Jeffrey Fisher – Upper School Humanities Teacher, College Counseling Team. Jeff received his Ph.D. from the interdisciplinary Medieval Studies program at Yale University in 1997, where he took courses and served as a teaching assistant in the English, History, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Italian, and German departments. Since graduate school, Jeff has primarily taught in university Humanities-Classics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies departments. Jeff enjoys walking students through challenging, mind-blowing, life-changing reading experiences, and helping them develop the tools to think about the world in different ways, as well as to express their thinking creatively and powerfully. PDS is a great environment for challenging students to find their own ways into a diverse array of material. Jeff still does find time to read for pleasure, but he also enjoys computer games, working on his gong fu skills, and continuing to pursue academic research.
Spiro Gouras – Assistant Head of School; Head of Lower School and Upper School. Spiro comes to Poughkeepsie Day School from Trevor Day School in New York City where he was a Third Grade Head Teacher as well as Curriculum Coordinator of English Language Arts. He was also a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and facilitated his Division’s White Employees for Racial Equity (WERE) group. As part of the group that recreated our school’s Mission and DEIJ statements, Spiro is committed to making sure that students and families at PDS have an earnest sense of feeling like they belong. Spiro has also taught at a number of other schools including La Scuola D’Italia in New York City and St. Mary Magdalen Primary School in Brighton, England. He has a BA in Communications from SUNY New Paltz and an MSEd in Literacy Education from Hunter College.
Stephen Haff – Upper School Humanities and World Language Teacher. Stephen comes to PDS from Still Waters in a Storm, a free one-room school for immigrant children of all ages in Bushwick, Brooklyn, which he founded in 2007. He has also taught English, Latin, Mathematics, and Theater for more than 25 years at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges in New York City, Vermont, and Canada. He earned his Masters in Theater at Yale University. He has extensive experience as a theater educator and he used to make his living directing plays Off-Broadway, writing for several publications including The Village Voice. While at Still Waters he directed the Kid Quixote project, an original, collective translation, and adaptation of the novel “Don Quixote” as musical theater. At Bushwick High School in Brooklyn, he co-founded Real People Theater (RPT) with his students. His most passionate academic love is for language, and he also takes pleasure in playing baseball and the violin. Stephen has three children with his wife, picture book author Tina Schneider.
Jonathan Heiles – Upper School Math and Science Teacher. Jonathan began his journey at Poughkeepsie Day School in 1984 as an upper school science teacher and he will continue this role into the 2022/23 school year. During the the pandemic year, Johnathan spent his time getting a sense of other schools in the region through teaching at the Woodstock Day School and the Millbrook School.
Jonathan studied geology at the State University of New York in Binghamton and continued to broaden his interests and skills through graduate education and geology courses at the College at New Paltz and at SUNY at Albany. He also did summer work at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, NASA’s New York Center for Astrobiology at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Marist College branch of the Center for Integrated Access Networks.
Jonathan is also a talented, performing traditional storyteller. He has told at venues like Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, the Mohonk Mountain House, the Williamsville Inn, WAMC radio, Vassar College, regional Tellebrations, Dutchess County Interfaith Council Peace Concerts in Poughkeepsie and Beacon, the Dutchess Arts Camp, and in libraries and coffee houses around the state. He has the unique distinction of leading (for PDS students and alumni) one of the longest running Dungeons and Dragons campaigns in the world.
Tricia Irving – Administrative Assistant. Tricia started at PDS 19 years ago as the After School Program Director and part-time Administrative Assistant for the Lower School. She then took on the Administrative Assistant position full-time, eventually for the entire school. Tricia has a Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY New Paltz and now lives in the Village of Staatsburg with her 7-year-old dog. When she’s not at PDS she loves reading and traveling. We welcome Tricia back in 2022 in the same Administrative Assistant position.
