THE
COMPASS A MAGAZINE FOR THE WINDWARD SCHOOL COMMUNITY
FULL CIRCLE:
Winter 2022
Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward
THE
COMPASS A MAGAZINE FOR THE WINDWARD SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Jamie Williamson Head of School
Board of Trustees 2021–22 Patricia L. Wolff
Stephanie Huie
Chair
Editor and Associate Director of Digital Communications & Publications
Mitchell J. Katz
Contributing Editorial Staff Jana Cook, Beth DeMarte, and Nicole Vitale
Contributing Writers Jana Cook, Stephanie Huie, and Jamie Williamson
Contributing Photographers Stephanie Huie, Victoria Jackson, Susan Nagib, and Whitnee Shulman ’02
Akeela Azcuy, PhD Reed Brodsky Arthur Ceria Elizabeth A. Crain Peter A. D’Avanzo George P. Davison Jeffrey B. Goldenberg Meredith Jenkins Timothy M. Jones Joseph Lorono Staci Marlowe Janice Meyer Magdalena Zavalía Miguens Denis J. O’Leary, III Katie Puris Sandip Singh Jonathan Steingart Nicholas Van Amburg Anike Wariebi
1st Vice Chair
Jenny Price 2nd Vice Chair
David Friedland Treasurer
Maria Reed Secretary
Thomas J. Coleman Member-at-Large
Design
The Blank Page, NYC
The Windward School does not discriminate in admissions, employment, or administration of programs on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. The Compass is published twice a year by the School’s Communications Office. It is a magazine for The Windward School community. Note: At The Windward
School, a student’s class year is the same as their high school graduation year.
WINTER 2022
The Windward School Westchester Lower School 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 (914) 9496968 Westchester Middle School 40 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 10604 (914) 9496968
Manhattan Lower & Middle Schools 212 East 93rd Street New York, NY 10128 (212) 2228628
8 Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward CONTENTS 3 4 8 16 18 22 24 26 34 36 44
From the Head of School Looking Ahead for Windward Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward Faculty & Staff Profile – Juan Jimenez Faculty & Staff News and Milestones Graduation Photos Commencement Address by Will Dooley ’18 News Around the School Homecoming Photos Alumni News & Notes In Memoriam
On the cover: Five alumni teachers pictured in a Westchester
Lower School classroom. Clockwise from top left are Derek Kirk ’01, Matt Bloom ’13, Bianca Rizzo ’10, Lexa Krawchick ’14, and Lizza Chapey ’13. On this page: Matt Bloom ’13 engaging his Manhattan Lower
School students in a science lesson on sea otters
Stay connected
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Winter 2022 The Compass
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The Windward School’s Vision
A world where every child with a languagebased learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success Difference is Power
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The Compass Winter 2022
From the
Head of School
By Jamie Williamson Head of The Windward School
T
here’s an exercise I like to do with new faculty and staff during orientation, which involves asking two simple questions: Will you raise your hand if you had a
great experience when you were in school? Now will you raise your hand if you did not have a good school experience? Our personal
histories—good and bad—shape the lens with which we view the world, and, as educators, it’s important to be aware of how our unique perspectives translate into our work in the classroom. For those who loved being in school, sharing that love of education with students who also love school is a winwin. It’s easy to do. But for Windward students, we have to remember that many of them have not had a good prior experience in school. Meeting them where they are is the first step in them feeling seen, feeling heard, and feeling valued, and that is where trust is born. Believe it or not, my experience in school was the latter; as a child, I often felt like my teachers never saw me for who I was or valued what I had to offer, and I was someone who excelled in spite of this lack of support. It wasn’t until late in my undergraduate program that I encountered a professor who I felt saw my strengths and potential, and who pushed me to do my best. When I eventually began working in a public school, the kids I gravitated toward—who I wanted to help feel connected—were those on the fringes or who didn’t have anyone to sit with at lunch, those who didn’t have a teacher in their corner and didn’t get the support they needed. The reason I went into education was to be there for those students, those who needed an advocate to help them thrive. At Windward, there is an intense focus on remediation of academic deficits through implementing a proven, research based program that we know will have the highest outcome for impacting a child’s life. This academic side is critically important, and we do it well. What we don’t talk about
enough is how kids feel when they’re with us. When we hear from alumni and families of our students, there is a common theme: After some time at Windward, students begin to understand that their actions—their efforts—create the progress. They feel supported and respected, and those are the ingredients that, along with a researchbased instructional program, allow a child to raise their hand, to selfadvocate, to feel that it’s all right to ask a question about something they don’t know. The power of that success and confidence that they feel, with this foundation of trust in their educators, is what enables them to really find their voice and feel their power later on. They become agents of change in their own lives. When Windward envisions a world where every child with a languagebased learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success, we see the idea of empowerment as a partnership. We don’t give the power to our students; rather, we give them the tools to help them recognize their own power. Windward gives kids the gift of reading, but just as importantly, we give kids the gift of understanding themselves, of loving themselves and appreciating all they have to offer. Once a student has moved from a reactive space into a proactive space, they have transcended from surviving to thriving, and, with that mindset, anything is possible.
Jamie Williamson Head of School
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Looking Ahead for Windward Two New Trustees Appointed to the Board The Windward School’s 2021–22 Board of Trustees comprises 25 members who contribute their experience and expertise to advance the mission of the school. Akeela Azcuy, PhD Dr. Akeela Azcuy is an education advocate and leader of the Literacy Academy Collective (LAC) team. The team’s goal is to open the first Department of Education public school designed to educate children with languagebased learning disabilities by providing evidencebased, explicit, systematic instruction using multisensory structured literacy. She is a trained clinical psychologist with experience in working with children with learning disabilities, anxiety, ADHD, low self esteem, and social isolation. Her expertise provides the psychological, executive functioning, and social emotional learning considerations that are needed for the creation of LAC.
D • Core member of Literacy Academy Collective • Founding board member of Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children • Founding board member of Families for Real Equity in Education • MA and PhD Long Island University • BA Williams College
Reed Brodsky Reed Brodsky is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigator best known for his successes as lead trial counsel in multiple high profile financial fraud and commercial litigation cases, formerly as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and now as a trial attorney at Gibson Dunn. Mr. Brodsky has received national recognition and many awards for his achievements and litigation skills, including from the United States Department of Justice, the US Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, and Chambers. Mr. Brodsky resides in Manhattan with his wife, Meredith, and three children, two of whom currently attend The Windward School.
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Progress Report
• Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher • Cochair of firm’s Litigation Practice Group • JD Vanderbilt University School of Law • BA Duke University
uring roundtable discussions about developing Windward’s DEIB mission and vision, one faculty member shared, “The fabric of Windward is to celebrate differences.” Windward has long been a leader in supporting and embracing neurodiversity, but the School also knows that its students’ identities are not limited to their languagebased learning disabilities. Expanding the thinking on what it means to celebrate differences plays a critical role in fostering an environment where everyone in the community feels a powerful sense of belonging. As part of the ThreeYear Plan for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, the DivE In Committee, composed of faculty, staff, parents, guardians, and trustees, was tasked with crafting a DEIB missionvision statement for Windward, which was approved by the board of trustees this fall.
The Windward School DEIB MissionVision Statement
At The Windward School, we are committed to a world where every child with a languagebased learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success—a vision fulfilled by disrupting the educational status quo. To embody that mission, The Windward School deliberately builds both its curriculum and culture to foster a powerful sense of belonging through a program that is authentically inclusive and a
Meet Romina Pacheco, PhD
community in which everyone is seen in their
First-Ever Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Windward
full humanity. The Windward School aspires to bring forth students who are culturally engaged critical thinkers, confident selfadvocates that understand and celebrate their differences, and upstanders who identify and challenge all forms of injustice. Windward demonstrates these values and expectations of its community members by embracing the importance of ongoing antioppression dialogue and critical conversations; by advancing educational equity in underrepresented communities, especially those historically marginalized by society; and by ensuring that our program is accessible to all who need it.
In this senior leadership position, Dr. Pacheco is leading Windward’s Office of DEIB, supporting all Windward community members—current students and families, prospective students and families, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni and their families. With extensive experience supporting K–12 and postsecondary education institutions in their equity journeys, Dr. Pacheco is guided by a sense of community and interdependence. Her approach centers on relationships, empathy, and understanding. Originally from the Caribbean city of Maracay, Venezuela, Dr. Pacheco took a gap year after high school graduation to be an exchange student and learn English in Maine. Dr. Pacheco returned to Venezuela for her undergraduate education, where she taught English as a foreign language and developed a passion for teaching. She returned to Maine after earning her degree to work as a teaching assistant in the Spanish department at Bates College. Upon completion of her master’s in education, Dr. Pacheco ventured to New Mexico to complete a doctorate in philosophy from New Mexico State University, where she studied curriculum and instruction and gender and sexuality studies.
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Looking Ahead for Windward Westchester Lower School Campus Nearing Completion of Construction
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n Fall 2019, it was announced that a new Westchester Lower School campus would be built at 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, relocating from its former location at 13 Windward Avenue. The stateoftheart campus was scheduled to open its doors to the Westchester Lower School community in Fall 2021. However, the construction timeline changed dramatically once the COVID19 pandemic necessitated a major rethinking of school operations from March 2020 and beyond. Windward leadership made the critical decision to expedite construction by nearly a full year, as the new Westchester Lower School campus’s 110,000 square feet was key to providing a socially distanced inperson instruction environment for Westchester students in Grades 1–5. The campus at 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue welcomed nearly 300 students and Westchester Lower School faculty and staff on October 28, 2020.
Since that time, construction has been ongoing at the campus, and the full architectural vision of the building will be realized by Spring 2022. This past summer, the construction crew made significant progress in reaching key milestones for completion. A new playground was installed in August for the students to enjoy during recess, and the front entrance, lobby, and driveway loop were finalized before the first day of school in September. Major flooding from Hurricane Ida in September caused severe damage to the front entrance and basement, but those repairs were remediated by Windward’s facilities team and specialists. A brandnew gymnasium will be completed soon. The official grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony of the Westchester Lower School will be announced to the community to celebrate the latest addition to The Windward School campuses.
