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Faculty and Staff

Erica Abela

Title: First Grade A
Degree: University of Connecticut B.S., M.A.
Email: eabela@watersideschool.org

Sofia Alano

Title: Fourth Grade B
Degree: The Catholic University of America B.A.
Email: salano@watersideschool.org

Dino Angelov

Title: Director of Maintenance and Facilities
Degree: St. Basil College
Email: dangelov@watersideschool.org

Michael Bazelais ’07

Title: Art, Alumni Support
Degree: University of Hartford B.F.A.
Email: mbazelais@watersideschool.org

Samantha Biondi

Title: First Grade B
Degree: University of Virginia B.A., New York University L.M.S.W., Teachers College Columbia University M.A.
Email: sbiondi@watersideschool.org

Charlotte Brown

Title: First Grade A
Degrees: University of Rhode Island B.A., Manhattanville College M.A.
Email: cbrown@watersideschool.org

Jocelyn Bruchman

Title: Second Grade
Degree: St. Johns University B.S., M.S.
Email: jbruchman@watersideschool.org

Emily Burns

Title: Reading Specialist
Degrees: Princeton University B.A., Manhattanville College M.A.
Email: eburns@watersideschool.org

Jessica Chang

Title: Dean of Studies,
Degrees: Duke University B.S., Columbia University Ed. M.
Email: jchang@watersideschool.org

Kayla Cheatham

Title: School Counselor
Degree: St. Johns University B.S., University of Connecticut M.S.W., L.M.S.W.
Email: kcheatham@watersideschool.org

Lorenzo Colon Munroe

Title: School Counselor
Degree: Fordham University M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Email: lcolonmunroe@watersideschool.org

Linda Delgado

Title: Reading Specialist
Degree: The Catholic University of America B.A.
Email: ldelgado@watersideschool.org

Corrie Donaldson

Title: Director of Enrollment, Student Support
Degree: State University of New York Oneota B.S., Touro College M.Ed.
Email: cdonaldson@watersideschool.org

Jonny Duennebier

Title: Music, Director of Alumni
Degrees: Skidmore College B.A., Columbia University M.A.
Email: jduennebier@watersideschool.org

Elizabeth Duennebier

Title: Fifth Grade
Degree: Western Connecticut State University B.A
Email: lduennebier@watersideschool.org

La’Vandra DuPree

Title: Assistant to the Head of School, Financial Aid Coordinator
Degree: Mercy College B.S.
Email: ldupree@watersideschool.org

Sally Edwards

Title: Operations
Degree: University of Vermont B.A.
Email: sedwards@watersideschool.org

Megan Evans

Title: Director of Placement
Degrees: Dartmouth College B.A., Bank Street College of Education M.S., Kings College, London M.A.
Email: mevans@watersideschool.org

Shakyla Evans

Title: Kindergarten
Degree: University of Connecticut B.A., Post University M.Ed
Email: sevans@watersideschool.org

Camryn Ferrara

Title: Physical Education
Degree: St. Lawrence University B.A.
Email: cferrara@watersideschool.org

Kathy Garrett

Title: Reading Specialist
Degrees: Boston University B.A., Manhattanville College M.P.S.

Claudia Gomez

Title: Main Office Assistant
Email: cgomez@watersideschool.org

Terri-Ann Gordon

Title: Second Grade, DEI Coordinator
Degrees: SUNY Plattsburgh B.A., College of New Rochelle M.B.A.
Email: tgordon@watersideschool.org

Isaac Hancock

Title: Fourth Grade B, Technology Coordinator
Degrees: Connecticut College B.A., Relay Graduate School of Education M.A.T.
Email: ihancock@watersideschool.org

Stefan Jones

Title: First Grade B
Degree: Post University B.S.
Email: sjones@watersideschool.org

Stella Ju

Title: Fourth Grade A
Degrees: George Washington University B.A., Johns Hopkins University M.S.
Email: sju@watersideschool.org

Jamel Keels

Title: Head of School
Degrees: Sacred Heart University B.A., Manhattanville College M.A.
Email: jkeels@watersideschool.org

Eliza Kruger

Title: Art
Degree: University of Utah B.A.
Email: ekruger@watersideschool.org

Abigail Leyson ’11

Title: Advancement Coordinator, Assistant to Executive Director
Degree: Hobart and William Smith Colleges B.A.
Email: aleyson@watersideschool.org

Marianna Lombardo

Title: Speech and Language, Behavior Therapist
Degrees: University of Connecticut B.A., Ashford University M.A.
Email: mlombardo@watersideschool.org

Cindy Lopez

Title: Junior Kindergarten
Degrees: University of Connecticut B.S., M.A.
Email: clopez@watersideschool.org

Ingrid Moore

Title: Food Services, Child Care

Marlaina Moysak

Title: Third Grade A
Degree: Lafayette College B.A., Manhattanville College M.A.T.
Email: mmoysak@watersideschool.org

Megan Neal

Title: First Grade
Degrees: Hobart and William Smith Colleges B.A, Fairfield University M.A.
Email: mwhelan@watersideschool.org

Victoria Nichio

Title: Third Grade
Degree: University of Rhode Island B.S, University of Bridgeport M.S.
Email: vnichio@watersideschool.org

Olivia Oosterhout

Title: Music
Degree: Occidental Cpllege B.A., Longy School of Music M.M., M.E.
Email: ooosterhout@watersideschool.org