Andrea Istel – Lower School Teacher: Kindergarten. Andrea has worked as a teacher for many years in a variety of school settings. She has taught PreK, Kindergarten, and Grade 4, has worked in both private and public schools in New York City, Westchester, and currently in the Hudson Valley. In addition, as a program coordinator for garden education programs for students in Kindergarten – Grade 6, Andrea, most recently, used her love of nature, her teaching knowledge and curriculum experience to grow the program. She has a passion for teaching, garden education, writing curriculum, cooking, baking, and tutoring students in reading and writing. Andrea holds an MA in Curriculum and Teaching from Teacher’s College Columbia University and is a New York State certified teacher in Grades N – 6.
Andrea is honored and thrilled to be joining the PDS community this year. She feels her philosophy of creating a safe and caring community in which children are comfortable taking risks, asking questions, forming friendships, learning to problem solve, and developing a strong connection to community aligns well with PDS’s approach to learning.
Jackie Katzen – Director of Learning Support & Learning Specialist. After graduating from Rutgers University with a BA in Psychology and French, Jackie worked as a counselor with both children and teens while earning her teaching certificates from SUNY New Paltz. Soon after, Jackie began her teaching career at High Meadow School in Stone Ridge, NY, and earned her MS in Special Education at SUNY New Paltz shortly thereafter. Throughout her first 21 years at High Meadow, she worked as a PreK/Kindergarten, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 teacher. In 2017, she left the classroom and joined the administrative team as the Director of Student Support Services. After 25 years at High Meadow, Jackie began her own endeavor, Table Rock Learning Strategies, a small educational consulting and tutoring business.
Both of Jackie’s daughters, Corina ’15 and Baila ’21, attended PDS for high school. Jackie has lived in the Hudson Valley for more than 30 years and she loves to hike, ride, and explore the local mountains. She is always glad to share information about the wonderful trails at Mohonk Preserve, which is just minutes from her home!
Ben King – Upper School Art Teacher. Ben holds an MFA from the University of Chicago and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His visual art has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally and his artworks are held in many private collections.
In the Fall of 2021, acclaimed literary critic, Terry Castle, wrote a new essay celebrating Ben’s work on the occasion of his past solo exhibition at Freight+Volume gallery in New York City. Other reviews and reproductions of Ben’s work have appeared in journals like ARTnews, Modern Painters, Mousse, The Huffington Post, Hyperallergic, and Bomb.
Ben is a fellow of the Edward F. Albee Foundation and a repeat recipient of the DNA Artist Residency. Ben’s work as a curator was recognized in the Exit Art and MIT Press publication titled Alternative Histories in 2010, a compendium documenting New York alternative art since the 1960s.
Ben received a teaching fellowship from the University of Chicago in 2055. Most recently Ben worked on the Kossak Painting program at Hunter College and was also lead drawing faculty at the Mt. Gretna School of Art.
Ben lives in the Hudson Valley with his three sons, who have all attended the Lower School here at PDS.
Lara Koopmans-Hiller – Lower School Teacher: Grades 3 and 4. Lara has more than seven years of experience in the classroom, as both a lead teacher and an assistant teacher. Her undergraduate degree is in Art History, and she loves challenging children to be creative in the classroom. Prior to coming to PDS, she taught Grade 4 at the French American School in New York and Grade 6 ELA and Social Studies for the Torah School of Greater Washington. She was also a Kindergarten Assistant at the United National International School. She recently pursued professional development in the Writing Revolution (Hochman Method) and has taught word study based on Preventing Academic Failure (PAF).
She graduated summa cum laude in 2019 with a Master’s Degree in Childhood Special Education and a concentration in General Education from Concordia College, and holds a certificate in Students with Disabilities 1-6. She also was a recipient of a l’ambassade de France award to teach English in Ajaccio, Corsica.
Ken McGloin – PreK – 12 Music Teacher, Adjunct Music Coordinator. Ken is returning to PDS and looks forward to working with music students to help them reach their goals and to achieve their full potential as young musicians. Ken has a Bachelor of Science from SUNY New Paltz. He is currently a working musician who performs and does workshops throughout the United States. His experience includes adjunct teaching at SUNY New Paltz and Suffolk Community College. He also started a ukulele program at High Meadow School. Ken is currently teaching private lessons in guitar, bass, and ukulele and leads ensembles at both HMS and PDS.