Completed Projects
Renovation of existing building to house: • Grades 1–5 classrooms
• Academic technology including highspeed internet and wireless connection to all Windward campuses • Faculty work rooms
• Allpurpose room • Academic administrative and student support offices • HVAC system upgrade with UV lighting for air purification • New roof, windows, ceilings, and lighting
Athletic field and play area Redesigned parking area plus bus and pickup lanes
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Additional buildout of library Full kitchen installation and outfitting of Dining Hall
Final Projects to Be Completed
Gymnasium with full A/V capabilities
Construction of The Windward
Permanent landscaping
Fully furnished administrative suite for
Completion of the additional
Institute lecture halls multiple staff offices
Front entrance façade and connector
between gymnasium and main building
Playground equipment installation Permanent flooring for front entrance and reception
New main reception area and administrative suite reception area
The Windward Institute EEG Brain Lab
and signage
parking lot and bus loop by gymnasium
Furniture selections for lobby and other areas
Winter 2022 The Compass
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Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward
By Stephanie Huie Associate Director of Digital Communications & Publications
Matt Bloom ’13
If you were asked if anyone has made a lasting impact on your life, who would be brought to mind? Then & Now: Pictured are our alumni with their yearbook photo from their first year as a Windward student.
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Lizza Chapey ’13
Bianca Rizzo ’10 Lexa Krawchick ’14
Derek Kirk ’01
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For many of us, an image of a favorite teacher would
campuses who warmly welcome their students to their classrooms every day so that
Windward feels like a second home. Although the Windward program is a proven, researchbased
materialize in our minds.
multisensory curriculum that is designed to serve the
Maybe your favorite teacher
disabilities, it is the teachers that truly bring the
was someone who did epic science experiments in the
needs of all students with languagebased learning program to life. The teachers deliver their lesson plans with fine expertise, and each Windward teacher infuses their unique personalities and energy into the classroom to make the academic program unforgettable. Windward teachers’ commitment to their students is the heartbeat that makes The
lab that made your eyes fill
Windward School the special place it is. Every
with wonder and excitement.
not only help their students learn the academic
Or maybe your favorite teacher
Windward teacher makes an impact, because they strategies and skills necessary to reach their academic potential, but also guide their students in developing confidence in their abilities. Inevitably, Windward students complete the
was someone who let you sit
program and embark on their next step as Windward
in their classroom to eat lunch
in wideranging industries, but many find their calling
so you would feel more
experiences with Windward as a leading influence.
comfortable at a new school.
alumni. The School’s alumni go on to pursue careers within the field of education, often citing their positive In this feature story, we hear about five alumni who have come full circle and are now teachers themselves at The Windward School. Our five alumni—Matt Bloom ’13, Bianca Rizzo ’10, Lizza Chapey ’13, Lexa
Or maybe your favorite teacher
Krawchick ’14, and Derek Kirk ’01—share reflections
was someone that you saw
has been like returning to their former school. Each
show up every day with
Windward students’ challenges and opportunities,
kindness and positivity, inspiring you to do the same.
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here are hundreds of teachers across all three
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on their time as students and what their experience alum possesses an intimate knowledge about their having gone through similar paths and experiencing the transformative effect of Windward’s program as well. Read on as these alumni share how their journey at The Windward School has continued on, first as students and now as teachers.
3 1 ’ o m l o B ttt Blo a M t a M L A N O I S S PROFfEessionEaRl LOW MIND B
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hen Matt Bloom learned that he would be switch ing to a new school for first grade, he felt nervous and anxious. He already didn’t like school, because he felt teachers always asked him to do assignments that they did not explicitly teach him how to do. “But I remember my first few weeks at Windward. For the first time, I felt like I was able to learn. I no longer felt like I was dumb or left out be cause my teachers were nurturing, and the program worked. I felt successful and a growing sense of academic prowess.” Matt was enrolled in both the Westchester Lower and Middle Schools through eighth grade, and he models the style of his former social studies teacher, Jason Steiker. “I remember Mr. Steiker had a very colloquial and casual approach with students, and he spoke to us like we were adults. He had a big impact on me and made school my safe place, so I try and bring some of Mr. Steiker into my classes.” He also credited his basketball coach Chris Eberhard for supporting him emotionally and Diane Kissner for her critical guidance with outplacement. Following Windward, Matt was a boarding student at The Pennington School in New Jersey before enrolling at Binghampton University where he studied English literature and education. “In college, I was really invested in journalism and literature, and I really thought about why. I wondered how did Windward take someone like me, who initially struggled with reading and writing, into becoming an English major?” Matt felt, as an individual with dyslexia, like he didn’t often struggle with a learning difference anymore. “Not to say it goes away, but I felt like I had been fully remediated. And that is because Windward’s tactics and strategies made life so much easier.” Matt was interested in understanding the Windward program and specifically how it helped students with languagebased learning disabilities. He felt it was 100% successful for him, so he wanted to learn how it worked. Matt was driven to start his career with a Windward framework, so,
Manhattan Lower School Science Teacher, 2017–Present • MEd Concordia University • BA Binghampton University • Attended Windward for Grades 1–8, 2001–2009
after graduating from Binghampton, Matt started his first year as an assistant teacher at the Manhattan campus. “The Windward Teacher Training Program is the best education you can get for any teacher on the market since you are being paid while you are learning,” said Matt, reflecting upon his first two years as a language arts assistant. “Being an assistant is an amazing gift because now I truly understand how to teach reading and writing so I can facilitate that in any class, not just language arts.” Matt began to teach science classes in his third year, while concurrently earning his master’s degree in general education and leadership. Today, he is now in his second year as a lead Manhattan Lower School Science Teacher for Grades 1–4. “With a full schedule of my own classes, I feel like I am still learning and growing so much as a teacher, but I know I am getting better and having fun with it,” said Matt. “The fact that I’m a lead teacher means the world to me, and I feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of my students, like my teachers made in mine.” Some favorite science lessons include demonstrating dry ice during Halloween and bringing in live specimens, such as butterflies and tadpoles, for students to observe. “[Coordinator of Science] Mr. Lennihan told me that my job as a lower school science teacher is to be a professional mindblower,” said Matt. “My goal is for my students to realize that science and learning can be so much fun and to be motivated for class.” Matt also encourages his students by sharing with them that he was a Windward student himself. He shows them old yearbook photos as well as a photo of him during a hard hat visit to the Westchester Middle School construction site. “It is wonderful to see my students realize that their teacher was a student just like them. I hope it shows them that they can accomplish their goals and their futures are bright.”
“I remember my first few weeks at Windward. For the first time, I felt like I was able to learn.”
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Westchester Lower School Assistant Teacher, 2021 – Present • MS Ed Manhattan College • BA Manhattan College • Attended Windward for Grades 7–9, 2004–2007
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1 ’ o z o zz iz R i a R ca n ON a I c i T n B A a Ccation U D Bi E L Edu TE A I C E SP cialDVOCA e A
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hree years attending the Westchester Middle School was a lifechanging experience for Bianca Rizzo. Before coming to Windward, she fought her parents daily about going to school because she hated her public school experience. But in her first year as a seventhgrade student, Bianca’s perspective drastically changed. “My whole time at Windward really changed the way that I looked at learning, because the class sizes were small, I could keep up with the pace of my classes, and I was able to make friends.” Bianca also credits her teachers for taking their time to make sure that she really understood the material and for instilling confidence in her that she could accomplish anything. “The Windward teachers I had taught me how to advocate for myself, which carried me through high school and college,” said Bianca. “They made me want to become a teacher too so I could help kids who were struggling in school. I wanted to be that person who could let students know that they could succeed, once they had the right tools and placement.” For her final years of high school, Bianca attended Eastchester High School. She then pursued her interest in education by earning both a bachelor’s degree in general childhood education and a master’s degree in special childhood education from Manhattan College. Bianca returned to a public school setting and served for six years as both an integrated coteaching classroom aide and special education teacher leave replacement within the Scarsdale school district. In her role, Bianca supported a small integrated class of both special education and general education students, with students on IEPs ranging from autism to various learning disabilities.
Bianca was seeking to further deepen her specialization within the special education field, and she desired more training. She realized that the Windward Teacher Training Program would offer her exactly what she was looking for, and Bianca returned this past school year to the Windward campuses as a Westchester Lower School assistant teacher. She supports her mentor teacher, Marissa Krosche, with language arts, math, and social studies classes. She enjoys how she can observe and absorb how Ms. Krosche teaches and what language she uses in her secondgrade class. “I have been taking everything in and learning how to teach the students. One of my favorite lessons that I’ve led is a skills activity in language arts.” Speaking about an expository writing course that all assistant teachers are required to take, Bianca said, “I felt like I was back in middle school! The course was explaining why MPOs [multiparagraph outlines] are used in the classroom, and it was so interesting to understand the pedagogy behind how my Windward teachers were teaching me as a student. Now I was learning how to teach it myself! It was surreal as an adult to see the mechanics behind the success of Windward’s program.” Bianca also commented how Windward’s methodology is unique when compared to the teaching style that special education instructors follow in public schools. Many of Bianca’s former teachers and coaches are still at the Westchester Middle School, and she has enjoyed reconnecting. “It was absolutely amazing to see Mr. Eberhard and Ms. Hunt, who were my softball coaches, as well as Ms. Fedele, Ms. Ralph, and Mr. Steiker, who were my teachers, at the new faculty and staff orientation at the start of the school year. Windward changed my whole life, and they were huge reasons why I am a teacher now.”
“It was so interesting to understand the pedagogy behind how my Windward teachers were
teaching me as a student. Now I was learning how to teach it myself!”
