Mrs. Jody Smith          Director, Teacher of Science  6, 7, 8,  History 7-8, Math 7

            Jody received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Marymount College, Tarrytown, and her M.A. in Education at Fairfield University.  She holds Connecticut certification in Biology, Chemistry, General Science and History.  Mrs. Smith has over thirty years of teaching experience.  She taught Science, Math and History at St. James School in Stratford and at New Haven Hebrew Day in Orange, and Upper School Science at the Unquowa School. She is a founder of Easton Country Day School and the mother of two of our earliest graduates.

Mrs. Suellen Inwood        Director, Individualized Program Coordinator

            Suellen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders/Learning Disabilities at Northwestern University and her Master’s in Education for Pre-K – 12 at Southern Connecticut.  She is a founding parent and one of the school's two administrators.  Her twenty-five years of teaching experience includes Pre-School at Cooperative Educational Services and numerous grades at Fairfield public schools.  She has apprenticed and worked with Dr. Donaldson in Original Play for over 20 years.  Her daughter Jamie is an ECDS graduate who currently teaches in our preschool.

Mrs. Nancy Shufelt        Kindergarten

                Nancy received her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education at Central Connecticut University and was certified in Grades K – 12.  She has taught in the Fairfield school system and at St. Thomas, and most recently has been Head Teacher at St. Paul’s Nursery School in Fairfield for 9 years. She has been teaching here at ECDS for 14 years.

Mrs. Stacey Slane          Grades 1-2 Classroom

            Stacey received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and her Masters of Education from the Teachers’ College at Columbia University.   She has taught 1st and 2nd grades at Columbia Grammar in NYC and at Rodeph Shalom in NYC.  She also taught preschool at the Playplace in Fairfield for 10 years, and has been here at ECDS for 15 years.

Mrs. Michelle Bailey   Grades 1/2 Classroom

                Michelle earned her B.A. at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, and is working towards her Master’s degree at Sacred Heart University.  She taught at St. Mary’s School in Milford for 5 years and at High Horizons Elementary in Bridgeport.  She has been at ECDS for 5 years.

Mrs. Meagan Clark   Grades 3/4  Classroom

                Meagan received her Bachelor’s degree from University of the Western Cape, in Capetown, South Africa, and her Master’s of Education from Mercy College in NY.  She has worked at Columbus Elementary School in Thornwood, NY, and at the Foote School in New Haven.  She is in her 6th  year at ECDS.

Mrs. Melissa Miranda    Grades 3/4 Classroom

                Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Western Connecticut State University, and her Master’s in Education and her Connecticut Elementary Education Certificate at the University of Bridgeport.  She has taught at King Street Elementary School in Bridgeport, and Black Rock School.  She has been with ECDS for 3 years.

Mrs. Tracy Tritchonis   7 & 8 English, Literature, 1-8 Computer

            Tracy earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, spending her junior year abroad at Richmond College in London, England.  She earned her Master’s in Education at Fairfield University.  She has taught in Norwalk, Redding and Stamford public schools, and most recently at the Bi-Cultural School in Stamford.  She has worked as a TV producer in advertising in NYC.  Tracy has been with ECDS for 3 years.

Ms. Deborah Kelly           5th & 6 th Grade Teacher

                Deborah earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Education from Wagner College in New York City. She went on to study Art and Design at The New England School of Art and Design in Boston, MA. Deborah has taught at Friends Select School in Philadelphia, PA, and at Saint Ann's School in Bridgeport, CT. Her son, Luke, was an Easton Country Day School graduate.

Senora  M. Begonia Gonzalez      Spanish K – 12

                Begonia is a native Spanish speaker who received her education in Spain and who speaks four languages, including Basque.  She has worked in the Stratford Public Schools, teaching children in Grades 2 - 6.  She is in her eighth year with us at ECDS.

Mrs. Wendy  Lilya           Art K – 12  

                Wendy received her degree in art education from Nazareth College in New York, where she was on the Dean’s List.  Now in her sixth year at ECDS, Wendy has taught art for elementary students at Nazareth, and art for grades 1 –3, as well as studio art, at Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School in Rochester, NY. She has been with us for 10 years.

Mrs. Marnie Kruse     Music K – 8

                Marnie received her Bachelor’s in Music from Denison University in Ohio, and her Master’s of Education at the University of Bridgeport.  She taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Naugatuck for 11 years, and Cherub Children’s Choir for the past 6 years, which she continues to teach.  She has been the female vocalist on 12 CDs of children’s nursery rhymes published by Little Sound Prints in Norwalk.  She is in her fourth year at ECDS.

Mrs. Lori Krysiuk     Parent Liaison,  Grade 3 Math, Etiquette, Debate

                Lori attended Western Connecticut State University, where she majored in child development, and graduated with honors from Norwalk Community College.  She has worked as a counselor, and a licensed day care provider.  She also is an ASCA certified swimming coach and the supervisor of the swimming program at the Norwalk YMCA. She has been with ECDS for 13  years.

Mrs. Jay Smith    Geometry and Tutoring

                Jay received her Bachelors from the University of Bridgeport and her MBA from the University of New Haven.  She is the mother of two former ECDS students and a founding parent.  She has been with ECDS for three years. 

Mrs. Jodi Ullmann       Drama K – 8

            Jodi got her B.A.. in English at Franklin Marshall in Pennsylvania, and her Master’s in Education from American University in Washington, D.C. She taught Shakespearian Theatre to elementary students in Washington, DC for 2 years, and has been with us for 4 years.

Mr. Peter Rennert   Physical Education and Original Play

                Peter graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Psychology and 3 National Team Titles in tennis.  He was ranked #8 in the world in doubles tennis, and #40 in singles. Peter is the founder of The Spirit of Adventure, a company that represents professionals from many fields, who are all dedicated to wellness and longevity.  Peter works with Fred Donaldson in Original Play, and is the father of an ECDS student.

Dr. Fred Donaldson      Professor Emeritus     Original Play

A professor who taught at the Universities of Washington and California State, Hayward and the California School of Professional Psychology, Fred has taught from Preschool to post graduate levels for 25 years.  He is the developer of Original Play, which he brings to us 3 to 4 times a year, and instructs the Upper Form in coaching it.   He consults with us regularly.