COMMUNITY

Faculty

Community

The Ross School Senior Leadership Team and Administration oversee the day-to-day workings of the school and strive to ensure a phenomenal educational experience for our students every day.

The Hamptons

Alumni

Speaker Series

Summer Concert: Yacht Rock Revue at Ross

The majority of Ross faculty hold advanced degrees in their specialty areas. They hail from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, thereby adding to the rich tapestry of a Ross education. Teachers develop close relationships with students, providing a caring and supportive environment where academic excellence, social skills, self-esteem, and respect for others are fostered through cooperative learning and personal development. Small class sizes ensure that each student benefits from mentor relationships with their teachers.

ADMINISTRATION | FACULTY | STAFF

LOWER SCHOOL FACULTY

Bryan began his career in education as a founding faculty member at the School at Columbia University in 2003. Bryan joined the Ross community in 2006 when he was a part of the curriculum writing team and founding faculty at Ross Global Academy Public Charter School (RGA) in New York City. Bryan served as the Lead Middle School Teacher and taught grades five through eight Cultural History and English.

In 2015, after six years of full-time doctoral studies and university research and teaching, Bryan returned to Ross School as the Assistant Head of Lower School and as an academic advisor for the Ross Learning System curriculum documentation project. In 2019 Bryan shifted his focus to the research and application of mental health awareness education for students and school communities, serving as the Senior Coordinator for Training and Education at the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Chicago.

Bryan earned his B.A. in liberal arts from St. John's College, his M.A. in Communication and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and his doctoral studies in the sociology of education at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University.
Beth began her career in early childhood education as the founder and director of the Hampton Bays Children’s Center, a Reggio Emilia-inspired program that provided high-quality daycare for hundreds of families for over twenty years. She provided progressive professional development for her teaching staff and taught courses on curriculum development for the Child Care Council of Suffolk. She also taught at Sag Harbor Elementary School prior to joining the Ross Lower School's early childhood program.
Ms. Beth is an avid traveler and served as a chaperone for a Ross School trip to Ecuador, which included her son, Ryan, a 2011 Ross School graduate who now works as a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. Beth carries a strong interest in science, nature, and the arts and a classroom management philosophy based on parent/teacher/student collaboration and mindfulness practices. She is happy to have the opportunity to create another unique, creative program combining the Ross School Spiral Curriculum with Reggio Emilia-inspired concepts.
Jennifer received her BS with a double major in mathematics and adolescence education from Plattsburgh State University, NY. She completed her student teaching requirements in NYC and spent her first three years teaching math at Tito Puente Education Complex, in Manhattan. Jennifer earned her MA in education with a concentration in leadership of educational organizations from American International University and she has taken additional graduate coursework through Bank Street College and Stony Brook University. She joined Ross School in 2008 where in addition to teaching math in grades 5–12, she has served as a house parent, Field Academy leader, basketball coach, assistant supervisor for the SATs, advisor, and a mediation teacher.
Jennifer serves as faculty tech support on the online learning committee, was named 2020 Teacher of the Year, and is the Innovation and Robotics teacher for Ross Lower School. She is a mother to two beautiful boys, grew up in East Hampton, NY and now loves living in Sag Harbor.
Julie has been a member of the Ross School community since 2006, joining first as the Reading Specialist for Grades K–6 before returning to the classroom as a lead teacher—in Kindergarten, then Grades 2 and 3, and currently Grade 1.

A native of Scotland, she earned her B.Ed. (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh, then began her teaching career in London, working with Grades 1–3 and serving as a Key Stage Leader for those grades. In 1996, she moved to Sag Harbor with her husband, teaching first at Hampton Day School and then at the Morris Center in Bridgehampton.

Julie went on to earn her MS Ed. in Reading from Long Island University and has continued her professional growth through graduate coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics. She is passionate about creating a warm, engaging classroom where children grow into confident, curious, and independent learners.