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3 1 ’ y h e C p a a h z Lizza C Liz G HiIN C A E T F n O Teach g SCIENCE ENTHUSIA
ST
Westchester Lower School
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eturning to teach at Windward as a Westchester Lower School assistant teacher has been fascinating for Lizza Chapey, allowing her the opportunity to “see behind the curtain.” For example, she learned to track her reading with her finger or pen at Windward. In her language arts classes now, with her mentor teacher Nora Byrne, Lizza encourages the students to do the same. “I tell them I still do it, and it is one of the countless tools that I use to this day. Without these strategies, school and jobs later in life would have been a struggle.” Before Windward, Lizza actually did not fully comprehend how behind academically she was. She remembers being in her previous school and not being able to keep up, because her teachers were going too fast, but she thought she was managing the work. Her parents, though, could see that Lizza needed support with reading, and they learned through friends that The Windward School was the best place to remediate her learning disabilities. What stands out most to Lizza about her time at Windward were her teachers, who not only taught her important academic skills, like how to make sure her introductions and conclusions for her essays matched, but also made school enjoyable. “When I was walking in the hallway on the first day of new faculty and staff orientation at Windward, I saw someone that I thought I knew. She walked up to me, and she said, ‘It’s you!’ and I had the biggest hug from Ms. Mahoney. She was my fifthgrade homeroom teacher, and her endless energy and quirky personality made coming to school a happy experience.” Lizza completed the Windward program and outplaced after sixth grade. She spent the next six years at School of the
Holy Child before Assistant Teacher, graduating in 2013. 2021 – Present During her senior • BA Villanova University year of high school, • Attended Windward for her parents had a Grades 4–6, 2004–2007 conversation with her about taking a gap year before going to college. Lizza was surprised, because she thought she was ready, but her parents were strong proponents of her gaining more life experience first. She lived in Latin America for a year, without knowing how to speak Spanish. She took Spanish language classes, taught English, and lived with a family who only spoke Spanish. After a year, Lizza returned to the States and attended Villanova University, where she earned a bachelor’s in economics. Lizza moved to New York City and began a job in data analytics at a media agency, but it was not for her. “I had a quantitative major, so I found a quantitative job because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do,” said Lizza. “But I always knew that one day I wanted to be a teacher, so I thought why wait? I’m going to pursue what I like to do.” After leaving her data analytics position, Lizza began working as an afterschool assistant at Rye Country Day School. On her way to work every day, she started listening to a new podcast she had found called READ, hosted by Danielle Scorrano of The Windward Institute. “I listened to every episode of READ, and it made me want to learn more about how to support children who are having learning problems. It brought me back to Windward and showed me the direction of the type of learning I was interested in.” A few months later, Lizza began her first full year in the classroom at Windward, and the Windward Teacher Training Program has been instrumental in filling in her understanding of teaching students with languagebased learning disabilities. “I have always loved trying to solve jigsaw puzzles, and, to me, teaching is like trying to figure out the puzzle piece of how to get a concept to click for a student,” said Lizza. “We always have to listen to the student in front of us, adjust to their needs, and guide them there. I love doing that, and I’m grateful that I’m learning how to do all of these things at Windward.”
“To me, teaching is like trying to figure out the puzzle piece of how to get a concept to click for a student.”
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4 1 ’ ick h c c i h ING w c a r Kaw ARNng r a E rni xK L e L E a V LeaION I x S e LU e P L
Westchester Lower School Assistant Teacher, 2021–Present • BS Syracuse University • Attended Windward for Grades 8–9, 2009–2011
C sivHAMon INlu C mpi c n
y ’1
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hen Lexa Krawchick came to Windward’s West chester Middle School, she had been severely struggling with school. “For a long time, I had felt like I was drowning in the public school system,” said Lexa. “I felt like I was stupid and that it was my fault that I wasn’t doing well. Overall, I was falling behind, I was afraid to ask for help, and I didn’t think anyone could help me.” Arriving at Windward revealed to Lexa that school did not have to feel so impossible anymore. She realized that in fact she was not being taught in the way where she could learn best. Lexa learned organizational strategies and note taking skills that helped her absorb material more effectively. The classroom moved at a pace that was manageable, and her teachers were her pillars of support. “My Windward teachers were what made my experience a positive one,” said Lexa. “My teachers would meet oneonone to explain concepts to me in ways that I understood, so I finally felt like I was in a comfortable environment that enabled me to learn. Everyone made me feel like I was capable of doing anything, and they were going to get me through.” Lexa was grateful for Ms. Ralph’s gentle kindness and her open invitation to join her for lunch in her science room every day. She also appreciated Ms. Gay’s tough love that pushed her to be more independent. Mr. Steiker’s attentive warmth made her feel seen, and Ms. Patalano née Carpentieri was a great source of comfort as Lexa navigated transitioning to a new school in eighth grade. “The Windward staff made such a difference in my life, and they made me want to become a Windward teacher too,” said Lexa. “Because I had such a negative experience in school for so many years, I was motivated to make sure no other student had to go through what I did. When someone came to my future classroom, I wanted to be the person who could offer a comfortable learning space where every student could trust me to see their full potential.” In particular, Lexa was drawn to special education to ensure all learners would receive the accommodations they needed to excel. Following Windward, Lexa graduated from Horace Greeley
High School in Chappaqua. She enjoyed participating in the program called The LIFE School during her junior and senior years. The projectbased program focused on handson learning and provided a small community, and Lexa thrived. She then attended Marist College before transferring to Syracuse University to study general and special inclusive education. “The Syracuse program was absolutely incredible,” said Lexa. “My professors made sure we were prepared to be teachers with class management strategies, different ways to present material, and how to teach content in multiple ways.” Lexa is continuing to enjoy the learning process of becoming a teacher as a Westchester Lower School assistant teacher and participating in the Windward Teacher Training Program. “From my student experience, I knew that Windward would never be the type of school to throw you into anything without preparing you for it, so I could only imagine the type of training the teachers received,” said Lexa. And Lexa’s instincts were spot on. She has found the Windward Teacher Training Program to be purposeful and incredibly supportive. “From my mentor teacher Jillian Peden to the assistant staff developers, everyone is willing to guide me to be the best teacher. All the feedback is constructive because we all want me to become better, and I know I’m in the right place.” As a Windward alumna, Lexa has experienced some déjà vu moments, as she learns why Windward teachers lead their classes in such a particular way. She has also realized during certain lessons that the skills she is now teaching are the same skills that she used regularly in her own academic career after Windward. “Being able to relate to my students is unique, and I know their struggles of getting used to new ways of learning. But moving forward I hope to emphasize that what I learned at Windward saved me in the long run. Windward gave me the ability to see past my learning disability and feel capable of being a successful adult.”
“All the feedback is constructive because we all want me to become better, and I know I’m in the right place.”
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Derek K irk ’01 T TH RD hird IC arCeAeREER TEACHER
T
Manhattan Middle School
eaching is the third career path for Derek Kirk, and the third time’s the charm. For him, what greater purpose in life is there than to do very meaningful work in changing young people’s lives? When he saw the opening for an assistant teacher position at Windward during the summer of 2020, he felt that “it was an amazing opportunity to return to a school that was so impactful with me academically to now guide me as an instructor. I knew that Windward would be the perfect place to hone my craft as a teacher.” Derek attended Windward as a student for two years. He spoke fondly of two of his former teachers, Sheila Okin and Adele Barracca, for teaching him multiple organizational strategies to improve his writing composition, including planning, notetaking, and quick outlines. “When I learned about how to outline a paper, that was a gamechanger for me as a student,” said Derek. “There are still sentence starter charts on the walls in Windward classrooms, so it’s nice to see certain things haven’t changed. I continued to organize my work in the same way when I was in graduate school and drafting research papers and theses.” After Windward, Derek attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, and he excelled academically by retaining the writing skills he learned. Plus, he advocated for himself, he used the accommodations he was entitled to, and he had extra support from his high school resource room. Derek moved on to receive his bachelor’s degree in communications from Quinnipiac University. He grew increasingly confident in his academic ability, so Derek was proud to have completed his second higher ed degree, a master’s in public administration with a focus on healthcare, from Pace University without using any accommodations. Derek then began his career in the healthcare and finance arenas as a financial analyst at White Plains Hospital. A decade passed before Derek had a lightbulb moment. A close friend of his that he met at Windward was describing their experience as a teacher, and he realized that he wanted to
Lead Teacher, 2020–Present leave behind healthcare and • MST, MPA Pace University finance and explore a new career possibility of teaching. • BA Quinnipiac University Derek completed Pace • Attended Windward for University’s master’s program Grades 7–8, 1995–1997 in childhood education in 2019. As part of his coursework, Derek acted as a student teacher in Chinatown and observed public schools in the Upper East Side. “Once I was in front of the classroom, I truly felt that this was the perfect move for me. I love working with students and giving them the tools that I learned over the years.” The following year, Derek returned to Windward as an assistant teacher at the Manhattan Middle School. In his first year, he had a fantastic time working with Olivia Gennusa as his mentor teacher in language arts classes. This year, he is working with Shirley Hwang, Ruby Silverstein, and Ellen Colton across all academic disciplines. Additionally, Derek is leading a pilot program of new computer classes three times a week. Although the Manhattan campus did not exist yet when he was a Windward student, the program and overall student experience still ring true for Derek. “When the students were doing writing samples at the beginning of the year, I could sense their frustration about the painstaking amount of time it took them to brainstorm ideas and put them into an outline,” said Derek. “I totally remember what that was like. Until I came to Windward, I didn’t have any idea how to begin and come up with a plan to write. Seeing the progress of the students and watching them gradually build their toolkit really spoke to me, because I noticed much of that change in myself as a Windward student.” Derek has been impressed with the growth of Windward, expanding from one building in Westchester to three campuses and four divisions. “It’s fantastic the School has thrived in the years since I have been a student. It is so important that a school like Windward exists.”
