Staff

Jody Smith – Director, 7th/8th Science & History

Mrs. Smith 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 forty 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 the founder of Easton Country Day School and the mother of two of our earliest graduates. She teaches Physics, Chemistry, Biology and History to the middle school.

Suellen Inwood – Director, Individualized Program Coordinator

Mrs. Inwood earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders/Learning Disabilities at Northwestern University and her Master’s in Education for Pre-K to 12 at Southern Connecticut. She is a founding parent and one of the school’s two directors. Her thirty three years of teaching experience includes preschool at Cooperative Educational Services and numerous grades at Fairfield public schools. She has apprenticed and worked with Dr. Donaldson in Original Play for over 25 years, Lynn Meltzer in Executive Function and specializes in Sensory Integration for home, work and classroom.

Matthew Morse – High School Director

Matthew Morse began his Teaching career over 20 years ago. He holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and a BA in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. Mr. Morse is also certified in Special Education K-12. During his career he spent 12 years with Eagle Hill, Southport as a Special Education Teacher and Head Sports Coach. He also spent time as a Special Education Teacher with Fairfield Warde High School and Bedford Middle School in Westport. Mr. Morse joined ECDS as Director of Special Education for the ECDS High School and is now the Director of ECDS High School.

Reed Trzaski – High School Math & Science, Assistant Director K-12

Reed received his degree in Kinesiology in 2009 from SCSU and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree.


Rebecca Soule – Asst. High School Director, School Counselor

Rebecca graduated from Post University with a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Business Management, and received a Master’s degree from Fairfield University for School Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor. She is also EAGALA certified – a certification for equine learning and therapy. She has been with ECDS for 7 years. She is an 8th grade graduate of ECDS.

Ilka Neunteufel – Administration, German

Ilka received her MA in Counseling and Community Psychology from Marist College. She has worked at Sylvan Learning as a Math, Study Skills and SAT tutor. Later she worked as a Director of Assessment and Director of Education at Sylvan Learning. For the last couple of years, she has been lucky enough to work in an office, where every day brings a new adventure.

Casey Skillins – Math Specialist

Casey Skillins has her Master’s degree in Special Education. She is also certified to teach mindfulness to children. She has spent the past fifteen years teaching children of all ages, in all subjects, in various school settings. She has a deep love of learning, and especially loves learning about math, the human brain, health and wellness, and nature.

Wendy Shambra-Katragadda – Preschool & Daycare Director

Wendy Shambra-Katragadda is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a BS degree in Accounting and Business Administration. She worked many years as a business consultant. When her oldest child arrived she became very interested in early childhood development and enrolled in graduate classes in education. She joined ECDS as a parent in 2001 and established our pre-school and daycare program in 2005. She has taught our two year old class and for the past nine years has also been the managing director of Little Phoenix, our pre-school and daycare. Wendy emphasizes loving kindness in her work and in our preschool and daycare. She is the mother of four children, all of whom attended ECDS.

Jordan Courtney – Kindergarten

Jordan graduated from Lynn University in 2011 with a BS in Psychology, then went on to get  her Master’s in Psychology from Mercy College in 2013. She worked as a substitute in the Darien CT for grades K-8 during that period. She taught Kindergarten readiness at the Holly Pond School in Darien, CT for 5 years. In 2019 she graduated from the University of Bridgeport with her Sixth Year Certification in Elementary Education and was selected as a member of the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.


Lindsay Benak – Grades 1/2
Lindsay Benak is teaching the First and Second grade class this year after working for another agency within ECDS for the last 8 years. Lindsay went to Central Connecticut State University where she was a member of the woman’s lacrosse team. She attended Sacred Heart University for graduate school. Lindsay started her career off at Cooperative Educational Services for 9 years followed by working at Meliora Academy for 2 years. Lindsay also carries a Linda Mood Bell certification and a Registered Behavior Technician certification. She is the mother of two children and is an avid sports fan.

Sara McGovern – Grades 1/2

 

 

 

 

Marcia Kaufmann – Grades 3/4

Marcia earned her B.A. in Communications from the University of New Hampshire and her Masters of Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University. She worked in international business before she had her children and returned to earn her Masters of Education with a concentration in Educational Technology. Marcia was trained and worked in the Trumbull Public School District for 8 years.

Melissa Miranda – Grades 5/6

Melissa has been a teacher for the past 12 years. She was a Reading Interventionist at the Bridgeport Public Schools for two years and has recently returned to Easton Country Day School. She was a teacher at ECDS for ten years in which she taught third and fourth grade homeroom as well as fifth and sixth grade math. Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut. She also received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She currently holds a Professional Educator’s Certification through the state of Connecticut. In addition to her elementary background, she has had experiences as head teacher in preschools and daycares as well as assuming the role of assistant camp director. Melissa is an avid sports fanatic as well as a passionate educator.

Elizabeth Bufano – Grades 5/6

Liz earned her BA in Fashion Merchandising at Philadelphia University, and her Master’s Degree in Education from The University of Bridgeport. She taught at Westport public schools before having her children.

Dr. Kimberly McMullan – 6th Grade & High School Earth Science, K-12 Spanish

Kimberly McMullan teaches Earth Science at the sixth grade and high school levels. She earned both her Bachelors and Masters from Brandeis University. She received her DC from New York Chiropractic College. Outside of school, she has also worked with children therapeutically as a Neurofeedback practitioner in Westport.