An active member of the East End community, she loves spending time outdoors—walking her dog on the beach or exploring the many trails around the East End, boating on the water, or playing pickleball.
Laura Engel has been a member of the Ross School faculty since 2006, first with Ross Library before becoming the lead Early Childhood teacher. She was the recipient of the Ross Lower School Teacher of the Year Award in 2023 and is an EC Instruction Leader. Laura began her career in the performing arts at age 14 and has performed for the stage, film, and television in venues from New York City to Miami. Her love of the arts inspires her vision for life in her nursery classroom, striving to empower students to develop and express their creativity and sense of the world through painting, drawing, storytelling, dancing, and music-making.
Laura attended Bard College, New York University, and the New School for Social Research, receiving a B.A. in Liberal Arts. She is a certified Music Together teacher and has taught EC Music and Movement classes as well as EC Creative Dramatics classes for over 25 years for many educational institutions, including the Children's Museum of Manhattan, New Media Rep, Kids Classes of the Hamptons, Sandpiper Music Together, Music Together by the Dunes, Children's Museum of the East End, Rainbow Preschool, Stella Maris Preschool (East Hampton and Sag Harbor locations), Art House Engel, and the Art Farm. She has been the EC Coordinator and EC Creative Arts Instructor for Ross Summer Camp since 2008.
Laura is married to Christopher Engel, Director of Community Development at Ross, and they have two children who graduated from Ross with honors, Noah '11, and Emma '16.
Catherine Golding-Cremoux brings a rich background in early childhood education from her prior roles in schools in New York City, having taught Kindergarten through Grade 2 at the prestigious Rudolf Steiner School and serving as the lead teacher at the Barnard Toddler Center. Hailing from Mexico City and with the unique multicultural lineage of having an American father and Lebanese mother, Catherine possesses a deep appreciation for global perspectives. This appreciation is further emphasized by her fluency in English, Spanish, and French and her proficiency in Portuguese.
Catherine earned her bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a Master's Degree with Advanced Certification in Child-School Psychology from NYU. This solid foundation underscores her unwavering commitment to understanding and fostering children's holistic development.
Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Catherine has a keen interest in outdoor activities and the culinary arts. Central to her philosophy is a dedication to the holistic well-being of children. We are eager and excited for Catherine to share and nurture this ethos at Ross.
Kimberly Gonzalez is excited to join the Ross community as the Visual Arts teacher for Grades 2–6. A lifelong Long Islander, Kimberly grew up in Suffolk County and has always been inspired by the natural beauty of the East End.

As an artist, she works primarily in painting, sculpture, and drawing, often exploring surrealism, portraiture, and imaginative landscapes using found object materials.

Kimberly earned her B.F.A. in Art Education and Art History from Long Island University (Post Campus), graduating Summa Cum Laude, and her M.A. in Creative Arts Education from the University of Exeter. She has taught locally in non-profit, private, and public educational settings. With a passion for travel and humanitarian service, she has participated in educational service programs in South America and Europe.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, exploring the natural beauty of the East End, creating art, and spending time with her new baby and growing family.

Inspired by the teachings and legacy of Victor and Mabel D’Amico, she hopes to foster curiosity, creativity, and confidence in her students while encouraging them to discover the joy of making art.
For as long as she can remember, Nancy has been fascinated by people and events in history, and by how reading opens both real and imaginary worlds. Since 2019, she has found a true home in Ross School's spiral curriculum, where she gets to introduce new generations to the wonders of both past and present.

Nancy earned her BA in History and Elementary Education from Boston College, followed by an MS in Reading from Long Island University. Over the years, she has taught multiple grades in both public and private schools, focusing on nurturing relationships and empowering students. A lifelong learner herself, Nancy has pursued additional training in executive functions, ADHD, and neurodivergent learners — knowledge that has proven invaluable both in and out of the classroom.

The Ross motto is "Know Thyself to Serve." Having grown up in close-knit Sag Harbor, Nancy has always prioritized building and supporting community. While raising her four daughters, she modeled the importance of community responsibility and service as a trustee on both the library and park boards, as PTSA president, and as a volunteer for various youth-related activities. Each September, Nancy opens the door to a brand-new adventure at Ross.
As the Lower School Counselor at Ross School, Caitlin Heppenheimer (Mrs. Heppy) is dedicated to nurturing the social, emotional, and mental growth of young learners.

Raised on Long Island, Caitlin earned both her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and her master’s degree in Counselor Education, with a specialization in School Counseling from SUNY Plattsburgh.

Prior to joining Ross, Caitlin spent many years in the classroom teaching first and fourth grades, and gained valuable clinical experience serving as a school counselor in Vermont. She brought that dual background to the Ross School community in 2021, teaching first grade before stepping into her current role as School Counselor.

