Meet our New Head of Lower School + Director of Auxiliary
We are excited to welcome two new members to the GUS Administrative Team: Suzy Light, Director of Lower School, and Alex Belluschi, Director of Auxiliary. Alex will begin his role at GUS on May 3, and Suzy will begin her new role on July 1. We know you’ll enjoy getting to know both of them in their new roles, but in the meantime, read on to learn a little more about each of them. Please join us in welcoming them to the GUS community!
Suzy Light, Director of Lower School
What should the GUS community know about you? What shapes who you are, in and out of the classroom? Personally, I grew up in New Jersey and spent many summers on Long Island, where my grandmother lived. My husband, Andrew, and I moved here in 1999 and have raised our (almost) adult children, Cameron and Maggie, in Manchester. Singing Beach is one of my favorite places, and my family enjoys spending summertime on the beach, just like I did as a kid. I love being outside, whether it’s by the ocean collecting rocks and shells or walking my dog in the woods - that’s one of the many reasons why GUS seems like such a natural fit. More than that, I would say family, friendships, building new relationships, and connections are very important to me, in and out of the classroom. In the short time I’ve been at GUS, it’s been an incredible gift to listen and lean in with curiosity in all of these new relationships. I feel really lucky.
Tell us about your background in education. How has your experience as an educator prepared you for this role? I’ve always wanted to teach. Throughout high school and the beginning of college, I was a counselor at LifeCamp, a rural satellite camp of the Boys and Girls Club of Newark. I started my career in Washington, DC, and then taught for 25 years at another local independent school on the North Shore. I’ve been an academic department head and led school-wide initiatives in social-emotional learning, DEIB, and global education. I’ve pursued graduate coursework in mindfulness studies and school management, and attended NAIS’ School Leadership Institute.
I know my greatest asset coming into this next role is my teaching experience. Having been in the classroom for so many years, I have a lot of ideas on how to best support teachers, amplify our academic program, strengthen protocols, and address how students’ needs have changed. Next year marks my 30th consecutive year as an educator, but it will be my first not directly in the classroom - not to worry! I have creative plans in mind to be a consistent presence in every grade across lower school to build those thoughtful connections that mean so much.What does a joyful, engaging lower school experience look like to you — and how do you hope to build that at GUS? A joyful and engaging lower school experience is messy, in all of the best ways. Making mistakes is messy. Learning from your failures is messy. Taking risks and pushing through frustration is messy. All of this leads to resilience, accomplishment, pride, and excitement. At GUS, learning is also literally messy - caked mud from the greenhouse or the nature trails, splattered paint from the art room, or sweaty faces from practicing a dance routine or a new game in Braemar. It is also an experience where children feel at ease and safe being themselves.
Learning at GUS matches everything I believe in. It is filled with exploration and discovery. Children construct meaning by exploring their own questions. And over time, children learn how they themselves learn, and their independence grows. I already see an incredibly joyful experience for all, both students and adults, in our lower school. In collaboration with teachers and families, I want to support us to keep doing what we’re doing and follow our own motto: do better.What excites you most about the work ahead? The people! The GUS community is kind, inclusive, and authentic. Our lower school faculty are experts. They are professionals who know each unique learner and the magic of interdisciplinary curriculum. They know their craft, their subject matter, and the developmental (and age-appropriate) quirks of their students. I’m excited to highlight their passions and expertise, and want to bolster their efforts in supporting students. I look forward to collaborating with parents, guardians, and families, also. Centering connection makes it all more fun. And I can’t wait to build relationships with our GUS students - they bring the joy every day.
Alex Belluschi: Director of Auxiliary
What should the GUS community know about you? What shapes who you are, in and out of the classroom? I grew up in Everett, and being involved in sports and youth programs shaped much of who I am today. My path to working with kids and families was shaped by these experiences, a genuine passion for mentorship, and a deep belief in what spaces like GUS can mean for young people. Outside of work, you'll probably find me in the gym. That same discipline and drive is something I love bringing into everything I do.
Tell us about your background. What experiences have shaped your path to this role? Growing up in Everett, I was a three-sport varsity athlete, voted captain of my hockey team as a junior, and went on to play college baseball at Fisher College. Those experiences, and the mentors who invested in me along the way, are what drew me to this line of work. I studied Sports Management with a minor in Communications and built my career in youth and community programming, most recently at the Melrose Family YMCA, driven by the belief that the right program at the right time can truly change a young person's life.
Where do you find the most joy in building experiences for students and families? I find joy in the moments that are easy to miss: a kid stepping outside their comfort zone and surprising themselves, or a family feeling genuinely connected to something bigger than themselves. There's something special about building programs that are both well-crafted and full of life, where energy is real, and the impact lasts long after the summer ends.
What excites you most about joining the GUS community? What excites me most is the opportunity to connect with students, with families, and with a community that clearly cares deeply about the young people it serves. After spending my career in youth and community programming, joining GUS feels like a natural next step toward doing that work at a deeper level.