Lisa McVey – Health & Wellness, Movement, and After-School Sports/Athletics, Librarian. Lisa returns to PDS where she taught physical education and movement and coached modified soccer, modified basketball, varsity volleyball, and varsity softball. She joined the school in 1992 as a Physical Education teacher and coach. In 2014, she became the Athletic and Wellness Director. In the upcoming school year, she is looking forward to serving in many different capacities including teaching movement, serving as the Lower School Librarian, supervising after-school intramural sports, and of course running the annual ski trips! Lisa graduated from Spackenkill High School and did her undergraduate work at SUNY Cortland and has a graduate degree in History. She is dual certified to teach K-12 Physical Education as well as 7-9 Social Studies. Lisa enjoys reading, biking, and hiking with her dogs. She is also an avid Yankees fan and sings and competes with the Capitaland Chorus of Albany.
Christina Powers – Business Office Associate. Christina is a long-time PDS employee who has shown incredible dedication to the school. Prior to this position, she worked at PDS for 11 years in a number of critical roles including Director of Marketing, Communications, and Community, Assistant Director of Advancement, and Director of Operations. Before joining PDS, she was Director of Program Development for the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals. She joined IAOP in 2005 as Director of Training and Certification and then served as Program Director and Executive Director. Christina is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo, with an M.A. in Public Administration from Marist College. The wealth of career experience she brings to PDS includes all aspects of running a company, such as strategy, operations, relationship management, communications, and marketing. She and her husband, Raymond Schwartz, live in Poughkeepsie and are parents to two PDS alums, Anastasia ‘18 and Aydin ‘20.
Stephanie Redl – Upper School Math and Science Teacher. After joining PDS in February 2022, Stephanie will be at the school full-time as an upper school math and science teacher. She was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, having attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School. Stephanie has her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and Chemistry from SUNY Cortland, where she found an interest in teaching math and sciences through the schools tutoring program. Stephanie spends much of her free time painting, gardening, and cooking while listening to podcasts and music. She is very excited to continue teaching at PDS this year.
Tammy Reilly – Director of Admissions and Special Projects, and Director of College Counseling. Tammy has worked full-time at PDS since 2002. She is the parent of Alum Ashlee Reilly ’07. Prior to that, she worked at Vassar College in the office of Development for Leadership Gifts. Tammy has also devoted much of her time to volunteer work at PDS as well as at NYSAIS, the New Paltz Ballet Theater where she served as President of the Board, and the Milton Elementary School PTA where she was Co-President. Tammy and her husband, Leo, spend a lot of time with their family and cherish any time they can get to a beach. She also loves to read, swim, tend to her plants and laugh with friends.
Eduardo Rodriguez – PreK – Grade 12 Spanish Teacher. Eduardo is joining Poughkeepsie Day School as our Spanish teacher for all levels. Before joining PDS, he taught Spanish at Vassar College for four years. Before that, he worked as a researcher for Flamboyán Foundation, an NGO based in Puerto Rico focused on improving early literacy in public schools. Eduardo believes that language teaching and an understanding of culture go hand in hand. We look forward to deepening our students’ understanding of the Spanish-speaking world.
Isabella Staniscia – Director of Marketing and Communications and Director of Special Programs. Isabella has been apart of the PDS community since 2019 and has now taken on the role of Director of Marketing and Communications and Special Programs. Isabella has her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from SUNY New Paltz and is beginning her graduate program at New Paltz this fall. She has worked for a number of local organizations, such as The Walkway Over the Hudson, Adams Fairacre Farms, and the YMCA, and was born and raised in the City of Poughkeepsie. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her dog, Nola, and her fiancé exploring the Hudson Valley.