A certified Kids Yoga Teacher, Caitlin blends her classroom experience with a compassionate, empathetic, and attentive approach to student support. She lives on the East End with her husband, dog, and son.
Geoffrey (Geoff) is very excited to begin his role as a Ross third-grade teacher. As a Ross alumnus, Class of 2006, Geoff is eager to rejoin the Ross community in a new capacity.
Geoff grew up here on Long Island, and attended the Amagansett School prior to attending high school at Ross Upper School. Geoff thoroughly enjoyed Ross and made many lifelong connections with fellow students and staff. He went on to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut before getting his master's degree in Childhood Education from LIU Riverhead. He has been teaching third and fourth grade for the last four years at the Oysterponds Elementary School in Orient, NY.
Geoff has always loved the east end and all the natural beauty that it has to offer. He enjoys the outdoors, especially evening walks with his dog on our numerous serene beaches.
Geoff developed a strong passion for teaching during his time at the CDCH Charter School, where he worked in the summers while attending college, and for several years while he was receiving his degree in education. Geoff is a caring and compassionate teacher who seeks to understand each student on an individual level to best plan instruction that meets the needs of each unique child.
Ajiah Jones-King's enduring presence within the Ross community has evolved from her student years to her current roles as a Ross alum, a camp administrator, and a Kindergarten teacher at the Lower School.
She received her most recent degree from the University of Pennsylvania with an M.S. in International Educational Development with a focus on early childhood & human rights. She is also a spoken word artist, writer, and published author. In class, Ajiah encourages creativity and curiosity while also incorporating a daily mindfulness practice to help students stay focused and engaged in their studies.
Kayla Kinsler (or ‘Coach Kayla’) is excited to be teaching Wellness at Ross Lower School. With a passion for promoting health, fitness, and joyful movement, Kayla is dedicated to helping students develop the skills and enthusiasm they need for a lifetime of active living. She holds a degree in Physical Education.
Deborah earned her degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She spent many years teaching elementary grades in rural New Hampshire prior to joining Ross in 2013. Deborah is the Grade 6 Academic Team Leader at Ross and received the 2019 Courtney Sale Ross Teacher of the Year Award for outstanding teaching.
An important aspect of the Ross curriculum is the school’s motto, “Know Thyself in Order to Serve.” Deborah incorporates this motto into both her personal and professional work. She is a member of the Friends of the Hampton Library and also works with local food pantries. Deborah strives to exemplify the Ross School values as a role model, teacher leader, and mentor, and she continues to pursue excellence with her students.
Robyn Mott is an experienced educator with a passion for early childhood education. With 18 years of experience in the field, she currently serves as a Co-Director of Athletics, where she oversees athletics offerings and other after-school community engagement opportunities for Grades 1–6.
Before joining Ross School, Robyn held the position of Director at the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton. Her leadership skills and dedication to providing quality education to young children were evident during her time there.
Robyn's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from SUNY Oswego. She furthered her education at LIU Post, where she completed a master’s degree in Technology in the Classroom. Additionally, Robyn holds a New York teaching certification for Birth–Grade 6 and for students with disabilities from Birth–Grade 6.
Throughout her career, Robyn has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for her students. She believes in fostering a love for learning and helping children develop the necessary skills to succeed academically and socially. Robyn's dedication to her profession and her students makes her a valuable asset to the educational community.
Nicole O’Brien is a Ross Lower School Kindergarten teacher. Dedicated, determined, and passionate about education & teaching, Ms. O’Brien brings over 24 years of teaching experience into her differentiated approach toward learning while engaging the students through teacher & student-based approaches.
Joy is sparked within this accomplished teacher each day when connections are made within and outside of the classroom. She holds multiple degrees that enrich her day-to-day interactions with the students, creating an environment conducive to acquiring the knowledge needed for success now and in the future.
Belle O’Shaughnessy is a working artist, potter, and yoga instructor with experience teaching students ages 3 through adult in studio, private, and classroom settings. Belle earned her B.A in Studio Art, Sculpture from Dickinson College, and has since continued her studio practice, exhibiting her work in galleries on Long Island and in Manhattan. She completed an apprenticeship at Mudita Ceramics School of the Hamptons, studying ceramic arts and studio maintenance, as well as 500 hours of Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India, entailing in-depth studies of anatomy, nervous system regulation, mindful action, and traditional Vedic philosophy. Her artwork explores the abstraction of patterns in anatomy, microanatomy, and the microscopic cell structure of plants, combining sciences with visual art. Belle encourages students to look closely at organic systems, study the intelligence of natural design, and let a curiosity-driven practice lead the work. She is excited to introduce this meditative, generative approach to young artists at Ross as the Visual Arts teacher for Pre-K 3 and 4, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Sinéad has been working as a Ross School librarian since 2013. She received her BA in English and History from University College Cork in Ireland and her MA in Library and Information Sciences from Queens College, City University of New York. Sinéad grew up in Ireland and has traveled extensively, having lived in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Jodie has been in the teaching profession for over 20 years. She is a graduate of LIU Southampton and Dowling College. She is New York State certified in Elementary, Reading, and Special Education and was a Learning Support Specialist at Hampton Day School and the Morriss Center School for five years prior to joining Ross.
Jodie is part of the cohesive learning specialist team, working closely with local school districts to coordinate educational testing and develop Individualized Education Plans for Ross students and collaborate with service personnel and classroom teachers to implement educational programs that ensure students are provided with comprehensive, differentiated programs tailored to their diverse learning needs and help them meet educational challenges with success.
AnnMarie is an experienced educator who began her teaching career at Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Center Moriches, where she taught kindergarten using a balanced literacy approach. She then taught Pre-K in Bayport with a focus on global studies, preparing children for kindergarten by exploring the geographical world. AnnMarie’s passion for nurturing young minds flourished during her 15-year tenure as the Head Teacher at The Green School in Sagaponack, where she developed curriculums that scaffolded readiness across multiple early childhood stages.