Lauren Pasquazzi

Title: Junior Kindergarten
Degree: University of New Hampshire B.S., M.S.
Email: lpasquazzi@watersideschool.org

Brittney Porter

Title: Admission Associate
Email: bporter@watersideschool.org

Joseph Powers

Title: Executive Director
Degree: LeMoyne College B.A., Johns Hopkins University M.S.
Email: jpowers@watersideschool.org

McClatchy Ruskin

Title: Science
Degree: Claremont McKenna College B.A.
Email: mruskin@watersideschool.org

Alexandra “Lexie” Seidel

Title: Third Grade
Degree: Kenyon College B.A., Johns Hopkins University M.S.
Email: lseidel@watersideschool.org

Gena Skoufalos

Title: Instructional Coach
Degrees: College of Holy Cross B.A., Lesley University M. Ed.
Email: gskoufalos@watersideschool.org

Tanya Velez

Title: First Grade B
Degree: University of Bridgeport B.S., Sacred Heart University M.A.
Email: tvelez@watersideschool.org

Jenny Wilson

Title: Reading Specialist
Degree: Union College B.A., Bank Street College of Education M.Ed.
Email: jwilson@watersideschool.org

Kaitlyn Winterbottom

Title: Director of Advancement
Degrees: Yale University B.A., Fairfield University M.A.
Email: kwinterbottom@watersideschool.org

Rezan Zia

Title: Science
Degrees: Skidmore College B.A., Columbia University M.A.
Email: rzia@watersideschool.org

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Happy Waterside Wednesday! 💙 Throughout May, t

Happy Waterside Wednesday! 💙

Throughout May, the School will spotlight four members from this year’s graduating class for our weekly Wednesday series.

Today, we’d like you to meet McKenna, Sofia C., Chloe, and Jaden! Each student has pushed themselves to succeed this year by trying new activities. McKenna spread her wings by performing solos throughout the year, most recently at the Spring Concert. Jaden made his debut in a team sport by joining the soccer team in the fall. Sofia C. and Chloe became budding entrepreneurs, opening an e-commerce lemonade stand, SCC Lemonade.

We know these four will continue to make the most of the new opportunities they'll encounter at their secondary schools. We wish them all the best at @gwichacademy and @greensfarmsacademy!

#WeAreWaterside #WatersideWednesday #Classof2023

We pride ourselves on having an impeccable faculty

We pride ourselves on having an impeccable faculty and staff that fosters a kind and respectful environment for our students. Erica Abela is a vital member of Waterside, making it the special place it is. She joined the community as a first-grade teacher in August 2022 and has been an incredible member contributing to Waterside’s spirit.

As Asian American & Pacific Islander Month continues, we want to learn what this month means to Waterside community members. We asked Erica what she’d like to share with our families, students, and alumni in light of our AAPI celebration.

“As a child, I struggled to connect with my Filipino identity beyond my household,” Erica shared. “As I grew older, I began to understand and discover my Filipino identity more deeply. During AAPI Month and beyond, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders hold brave spaces where we continue to learn, fight, and flourish. This month is about reflection, familial history, celebrations and joy, but it also addresses the oppression those with Asian American and Pacific Islander identities face.”

While walking through our halls, make sure to visit the AAPI board outside the Alumni Room to learn more about AAPI history, figures, and community members at Waterside. Students and faculty members have been adding to the board, and we encourage others to participate throughout this month as well!

Thank you, Erica, for being invaluable to Waterside’s community! 💙

#WeAreWaterside #WatersideFaculty #AAPIMonth

Happy Waterside Wednesday! 💙 Throughout May, t

Happy Waterside Wednesday! 💙

Throughout May, the School will spotlight four members from this year’s graduating class for our weekly Wednesday series.

Today, we’d like you to meet William, Angel, Brandon, and Jacob! This year, this group has shined by taking on public speaking roles and sharpening their skills through in-class debates. Whether at Waterside concerts, the International Festival, or during our daily morning assemblies, they have proudly become narrators and leaders of the School.

We know they will continue to grow as they begin the next chapter of their academic lives. Congratulations to our scholars! We wish them all the best at their secondary schools, @brunswickschool and @ryecountryday.

#WeAreWaterside #WatersideWednesday #Classof2023

On May 11, Waterside School hosted its annual Spri

On May 11, Waterside School hosted its annual Spring Concert, titled “Rise”! The School’s 2023 Spring Concert was full of sunshine and joy as each grade stepped on stage to perform their pieces. ‘Side Notes, the School’s fifth-grade jazz band, opened the show with a Waterside original, “‘Side Steppin.”

Throughout the show, the audience rocked, rose, and “vroomed” with Waterside students as they performed. Junior kindergarten touched our hearts with “I Wonder if I’m Growing” by Raffi, while kindergarten students sang faculty favorite “Garden Song” by John Denver. First grade brought us back to the ‘70s with Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin.” Second graders sang “Take on the World” by Rowan Blanchard & Sabrina Carpenter, and the third graders graced us with both “Rise” by Callum Scott and “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts. The fourth and fifth graders had an encore from Acoustic Night with “Sunshine” by OneRepublic, followed by “Rise Up” by Imagine Dragons. To end the evening, our fifth-grade narrators invited the Waterside community to rise with them to sing “One Foot” by Walk the Moon for an all-school sing-along!

Congratulations to our stars, and thank you to Ms. Anna Black and Mr. Jonny Duennebier for directing this year’s concert! 🎼💙

#WeAreWaterside