“It was an amazing opportunity to return to a school that was so impactful with me academically to now guide me as an instructor.”
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Faculty/Staff Profile
Juan Jimenez:
Always Ready to Lend a Helping Hand By Stephanie Huie, Associate Director of Digital Communications & Publications
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t the Westchester Lower School, if you hear the sound of jangling keys, the static of a walkie talkie, and the thudding of sturdy boots, you can rest assured that help is on the way. Maintenance Supervisor Juan Jimenez has been the goto person that Westchester Lower School folks call whenever a situation arises, and he is known by all for his friendliness, tireless work ethic, and ability to troubleshoot any problem. Mr. Jimenez reached his 15year work anniversary at Windward this past summer, and he proudly wears his pin marking the milestone on his lanyard. Before his arrival in 2006, he was doing maintenance work in Westchester, and he heard through a friend about an opening at The Windward School. Mr. Jimenez then began his tenure at the Westchester Middle School with a night shift maintenance position. After five years, he relocated to the Westchester Lower School at 13 Windward Avenue and switched to the morning shift. For nine years, Mr. Jimenez knew every intricacy and detail of the 13 Windward Avenue building, from the electrical system to the boiler to the pipes. “I love learning new things about buildings every day, so I really enjoy my job,” said Mr. Jimenez. “There are always new challenges, so it’s definitely not routine work, but I am ready for anything.” Over the years, there certainly have been some unexpected circumstances that Mr. Jimenez has faced. One morning, he received a message on his walkie talkie that there were five turkeys blocking the entrance to the school, but Mr. Jimenez was able to corral the animals and move them out of the way. During one new student orientation, a parent had unknowingly parked their car on top of a bee’s nest, so a swarm of bees surrounded the car. Mr. Jimenez and Associate Head of School Mr. Rosenshine were able to assist the parent by going through the trunk to open the car door and escape the bees. But all of those unusual days paled in comparison to the challenges posed to the entire facilities team at Windward by the COVID19 pandemic. “Moving to the new campus [at 1275 Mamaroneck
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Avenue] was one of the most difficult times,” said Mr. Jimenez. “Our team, we can do anything, so the work itself wasn’t difficult, but it was just the timing of how fast we needed to move and having enough manpower to do it was tough.” Mr. Jimenez led the Westchester Lower School maintenance team of seven and other members from other campuses to move all the hundreds of desks, bookshelves, office furniture, technology equipment, bulletin boards, classroom supplies, and more from the 13 Windward Avenue building to the new Westchester Lower School campus in a matter of days. “It didn’t seem possible to get everything done, but we somehow made it happen,” said Mr. Jimenez. “The day before school opened at the new campus, we had boxes up to the ceiling. But everyone put extra hours in and were amazing. It was a full team effort, because we had people from Westchester Middle School and Manhattan helping us too to get the job done.” When the teachers arrived on site, all their classroom materials were ready for them to set up, their students’ desks were measured to be spaced six feet apart, and the spaces were diligently cleaned, thanks to the behindthe scenes work of the facilities crew. Now having been at the Westchester Lower School campus for a little over a year, Mr. Jimenez is still learning the particulars of the new building. He oversees the overall maintenance, which includes HVAC, lighting, building safety, parking, traffic, grounds conditions, landscaping, boilers, and pumps. “When something happened at 13 Windward, I immediately knew what it was and could fix it. I’m getting to know the systems here at this building, but I like the opportunity to grow and educate myself more.” Through just his daily morning routine, Mr. Jimenez has been getting more acquainted with all the building components. His rounds include checking the HVAC system, lights, boiler, fuel, hot water, and alarms throughout the whole building. In between his rounds, he assists with directing arrival and dismissal traffic and supporting the faculty and staff with their maintenance needs.
“I like being in the school environment and helping to take care of the building so it’s a good and safe place for the students,” said Mr. Jimenez. “As a parent I know you’re happy when you know your child is safe, so I’m happy to be part of the system to make the school work in that way. Without anyone doing their job, Windward can’t function, and it’s a great community here.” Mr. Jimenez’s contributions to the Westchester Lower School community were formally recognized last June, as he was named one of the “Heart of Windward” award winners. This award recognizes a faculty or staff member from each campus that is exemplary in their commitment to the community and is a champion of the School’s core values of commitment, growth, impact, and community. Upon receiving the honor, Mr. Jimenez was left speechless. “It was so unexpected, it was a total surprise! I was very happy and thankful at the same time, but everyone in my department deserved that too because it is never just me doing the work. None of what we do is a oneman job—it is a true team effort.” Although he never knows what each day at Windward will bring—a broken pipe, a leaky window, a missing desk, or all three at the same time—Mr. Jimenez can always be counted on to be there and lend a helping hand.
Top 5 Things Mr. Jimenez Helps Address Every Day 1. “My room is too hot.” 2. “My room is too cold.” 3. “Can you help me with exiting the parking lot?” 4. “Can you help me move ______?” 5. “Help! There’s a bug in my room!”
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Faculty/Staff News & Milestones Windward Welcomes New Members of Leadership Team
Three Faculty Members Featured in Education Week
Spring and summer were busy months for Windward’s administration, as the School welcomed six new members to its leadership team. Katie Gramajo, a staff member since 2017, was promoted to Director of Operations in April. Omar Mayyasi was named as Chief Financial Officer in June. July saw two additional positions filled: Manhattan Campus Head Danny Kass and Director of Educational Technology Charles Vergara. Finally, the School welcomed Romina Pacheco in August as Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, followed by the appointment of Beth DeMarte as Director of Marketing & Communications.
Coordinator of Language Arts for Manhattan Lower and Middle Schools Sarah Golden contributed to the June 5 Education Week article, “Seven Strategies for Grammar Instruction.” She outlined the best practices for teaching grammar that she uses in her classrooms, which she noted are highly effective and supported by research. In Ed Week’s July 24 article, “Four Favorite Physical Instructional Strategies,” Westchester Middle School Teacher Hunter Burnard and Manhattan Lower School Teacher Claudio Barbieri shared their single most effective instructional strategy. Mr. Burnard cited differentiated instruction, which he employs in three key areas: when introducing a new skill; just prior to game play; and in defining what each student produces to demonstrate understanding. Mr. Barbieri touted the multisensory approach as a helpful strategy for all students. As it focuses on the variety of ways in which students learn and retain information, this strategy covers the needs of all types of learners.
Alex Frelinghuysen Named 2021 Stone Master Teacher Award Recipient
Top Row: Katie Gramajo, Omar Mayyasi, Danny Kass Bottom Row: Charles Vergara, Romina Pacheco, Beth DeMarte
Dr. Russell Calls to Disrupt Reading Education in Wyoming Presenting virtually, John J. Russell, EdD, Special Projects Advisor to The Windward Institute, called to disrupt the status quo on the state of reading education in Wyoming and across the United States. Dr. Russell identified the existence of widespread confusion related to how the system of education values scientifically based and evidencebased instruction. He outlined six strategies to disrupt the current status quo of reading education: 1) Provide educators with a deeper understanding of what constitutes evidencebased programs; 2) Outline the components of an evidencebased reading program and to the extent to which they should be taught; 3) Improve teacher preparation; 4) Strengthen teacher licensing requirements; 5) Use data to drive decisions; and 6) Increase advocacy for the science of reading and supported instructional practices. Expanded efforts within these strategies promote literacy outcomes and, ultimately, support the academic and life success of all children. 18
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In 1926, Isabel Greenbaum Stone formed a progressive day school with two teachers and 21 students in New Rochelle, New York. They called it “Windward,” because sailing windward requires more skill, effort, and persistence than sailing before the wind. To honor her, the Stone Foundation created the Isabel Greenbaum Master Teacher Award, which is presented each spring to an outstanding Windward faculty member with four or more years of service. This award recognizes the quality of the work of an individual classroom teacher as well as the excellence of instruction in meeting the individual needs of students. The 2021 recipient, Alex Frelinghuysen, is an exemplary educator who makes her Westchester Middle School students feel intelligent, appreciated, and unique. In fact, fellow faculty members have noted that Ms. Frelinghuysen knows her students so well that every lesson is specifically geared towards them. A passionate thinker and lifelong educator, Ms. Frelinghuysen is known for her cheerful smile, positivity, and endless amount of school spirit, as well as her singular drive and determination. Upon receiving this award, Ms. Frelinghuysen shared, “This is the most incredible honor I’ve ever received in my entire life.”
Dee McKechnie Named 2021 Sandi Galst Scholar Award Recipient The Sandi Galst Scholar Award is given annually to an outstanding Windward reading teacher. As part of the award, the Sandi Galst Faculty Education Fund provides financial assistance to the recipient to further their education through academic coursework or other professional educational experiences related to The Windward School. This year’s recipient, Manhattan Lower School Teacher and faculty member for The Windward Institute Deirdre McKechnie, consistently makes a core piece of Windward’s program her own with essential content and a highly engaging teaching style. Known for her infectious laugh and boundless enthusiasm, Ms. McKechnie never fails to inspire teachers and students alike. She is a consummate mentor, often complimenting the talents of assistant teachers without realizing that they are emulating her teaching style. A dedicated volunteer, Ms. McKechnie is always willing to become involved with various community opportunities. She shared, “I am really touched, humbled, and honored by this.”
Colleen Iodice Named Florence Nightingale Award Winner Florence Nightingale, known as “The Lady with the Lamp,” was the founder of modern nursing. In her honor, Windward designated a onetime, special award for service that exemplifies her creative, pioneering spirit. This award recognizes exceptional devotion, courage, and contribution to disease prevention, public health, and nursing. Award winner Colleen Iodice has always been a Windward superstar, but she was elevated to full hero status during the pandemic. Initially planning to transition to a parttime role, she adjusted her schedule to work full time due to COVID19. Ms. Iodice spent countless hours working to keep our community safe and our students inperson, and she was named a Magnus Health Frontline Hero for going above and beyond the call of duty in her support of the School.