AnnMarie holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Mount Saint Mary College and a Master of Science in Reading K-12 from Dowling College. Her teaching philosophy is deeply influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach, which aligns with her belief in recognizing the unique learning styles and paces of each child. As she enters her 29th year of teaching, AnnMarie continues to create an inclusive and stimulating classroom environment where exploration, expression, and creativity are encouraged through various mediums such as music, drawing, writing, and painting. This approach fosters a sense of kindness, imagination, and joy in learning, reflecting the core principles of the Reggio Emilia model. Outside the classroom, AnnMarie enjoys tutoring, gardening, and spending time with her daughter and three dogs in Manorville.
Carolyn earned her BFA in Advertising and Public Relations from the New York Institute of Technology and worked as an Account Executive for an Advertising Agency in NYC. She then moved to Massachusetts and opened her own home daycare business. After several years in Massachusetts, she returned to Long Island and began to grow her family. After her fourth child was born, Carolyn returned to college and earned her Master's of Education degree in elementary education from Dowling College. She then accepted a classroom teaching position at St. Joseph's School where she taught for 14 years.
While at St. Joseph’s, she received a NY State grant to improve elementary math skills and attended the SUNY Old Westbury Institute of Leadership Training for Math, which allowed her to be the K–5 math lead. After several years as a classroom teacher, she was then granted an opportunity to develop a research writing program that closed the gaps in writing skills for students in Grades 5–8.
Since Carolyn is a lifelong learner, she continued her education, earning her School Building/District Leader Certificate from St. Joseph’s College, and completing an internship at Port Jefferson Middle School. Carolyn now serves as a Grade 4 teacher at Ross Lower School. She lives in Miller Place and has four children—Kaitlyn, James, Alyson, and Alexa, and one granddaughter, Valerie.
Eric Sepenoski comes to Ross as a fourth-generation farmer on the North Fork. While working the family farm each summer and pursuing his education as a teacher and writer, Eric became interested in how our relationships with the land shape our sense of place and purpose.
In 2020, Eric received his Ph.D. from Northeastern University for his ethnographic study of the North Fork and the literacies people enact around land use. He then returned home to work the farm, keeping a promise he had made to himself to raise his young sons on the land with his wife, Brenna, and to renew and strengthen our community through teaching and public service. Eric currently serves on the Town of Southold Board of Trustees, a role that puts him at the creative intersection of science, law, public discourse, and environmental stewardship. At Ross Lower School, he aims to inspire students to see themselves as caretakers of the community and the Earth.
Ms. Brandee comes to us from Detroit, Michigan with a passion for writing, performance, and music, in addition to science/art fusion! 2025 marks her 22nd year in the Hamptons, and the third year.
When it comes to problem-solving skills, Ms. Brandee enjoys taking care of business through creative intervention. Whether she is writing a catchy tune to help a child learn to spell their name or writing a cheer for our students to celebrate homecoming, Ms. Brandee happily gets things moving in a fun and positive direction! Curating special visual arts projects to tie into the Ross spiral curriculum, as well as her daily work in our EC program, she is always busy on campus! If you listen carefully, you can hear the kids buzzing along with her!
Ms. Brandee is also the mother of 14-year-old Toshihiro Shiga, who you will see occasionally helping with her business Smartz & Craftz, making bath bombs and coloring the community with all things bold, bright, and fun!
Zoë Geller joined the Ross School community in 2026 as an Early Childhood teacher. Despite her circuitous career path, her true passion is inspiring children to wonder and care about the natural world.

Zoë attended Haverford College, where she majored in Environmental Studies. After graduating, she worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA Environmental Educator, empowering children to transform vacant lots into community gardens. She then became the Local Food Operations Manager at a local food nonprofit in Philadelphia, where she was inspired to start her own food company.

Zoë went on to get her MBA and Master of Environmental Management degree at Yale University in 2017. While earning her master's, she started a company called Fire Ox Foods aimed at helping people eat more vegetables. She transitioned to teaching part-time at Ross and Hayground School over the past two years, enjoying engaging students in cooking, nature, science, and the arts.

Zoë grew up in Southampton, where she now lives with husband and two children.

UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY

Ria Maxwell brings more than 20 years of experience in teaching, school leadership, faculty development, and strategic initiatives to her role as Head of Upper School at Ross. She first joined the Ross community in 2009 and throughout her career has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and has held various leadership roles at a number of independent schools. Before returning to Ross in 2024, she spent 11 years at Miami Country Day School, where she held both teaching and administrative positions.
Ria began her career teaching at Hampton Day/Morriss Center School before joining The Winsor School in Boston, where she taught English in Grades 6 and 7 and led the Middle School Health team. During her time at Winsor, she developed advisory and health curricula for Grades 5–8, co-chaired the Teaching and Learning Committee, and helped lead initiatives in professional development, a new employee evaluation system, and restructuring the middle school discipline policy. In 2008, she was selected as a teaching fellow at Harvard University for two years.