Stephanie Pelling

Katrina Pesta – 7th & 8th Grade English & Literature, Special Education

Katrina earned her B.A. in history and psychology from the University of MA- Amherst in 2012. She then went on to receive a Masters in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. Katrina holds a CT Teaching Certification in Elementary Education grades 1-6. Before her time at ECDS she worked as a long term substitute at North Mianus School in Greenwich, CT and taught 2nd grade at St. Ann Academy in Bridgeport, CT for 2 years. She is currently enrolled at Fairfield University working towards a Masters in Special Education and her dual certification.


Jennifer Yang 杨老师 – Int’l Student Advisor & Liaison, Mandarin Teacher

Jennifer Yang graduated from University of Chicago with a M.A. degree from SSA (Clinical Counseling Concentration). She also holds a double B.A. degree in Psychology and Fine Arts from University of Denver. Jennifer has experiences in a variety of educational settings, ranging from Chinese School of 200 students to 1-1 private tutoring. She enjoys working with families and children therapeutically, especially helping international students transition and excel. Jennifer joins ECDS as Mandarin Teacher & International Students Advisor and Liaison.


Wendy Lilya – K-8 Art

Wendy Lilya earned her bachelors in Art education K-12 that she received from Nazareth College in Rochester N.Y. After teaching in the New York school system for a few years she moved to Connecticut.

Michelle Hocker – Praesto Prep Program Director

Michelle earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Manhattanville College and a Master’s Degree in Education from Sacred Heart University. She is enrolled in the administrative program at Sacred Heart University. She has taught grades one through six throughout the past thirteen years. Currently she is the head teacher and the program director for Praesto Prep, and the director of June School and the July summer program.

Cory Hocker – Praesto Prep

Cory Hocker earned his B.A. in English from Virginia Wesleyan College and his certification in teaching English as a Foreign Language from EBC TOEFL School in Madrid, Spain. He has been teaching in wide variety of roles at Easton Country Day School since 2006.

 

Liz Grauer – Grades 3-4

Laura Lennon – High School Art

Laura Lennon received her B.S. in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University and is presently working towards an M.A. in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. She is Connecticut certified and has been working at Easton Country Day School for the past 8 years. She is currently the Art Teacher in our High School and works with Praesto Prep.

Tricia Bobowick – High School English & History

Tricia has been a high school Social Studies teacher for 17 years. She worked at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury and then came to ECDS in 2009.


Anita Holtz – High School English, Guidance Counselor

Anita R. Holtz is our high school English teacher. She earned a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University, an M.S. in Criminal Justice, an M.S. in School Counseling, and an advanced graduate degree in psychology. In her previous employment in public high schools, she was named a highly qualified educator with a specialty for teaching college and real-world writing skills. She was an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven and a graduate school professor at the University of Hartford. Prior to her employment at ECDS, she worked as a pre-college consultant, private tutor, and a marketing proofreader for a Fortune 500 company. She delights in returning to the classroom where her career began in 1970, an affirmation of her love for teaching high school students.

Grekim Jennings – Science 7-12

Grekim graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Fairfield
University. He later returned to study physics and became a member of the physics honors society. He is currently working on a graduate degree in mathematics. At Fairfield he was active in projects destined for the CERN collider, computer simulations of particles orbiting Jupiter, and using optical techniques to identify cancer cells. He has taught at ECDS since 2013.

Jodi Ullmann – Drama

Jodi earned her BA at Franklin and Marshall, and her Masters in Education: American University.
Jodi taught for six years in Montgomery County, MD, and has taught for 10 years at ECDS.

Cara Pelletier – Support Staff

 

 


Marie Luna – Arrowsmith

Marie Luna received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at San Diego State University. She received her Masters in Childhood Education and Special Education at Mercy College. In 2014, Marie became certified to teach Arrowsmith, which is a cognitive program based on the principles of neuroplasticity. She has been an Arrowsmith teacher at ECDS since 2014, working with students who engage in cognitive exercises to permanently strengthen their learning capacities.

Kate West – Arrowsmith

Kate graduated from Lesley College in Cambridge with a B.S. in Education and is certified in Elementary Education, grades 1-6. She has been teaching the Arrowsmith Program since 2011, working with students to overcome specific learning difficulties through a series of cognitive exercises. Kate is also a certified Wilson Reading System Level 1 Teacher and a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner.

 

Elizabeth Buonicore – Drama

Mrs. Elizabeth Buonicore received her BA in Liberal arts at Franklin Pierce University with an American Studies major and minored in Early Childhood Education. After, Mrs. Buonicore worked at Giant Steps School for seven years teaching 1:1 and then as a Vocational Specialist. She started the environment club and ran the garden and farm programs. She worked in the high school at ECDS for two years then left to run her own daycare after having her two children. Mrs. Buonicore then worked for a behavioral therapy company as a mentor working in the homes and community. She has recently rejoined ECDS, teaching Public Speaking, Executive function and Drama.

Jamie Inwood PhD – Latin and Archaeology

Jamie received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and archaeology from Boston University and her Master’s and Ph.D. from Yale University, where she specialized in biomolecular archaeology in ancient Roman and West African skeletal remains.  She has taught Latin on and off for over a decade and currently teaches a holistic integration course, which combines the Latin language with the anthropology and archaeology of the Roman Empire.

Andrew Scinto

Oscar Gomez

Erick Lindstrom

Jorge Pinto

Weather Delays/Cancellations

Note to Parents: weather or emergency delays and closings are always announced by direct email, on TV 3, 8, & 12 and radio stations WICC 660 AM, WEBE 108 FM, & STAR 99.9 FM, as well as on the school closing list of CTWeather.com.