Years of Service Recognition Windward is able to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of students every school year because of our esteemed faculty and staff members. At the Faculty & Staff Years of Service Presentation on June 18, the School had the privilege to recognize those who reached the exciting milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service at Windward. Thank you to this stellar group for their commitment to Windward’s mission in helping students with languagebased learning disabilities. Here’s to many more years at Windward!
Years of Service Recognition 25 Years Christopher Eberhard Jayne Graziosa Meryl Laub Julie Liebman Anne Marie Rowley 20 Years ToniAnn Hutchison Evelyn Poy Leslie Pragay Lori Squillante Leslie Zuckerwise 15 Years Rafael Burgos Amy Hughes Andy Jimenez Juan Jimenez Alexis Pochna Lisa Rainey Diane Happas 10 Years Laura Bellizzi Barbara Cantatore Juan Cori Carrie Curtin Alicia Kempin Colleen McGlynn Erin Russo Victoria Scarinci Krista Sweeney Briana Tracy
5 Years Erika Adams Natasha Amazan Nicole Barletta Chelsea Brewer Sarah Brown Jane Budnick Nora Byrne Elizabeth Cerabino Jenna Enright Emily Frawley Christine Gilland Christina Goodnough Sarah Heckman Christian Jimenez Marissa Krosche Michele Layton Katherine Lemone Rachel Manaster Jessica Mangano Deidre McKechnie Laura Monardo Rachel Pariser Helen Prichett Allison Pugsley Julia Puff Erikka Ramkishun Mary RiddleArmiento Michelle Spino Andruss
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Faculty/Staff News & Milestones Windward Weddings Westchester Lower School Teacher Jenna McDonagh Enright celebrated her wedding on August 6. Pictured is the bride (right) with fellow Westchester Lower School Teacher Colleen Clarke.
After postponing her wedding on May 9, 2020, Westchester Lower School Teacher Stephanie Marin was married on August 14.
Windward Babies 1. Twins Talia Meredith and Eliana Alexandra were born one minute apart on May 18 to Assistant Coordinator of Special Services Rachel Schiff Leone. Talia weighed 5 lbs. 4 oz. and was 19 inches tall. Eliana weighed 5 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 inches tall. 2. On May 24, Westchester Middle School Teacher Alex Frelinghuysen and her husband Henry welcomed their first child, Roy William Frelinghuysen, weighing nine pounds, ten ounces, and measuring 21 ½ inches long. 3. Westchester Lower School Guidance Counselor Mihal Spitzer welcomed a son, Eitan, on June 11. He made a grand entrance at 10 lbs. 5 oz. and was 21 inches tall. 4. Thomas Robert was born on June 19 to Westchester Lower School Coordinator of Language Arts Ann Spataro. He weighed 5 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 inches tall.
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5. Westchester Lower School Teacher Robin Bello welcomed a son, Henry Owen, on September 21. He weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 20 ½ inches tall.
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6. Westchester Middle School Guidance Counselor Lauren Proetta welcomed twins Madeline Pearl and Layne Eden, born on October 28.
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9. Leilani Bella Ingram was born on December 19 to Manhattan Security Guard Spencer Ingram. She weighed 6 lbs. and was 19 inches long.
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7. Lucy Claire Golden was born on December 5 at 4:26 p.m. to Westchester Lower School Teacher Colleen McGlynn. 8. Manhattan Middle School Teacher Will Cranch celebrated the birth of Francis Clara Cranch on December 16. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and was 20 ½ inches tall.
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2021 Heart of Windward Awards
The Heart of Windward Award goes to one faculty or staff member from each campus that champions Windward’s core values (community, impact, growth, and commitment) and is exemplary in their commitment to the Windward community. Nominated by their peers, recipients are selected by the Head of School in consultation with the administration team.
Matt Bloom Matt Bloom, Manhattan Lower School award winner, truly embodies the spirit of Windward. Like the Windward student he once was, Mr. Bloom never shies away from selfadvocating and actively seeking answers to questions in order to gain a deeper perspective. Mr. Bloom’s science cart is always full of surprises, whether he is utilizing common household items to engage students about the states of matter or cultivating live butterflies to teach about the life cycle. When time allows, you will likely find him debating students about the best alltime Marvel movies.
Jayne Graziosa Juan Jimenez Westchester Lower School recognized Maintenance Supervisor Juan Jimenez, who worked tirelessly to ensure that Windward’s newest campus was ready to welcome teachers and students in the fall. Never deterred by a challenge, Mr. Jimenez is known for inventive and creative solutions and is a master at repurposing items so that nothing is wasted. He is the ultimate team player, most often being seen with a smile as he assists grateful teachers in need. One noted, “The sound of his keys jingling in the hallway is very reassuring when there’s a problem that needs fixing!”
Executive Assistant Jayne Graziosa, Heart of Windward award winner for Westchester Middle School, has been devoted to the mission of The Windward School for over 25 years. Known for her friendly greetings, compassion, infectious smile, and genuine concern for others, Ms. Graziosa is beloved by the entire community. Students, faculty, and staff know that they can come to her anytime for support with any concerns or questions they may have. Ms. Graziosa’s dedication to Windward is evident in her work ethic and constant willingness to lend a helping hand, making her truly the heart and soul of WMS.
Helen Prichett Manhattan Middle School Heart of Windward recipient Helen Prichett is the definition of a “cool librarian.” With a positive and welcoming demeanor, Ms. Prichett is always ready and willing to help anyone who crosses her path. Colleagues describe her as someone who makes learning fun, while making all the planning involved seem effortless. Ms. Prichett leads by example, consistently demonstrating kindness and an eagerness to help students and teachers with their questions. One faculty member noted, “She has come to my rescue numerous times with just the right book for a read aloud.”
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2021 Commencement
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n Sunday, June 6, The Windward School celebrated the graduation of its eighth
grade students. Two ceremonies were held for the first time in order to accommodate social distancing protocols. The Manhattan Middle School program took place in the morning, with an address by Student Council President Bret Glasser ’25 and a presentation of student awards by former Manhattan Lower & Middle Schools Division Head Leslie Zuckerwise. The Westchester Middle School ceremony was held in the afternoon. Student Council President Lucas Black ’25 delivered his speech, and Head of Westchester Middle School Chris Eberhard presented student awards. Congratulations to the 154 members of the eighthgrade class on this important milestone!
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2021 Commencement Address
William Dooley ’18 A Windward alum is invited each year to speak at Commencement. Will Dooley ’18 spoke at both the Manhattan Middle School and Westchester Middle School eighth-grade graduation ceremonies on June 6. Will is in his final year at Boston College, where he is studying communications and active as a lead actor in mainstage theater productions. He graduated from New Canaan High School as a member of the National Honor Society and recipient of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Student Leadership Award. Below is a copy of Will’s speech that he delivered.
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ello to the Class of 2021! I am honored to be your commencement speaker. Thank you, Mr. Eberhard, and to everyone at Windward for letting me share a few thoughts with you today. Although I have yet to graduate from BC [Boston College] and launch into a career, I do happen to know a lot about life during and after Windward. I’m not only an alum, but also the brother of two Windward alumni and one current third grade student. After nine years, it’s great to be back in the school that truly changed the trajectory of my life. If I told my firstgrade self that I would be giving a commencement speech at Windward today, he wouldn’t have believed it. In reality, my first grade self wouldn’t have even understood what a commencement speech was. Thankfully, Windward changed all of that for me. When I think back on one of my earliest elementary school memories, I can’t help but recall my dreaded kindergarten concert. I could feel my face getting hot, my heart pounding, and the tears welling up in my eyes. “I can’t do it,” I whispered to my teacher. I was the only kid in the class who was freaking out. My music teacher kept pointing to the giantsized pad of paper in her lap covered with lyrics in an attempt to put my mind at ease. It was just a concert for our parents, and I loved to sing, but to
me it felt like a nightmare. Knowing that I couldn’t remember the words after months of practice and that the words meant nothing to me, I began to cry. I was ushered off to sit with the teacher in the audience while I watched the smiling, singing faces of my classmates. I also remember hating reading circle in kindergarten. I couldn’t understand what direction to read in or what sounds the symbols made. All I wanted to do was run over to the kitchen set on the other end of the classroom and play pretend. That was my safe haven where I had control. It’s funny how I enjoyed creating stories in my head, though I couldn’t understand them on paper. Then, the following year I was lucky enough to attend Windward. Mrs. Bartnett was my firstgrade teacher, and she taught me what those symbols represented. The words “cat” and “dog” finally made sense to me. I began the regimented reading lists, red words, and skywriting. I have to say, I was a big fan of the skywriting! I appreciated the thrill of daily gym class and the fun of field days. Learning was now becoming exciting, and the world of words was opening up to me. I was a student at Windward for seven years. I needed those seven years, because without them I wouldn’t be a happy and successful college student.
“Here’s my advice now that you’re attending a new school: First, advocate for yourself. I can’t stress this enough.”
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Pictured are Head of School Jamie Williamson, Will Dooley ’18, Trustee Mitch Katz, and Associate Head of School Jon Rosenshine.
So, here’s my advice now that you’re attending a new school: First, advocate for yourself. I can’t stress this enough. If you are struggling, whether it’s academically or emotionally, make it known to your parents and teachers. At Windward, we are surrounded by devoted educators who are here because they want to help kids with languagebased learning disabilities. In your new school, you will be in bigger classes with teachers who may not understand what languagebased learning disabilities are. You will need to advocate for yourself. I talked to my teachers after class often, and I still do this today. I would have failed numerous tests if I didn’t stay after class. Don’t worry about what others think of you, be true to yourself. Second, join teams or clubs that excite you. Putting yourself out there can be a nervewracking experience, but don’t let that hold you back. Remind yourself that everyone has their own personal obstacles and that ours just happens to be dyslexia. This might take longer for some of you, but don’t stop looking. For me, my passion is theatre—it is a thrill like no other. I know it’s probably hard to believe that the kid who couldn’t sing in a concert now sings and dances in solo numbers. Anything is possible!
