The school is thrilled to announce the arrival of new faculty and staff members who represent a wealth of experience. Among the new faculty and staff are MB parents and returning graduates, and also several new faces, possessing a wide base of skills and experiences from across the country and globe. Interests are varied and intriguing with this group -- you’ll find it all -- from art, economics, and blogging, to watersports (and those on land) and world travel. If you see them make sure to introduce yourself and welcome them.

Zach Florin '94, who spent 12 years at MB as a student, returns as a Director of Leadership Giving. After graduating from Kenyon College Zach spent time doing academic research in psychology and then four years as a teacher in independent schools, including a time at the American International School in Genoa, Italy. More recently, Zach has been the Managing Partner at Vantage Point Tutors, where he has provided academic support and test prep services.

Katie Hughes is our new Events Coordinator. Katie may be familiar to many of you, as she has worked in development for almost two years as a part-time data intern and has helped on major events like reunion. Katie brings a broad spectrum of logistical event planning skills that have honed mostly in her theater and arts management experience. She is a graduate of Providence College, the Managing Director of the Elemental Theatre Collective and the General Manager for the Providence Improv Fest.

Linda Kaplan is our new Director of Parent Relations and Leadership Giving. Linda comes to this role with fourteen years of retail sales and management experience along with a broad and successful background as a volunteer fundraising leader. Among other things, she chaired the Gordon Parents Fund for three years. Linda also brings deep personal connections to Moses Brown. She has two children in our upper school - her daughter Sarah (junior) and son Ben (freshman) - and her husband, Neal Steingold, is a member of MB's class of 1978.

Sarah Barnum is our new lower school art teacher. Sarah comes to MB after teaching art for many years at independent schools in New Jersey, New York City and Providence. She has taught several MB after 3 art classes over the past two years and has successfully taught lower school art at MB since last December. Sarah comes to MB with a B.A. from Yale University and is completing her M.Ed in Elementary Education at Lesley University. She is well versed in Friends education, having attended Sidwell Friends School herself. She is deeply committed to the school's work in diversity, and has been a member of the LS diversity committee as an MB parent for the past few years. She joins her two sons at MB, Oscar in 4th grade and Simon in 8th grade.

Diane Murphy will be the new part-time (mostly) Lower School nurse. Diane comes to us from Meeting Street School. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Rhode Island. She has extensive experience in pediatrics and was our own Infant Toddler Center nurse until the center closed in 2006. She may be familiar to some faculty/staff who had children in the ITC. We are delighted to have her working with us again.

Susan Pirruccello-McClellan returns to Moses Brown this year as the interim Lower School math coordinator. Susan has been a math teacher and department coordinator at PCD for the last seven years. Prior to that Susan taught middle school math here at MB in addition to holding a variety of positions on campus ranging from the ITC to MB Plus program coordinator. We are excited to have Susan back at Moses Brown and are looking forward to her assistance as we enter year two of a new lower school math curriculum.

Kyle Sminkey is a new member of the Lower School Extended Day team. Kyle graduated last year from UVM, where he played lacrosse, with a BS in physical education. Kyle has worked with children from 2 years old through high school age as a counselor, fitness instructor and coach. We are excited to welcome Kyle to the Extended Day team.

Jessica Stewart is our new part–time psychologist. She has almost ten years of experience as a school psychologist in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and she maintains a private practice in Barrington. With her expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy, she implements these techniques creatively within her school-based mental health services. She is also experienced with psycho-educational and school neuropsychological evaluations; she has a reputation as a successful colleague who collaborates effectively with students, teachers, and families.

Benjamin Young is our new upper school math teacher. Ben is a graduate of Swarthmore College, where he spent his junior year abroad in Grenoble, France; he has since completed graduate courses at U Penn School of Education. For the last three years, he taught math at the University City High in Philadelphia, an appointment through the Teach for America program. Even as a new teacher, Ben won the Lindback Award for excellence in teaching, given to the top teacher in the high school. He was actively involved in a peer leadership class and coached Boys and Girls soccer; here, he will coach lacrosse.

Eric Mazonson is our accompanist for the Upper and Middle School Chorus. He has an undergraduate and master’s degree from Boston University in Piano Performance. He is a talented musician and accompanist; we are looking forward to his work with our choral program.

David duKor-Jackson is our new Associate Director of College Counseling. David recently was the Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Minority Recruitment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has had a distinguished career in undergraduate admissions; David previously served as the Director of Admissions at Loyola University (MD) and the Associate Director of Admissions at Bucknell University. He also worked in admissions at the University of Central Florida and Florida Institute of Technology. David has interviewed many students, traveled to a wide variety of high schools, and read thousands of applications. He writes with care, manages technology expertly, and builds strong relationships with students. He looks forward to introducing his wife, Tara, to our community—as well as his children, Sydney and Dylan.

Ignacio Pérez Ibáñez will teach upper school Spanish. Ignacio most recently taught at URI, where he completed a Masters in Computer Science in2011, after earning his BA in Spanish Language and Literature at the University of Navarre, Spain—and then earning his Ph.D. there as well. Last year, Ignacio and his wife had a research grant to return to Spain, and during that time he also taught at Colegio Irabia, a prep school in Pamplona, Spain; there he discovered that he loved teaching high school students. He brings to MB the beautiful Spanish of a native-born speaker, great experience and innovation in adapting technology for educational use, and references that laud the respect and affection his students and colleagues feel for him.

Kate Kenny is our new upper school biology teacher. A graduate of Tabor Academy, where she was a faculty child, Kate then attended Skidmore College, majoring in biology. There, she also served as a hall counselor in a residence unit, worked a TA and researcher in biology department, and rowed for the varsity team. She spent this last year at the Hotchkiss School, a boarding school in Lakeville, CT: teaching an introductory chemistry/biology course to 10th grade students, living in the dorm, and coaching sailing. Kate brings great enthusiasm for all things biology and watersport related to MB.

Oliver Khamky is our new part time upper school math teacher. A graduate of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, Oliver was a member of the state math team and the math Olympiad there. He then went to MIT, where he earned his BS in economics. While there, he coordinated the iMATH program, which mentors students in local Cambridge middle schools. After graduation, Oliver worked for the Hartford as an actuarial analyst, then began tutoring and changed his career goal to education, pursuing his Massachusetts teaching license and designing curriculum for ASC English.

Elena Peterson is our new upper school Spanish teacher. Elena earned her BA at the Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Madrid, Spain. Once in Rhode Island, she earned her MA at URI in Spanish and Latin American Studies. For the last nine years, she has worked at Immaculate Conception Academy in Wakefield, teaching Spanish to high school students who will live and work in Spanish-speaking countries. There, she structured “Spanish Wednesdays” to prepare students for work in foreign environments. Elena also taught part-time at the Compass School in Kingston and founded a local Spanish immersion program, acting as a translator, and editing and printing online resources. She and her family are eager to become part of the MB community.