Ria first joined Ross in 2009 as a Grade 5 teacher, later moving to Grade 8 and becoming Middle School Coordinator in 2012. In 2013, she moved to Miami Country Day School as a Grade 4 teacher and was named Dean of Faculty/Director of Human Resources in 2014, followed by an appointment as Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives in 2022. She returned to Ross in 2024 as a Grade 7 and 8 English teacher, bringing her teaching and leadership experience back to the Ross community before stepping into the role of Head of Upper School in 2025.
Born in Dallas, TX, Matthew has a B.A. (1983) from Rollins College and both Master of Arts (1985) and Master of Philosophy (1994) degrees from NYU. He has taught Cultural History at Ross School since 1997. He taught in tenth grade for many years and now serves as Team Leader and Cultural History teacher for twelfth grade. His electives include Advanced European History, Current Events, American and International Politics, and Social Theory of Marvel Comic’s X-Men.
Matthew has three children, Margaret ’06, Alex ’07, and Hayden ’12, all alumni of Ross. His wife Alison was a longtime and well-loved early childhood educator at Ross. Matthew enjoys skiing, yoga, driving his Morgan three-wheeler, and spending as much time as possible with his family, especially his grandson Hugo (Ross Class of 2036).
Matthew was the recipient of the Courtney Sale Ross Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2026.
Savannah Bellon joined the Ross School community in 2026 as the Upper School Theatre Teacher and Boarding House Parent. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Education with a minor in Psychology from Emerson College and maintains K–12 Theatre teaching licenses in both Massachusetts and Delaware.
Savannah brings a rich background in theatrical performance, direction, and instruction to Ross, having previously worked with Wheelock Family Theatre and Wellesley Public Schools in Massachusetts. Her approach to theatre pedagogy centers on fostering community, empathy, and a sense of belonging through collaborative storytelling, performance, and student-centered artistic exploration. In her final year of college, she was honored with an EVVY Award for Outstanding Stage Musical for her production of Sunday in the Park with George. In her free time, Savannah loves seeing live theatre and music, traveling, and car rides with her dog, Sonny.
She is thrilled to be working in ResLife in such a beautiful place and is looking forward to empowering upper school students to find their voices in the classroom, on stage, and within the residential community.
Kim has been a part of the Ross community since the Fall of 2008, teaching in Grades K–4 at Ross Lower School. She transitioned to the upper school in 2013 as the Grade 10 Science teacher. Kim holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry as well as a secondary education teaching certification. Prior to joining the Ross community in 2008, she developed and taught high school science courses for a private school in Harrisburg, PA.
studentsupport@ross.org
Carl grew up on a farm in Upstate New York, graduated from Saint Olaf College in MN, and eaned his M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University.
His career path spans over twenty years of working with students in wilderness settings, urban and rural schools, and experiential, special, and general education. He has served as a counselor in non-profit organizations, public schools, and a drug treatment facility.
Carl maintained a private practice near his home in Sag Harbor prior to joining Ross School, where he now enjoys a position focused on respecting the role of mental health in supporting students alongside a team dedicated to facilitating student success in a dynamic, creative, and challenging environment.
Jennifer received her degree in Mathematics from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She spent 10 years teaching in the public school system in New Jersey before joining the Ross community in 2006 as a Grade 10 mathematics teacher.
Diana received her Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts from Suffolk Community College, her B.S. in Physical Education from Coastal Carolina University, and her M.A. in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.
Prior to Ross, Diana worked at Longwood Middle School as a teaching assistant and volleyball coach, where she led her team to become the 2022 Co-League Champions and received Coach of the Year awards at both the JV and Varsity levels.
Her goal as a wellness teacher is to inspire and educate her students so that they are motivated and equipped to live an active and healthy lifestyle. During her spare time, Diana likes spending time with her children, traveling, and playing beach volleyball. She also coaches beach volleyball for Suffolk County SWAT Beach Volleyball.
Carrie Clark first joined the Ross School faculty in 1999 as a Cultural History teacher for its first junior class (Class of 2001). She now serves as the Dean of Cultural History and the Grade 11 team leader. She has led and facilitated multiple workshops on Ross curriculum and pedagogy on and off campus, in the United States, and abroad. She loves working with high school students, and in 2003, she received the Courtney Sale Ross Teacher of the Year Award. Carrie earned her BA in history from UCLA and her MA at SUNY Stony Brook. Prior to teaching at Ross, she worked as a master teacher and curriculum specialist while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger and Belize, and as an instructor at Southampton College and SUNY Stony Brook.
Kayla holds a Master’s of Education in Human Sexuality. She has worked in schools from East Harlem to San Diego and is excited to be back on Long Island, at the school where she completed her student teaching, to educate the young people in the community she grew up in.
Kayla is deeply committed to empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their health with confidence. Passionate about fostering bodily autonomy, understanding consent, and building healthy relationships, Kayla aims to create a positive, inclusive environment where students can learn to thrive as happy, healthy, and fulfilled individuals.
Kayla’s teaching philosophy is centered around violence prevention and harm reduction. Through teaching young people about topics such as pregnancy and STI prevention, reproductive health, relationships, identity, body image, and consent, she aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
As an educator, writer, poet, and fine and performing arts lover, Redel believes strongly in a holistic approach to education. He holds two master’s degrees, one in Education from Southern
New Hampshire University and another in Applied Linguistics from European Atlantic University in Spain. Teaching the Spanish Language is his passion and making connections between cultures and people has been his long-term life goal. Ross School and Long Island are the perfect places for him
to continue developing, enjoying, and celebrating these foundational aspects of a World Language Program, as well as being part of an evolving learning community.
Madeline Fulton joins Ross as the English Teacher for seventh and eighth grades and the Grade 7 team leader. She received her MA in Inclusive Education from Teachers College at Columbia University, and is very passionate about multicultural and antiracist teaching practices, as well as social-emotional learning in the classroom. She believes that when students feel safe, known, and valued in the classroom, the best learning occurs.