My final recommendation is don’t be too hard on yourself. I would beat myself up if I got a “B” on a test or didn’t get the role I wanted in the theatre department. I built up this feeling of discontent that probably held me back from truly living in the moment and connecting with my friends. I was always aiming for perfection—from a great audition, to knowing every answer on the test, to responding to teachers and friends without blanking on a word. My harsh selfcriticism in high school didn’t allow me to enjoy my four years to the fullest. So, embrace the moment, learn from it, and move on, a little wiser and a little stronger. You arrived here facing the challenge of learning how to read and write. You have met that challenge and that deserves an applause. Windward has provided you with a great toolbox. That toolbox is filled with skills and strategies that you can use to adapt to the academic challenges that await you. Never let go of your toolbox, always remember that you and Windward built it, and now you own it. Thank you and congratulations to the graduating Class of 2021!
“Windward has provided you with a great toolbox. Never let go of your toolbox, always remember that you and Windward built it, and now you own it.”
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NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL A brief recap of some of the many activities that happened across all three campuses May 24
Lower Schools Mathematicians Enjoy Math Day Lower school students were spotted donning festive maththemed tops or shirts with numbers on them to celebrate Math Day. During the Math Day community meetings, MLS Math Coordinator Danielle Ngo and WLS Math Coordinator Amanda Speer shared enjoyable math problems for students to solve and examples of math being all around us.
May 26
Windward Recognizes Significant Figures During AAPI Heritage Month MMS homeroom teachers and students highlighted influential AsianAmerican Pacific Islander figures by reading aloud their biographies during morning announcements each day. Across all divisions, Windward librarians highlighted book titles that featured characters and stories that represent many groups that AAPI encompasses. Pictured is a seventh grader with his biography of Tiger Woods.
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May 28
WMS Grade 6 Has a Blast with Rocket Day Each year, students learn about Newton’s laws of motion, rocketry, and rocket design. To culminate their studies, they launch rockets on Garry Field with their classmates.
May 28–June 3
Field Day Friendly Competition Returns Last spring, Windward held seven Field Days across all divisions, with students grouped by grade level to maintain social distancing. Students participated in a number of funfilled activities with their teams and even had a sweet visit from an ice cream truck!
AwardWinning Authors/Illustrators Visit Windward Students Students in grades 1–6 were visited by Grace Lin and listened to a read aloud of her book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Following the presentation, students participated in a draw along with Ms. Lin. Students in grades 7–9 heard from Jerry Craft, who talked about his journey to becoming an author/illustrator, and showed students the Newbery Medal he received for his graphic novel, New Kid. Pictured is Ms. Lin sharing one of her book covers with students.
June 2
Painter Kehinde Wiley Inspires Grade 8 Portraiture Project
Manhattan Middle School students in Abby DeLuca and Hattie Schapiro’s eighthgrade art classes painted portraits of Black leaders, entertainers, artists, athletes, activists, and politicians in the style of renowned portrait painter, Kehinde Wiley.
June 4
MLS Students Enjoy Sweet Treats During Ice Cream Social
NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
June 1–3
Students loved socializing together outside with an ice cream cone.
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June 10
Grade 8 Students Create 3D Printed Assistive Devices to Donate
NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
WMS students in Emily Frawley’s science class created 3D printed assistive devices to donate to Makers Making Change. The students produced a few designs for people with mobility disorders and visual impairments. Pictured is the pen ball, which makes it easier for someone who has difficulty holding a pen or pencil directly to grip the utensil.
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July 6
Summer Program Serves 232 Students
Windward hosted students from 11 states and 5 countries in its Summer Program. The program, which is open to both Windward and nonWindward students, took place inperson this year, and it included academic courses in the morning as well as afternoon creative sessions, such as sports, drama, and science lab.
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June 16
MLS Student Council Hosts Plastic Bag Drive
The MLS Student Council led a plastic bag collection from April–June to donate to NYbagproject, an organization that repurposes plastic items to create reusable shopping bags. Pictured are Rachel Manaster, MLS Student Council Advisor, and her students alongside the community’s donations. August 27
Faculty & Staff Gear Up for Return to School
New faculty and staff began their orientation, followed by the return of all faculty and staff for nearly two weeks of training before welcoming students back to school. Teachers were excited to meet new colleagues, collaborate, and catch up with old friends. Pictured are staff members enjoying a presentation by the leadership team.
September 13
MLS, MMS, and WMS Kick Off School Year
September 17
WLS Embraces First Day of InPerson Learning
Windward welcomed back students at Manhattan Lower and Middle Schools and Westchester Middle School to school, and faculty and staff saw a lot of enthusiastic faces ready to start the year off strong.
September 27
Students Connect on Make a Friend/Be a Friend Day
Windward held its annual Make a Friend/Be a Friend Day, where all lower school students participate in activities that foster friendships and community spirit. Pictured are MLS students enjoying one of the games organized by Manhattan Lower School Teacher Claudio Barbieri.
September 29–30
HR Hosts Happy Hours for Faculty/Staff of Color and LGBTQ+ To begin the school year, the HR Office hosted two communitybuilding happy hours for faculty/staff of color and LGBTQ+ faculty/staff. Pictured are colleagues enjoying the Faculty/Staff of Color Happy Hour.
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NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
Westchester Lower School welcomed students back for inperson learning, and students were thrilled to reunite in person with friends and teachers. Pictured are Head of School Jamie Williamson and Campus Head Alexis Pochna with WLS students.
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October 1
New Playground Thrills WLS Students
NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
Westchester Lower School finished construction of the new playground, and it has been a big hit with students. Pictured are WLS students happily posing on one of the climbing structures.
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October 4
The Windward Institute PLOW Study Resumes EEG
October 5
10th Annual Windward Classic Raises More Than $144,000 for Teacher Training
The event at Quaker Ridge Golf Club featured 18 holes of golf, its firstever putting contest, a roundrobin tennis tournament, and a silent auction. A great time was had by all, and Windward is grateful to those who donated and participated! Pictured are some attendees ready to take on the day’s events. October 8
The Windward Institute, in partnership with the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, resumed full EEG (electroencephalography) data collection as it entered the third year of the Predicting Literacy Outcomes at The Windward School (PLOW) study. The study focuses on inschool research to better understand which instructional strategies work best for which students, a critical step in moving toward individualized brainbased instructional programs. Pictured is a participating WLS student.
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Faculty/Staff Meet Virtually to Discuss DEIBFocused Summer Reading The Windward School faculty and staff members participate in summer reading each school year, and this year’s book choices were centered around DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) themes. Windward hosted virtual discussion groups for faculty and staff to explore how the lessons from their readings can be applied in the classroom and in their daytoday lives.
October 14
MLS Students Create Clay Relief Maps
October 26
Advocate Pins Honor Dyslexia Awareness Month
October 28
Fall Community Lecture Highlights Student Supports
Mississippi’s State Literacy Director (K–12) and READ podcast guest Kristen Wynn presented The Windward School and The Windward Institute Fall Community Lecture. Ms. Wynn discussed proven strategies Windward can implement in its community to better support its students.
Faculty and staff across all campuses proudly showed off their “advocate” pins in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month. Special thanks to The Windward Institute for providing these pins for all faculty and staff! Pictured are Head of School Jamie Williamson and Associate Director of The Windward Institute Annie Stutzman.
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NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
MLS fourthgrade students in Sarah Nordgren’s class created relief maps of New York State. Students used clay to represent various landforms and bodies of water, with green clay representing plains, yellow representing plateaus, brown representing mountains, and blue representing rivers and lakes.
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NEWS AROUND THE SCHOOL
MLS and WLS Celebrate Halloween in Style
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The lower school students, faculty, and staff celebrated Halloween by wearing their costumes to school and enjoyed themed activities, pizza, and festive cupcakes. Spotted around the campuses were superheroes, pumpkins, Disney characters, athletes, animals, and characters from favorite books. November 3
MLS Students Explore Mindfulness Through Yoga
November 4
WMS Girls Soccer Team Win
Each week throughout the fall, MLS fourth and fifthgrade students had the opportunity to participate in an afterschool yoga club. Sessions began with a warmup and meditation to help students center themselves and relax. Then students were led through classic yoga poses. Teamwork made the dream work for the WMS Grades 7–9 girls soccer team. All their efforts in practice paid off, leading to a decisive 30 victory over The Masters School. Pictured are players celebrating as they leave the field.
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Pictured is the team with their coaches, Lauren Adessa and William Eddy. The athletics department and coaches are thrilled with the teamwork, growth, and sportsmanship displayed across all fall sports this season.
Student council members organized food drives to support local community organizations in both Manhattan and Westchester. Pictured are participants from WLS, where students, faculty, and staff donated a total of 968 pounds of food to Feeding Westchester.
WMS Grade 6 Girls Volleyball Team Plays an Undefeated Season
Student Councils Organize Food Drive
MMS Competes in Metric Olympics
Students in Paul Lennihan’s sixthgrade class participated in the Metric Olympics, putting their measurement skills to the test by competing in events such as the sponge squeeze (liquid volume), rice grab (mass), and cotton ball shotputt (length). December 10
MLS Students Find Creative Outlet in AfterSchool Arts Club Shirley Hwang and Shannon Urabe led students through various artistic adventures in arts & crafts club, using different media to explore various means of artistic expression. Pictured is a recent beading project.
