Administration
Meredith Hafer
Head of School
As Beacon’s founding Head of School, Meredith leads our team in designing individualized courses of study, advancing our mission, and sharing our vision with the broader community. She has served as the Academic Director of Greenwich Education Group since 2007 and was appointed Head of the Beacon School in 2009. As an undergraduate at the University of Richmond, Meredith majored in Religion and Philosophy, minored in French, and worked as a teaching fellow, instructing students on research and the writing process. Teaching writing continues to be one of her passions. She went on to study advanced Mandarin at Beijing University and earn a Masters Degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University. Meredith is currently engaged in postgraduate studies in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted Education from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She loves to be in the classroom and returns to her academic roots by teaching at least one advanced course in philosophy or religious studies each year. When she can find the time, she enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and playing the piano. She lives with her husband and three cats in Greenwich.
Beth Cirulis
Dean of Faculty
Beth holds a BS in Education and a Masters in Education Administration. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she was honored as the outstanding district special education teacher. She moved on to the sunnier life in Arizona, where she continued her work in special education middle school, and then became Principal and Director of Special Education for Pinnacle Education, Inc., a statewide charter school district. Continuing her pursuit for better programs for Arizona students, Beth joined Sequoia Choice Schools, another statewide charter school district, where she served as Assessment Coordinator, Vice-Principal and Principal. She joins GEG as a seasoned special education and general education administration professional, with 14 years of experience serving students and leading faculty in challenging educational environments. While taking in the amazing culture, character and sites of the Northeast, Beth enjoys spending time at the gym, going to the movies and watching sporting events.
Nikki Bazie Hayes
Upper School Student Advisor and College Counselor
Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Colgate University, a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Clark University, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Boston University. Nikki has always enjoyed working with children and teenagers; she has taught science classes at nature camps and education centers and has worked as a relief worker at residential boys’ and girls’ homes. Before coming to Greenwich Education Group, Nikki worked as a high school guidance counselor in Bedford and Lexington, Massachusetts, focusing on academic, social/emotional, and college counseling. Nikki loves animals and has participated in many ASPCA walks and fund-raising events. She currently lives in White Plains with her husband, Walt, and kitty, Rachel.
Sheila Wojciechowski
Lower & Middle School Student Advisor
Sheila earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and counseling from Queens College in NY. She was a peer counselor and advisor from her sophomore through senior year and an active member of the International Psychology Honor Society, Psi Chi. She began her career teaching children with developmental disabilities, social/emotional issues, and ADHD. Sheila joined Greenwich Education Group in 2010 and has since had the privilege of working closely with all three of our schools, teaching, tutoring, mentoring, and providing support. Her work with children and teens has inspired her to pursue a degree in mental health counseling. She is currently engaged in graduate studies in Mental Health Counseling at Queens College. Sheila lives in Long Island City with her boyfriend, Ryan, and her husky, Sam. She enjoys traveling, cooking, exploring NYC’s restaurants, meeting new people, and surfing.
Katherine Hafer
Director of Student Programs
In her role as Director of Student Programs, Katherine oversees enrichment events, student internships, community service, clubs, master projects, and inter-school initiatives. She also teaches Latin and Ancient Greek and frequently befuddles students with her love of classical languages. Katherine began her studies at Tufts University, earning a bachelor’s degree in International Letters and Visual Studies, which combined study of French, Latin, and Ancient Greek literature, art, and media. She completed a portion of her degree studying at La Sorbonne in Paris. Before joining Greenwich Education Group, Katherine studied theatrical design at the University of Maryland’s graduate school. In her spare time, Katherine plays electric violin in a band called The Shining Sea.