Madeline received her undergraduate degree in psychology from The New School with a focus on childhood development and adolescence. She previously taught English for grades 6–9 at York Prep in Manhattan, as well as grades 3 and 4 as an Associate at Collegiate School. She has also worked as a paraprofessional in special education, which sparked her love for teaching and student advocacy. Furthermore, Madeline is an avid reader and loves to deep dive into new subjects. In her free time, she enjoys oil painting, living by the beach, and playing with her very opinionated corgi, Jax.
Paul is a historian of technology who received his Ph.D. in media studies from the University of Texas at Austin. His research includes the formation of industrial healthcare and telecommunications design, and his writing has appeared in 'The Journal of Design History,' 'Design Observer,' 'Flow,' and 'Film History.'
studentsupport@ross.org
Lisa has spent the last 45 years in elementary and secondary education, working with children from nursery school through twelfth grade. She earned her AAS degree in early childhood education from Bennett College in 1970. Her first eight years of teaching were spent teaching kindergarten in Buffalo, NY, at the Elmwood-Franklin School. During the summers, she took graduate courses at Southampton College, which focused on learning styles and the need for differentiating the way material was presented to students in the classroom.
In 1978, Lisa moved to New York City's Buckley School, where she taught first and third grades. She continued to develop her interest in understanding the needs of the learning-disabled student through coursework at Hunter College and specially designed courses with established speech/language specialists. In 1992, she moved to the East End permanently, teaching at the Hampton Day School/Morriss Center until its merger with Ross School in 2006. While at Hampton Day, Lisa was the Elementary Division Head, a classroom teacher for Grades 1–4, a sixth-grade math teacher, and a School Test Coordinator. From 2003–2006, she was the Learning Coordinator at Morriss Center, helping teachers develop differentiated curriculum for students with learning needs. Lisa has extensive admissions experience, having developed the evaluation tools for admissions while at the Elmwood-Franklin School, Buckley School, and Hampton Day School. She has training in Junior Great Books, Project Charlie, and Mel Levine's School's Attuned, and has served on several accreditation committees for the New York State Association of Independent Schools.
Linda received her BA in Mathematics, with a concentration in Secondary Education and a minor in History, from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY, in 1993. Here she was awarded both the Teacher Education Graduation Medal and the Service Graduation Medal. She is a member of the Education National Honor Society and the National History Honor Society. Linda continued her education at Fordham University, where she obtained an M.S. in curriculum and teaching in 1994. In 1997, Linda taught math to high school students at St. John’s Preparatory School, Astoria. In 1998, Linda started at Ross School, where she has taught multiple levels of mathematics, becoming the Grade 10 team leader in 2013. In the same year, she received the Courtney Sale Ross award for Teaching Excellence.
Amy Kalaczynski is a Wellness teacher specializing in yoga, Vedic meditation, Ayurveda, and Pilates. She teaches Grades 9–12 at Ross Upper School.

Amy received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and continued her wellness studies at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Nosara, Costa Rica, and at an ashram in Rishikesh, India. Amy is also the founder of the Kala Meditation Club. Her intention is to provide students with the tools and techniques to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys harvesting at Quail Hill farm, playing tennis, and cooking healthy meals with her family. Amy lives in Bridgehampton and currently has a daughter at Ross Lower School.
collegecounseling@ross.org
Stacey serves as a Counselor/College Counselor at Ross School. She joined the Ross community in the summer of 2022 after working as a School Counselor in the public school setting since 2018. Stacey was born and raised on Long Island and attended high school in Suffolk County. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Stony Brook University and her postgraduate degree in school counseling at LIU Post.
From a young age, Stacey has been passionate about working with children in the educational system. She looks forward to expanding, learning, and sharing her knowledge here at Ross. Stacey is currently in the process of obtaining her LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) certification. She plans to utilize this degree both in and outside the Ross community.
In addition to joining the Ross counseling team, Stacey is excited to take on the position of Varsity Cheerleading Coach alongside colleagues, where she will draw on her 10+ years of dance/cheer experience to guide the Ross School Cheerleading Team.
Hellen Lu joins Ross as the Upper School Mandarin teacher on the World Languages team. She majored in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and has over nine years of experience teaching in a variety of settings, including international schools in China, Jakarta, and the US. Outside of work, Hellen enjoys staying active at the gym, running, playing badminton, and hiking, but her biggest passion is traveling—she has visited 18 countries so far! (Fun fact: She once spent over 40 hours on a single train ride!)
Alexis Martino is a photographer, educator, and Director of Field Academy at Ross School. A member of the Ross faculty since 1999, she founded the school’s photography program and later served as Dean of Media Studies, helping to develop an expansive approach to photography, filmmaking, and visual storytelling within the curriculum.
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Since 2014, Alexis has led Ross School’s Field Academy, overseeing experiential learning programs that connect academic study with travel, culture, and real-world engagement. She has developed and led more than 35 international programs throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, often using photography and visual storytelling as a way for students to engage deeply with people, place, and culture.

