New Faces at Woodland Hill

Meet our newest faculty at WHMS this school year!

Emily Whitby

Emily joins us in the Toddler program after working in aftercare, summer camp, and as a substitute at WHMS since 2021. She has a bachelor’s degree in childhood/special education and English from The College of St. Rose.

Michael Franklin

Michael joins us as an assistant teacher with John Slater. Michael has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Russell Sage College. He has worked at WHMS since 2020 in our aftercare, summer camp, and as a substitute.

Linda Fennell

Linda joins the WHMS faculty as an assistant teacher with Michele Praileau. Linda earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from The College of Saint Rose. She is coming to Woodland Hill from her most recent position as a teaching assistant for Questar III BOCES at Maple Hill. Linda also has professional experience as a personal development coach with a focus on health education and resilience for youth ages 9-18.

Elyssa Connolly

Elyssa joins the Middle School team as our science teacher. Elyssa comes to WHMS from North Country School in Lake Placid where she taught 4th, 5th, and 8th graders and served as a house parent to adolescent boarding students. Elyssa has a bachelor’s degree in geology, religious studies, and public health from St. Lawrence University.

Chloë Williams-Searle

Chloë graduated from Vassar College in 2021 with a double major in Art History and Film. She earned general and departmental honors and received the Frances Daly Ferguson Award for the top art history honors thesis and the Ken Robinson Prize for Excellence in Post-Production Filmmaking. Prior to joining WHMS, she worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan. Chloë is a 2013 graduate of Woodland Hill Montessori School and our first alumnus to join the WHMS faculty.