Winter 2022 The Compass
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December 6
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Homecoming 2021
More than 200 alumni, alumni parents/guardians, faculty, staff, and friends attended The Windward School Alumni Homecoming on October 23. The festivities took place at the Westchester Middle School campus, including the 3rd Annual Westchester vs. Manhattan soccer game; pizza, burger, and ice cream trucks; and the 1st Annual Alumni vs. Faculty & Staff kickball game. Alumni Ambassadors Melissa Strauss ’15 and Grace Desiderio ’19 coordinated the alumni kickball team and provided playbyplay live updates calling the action. Ultimately, the Faculty & Staff team came through with a onepoint victory of 87, but the alumni were already rallying their lineup for next year’s kickball team. Special shoutout to two alumni who supported the event! Whitnee Shulman ’02 was the photographer for Homecoming, and Andy Miscioscia ’00 provided Italian ice with his food truck.
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Alumni News & Notes 1984
1994
Aaron Berrios has been married for 25 years, and he has three kids, ages 21, 18, and 12. Aaron’s 12yearold is dyslexic, and he shared he wished he lived closer so he could send his child to Windward.
Nicole DiNapoli attended Homecoming on October 23 and found a photo of herself with her secondgrade class in the 1984 yearbook. Nicole is now a current Windward parent, and her daughter, Dana, is a sixthgrade student at the Westchester Middle School.
1986 Jared Cohen attended Windward for six years from 1976– 1982. When he heard that Windward was selling the former Westchester Lower School campus at 13 Windward Avenue, he wanted to return and show his son where he went to school. Jared visited the campus with Michelle Spino Andruss, Alumni Relations Director; Juan Jimenez, Maintenance Supervisor; Christelle Bidwell, Development Operations Associate; and Beth Foltman, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management. During the visit, he pointed out where he remembers a time capsule being buried. Jared is pictured with his son and Ms. Foltman.
Christopher Sheerin won the Tutti Bravi Award for Creative Writing for his play The Hudson Valley UFO Case. The play premiered in March 2021 on the Yonkers Public Library website, and fingers are crossed that it goes to the stage after the pandemic. Christopher is still stage acting...30 years after acting in productions at Windward!
1996 Mac Cashin is the Chief of Police of the Franconia, New Hampshire Police Department. He is also the owner of Specialized Training Solutions, a business that provides personalized firearms instruction. Stacey Beuer Lewando has been best friends with Abby DeLuca (right), a Windward Westchester Lower School Teacher, for 35 years. They grew up together in Ardsley, living just down the street from each other. Pictured is Stacey from the 1990 yearbook when she was a Windward middle school student.
Note: At Windward, a student’s class year is the same as their high school graduation year.
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1999 Ben Schaeffer pursued music after high school, earning a performing arts scholarship to attend The Hartt School of University of Hartford. In 2003, he graduated with his bachelor of music, cum laude. Since 2015, Ben has worked at the Yale School of Music, where he oversees student admission and manages operations for the School’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Prior to this position, he worked in classical music artist management at Colbert Artist Management and IMG Artists and as a concert program analyst at American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). In his personal life, Ben was married to Lily Hashemian in August 2013.
Whitnee Shulman acted as Windward’s professional photographer for this year’s Homecoming at the Westchester Middle School campus on October 23.
2000 Andy Miscioscia is the owner of Andy’s Italian Ice, a gourmet Italian ice truck, that serves many locations throughout New York City. On September 27 and 28, Andy stopped by the Manhattan Lower & Middle Schools campus to provide a special treat for the Manhattan Middle School students. The event was generously sponsored by the Windward Parents Association.
2001 Jacob Gould is a special education attorney, representing students who remind him of his younger self—struggling to get by, getting mocked by peers, and trying to avoid embarrassment from the label of being “special needs.” Jake credits the teachers and staff at Windward for all the academic and life lessons he learned as a student, including selfadvocacy and coping strategies, which have helped him be successful today. He shared, “Prior to Windward, I could not read or write. At Windward, I not only learned how to perform fundamental academics but also learned life lessons. Since graduating from Windward, I applied all the same skills that I learned in middle school to pass multiple bar exams and practice law!”
2003 Elizabeth Cook founded her business LC Fitness NYC in 2011. She also works at HCK recreation as a yoga specialist and administrative aide.
2006 Corey Feldman published a book about his experiences as an Israel Defense Force lone soldier called A Line in the Sand.
Derek Kirk is profiled in this issue’s feature story “Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward” and his second year at Windward as a Manhattan Middle School teacher. Read more on page 15.
2002 Meredith Garfinkle is married and has two lovely boys, aged 4 and 2.
Edward Robinson was married in 2012. He and his wife have two children, William (born in 2015) and Anna (born in 2017). They are expecting their third child in November 2021.
To submit a note, share your Windward memories, or give notice of a deceased alum/na for the next issue, please email alumni@thewindwardschool.org. Winter 2022 The Compass
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2006 (continued) Julie Schechter was featured as the Dream Big speaker on June 4. Dream Big is an annual event, sponsored by the Windward Parents Association, where an alum shares with current middle school students the story of their journey following Windward. In her presentation, Julie discussed her experience in school and how she advocated for herself to be granted the additional time she deserved in law school. Julie shared the following advice with the middle schoolers: “My road had many bumps along the way, but I promise that you can do anything that you set your mind to. Don’t limit yourself, and don’t ever let anyone else limit you. You should believe in your abilities and know it’s okay to need extra time, it’s okay if you spell something wrong, it’s okay to be yourself.”
2010 Bianca Rizzo is profiled in this issue’s feature story “Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward” and her return to Windward as a Westchester Lower School teacher. Read more on page 12.
2011 Caroline Bronston is an assistant teacher at Temple EmanuEl. She is pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood general education and special education at Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Corey Rosen is a publicity coordinator at Netflix. Sam TaylorD’Ambrosio is a pediatric ICU RN at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Alice Voller is a forensic social worker at Legal Aid Society in Manhattan, and she is applying to law school.
2012 Aaron Lester earned his bachelor’s in business administration from the University of WisconsinMadison in 2016. He is a manager of process innovation and data partnerships at Fourkites.
David Wheatley is working at B+B Hospitality Human Resources.
2007 Jack Taylor D’Ambrosio is currently a physician’s assistant at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He was married in 2021 and was expecting his first child in June 2021.
2008 Scott Oltman married Rosanne Goodman on August 25, 2017. The couple had their first child, daughter Charlotte Oltman, on May 15, 2021.
2009 Anelise Feinstein is a professional visual artist and entrepreneur. She owns FeinPrint and has created a comic series called A Fine Esilena.
Joseph Orlando graduated from Adelphi University in 2016. He works for the Office of the Council President for the City of Yonkers. Eliza Holsten married Uri Pearl at Bet Am Shalom in White Plains, NY on October 24.
2013 Matt Bloom, a Manhattan Lower School Teacher, and Lizza Chapey, a Westchester Lower School Teacher, are profiled in this issue’s feature story “Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward” and what their experiences have been as alumni who have returned to teach at Windward. Read more about Matt on page 11 and more about Lizza on page 13. Jacob Silberstein graduated from Columbia University and is now in sustainable real estate development. He attended Windward for three years and believes that the school saved his life. Zoe Stein earned a master of science in sustainability studies from Arizona State University in 2019, and she received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Zoe has published two scientific journal articles regarding her work. She has also
Note: At Windward, a student’s class year is the same as their high school graduation year.
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served as vice chair for the Neighborhood Advisory commission in Tempe, Arizona, and she worked for Jon Ossoff’s United States Senate campaign as the community mobilizers program director.
2014 Sabrina Bordash graduated from Lehigh University in 2018. She is an associate at J.P. Morgan. Lexa Krawchick is profiled in this issue’s feature story “Full Circle: Alumni Returning to Teach at Windward” and her first year as a Westchester Lower School teacher at Windward. Read more on page 14. Pauline November is manager of transition programs at Best Buddies, an organization that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Pauline ran the Boston Marathon virtually in 2020 to raise money for Best Buddies International.
2015 Kyle Davidoff graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and cognitive science from UCLA in 2019. He is now purusing an MBA at Tel Aviv University.
Hannah Fialkoff is pursuing a master’s degree in international studies at American University. Alexander Gardner graduated with a bachelor’s in global business from Fordham University. Josh Hershkowitz is living in Washington, DC and working as a business analyst for Capital One. Monique Magras is teaching second grade at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore, MD, through Teach for America. Simultaneously, she is attending graduate school at Johns Hopkins University to earn a master’s degree in elementary education. Prior to this role, Monique studied psychology and double minored in criminal justice and sociology at Curry College in Massachusetts. While at Curry, she served as a teaching assistant, guided students as a peer mentor, served as president of the Collision Dynasty dance club, worked as an assistant with the Office of Student Activities, and acted as an orientation leader for incoming firstyear students. Monique aspires to work as a school psychologist. She is pictured below.
2016 Marty Durkin graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Richmond in 2020. He is an investment analyst at Harris Williams. Christopher Gardner is a playwright and production assistant for various projects in New York City. Owen Howell graduated from Boston University in 2020, and he is currently a PhD student and National Science Foundation graduate research fellow at the University of Chicago.
2017 Ethan Alfandary graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where he studied digital media. Jared Ellis earned a bachelor’s in business administration and psychology from Muhlenberg College. He was the recipient of the Dean of Students Award. Jared is a university partnership executive at Unibuddy.
Genny Starren won first place in powerlifting at the 2017 Natural Athlete Strength Association Nationals competition. She also serves as president of the 2020–21 Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance Chapter 31. Genevieve studied at Southern Illinois University.