Shira Teich – Upper School Math and Science Teacher. Shira has more than a decade of experience teaching chemistry, biology, forensics, and earth science to high school students in both private and public school settings. She holds a Masters of Education in Science Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University and is a member of the National Science Teachers Association, National Education Association, and American Chemical Society. Her goal is to facilitate learning, exploration, enthusiasm, and mastery of science at PDS! Shira has also coached field hockey and has extensive experience in facilitating the creation of Jewish studies curriculum and programs.
Amanda Thorndike – Lower School Teacher: Grades 1-2. Amanda comes to Poughkeepsie Day School from Berkeley Hall School, a progressive independent school located in Los Angeles, where she was the Grade 1 Lead Teacher. Amanda is a native New Yorker who is thrilled to return home to continue her journey as an educator in the Mid-Hudson Valley. She holds her BA in Elementary Education and Sociology & Anthropology from Principia College. Over her eleven years in education, she has worked in many different capacities, supporting students and teachers in a variety of settings. For the majority of her career, she was a classroom teacher in the primary grades. Her number one goal and priority in teaching is to develop motivated, well-rounded individuals who embrace a growth mindset through a balanced learning environment. In her spare time, she enjoys playing strategy-bases board games, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Michelle Tommasi – Lower School Art Teacher and After Care Teacher. Michelle comes to PDS with 8 years of art education experience from the French American School of New York, an international bilingual school where she was the Lower School Visual Art teacher for Grades 1-5. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Sculpture from The School of Visual Arts in New York City, has extensive experience in digital and live art production, holistic wellness, and is most proud of the fact that she comes from a long line of Italian Marble sculptors and artisans stemming back generations. Michelle is an exhibiting visual artist and, since moving to the Hudson Valley over 20 years ago, has initiated many community based art projects, including curating art exhibits, co-founding Hudson Valley Movement, a performative dance collective, and is a founding member of Hudson Valley BRAWL, a tongue and cheek all female theatrical fundraising initiative benefiting at risk women and children. Michelle is also an advanced Swing Dancer and has studied West African Dance for 10 years. Prior to moving to the Hudson Valley from NYC in 2003, she was a creative project manager in the media communications and advertising world. Michelle now lives in New Paltz and when not teaching she can be found studying nature and native indigenous philosophy, at the dog park with her Mexican Hairless Chi-Weenie mix rescue Frankie, or driving around her teenage son.
Lauren Tracy – Lower School Teacher: PreK/Early Childhood. Lauren is excited to join the team at Poughkeepsie Day School. She grew up in Wantage, NJ with her parents and two sisters. After doing an after school program for struggling readers in Kindergarten – Grade 2, she decided that she wanted to teach young children. She majored in Early Childhood Education and History at the College of New Jersey. Her first teaching experience was at the International Bilingual School of Munich, where she spent two years teaching Grades 1 and 2 with a German teaching partner. She developed a love of other cultures and was lucky to travel all over the world during her school breaks. Upon leaving Germany, she found a progressive, private school in California called Anneliese School where taught Grade 4 and German for two years and then transition Kindergarten for six years.
She then decided to be closer to family and relocated back to the East Coast. Lauren loves being outdoors, reading, cooking, doing yoga, and spending time with her family and friends. She is looking forward to a great school year.
Barbara Wood – Head of School. Barbara is a valued and respected member of the PDS community who has been a part of the school for 45 years. She first attended PDS as a student, graduating in 1978. After studying math, psychology, and education at Cornell University, she joined the PDS faculty where she made a lasting impact in many areas. Barbara taught math and later became the math department chair for all grades, overseeing curriculum development and educational practices. She also made significant contributions to other classes as well, working collaboratively to design interdisciplinary courses in grades 5 through 12 and developing and running a swimming program at PDS for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. In addition, Barbara took on administrative responsibilities outside of the classroom as the school scheduler, combining her deep knowledge of PDS along with a creative and innovative approach to design, develop, and implement original and effective uses of time, space, resources, and interdisciplinary curricula. Most significantly, throughout her tenure, she shared her wisdom as both an advisor to students and a mentor to other teachers. Barbara and her sons Julian, age 15, and Josiah, age 11, live in the town of Poughkeepsie.