Dede LeComte
Director of Admissions
Dede graduated from Sweet Briar College in Virginia with a double major in sociology and anthropology. After college, she held a variety of marketing and promotion positions in the publishing, cosmetics, and fashion industries. Later, she teamed up with her husband to help to manage two family-owned businesses. Dede’s passion for education is the result of the journeys of her four children, which has led to serving on several school boards, including as board chair for the Northwest Greenwich Nursery School, Children’s Day School, and most recently, Oldfields School, an independent girls’ boarding school in Maryland. Dede is a long-time member and past president of the Junior League of Greenwich and currently sits on the advisory board of Children’s Day School. She and husband, Jon, were empty nesters, but now have all four children back at home. She and Jon enjoy being outdoors in their vegetable and flower garden or spending time with their menagerie of horses, dogs, and cats, many of which are rescues.
Jana Terry
Registrar
Jana graduated in 2005 from Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Music. Jana joined Greenwich Education Group in October 2010 as an Administrative Coordinator and became Registrar for the GEG Schools in 2011. Jana enjoys reading, visiting her friends and family in Indianapolis, and cheering for the Indianapolis Colts. She lives in Milford with her husband.
Irida Kimca
School Program Coordinator
Irida graduated in 2010 from the University of Southern Connecticut and holds a BS in Psychology with a minor in Education. While studying education, she discovered her passion for psychology and hopes to one day pursue a doctorate in the field. Irida joined Greenwich Education Group in September 2010 as an Administrative Coordinator and currently serves as the School Program Coordinator. Outside of work, Irida enjoys, traveling, acting, drawing, skiing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Rachael Sedgwick
Summer Program Coordinator
Rachael graduated from Cabrini College with a BA in English and went on to graduate with an MSEd in secondary education, specifically in the teaching of English and of foreign languages, from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, Rachael has taught English in public and private schools around the U.S. and in Europe. She has worked in the non-profit world, in public administration, and has assisted in scientific research. Currently, Rachael is studying educational leadership.
Faculty
Janet Andrews
History, Yoga
Janet holds a BA in economics from Pace University and a master’s of professional studies in social studies and special education from Manhattanville College. She holds New York State teacher certifications in both social studies and students with disabilities for grades five through twelve. A career-changer into the field of education, Janet has nearly twenty years of experience as a marketing writer for an investment advisory firm and an audit/consulting firm. She has also worked as a literacy tutor for students with reading difficulties and as a campus and classroom coach for a differently-abled college student. Most recently, she taught sixth and ninth grade history in the Bedford, NY public schools.
Janet was originally drawn to teaching by her love of learning and by her children, Aidan and Caroline, ages fourteen and eleven. Her students at Beacon are a great source of inspiration for her, and she learns from them every day. In her free time, Janet enjoys reading, hiking, skiing, and yoga. She shares her home in South Salem, NY with her children and her husband, David, her Goldendoodle, Kirby, and her two cats, Toonces and Nico.
Teresa Barski
Integrated Science, Chemistry, Biology
Teresa is a recent graduate of SUNY New Paltz, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education. Teresa concentrated in biology, sparked by a personal interest in nutrition and exploring the world around her. In fact, science was her least favorite subject when she was growing up, and she often struggled through her courses! However, she has learned that science can be stimulating, fun, and easily approachable. She is excited to share her passion for science with her students by utilizing technology and hands-on activities in the classroom. In her spare time, Teresa loves to read, run, and bake. She is ecstatic to be a new member of the GEG team and looks forward to a great year!
Mineko Chiba
Japanese
Mineko graduated from Atomi College, Saitama, Japan with a BA in Art History. During her studies, she travelled all over the world to visit art museums and galleries for her thesis project on contemporary art. She also received a curator certification for the Museum of Arts from the college. After graduating, Mineko became interested in and focused on the field of education. She believes that education makes a difference in people’s lives. She taught English at AEON Amity English School in Japan for five years. She loved to work with her various students whose ages ranged from pre-school through high school. In 1999, Mineko moved to America and received her MA in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. In her graduate program, she focused on intercultural communication, language and culture, and interpersonal and family communication.
