + 5th Grade Language Arts Teacher
No stranger to GUS, Kate Ventimiglia is not only a GUS graduate but also a former teacher! In 2017, Kate joined the GUS team as a seventh grade Spanish teacher and teaching assistant, and also served as an English teacher for our GAIN@GUS program. Kate has a MEd from Emerson College and a BS from Skidmore College. She has taught at Talbot Innovation Middle School, Emerson College, Shore Country Day School, the Commonwealth School, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Pingree School, and, most recently, Marblehead Community Charter Public School. She is also a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and is certified in Mindful Outdoor Leadership.
Sam Kourtz, Kindergarten Teacher
After interning at GUS this fall in the first, second, and third grade classrooms, we are excited to have Sam Kourtz join Sandy Thoms in the Kindergarten classroom. This spring she received her BA in liberal studies education, with a minor in creative arts therapy, at Endicott College. She is passionate about working with children and will be pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education at Endicott this fall.
Tamara Villalva Garcia, 6th Grade Spanish Teacher
Tamara Villalva Garcia is returning to GUS! Tamara first joined GUS in 2018 as a Spanish teacher, and we are excited to welcome her back. She is a native Spaniard who speaks four languages. She holds a BA in foreign language teaching from La Salle University of Madrid and performed graduate coursework in computer engineering, IT technologies, and multicultural education at Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. Her interest in teaching and travel led her to work at the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) International School and Jefferson Parish Public Schools as well as teaching in Houston, Texas.
Rachelle Chevalier, Latin Teacher
Rachelle Chevalier is a devoted teacher dedicated to providing an engaging classroom experience for all students. She holds an MA in Classics and Philosophy from Tufts University and BA from Saint Michael's College. At GUS, she hopes to share her love of Latin with all students and encourage them to become lifelong learners. Outside of teaching Latin, her interests include musical theatre, choral singing, reading, running, and yoga!
Bradley Cooke, 7th Grade Math Teacher
Bradley Cooke is an experienced educator, advisor, and program director. She is excited to join the supportive and stimulating learning environment at GUS. She holds a MA in Child Development from Tufts University and a BA from Connecticut College. Bradley also ran the Boston Marathon in 2013 and 2014.
Maria Penil Cobo, PK - 3rd Grade + 5th Grade Spanish Teacher
Maria Menil Cobo is a native Spanish speaker and mixed media artist from Spain. She holds a CAP (Pedagogical Adaptation Certificate) and a BFA from the University Complutense of Madrid, and a Bachelor’s of Tourism from IE University, Segovia. Since moving to the U.S. in 2010, she has spent time teaching art and science. She believes that creativity is an essential tool for children’s development and that it should be embraced in all educational programs. She has presented at Harvard, MIT, the Broad INstitute, Emmanuel College, Wellesley College and Suffolk University, among others, and is currently an artist in residence at New England Bio Labs with her Bacterial Art project.
Shannon DeForest, 4th Grade Teacher
Shannon DeForest is a passionate educator, dedicated to being the best teacher for each student she has the opportunity to teach, and to creating an engaging and conducive environment for student learning. She holds a MEd and BS from Plymouth State University. In her free time, you might find her hiking, kayaking, crafting, reading, or playing volleyball. Shannon joins the 4th grade team this year as a third teacher, and will be covering for Kelly Zaval, who will be on leave beginning in January 2023 to care for her new grandson, Phineas, born August 8th! Welcome to Shannon and congratulations to Kelly!
Erin Koeplin, 3rd Grade Teacher
Erin Koeplin is a compassionate educator devoted to igniting a love of learning, curiosity, and creativity in children. She has a MEd from Lesley University, where she also completed her BS. Most recently served at the Lesley Ellis School in Arlington as a third and fourth grade teacher. Erin has taught at the GUS Institute for the last two summers and is looking forward to joining our team full-time! Fun fact: she has run the Boston Marathon three times (2013, 2014, 2021) for the Girl Scouts of Eastern MA, and also ran the New York City Marathon in 2015 for Sandy Hook Promise.