It’s a new year in Rye, and with it comes a host of new faces within the District.
Rye High School
1 Parsons Street
967-6100, ext.1901
Head of School: Mrs. Patricia Taylor
Grades: 9-12
First Day of School: September 7
Rye Middle School
3 Parsons Street
967-6100, ext.2901
Head of School: Dr. Ann Edwards
Grades: 6-8
First Day of School: September 7
Midland School
312 Midland Avenue
967-6100, ext. 4901
Head of School: Dr. Angela Grille
Grades: K-5
First Day of School: September 7
Milton School
12 Hewlett Avenue
967-6100, ext. 3901
Head of School: Dr. Joanne Nardone
Grades: K-5
First Day of School: September 7
Osborn School
10 Osborn Road
967-6100, ext. 5901
Head of School: Ms. Clarita Zeppie
Grades: K-5
First Day of School: September 7
Kristina Anderson
Special Education Teacher, RMS
Ms. Anderson joins Rye after teaching special education at the elementary and middle school levels in the Harrison Central School District, where she worked since 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Marist College and a Master’s from Long Island University.
Leanne Archambault
Special Education Teacher, RMS
Ms. Archambault previously taught English and Special Education in grades 5-8 at Ardsley Middle School. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Professional Studies degrees from SUNY Purchase’s Dual Degree Honors Program.
James Bannon
Special Education Teacher, RHS
Mr. Bannon comes to Rye High School from Mahopac High School, where he worked as a special education and substitute teacher for AP Global Studies. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Iona College and his Master’s from Lehman College.
Harold Brosowsky
Math and Science, RMS
Mr. Brosowsky brings experience in teaching various science subjects, having recently taught physics, earth science, chemistry, and forensic science at Westlake High and Middle schools in Thornwood. Mr. Brosowsky, who also has ten years of military experience, earned his Bachelor of Science from Hofstra University and his Master’s from Dowling College.
Julianne Corbalis
Social Studies Teacher, RMS
Ms. Corbalis joins Rye Middle School from Manhattan East School for Arts & Academics, where she taught sixth-grade Global Studies: Eastern Hemisphere Ancient Civilizations, and eighth-grade Honors U.S. History & Government. Ms. Corbalis holds a Master’s in History from CUNY Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education from New York University.
Susan Donnelly
Elementary Teacher, Osborn
Ms. Donnelly joins Rye after teaching fourth grade at an elementary school in the Bronx for four years, prior to which she taught at the fourth-grade level for three years and the third-grade level for one year. She earned her Bachelor of Science from SUNY College at Cortland and her Master’s from CUNY Lehman College Graduate School of Education.
Jamie Downs
Elementary Teacher, Midland
Ms. Downs worked previously as an elementary school teacher in Yonkers City Schools for 2004. She served as grade level coordinator and on the District Early Childhood Curriculum Mapping and Multicultural committees. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Albany, and her Master of Science from Fordham University.
Mary Flaherty
Elementary Teacher, Midland
Ms. Flaherty previously taught kindergarten at Evergreen Elementary School in Pennsylvania, where she utilized a variety of methods to keep students involved and interested. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware and a Master’s from Arcadia University.
Marisa Fontana
ELL Teacher, Osborn & Milton
Ms. Fontana brings her experience as an ELL teacher gained in a second-grade self-contained classroom at P.S. 196 in the Bronx. There she created and executed multi-subject lesson plans for 24 ELL students of varying proficiency levels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Iona College and a Master’s of Professional Studies from Manhattanville College.
Cristina Gaspar
Physical Education Teacher, RMS & RHS
Ms. Gaspar most recently taught Physical Education at the High School for Environmental Studies in New York City, where she was head varsity boys’ soccer coach, and assistant varsity coach of both the girls’ basketball and softball teams. She received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY Oneonta and her Master’s from Manhattanville College.
Maggie Heinze
Art Teacher, RMS
Ms. Heinze brings her artistic and creative background to Rye Middle School after having assisted freelance artists at their studios and working for a gallery, a publishing house, and the Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York City, where she was a teaching artist. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design and a Master’s in Art Education from CUNY Queens College.
Kerry Hutton
English Teacher, RHS
Ms. Hutton taught English as a leave replacement at Bronxville High School and served as Writing Center Director in a leave replacement position at Lake Zurich High School in Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame University, where she graduated magna cum laude and received several honors and awards. She also holds a Master’s from National-Louis University.
Lisa Irvine
Science Teacher, RMS
Ms. Irvine previously taught Earth Science and eighth-grade General Science at White Plains High and Middle schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Pace University’s Dyson School of Arts & Sciences and an M.S. in Teaching from Pace University’s School of Education.
Gregory Janos
Physical Education Teacher, RMS
Mr. Janos comes to Rye from Mahopac High School, where he was a Physical Education teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Kinesiology from Towson University.
Marianne Novelli
Library Media Specialist, Osborn
Ms. Novelli previously worked as a library media specialist at Traphagen Elementary School in Mount Vernon. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Stony Brook and her Master’s from Bank Street College.
Josh Plaice
Physical Education Teacher, RMS
Mr. Plaice comes to Rye from Todd School in Briarcliff Manor, where he taught Physical Education and worked as a substitute teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Alabama and a Master’s from Manhattanville College.
Kate Sierpina
Elementary Teacher, Midland
Having taught at Toddlertime Nursery School in New Canaan, Ms. Sierpina brings five years of experience in early childhood education. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Providence College, and her Master of Education from the College of New Rochelle.
Thomas Snowden
Choral Music Teacher, RMS & RHS
Mr. Snowden joins Rye after teaching general music to grades 2-5 and chorus to grades 4-6 in the Eastchester Union Free School District. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Lehman College and his Master’s from Manhattanville College.
Jennifer Tavolacci
Elementary Teacher, Midland
Ms. Tavolacci joins the Midland staff after having worked the past four years at P.S. 8 Briggs Avenue Academy in the Bronx, where she taught third grade and, most recently, was a fourth-grade Special Education teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Albany, and her Master’s from Manhattanville College.
Lauren Tufano
Elementary Teacher, Osborn
Ms. Tufano comes to Rye from Murray Avenue Elementary School in Larchmont, where she taught fifth grade, and previously worked as a fourth-grade leave replacement. She completed her student teaching in second- and sixth-grade classrooms at schools on Long Island, where she attended Dowling College to earn her Master’s. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Rhode Island.
Dawn Veilleux
Spanish Teacher, RMS
Ms. Veilleux, who has taught Spanish at Clarkstown High School North for the past four years, and served as an assistant coach for the girls’ varsity soccer team, is already familiar with Rye and is excited for the new school year. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Providence College and her Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville College. Ms. Veilleux gained fluency in Spanish while studying at the University of Granada in Spain.
Dr. Hui-Chin Yang
Mandarin Teacher, RHS/RMS
Dr. Yang comes to the Rye School District with over 15 years of college and graduate school teaching and research experience in Taiwan and the U.S. This past year, Dr. Yang taught Mandarin to middle and high school students through video conferencing at Orange-Ulster BOCES. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in Chinese Language and Literature from the National Cheng-Chi University in Taiwan, her M.S. in Literacy/Reading from SUNY Albany, and her M.E. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Texas at Austin, from which she also holds a doctorate in education.