Upon completion of her masters degree, Mineko was employed as a residential advisor and a school nursing administrator by a Japanese boarding high school in New York. She joined the GEG Schools in 2010. During her lifetime, she has practiced Chado (Tea Ceremony), and earned a teaching certificate for this traditional practice from The Urasenke Foundation in Japan. Mineko is very excited to be back in education and enjoys teaching Japanese as a team member of Greenwich Education Group.
Rawle Deland, Jr.
English
Rawle is a graduate of the Hotchkiss School and Columbia University, where he majored in literature. He has taught English at Ridgefield High School and the Thurgood Marshall Magnet Middle School in Bridgeport. For two years, he was a visiting teaching consultant at Toquam Elementary School in Stamford where he was known to the students as “Mr. Grammar” for using nursery rhymes and children’s stories to teach language arts. He has a master’s degree in education and a JD.
Rawle began his career as a lawyer. In addition to arguing in state and federal courts, including the Connecticut Supreme Court, he worked for much of fifteen years helping to keep large corporations out of trouble. Eventually he came to his senses, pursuing a higher calling of teaching students how to write. Rawle has taught ESL for Literacy Volunteers of America and has volunteered at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter. He has many interests—travel, kettle bells, the stock market, sports—and, in his salad days, he once was a National Boys’ Doubles Platform Tennis champion. He attributes his premature white hair to a lifelong devotion to the New York Jets.
Stefanie DeLeo
History, Drama, Math
Stefanie grew up on Long Island, where she always knew she wanted to become a teacher, writer, and world traveler. She majored in drama and minored in history at a small college just outside of Boston. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she taught at a private day school and directed their middle school production. She then returned to New York to earn her Masters Degree in Theatre Education from New York University. She focused not only on performance studies, but also on how theatre can be used as a medium to teach history and English. She is a three-time produced playwright with one published play on the market. In 2007, Stefanie moved to South Africa to join the Peace Corps. She lived in South Africa for two and a half years teaching English, drama and history. She can now speak fluent Afrikaans. When not teaching, Stefanie can be found traveling the world in search of inspiration for her writing.
Bruce Dunbar
Photography
Bruce is a Stamford-based professional photographer and a member of the Silvermine Guild. He has exhibited his work throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties and has instructed students in his art for the last fourteen years. Although his emphasis is on black and white film, he is also well-versed in digital media and seeks to engage all students in the critical and experiential study of photography.
Kelley Ellis
Math
After graduating from Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a BA in education with a focus in mathematics, Kelley joined her husband in their hometown of Houston. It was here where Kelley had first found her love of mathematics as a student at Cypress Creek High School, and she returned to her alma mater as a math teacher. When her husband was offered a job in Stamford, Connecticut, they decided to embark on the adventure that provided Kelley the opportunity to join Greenwich Education Group, where she is now a full-time teacher and tutor of mathematics. Kelley and her husband have both been involved in Young Life since they were in high school, and love anything and everything pertaining to the culinary world and the great outdoors.
Ivana Farina-Catalano
Italian, French, Latin, Spanish, Culinary Arts
Head of the World Language Department
Ivana was trained as a teacher in Italy and went on to do graduate work at Cambridge University. She has taught elementary school and, more recently, at Manhattanville College and Norwalk Community College. As her studies have included a strong component of Latin and ancient Greek, Ivana emphasizes grammar in her teaching of modern Romance languages, believing it to be the key to taking one’s language skills to the highest possible level. Trained in the Montessori Method, Ivana has helped her younger students to discover new languages by using a multisensory approach, including auditory, visual, and kinesthetic cues to help students learn. Ivana enjoys working with all students, but finds it particularly rewarding to help those who consider themselves not good at languages to uncover their own abilities. When not teaching, Ivana enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling, and the company of her family.
John Henderson
Chemistry, Physics
John holds a Doctorate in condensed matter physics from University of Central Florida (2009) and a Bachelor of Science from McGill University (2005). During his graduate career, he taught and tutored undergraduate students in introductory level physics and laboratory course work. John joined Greenwich Education Group as a tutor in the Fall of 2010 and soon realized how much he enjoyed one-on-one work with students. He is now extending that experience to the small classroom environment of the Beacon and Spire Schools. Outside the classroom, John enjoys cooking, golfing and reading.