Alexis is also an exhibiting fine art photographer whose work explores intimacy, memory, ritual, longing, and belonging. Her photographs have been exhibited and published nationally and internationally. Her most recent body of work, 101 Pennies, was published as a limited-edition artist book by Fall Line Press in 2024.

Throughout her work at Ross, Alexis has been committed to creating experiences that encourage students to be curious, independent, culturally aware, and willing to engage with the world beyond the classroom.
Cameron Miller is the Grade 10 science teacher as well as the Advanced Environmental Science and Advanced Biology teacher at Ross.

Cameron received an undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Vermont in 2016 and a master's degree in science education at Rutgers University in 2018. Cameron has been an educator since 2019 and has taught both middle and high school science. Previously, Cameron taught in New Jersey and, most recently, in Michigan before returning to the Hamptons in 2022.

Cameron, her husband, and twin daughters reside in Hampton Bays where they enjoy spending time at the beach and taking their dogs on walks.
Jon Mulhern is the Founding Director of the Ross School Art Academy (RSAA) and Dean of Visual Arts. He leads the development of Ross’s visual arts program, shaping its curriculum, studio culture, faculty collaboration, and student experience. He earned his BFA and MAT/MFA in Painting and Education from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and began his career as a professional painter, sculptor, and professor in Baltimore and Manhattan. In 2008, he joined Ross Global Academy in Manhattan before moving his studio to Bridgehampton in 2011 and joining Ross School.

Since founding RSAA, Jon has developed an intensive college preparatory studio program that gives students sustained time to build portfolios, explore diverse media, and develop distinctive artistic voices. Under his leadership, the program has expanded its offerings in painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, illustration, fashion, design, ceramics, and interdisciplinary studio practice. RSAA also creates opportunities for students to engage with professional artists, galleries, museums, internships, the broader art community, and workshops with faculty from some of the nation’s leading art and design schools.

As a practicing professional artist, Jon brings an active studio perspective to his leadership and teaching. His educational philosophy extends beyond technical skill, emphasizing critical thinking, creative risk-taking, experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, personal voice, and the belief that art is a powerful way of thinking, seeing, questioning, and understanding the world.
collegecounseling@ross.org
Lisa has been helping students through the college application process at Ross for 20 years. As founder of East End Test Prep and Counseling, Lisa began her career preparing students in New York City and the Hamptons for success in all areas of college admissions testing. In the last eight years, she has worked as a college counselor, guiding students through all aspects of the college admissions process. Lisa has been featured in both The New York Times and New York Magazine. She is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School and Wesleyan University.
Maria received her BA with a double major in Mathematics and Art & Art History from Colgate University, and her master's degree in Mathematics Education from RPI. Maria spent one year as the mathematics intern at Emma Willard School before beginning her career at the Ross School, where she taught middle and high school math from 1999–2006. Maria then chose to focus on being a mother to her two daughters while continuing to teach math as a private tutor. She is thrilled to be back at Ross teaching high school mathematics.
Isabel Santos joins Ross as an Upper School Visual Arts teacher. She has taught a variety of art courses for K–12 and adult learners in the Hamptons and Los Angeles, developing animation workshops and supporting instruction in painting, drawing, and other fine arts. Isabel earned her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA from California Institute of the Arts and brings a broad skill set in the arts, spanning digital media, film production, sound design, photography, painting, graphic design, comic arts, ceramics, textile weaving, and script writing.
Stephanie Schaefer joined the Ross community in 2021 and has taught science across every grade from middle school through high school. She brings 14 years of teaching experience to the classroom, along with a lifelong passion for coaching, having coached travel teams since she was 14.
At Ross, she has also supported colleagues in leading student trips, clubs, and independent studies.

Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Science Education from Stony Brook University.
Sophie Schaeffer holds a Bachelor's Degree in Performance Studies with minors in Psychology and Linguistics from Northwestern University. Previously, she worked as a Teaching Assistant for Northwestern's Center for Talent Development and tutored English as a second language to both secondary school students and adults in the professional world. As an early-career teacher and boarding school graduate herself, she is eager to dive into both residential life and education at Ross, where she will be teaching Upper School ESOL Literature. Sophie's background in theatre has long informed—and, here, will continue to inform—the work that she does in the classroom, empowering students to develop their own academic and literary voices through self-expression and spirited dialogue. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and getting to know the world around her, whether that means exploring her local community or traveling across the globe.
Samantha Smith is an Upper School Spanish teacher at Ross. She uses her outgoing personality to create lessons that inspire her students to learn the Spanish language. Samantha began her language career teaching corporate English and Italian in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while studying to perfect her Spanish. She went on to pursue a Doctor of Modern Languages in Italian and Spanish through Middlebury College. Her Doctoral Dissertation, “La Rivoluzione Futurista: Emancipazione Del Rumore, Esaltazione Jazz Band,” explores the influence of American Jazz Music on Italian Futurist Music from 1908–1934. She defended her dissertation in both Italian and Spanish.
Samantha hopes to help her students genuinely fall in love with the Spanish language and the multitude of Spanish-speaking cultures. In her spare time, she enjoys studying the bible, speaking Italian and Spanish, studying French, and enjoying the Hamptons and NYC with family and friends. She also returns to her other passion, vocal and violin performance, whenever she can.
Anna received her BS in environmental science from Wheaton College, IL, and her M.A. in French Literature from San Francisco State University. Prior to coming to Ross, Anna taught for several years in Paris and the French West Indies, and led wilderness adventure expeditions for middle school and high school students throughout the southwestern United States. Anna has also worked in the nonprofit sector, helping to manage sustainable agriculture and HIV education programs in Tanzania.
Mark earned his BA in Psychology at Wheaton College and his M.Ed. in special education from Vanderbilt University (1999). While at Vanderbilt, he worked in the Reading Clinic and was published for work on the Peer Buddy project. He has also taught at Hunters Bend Elementary School in Franklin, TN, where he worked as Lead Teacher of the Special Education Department and coordinated services with specialists and therapists for students with special needs.
Mami, a native of Japan, joined the Ross community in 2008. After receiving degrees in English Language and Literature, Anthropology, and Speech Communication, she lived and taught in the US, Japan, China, the Philippines, and Spain. She has taught ESOL, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, as well as communication courses such as Public Speaking and Nonverbal Communication to a wide range of learners. She has a deep passion for language-learning and exploring new cultures, and is an avid scuba diver and environmentalist.
Mark earned his BA from Williams College in 1987 and his M.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. Mark began teaching at a Quaker school in Philadelphia after college with the idea that he would teach for a year and then move on to a “real” career. That was 40 years ago.

Mark is grateful to be blessed with a talent for motivating middle school students and respecting them as thinkers and writers. He returned to his roots on the East End in 2000.
Jack joined the Ross community in 2025. He graduated from Wesleyan University with a double major in Government and East Asian Studies (focused on the Mandarin-speaking world), and a minor in Data Analysis.

In his teaching role, Jack uses his academic experience in politics, history, and critical theory to help Ross Upper School students critically evaluate the economic forces that drive history and shape our everyday lives.

As a House Parent, Jack draws on his years of club management experience to foster environments of support, growth, and joy outside the classroom.

In his free time, Jack enjoys playing guitar and drums, a passion he shares each week as the faculty advisor for the Ross Rock Band Club.
Aaron graduated from Yale University in 2024 with a degree in English Language and Literature and he is thrilled to serve students and faculty in the Ross English department. Whether faced with a poem or novel, Aaron is fascinated by the careful practice of close reading and loves to uncover how modern authors masterfully infuse words with the emotions, rhythms, and absurdity of life. He also hopes to frequent the Ross pottery studio. Aaron has nine years of ceramics experience, managing a studio and teaching at Yale for three. To him, clay can sometimes tell stories that words just can’t.

Also serving as s a House Parent, Aaron joined the Ross Boarding program with three years of Residential Life experience. He worked for Yale Summer Session as a counselor for two years and then served as a Residential Director of the program in 2024. He also served as a First-year Counselor (FroCo) at Yale, welcoming and guiding the incoming class of students to their new collegiate lives. Aaron’s goal is to make the Ross boarding houses feel like home for every student.
Cathy joined Ross School in 2014 as Dean of Wellness. Her interest in wellness education is shaped by her curiosity regarding the role of contemplative and reflective practices in helping to develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physiological resilience in young people.
Cathy grew up in South Korea, Iran, and Malawi. She studied English literature at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and received her MA in Education in Intercultural Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Ross School, Cathy worked at Walnut Hill School for the Arts as Director of International Programs and at Northfield Mount Hermon School as Director of Multicultural Community Development.
As a yoga and mindfulness teacher, Cathy hopes to create the space and avenues for young people in the increasingly complex world to understand their strengths and abilities through self-awareness and insight. Cathy is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and trained to teach mindfulness in schools. She also enjoys and values strength and movement training, as well as listening to audio books, cooking, and traveling with her family.