New Canaan Country School Welcomes New Faculty & Staff

Lindsey Brown is a Grade 1 Teacher. Previously, Lindsey was a Head Interim Grade 1 Teacher at the Hurlbutt Elementary School in Weston. Prior to that, she was a Head Kindergarten Teacher and Grade Level Coordinator at the Hewitt School in New York for five years. Lindsey holds a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and a B.S. from James Madison University. 

Hali Dorfman is the new Upper School Learning Resources Teacher. Hali was a Learning Specialist at York Prep School in New York working with students in Grades 6-12; prior to that she was a Classroom ICT Teacher at Harlem Link Charter School. Hali holds a Masters of Science in Education and Literacy from City College and a B.S. in Elementary Education/Special Education from the University of Hartford.

Maggie Gutman teaches Upper School Latin. Maggie comes to us from Achievement First Linden Middle School in Brooklyn, NY, where she was a Humanities Instructor; prior to that she was a Latin and Greek tutor at Washington University in St. Louis. Maggie has a B.S. in Classics from Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Middle Childhood Generalist from Relay Graduate School of Education.

Brandy Hearn teaches Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher. Brandy was most recently a Grade 4 Teacher at Greens Farms Academy. Prior to that she was at the Trevor Day School in New York as a Grade 4 Lead Teacher. She has also taught at Darien Public Schools, Hackley School and Brunswick School. Brandy holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Bank Street College of Education and a B.A. in English and Government from St. Lawrence University.

Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01 joined the Advancement Office in July to serve as the new Advancement and Alumni Associate. She holds a B.A. in Human Services and a minor in Business Administration from Elon University. Prior to joining the NCCS Advancement Team, she spent several years working in financial services and investment banking. 

 

Caroline (Weihs) Reilly returns as a Grade 3 Lead Teacher. Caroline rejoins Country School where she was an Apprentice teacher with NCCS in Grades 1 and 3 and an Associate Teacher in Kindergarten. Most recently she was at Rye Country Day School as a First Grade Co-Teacher and Second Grade Assistant Teacher. She is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches classes at Sama Yoga in New Canaan. Caroline holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville College and a B.A. in Educational Studies from Colgate. 

 

Anne Marie Schettini-Lynch is the new Chief Financial and Operations Officer. For the past nine years, Anne Marie was the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at Iona College. As a senior leader and Officer of the College she was responsible for leading more than 100 employees in the areas of Finance, Student Financial Services and business services. She holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from St. John’s University and a B.A. in Accounting and Information Systems from Queens College. 

Emily Schoonmaker returns as a Beginners 4/5 Teacher. After stepping in as a long-term substitute multiple times at Country School, Emily joins the Beginners Team full-time next fall. Most recently, Emily was a long-term Kindergarten substitute teacher and a Beginners 4/5 Lead Teacher in Early Childhood. She has also taught Kindergarten, first grade and served as a Learning Specialist at Rippowam Cisqua School. Emily holds a dual Master’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Manhattanville College and a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College. 

Danielle Service teaches Upper School English. Danielle taught English and Social Studies at Amherst Middle School in New Hampshire; prior to that she taught English at The Royal Academy in Paro, Bhutan and was employed to consult on curriculum development for the country. She also was an English teacher at Berlin Junior High School, Merrimack High School and Union Grove Middle School. Danielle holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Southern New Hampshire University, an M.Ed. in Teaching Writing and English Education from Plymouth State University and a B.A. in English from Emory University. 

Kelly Siegrist joins as a Psychologist in Early Childhood and Lower School. Kelly has a dual Master’s Degree in Applied Developmental and Learning Psychology Education and a Masters of Arts in Educational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.A. in Psychology from Franklin and Marshall College. Most recently, Kelly served as the School Psychologist with the Greenwich Public Schools.

 

Jen Thiemann joins as the Lower School Music and Movement Teacher. Jen brings over a decade of experience teaching music at the elementary level. Most recently, she has been a Kindergarten through Grade 5 Music teacher in the Westport school district, and previously in the Wilton school district. She holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from Columbia University and a Bachelors of Music & Music Performance from State University of New York.

 

Jay Thornhill joins as Assistant Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher and Coach. Jay most recently worked at The Hotchkiss School as Associate Director of Admission, and coached boys’ soccer, ice hockey and track and field. Prior to that he was at the Loomis Chaffee School as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of International Student Recruitment, Athletic Director and International Student Director for the summer program, coach, and dormitory head. Jay holds a B.S. in Psychology and Fine Arts with a minor in Sports Studies and Exercise Science from St. Lawrence University, where he also was a three-sport athlete in soccer, ice hockey and track. 

Liz Unger joins as a Beginners 3/4 Lead Teacher. Liz comes to us having taught Pre-K for several years at Playland Nursery School. She began her career in economic policy, acquiring her MBA from Columbia’s Business School and a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College. She will be leading an additional Beginners 3/4 classroom with Claire DeLaurentis as her assistant. 

Tara Vandenbosch joins us as a Health Office Assistant and Athletic Trainer. Tara has a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science from Ithaca College and a B.S. in Athletic Training, minor in Coaching from Plymouth State University. Tara comes to us from Evolution Physical Therapy where she was the contracted Athletic Trainer for Darien High School. Prior to that she was the Clinic Director at Atlantic Rehab and Wellness Center.