Erin Johannesen
Integrated Science, Environmental Science, Anatomy
Erin holds a BS in Marine and Aquatic Biology and studied Environmental Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She began her career as a marine biologist and marine educator at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Harbor Watch/River Watch in Westport, and the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute in Big Pine Key, Florida. She then took her field knowledge into the classroom as an upper school science teacher for the Thornton-Donovan School in New Rochelle, where she taught for several years. She has also served as an environmental education specialist and program manager for Audubon Greenwich and the New Canaan Nature Center. Her teaching experience ranges from freshwater ecology, natural history, and birds of prey to ichthyology, oceanography, and food science. Most recently, Erin worked as an Outreach Specialist for the Department of Environmental Protection, where she taught Project Wild workshops to students, teachers, and the public. Erin is passionate about hand-on, interdisciplinary learning that enhances students’ understanding of the world. Her motto as an educator is, “The more dirt the better… that’s why there are washing machines!”. She continues to contribute to the broader environmental education community as a membership chair for the Connecticut Outdoor Environmental Educator Association. Erin lives with her husband and son in Trumbull.
Isadora Machado
Studio Art, Art History, Spanish, German
Isadora Machado Lecuona graduated cum laude from SUNY Albany in 2001 with a BA in Business (Marketing & Management) and Art. Her admiration for children and art led her to New Canaan Country School, where she taught Kindergarten, Lower School and Middle School Spanish as well as Art for the Junior and Senior divisions of Horizons.
Isadora was born in Spain, grew up in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. when she was nine. She attended German schools until high school, when she transferred into the White Plains High School and also studied French. In addition to teaching, Isadora is a Norwalk-based artist who has won numerous awards and has been featured as a solo artist at galleries in Connecticut and New York. You can view her work at www.organicisadora.com.
Jan Mitchell
French, Latin, EF Coaching
Jan arrives from France, where she received her diploma at the University of Franche-Compté, taught English grammar and literature at the University of Strasbourg, and conducted archival research. After pursuing an MA in French literature and language with a minor in art history at Indiana University at Bloomington, she was honored as a Mellon Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Department of Comparative Literature. Jan’s scholarly work has appeared in La Revue d’histoire littéraire de la France, one of France’s most venerable academic journals. As a graduate student, Jan taught French grammar and literary translation courses and has privately tutored college-prep French since 2003. She has continued sharing her expertise as a scholar and teacher at Greenwich Education Group since 2009.
Shannon Morgenstern
English
Shannon graduated from Fordham University in 2009 with a BA in English. While at Fordham, she completed a graduate teaching program and received teaching certification to teach English for grades seven through twelve. As a tutor in college, Shannon discovered her passion for teaching English. She earned a Master’s degree in English from Fordham University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with her Master’s degree in English in December 2011. She loves to read and to help students develop a love for literature. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and spending time with her friends and family.
Stephen Muffatti
History, Technology & Media Studies
Stephen is a modern renaissance man who puts his many talents to use at Beacon by teaching a wide variety of courses, from Music Production, Film Production, and Geopolitics to Computer Programming, Robotics, and Engineering. He holds a Bachelors Degree in History with an emphasis on Political History and European History from Western Connecticut State University, and he is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Society. His professional experiences in the fields of technology and engineering enable him to bring the real world into the classroom in his technology and media studies courses. Stephen’s interests include cartography, chess, farming, global political relations, and reading dry German treatises.
Molly Quinn
Learning Specialist
Elementary Education, Yoga
Molly was inspired to become a teacher when, at the age of nine, her grandmother—a former elementary school teacher and principal—taught her how to paint. Molly was amazed by how much she was able to learn from one individual. This experience also launched her life-long interest in the arts. Upon entering her undergraduate studies at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Molly decided to major in historical studies and elementary education. She received her BA in May 2007. After graduating, Molly worked as an intern teacher at the Stanwich School in Greenwich. While at Stanwich, she taught first-grade and fifth-grade English Language Arts.
