Faculty and Staff

  • All
  • Administration
  • Forest Toddlers
  • PreK
  • Kindergarten
  • Lower School
  • Middle School
  • Special Subjects

Jennifer Gresens

Head of School


Education:

M.S. Education, Hunter College; B.A. Art History and Psychology, University of New Hampshire

Lynn Schuster

Director of Academics and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion


Education:

M.S. Elementary Ed., College of Saint Rose; B.A. Political Science, SUNY at Albany

Matt Thornton

Director of Admissions


Education:

M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Lesley University; Non-Profit Leadership Cert., Georgetown University; B.A. Biology, Hamilton College

Andrea Hartman

Director of Development & Communications


Education:

B.A. English, University of Iowa; BA Theater Arts, University of Iowa

Leigh Augustine

Director of Advancement


Education:

M.S.Ed Early Childhood Education, Brooklyn College; B.F.A. New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Katie Thornton

Director of Wellness & Social and Emotional Learning


Education:

M.Ed. Harvard University; B.A. Sociology, Boston College

Michele Ridgeway

Pre-K


Education:

B.S. Special Education, Certified Early Intervention Specialist SUNY Geneseo, M.F.A.Studio Art, Maine College of Art

Sarah Notaro

Pre-K


Education:

BA SUNY Cobleskill, Early Childhood Education, M.Ed SUNY

Sara Schomaker

PreK


Education:
B. A. Inclusive Early Childhood Education, Cazenovia College;
Associates Degree, Early Childhood Education, Hudson Valley Community College;
NYS Certified in Special and General Education

Nora Jenkins

PreK


Education:
Masters in Education, Art, Goddard College
Bachelors of Fine Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University

Charlene Hoffay

Pre-K Assistant


Education:
BS  Children and Family Services ,SUNY Empire College; AAS Early Childhood Education, Hudson Valley Community College.

Olivia Melkonian

Pre-K Assistant & Before Care


Julia Cadieux

Kindergarten


Education:
Bachelor of Arts, McGill University
Masters of Education, Cambridge College

Jasmine Dunn

Kindergarten Assistant


Melissa Inzero

Grades 1-2 Teacher


Education:
CAS in School Counseling, College of St. Rose
MS in Counseling, College of St. Rose
BS in Psychology, Sage College of Albany
AAS in Early Childhood Education, HVCC

Debbie Hoffman

Grades 1-2 Teacher


Education:

B.S. Natural Resources, Cornell University; MS. Education with a specialty in Literacy and Special Education and Childhood, S.U.N.Y Albany

Nari Gottlieb

3rd-4th Grade Lead Teacher


Education:

B.A. Queens College, Major English; M.A. Ed Touro College, Early Childhood, General & Special Ed.

Rose Nolan

Grades 3-4 Lead Teacher


Education:

M.S. Education, Sage Graduate School; B.S. Business Administration, Marist College

Emily Brocks

Grades 5-8 English Language Arts & Grade 5 Advisor


Education:

Ifellows: master’s concentration in Israel education, completed spring 2022

Hebrew College,Shoolman Graduate School, dual masters degree in Jewish education and Jewish studies

Harvard Graduate School of Education, Masters of Education, Human Development and Psychology focus, 2008

Williams College, Bachelor of Arts, Classical Civilizations and English Literature, 2001

Emma Wolfe

Grades 5-8 Social Studies & Grade 6 Advisor


Education:

The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education
Bachelor of Art in History

John Sherry

Grades 5-8 Science & Grade 7 Advisor


Education:

B.S.,Environmental Science and Policy, Clarkson University

Paul Rix

Grades 5-8 Mathematics & Grade 8 Advisor


Education:
Masters of Arts in Education, National University
BA English, Arizona State University

Claire Sherwood

Grades K-8 Art


Education:

M.F.A. University of Maryland; B.F.A. Bowling Green State University

Sara Feltes

Grades K-8 Music


Education:

M.M. The Hartt School at University of Hartford; B.S. Music Education, College of St. Rose

Darcy DeMaria

Grades K-8 Physical Education and Health, Athletic Director


Education:

BS Physical Education, Sage College

Leiana Hawkins

Forest Toddlers & Lower School Science


Education:

M.Ed. in Science Education, North Carolina State University; B.S. Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Laura Salisbury

Librarian


Education:

MLS Information Science and Policy, School Media Specialist SUNY Albany; BA English Literature, SUNY Albany; AAS Livberal Arts, SUNY

Cheryl O’Donnell

Literacy Specialist


Education:
MS Ed. Educational Psychology, SUNY Albany; BA English, SUNY Binghamton
Sharon Santacroce

Sharon Santacroce

Special Education- APCSD Resource Room


Michelle Hefernan

Executive Assistant & Front Office Manager


Kristen Koehler

Comptroller


Education:
B.S., University of Vermont
J.D. Albany Law School of Union University

Jwalitha Jonnalagadda

Book Keeper


Additional Staff

Wanda Budesheim -- Facilities Manager

Rebecca Everett -- APCSD Nurse