Welcome to Our New Colleagues & Congratulations on New Roles!

Beth O’Brien Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid

We are pleased to announce that Beth O’Brien, who has been our Head of Early Childhood for the past 10 years, is our new Director of Enrollment Management, and alumna Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83, who has been a member of the Early Childhood teaching team for the past 15 years, is our new Head of Early Childhood.

Beth joined Country School as an apprentice teacher 22 years ago and has served the school in a variety of teaching and administrative positions, including in the admissions office, prior to becoming our Head of Early Childhood in 2012. Beth’s unquestioned expertise in child development, her commitment to Country School’s mission and the strong connections she so easily forms with families make this a natural transition.

A graduate of Bucknell University, Beth received her Elementary Certification from Center for Montessori Education and has done graduate work at Bank Street College of Education and the Leadership Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Previously, she served as a lead elementary school teacher in Seattle and at the Windward School in White Plains, New York. Beth is a frequent speaker to parent groups and organizations, providing research-based insights as well as clearly articulated action-steps parents can implement at home to promote positive child development.

Staunton Bean ’83 Head of Early Childhood

An alumna of Country School’s Class of 1983, Jeannie returned to NCCS in the Beginners program in 2008 as an assistant teacher, and in 2011 moved into the role of lead teacher.

In 2015, Jeannie was awarded the Williams Family Faculty Chair, which recognizes exceptional full-time faculty who demonstrate a commitment to engaging and inspiring students, creating curriculum to reach all learners and seeking ongoing professional development. Jeannie served as co-chair of the English department from 2014 to 2016, was one of four faculty members chosen to travel to Finland in 2015 to learn more about the renowned Nordic educational system, and has served as a faculty representative to the Board of Trustees.

She has been an avid admissions ambassador, allowing her to share her deep love of Country School. The classrooms and fields run deep for Jeannie; as our mission has shaped and influenced not only Jeannie’s four siblings in the late ’70s into the mid ’80s, but her own family as well, including her husband, Chris, also a member of the Class of 1983, and her three children, Bella ’14, Anna ’15 and Finley ’17

Prior to joining NCCS, she was a Pre-K lead teacher and assistant director of Admissions for Putnam Indian Field School. She received a B.S. in Education from the University of Vermont, a M.S. in Reading from College of New Rochelle, and was trained in the Orton-Gillingham method at the Windward Teacher Training Institute.

Anne Marie Schettini-Lynch Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Anne Marie joins us from Iona College where for the past nine years she was the senior vice president for Finance and Administration. 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 Master of Business Administration degree from St. John’s University and a B.A. in Accounting and Information Systems from Queens College.

Also joining us or taking new responsibilities are:

* Aron Back and Freddy Gavidia, Interim Co-Directors of Technology

* Lindsey Brown, Grade 1 Teacher

* Sam Charwat, Apprentice Teacher

* Kendall Cornine, PE Assistant Teacher

* Hali Dorfman, Upper School Learning Resources Teacher and Coach

* Camden Fort, Apprentice Teacher

* Katie Gallagher, Apprentice Teacher

* Ella Girling, Apprentice Teacher

* Maggie Gutman, Upper School Latin Teacher

* Brandy Hearn, Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher, Homeroom Advisor and Coach

* Brook Heston, Apprentice Teacher

* Kristin Keneally, Beginners Assistant Teacher

* Sophie Kennen, Apprentice Teacher

* Keri Kern, Director of Athletics and Physical Education

* Madeleine Ker ’10, Beginners 4/5 Assistant and Plus Program Assistant

* Alexa Leon, Apprentice Teacher

* Daniel Lepoutre, Apprentice Teacher

* Cheryl Long, Apprentice Teacher

* Katherine Medina, Apprentice Teacher

* Madison Paradis, Apprentice Teacher

* Winter Quisgard, Academic Technology Integrator

* Lacey Ramsey, Learning Resources Teacher and Director of Apprentice Teacher Training Program

* Byron Reding, Physical Education and Coach

* Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01, Advancement and Alumni Associate

* Caroline Reilly, Grade 3 Teacher

* Maya Rideout, Apprentice Teacher

* Emily Schoonmaker, Beginners 4/5 Teacher

* Danielle Service, Upper School English Teacher

* Kelly Siegrist, Psychologist in Early Childhood and Lower School

* Nika Skvir-Maliakal, Grade 6 English Teacher, Homeroom Advisor and Coach

* Jen Thiemann, Lower School Music and Movement Teacher

* Jay Thornhill, Assistant Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher and Coach

* Andy Tyson, Director of Arts and Performing Arts Teacher for Grades 4 through 9

* Liz Unger, Beginners 3/4 Lead Teacher

* Tara Vandenbosch, Health Office Assistant and Athletic Trainer

* Courtney Wandelt, Apprentice Teacher

* Caroline Weihs, Grade 3 Teacher