Molly has a master’s degree in literacy development (birth-grade six) from Manhattanville College. Molly began tutoring with Greenwich Education Group in the fall of 2009 and is excited to be joining the Beacon team this year. Outside of teaching, Molly enjoys writing, painting, and practicing Bikram yoga.
Samantha Steele
Elementary Education, English, Music
Samantha joined Greenwich Education Group in early 2011 with bachelor’s and masters degrees in music education from Manhattanville College and New York University.While living in New York City, she taught at The Brearley School and focused on the goal of musical literacy by working her way through her Kodaly and Orff levels. This study led Samantha to the pursuit of reading and writing with the thought that if every child could be taught to read and write music, every child should certainly be taught to read and write. She pursued her literacy certification studies at Manhattanville College and continues to take literacy and music education masters classes there as well. Samantha now teaches music during the day at the GEG Schools and reading and writing for Greenwich Education Group in the afternoons. Samantha and her husband Matt live in their very busy house in Old Greenwich along with their sons, Jackson and Dyer, and their two labs, Otis and Olive.
Stacy Welch
Elementary Education, English, Forensic Science, EF Coaching
Stacy is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the University of Bridgeport, where she received her Bachelors in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice and her Masters of Science in Education. She began her teaching career at K. T. Murphy Elementary School in Stamford. Since joining Greenwich Education Group in 2007, she has had the opportunity to teach a vast array of subjects, from early reading to middle-school language arts. During her coursework at UConn, which included an internship at a local correctional facility, Stacy was unsure as to what eventual career path she wanted to take, being inspired both by education and criminal justice. As graduation neared, she decided to pursue her love of education. She is excited to have the chance to combine her two passions by teaching Beacon’s Forensic Science and Forensic Psychology courses in addition to Lower and Middle School classes. Aside from teaching, she has many interests such as krav maga (an Israeli mixed martial art), running, and cooking.
Justin Wiest
Studio Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Architecture
Justin is a Fairfield County-based artist and educator who has been teaching for Greenwich Education Group since 2008. Justin received his MFA from the New York Academy of Art’s Graduate School of Figurative Art and his BFA from the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore. His work has been exhibited in Connecticut, New York, Maryland, and Italy.
Justin’s teaching ranges from one-on-one instruction and portfolio classes to advanced 300/400-level drawing and painting courses. In addition to his work at GEG, Justin teaches art at Silvermine Arts Guild and Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT. Justin has worked in conjunction with the Aldrich Museum’s Draw On program as well as well as with the NYAA-sponsored GO FIGURE outreach program for New York City high school students. Justin is married and has two musical and artistic children, ages seven and five. They live in Wilton. You can view his work at www.justinwiest.com.
Guihua Zhu
Mandarin
Guihua was a high school teacher in China for fifteen years before moving to Connecticut, where she taught Mandarin privately before joining the Beacon faculty. She has a deep love of China’s rich culture and language and excels at sharing her knowledge in a student-centered teaching model. Guihua also serves as the Principal of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut (CLSC) and is working in partnership with Beacon to provide exceptional Mandarin instruction to Beacon students of all ages.
Alison Zuckert
Math
Alison worked for GE Capital for many years prior to realizing that she really wanted to be a teacher. She returned to Fairfield University and obtained a master’s degree in special education and math in 2007. For the following three years, she worked in math and science classes at Ridgefield High School as a special education teacher. In an effort to find an environment with smaller classes and more direct work with students, she was thrilled to find Beacon, where she began teaching a variety of math classes in the fall of 2010. Outside of school, she works with Ridgefield Young Life and is an animal lover, vegetarian, and a mom of pets and kids (not necessarily in that order). Alison is very happy to be part of Beacon and such an innovative learning environment with fabulous students and families!