To submit a note, share your Windward memories, or give notice of a deceased alum/na for the next issue, please email alumni@thewindwardschool.org. Winter 2022 The Compass
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Reed Switzer ’19 Launches Hopscotch, an Innovative Fintech Company, as CEO
I
n December 2020, Reed Switzer took a leap of faith. He left The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in his sophomore year to follow his entrepreneurial instinct and build a financial technology company called Hopscotch. In the simplest terms, Reed described Hopscotch as “Venmo on steroids for small business,” where utility and connectivity between users are the top priorities. The platform enables businesses to pay and get paid instantly, without any fees. “Hopscotch’s technical infrastructure and consumerlike business profiles enable us to create an unmatched business payments experience,” said Reed. The name of the company, Hopscotch, is inspired by its mission. “Small business owners know that business is never a straight line; you are always jumping from point to point. We want to be the vehicle to get your business from point A to point Z,” explained Reed. Reed’s inspiration for Hopscotch came from experiences earlier in his business career. At the start of high school, he founded an apparel brand with a few friends. A couple years later, he worked his way up to a leadership position at a music streaming startup. “When I was dealing with vendors and involved in completing transactions, they always requested payment via paper checks or wire transfers, which are inefficient for a variety of reasons. Online invoicing and bill pay systems weren’t much better. It was a pain point. Meanwhile, in the consumer world, we had Venmo which made sending money to family and friends extremely easy. I knew there had to be a better way for businesses to pay and get paid,” said Reed. With a vision for the future, Reed employed his selftaught UI/UX design skills to mock up what he thought a seamless business to business payment experience should look like. He coldcalled small business owners to hear their insights on his design; he wanted to make sure his idea was solving real problems. After receiving encouraging feedback, Reed wanted to confirm that his idea was truly feasible so he hired a financial technology compliance firm to walk through his product. Once given the green light, Reed knew that this business
was something he had to pursue. He assembled a diverse advisory board of individuals with deep domain experience in various industries and began building a business plan. With a gotomarket strategy, roadmap for his product, and guidance from his advisory board, Reed began meeting with venture capitalists to raise capital to make Hopscotch a reality. After a few months of conversations—ranging from disappointing rejections to enthusiastic endorsements—Hopscotch emerged with $3.6 million in seed funding led by NOEMIS Ventures and Stellation Capital. “My partner, Rick Kleczkowski, and I are incredibly humbled and thrilled to partner with leading venture capitalists. Our seed funds will enable us to scale our marketing, operations, and engineering teams,” said Reed. In his role as CEO, Reed often tackles complicated issues that require clear and concise written and verbal communication. He specifically credits Windward for providing him with the skills and confidence to perform well in his role. “Windward set the foundation for so much of what I’m doing now. I can’t speak more highly of Windward’s faculty, style of teaching, and overall community. The skills and confidence I gained in the four years I attended Windward as a student have proven invaluable. Shout out to Dr. Russell, Ms. Sweeney, Ms. Trifiletti, and countless others for the years of support. The Windward community is one that I am honored to be a part of.” Hopscotch is set to officially launch in January 2022. Small business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who are interested can go to tryhopscotch.io to sign up for early access.
Note: At Windward, a student’s class year is the same as their high school graduation year.
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2018 Sasha Derby is currently studying at Northeastern University. Will Dooley was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at Graduation on June 6. He addressed both Manhattan Middle School and Westchester Middle School eighth grade students and their families at their two respective ceremonies. Read his commencement address on page 22. Pictured are Will (second from left) with Head of School Jamie Williamson, his father Chris Dooley, and his brother Ben Dooley ’20.
Grand Hedley started his own application development company called Fuzzytech in January 2019. Tamar Levine is studying at Touro College in New York City. In 2017, she was a recipient of the Singer Scholarship Award, which offsets the cost of summer programs in Israel. Tucker Stoops is studying at Bucknell University where he is on the varsity lacrosse team. He also participates in the Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society in Lewisburg, PA.
2020 Ben Dooley attended Windward’s Graduation to support his brother, Will Dooley ’18, who was the Commencement speaker. See photo of him on left. Thomas Hillman is studying mathematics at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, and he is on the dean’s list. Remy Mastey is studying sports journalism at Arizona State University. He has published articles on the Walter Cronkite Sports Network, a studentrun website for Arizona State Sports. Moya McKeever is at the National University of Ireland Galway studying occupation therapy. She also received the United Way Volunteer of the Year Award in 2019. Katie Gallagher is in her senior year at Villanova University and spent the summer working as head soccer coach at Kent Hill Camp in Maine.
2019 Philip Berger is a sophomore at Muhlenberg College. Nico Butterfield made dean’s list at Colgate University, where he is majoring in computer science. Liannie Davidoff won the Metropolitan Theater Award for Best Featured Ensemble Member in 2018. The Metros celebrate high school musical productions from participating schools in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Bergen Counties and are billed as the high school equivalent of the Tony Awards. Liannie was recognized for her performance as Mrs. Mayor in Harrison High School’s production of Seussical The Musical. Teaken Haggerty is enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. She also works as a tutor at an allboys Catholic School in town.
Ashley Mufson produced a short film How Music Impacted My Brain at the end of her freshman year at High Point University in North Carolina. She shared how she overcame the challenges associated with a languagebased learning disability. Ashley hoped her video could be beneficial for other students who struggle and are looking for ways to cope with their learning disability. Pictured below are Ashley and a clip from her video.
Lauren Raved is studying food systems at the University of Vermont.
To submit a note, share your Windward memories, or give notice of a deceased alum/na for the next issue, please email alumni@thewindwardschool.org. Winter 2022 The Compass
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2021
2022
Lilly Appelbaum volunteers at the White Plains Hospital.
Collins Boyce is in the art honor society and plays varsity basketball at Nyack High School.
Dylan Berman graduated from York Preparatory School in May, and he is now attending Marist College where he is studying cybersecurity. He shared, “I am still so grateful for my experience at Windward and to this day still talk to friends I made at Windward. Ariana Bevilacqua was awarded a merit scholarship to attend the Art Institute of Chicago. Caroline Cleary is a freshman at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she is a recipient of the Dolan School of Business St. Ignatius of Loyola Scholarship. Caroline graduated from the School of the Holy Child in 2021. Lexie Goldman is enrolled at Cornell University. She is a National Association of Plant Breeders Borlaug Scholar, and she has participated in the United States Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth program to study the Russian language.
Jack Fialkoff was named to the USA Hockey 17 Jamboree representing New York State.
2023 Spencer Charrington is an honor roll student at Eagle Hill School in Massachusetts. He is a member of the swim team and was in the school play Clue in 2021. Alex Conoscente is at The Harvey School and was recently inducted into the Japanese National Honors Society. Will Erdmann was recruited to play Division I lacrosse as a midfielder at the University of Virginia. Below was UVA’s announcement.
Gregory Hirsch is enrolled at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He credits Windward teachers for sparking his love for writing. Lara Patricio is studying business administration at Northeastern University.
Patrick Rejman graduated from Wooster School in Danbury, CT, and is a freshman at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, studying aeronautical engineering. He recently earned his private pilot license (pictured above).
Becca Gordon earned high honors for two years, and she is on the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference 1st team for cheerleading.
Alex Ring graduated from King School with an art distinction. She is now a freshman at Elon University. Shelby Smith graduated from School of the Holy Child and is beginning her college journey at Syracuse University.
Note: At Windward, a student’s class year is the same as their high school graduation year.
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Become an Alumni Ambassador Andrew Greenspan (right) committed to play lacrosse as a faceoff player for the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame.
Co-chaired by Denis O’Leary ’06 and Grace Desiderio ’19, Windward’s Alumni Ambassador Program will be composed of passionate alumni representatives who will deepen engagement with the Windward alumni community through an array of initiatives that supports, strengthens, and increases our alumni community worldwide. Our alumni ambassadors will be involved with: • Contributing to the biannual alumni newsletter • Making thank you calls to alumni donors • Fundraising for the Windward Fund • Planning and hosting alumni events • Networking with fellow alumni • Speaking opportunities with current students/families
Adam Kern and Lauren Marlowe are pictured together at the Shuk marketplace in Jerusalem, Israel. They also shared a photo of the two of them from their younger years.
The success of our alumni validates Windward’s teaching methodology and pedagogy to reaffirm that students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning disabilities, if given the right support, can accomplish great things. If you are interested in becoming an alumni ambassador, visit www.thewindwardschool.org/ambassador or email alumni@thewindwardschool.org.
2024 Sonia Alexander is a sophomore at Marymount School
of New York. Mia Cohen is on high honor roll at Monument Mountain
High School. Mattie Dickinson made head’s list and effort honor roll
throughout her freshman year at Proctor Academy, where she is also a dorm leader. She is currently a Boy Scouts of America Life Scout and is working toward Eagle Scout. Morgan Elefant is volunteering with his temple for a program
called Calling Generation. Paige McDonnell is involved with community service at school.
Charles Ferragu earned high honors and head of school
distinctions in his freshman year at Green Farms Academy. Avery Montesione is currently attending Nease High School.
2026 Zach Lehr received two high honor roll awards from
Browning and received the Environment Stewardship Award.
2027 Caroline Kiernan made her lacrosse club’s elite national team.
To submit a note, share your Windward memories, or give notice of a deceased alum/na for the next issue, please email alumni@thewindwardschool.org. Winter 2022 The Compass
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In Memoriam The Windward School received the sad news of the passing of the following individuals. The Windward community extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Please email alumni@thewindwardschool.org if you receive notice of a deceased community member for inclusion in the next issue of The Compass. Christian Gorycki Father of Ellen Gorycki ’30
Michael Graves Father of Hunter Graves ’28
Daniel O’Connor ’13 Peter Zimroth Father of Abraham Zimroth ’01 and former Trustee
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Empowering the Journey
40 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 106043602 Return Service Requested To be added to The Compass mailing list, please email communications@thewindwardschool.org
“Within my son’s first week at Windward, I could see that this was a special program. His reading skills have progressed more than I could have imagined possible. When I read to him at night (which I have been doing for years) suddenly he has started to ask if he can help read. This means more to me than you can imagine!” —Current Parent
Do you know a family that would benefit from their child attending The Windward School and experiencing its transformative program? We believe in impacting the lives of as many children as possible, and we invite you to refer interested families to our Admissions Office today.
Visit us online at: thewindwardschool.org/info Phone: (914) 9496968 Email: admissionsinquiry@thewindwardschool.org
