Faculty and Staff Directory

Faculty & Staff Department Directory

Department

Last Name

Kim Tolpa

LS Director of Academic Services, Co-Director of Tutoring Program

617-278-2356

Denison University - B.S.
Southern Methodist University - M.S.
Harvard Graduate School of Education - M.Ed.

Bio

Kim joined the Brimmer team in the Summer of 2020 as the Director of Lower School Academic Services. She came to us from another local independent school where she worked for twelve years, first as a third-grade teacher and more recently as a Learning Specialist. Prior to joining Brimmer, she also worked for a company as an Executive Function Coach to support students of various ages with executive functioning vulnerabilities, and further back in her journey she worked at independent schools in Texas in grades K to 2.

Kimberly is a life-long learner, who believes in the importance of staying on top of current research in the field of education. After meeting training and practicum requirements, she has been certified by the Academy of the Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators at the Associate Level since 2016 and the Certified Level since 2020. She also recently completed her Structured Literacy ™ Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS) certification through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, in affiliation with the International Dyslexia Association. Her educational background also includes a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Southern Methodist University and an Ed. M. in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education, in addition to more recent graduate-level coursework at Lesley University. She believes in the importance of a growth mindset approach to learning, allowing students and teachers alike to build resiliency and achieve success.

Kim has lived in the greater-Boston area since 2008, and while she misses living directly in the city, she does NOT miss trying to park in the city. She enjoys spending time with her two growing children and can often be found on sports fields with them or playing outside in the yard. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, skiing, or doing yoga.
Louisa Connaughton

PK-6 Math Specialist, MS Math

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Williams College - B.A.
Simmons College - M.S.
Mount Holyoke College - M.A.

Bio

Louisa believes passionately in the capacity for all students to learn and understand mathematics. As a math educator, she strives to create inclusive spaces where children (and adults!) can experience the joy, wonder, and excitement of engaging in mathematical thinking.

Louisa has been a classroom teacher for over 20 years, with experience teaching in grades PK to 6. She comes to Brimmer following 10 years teaching 4th and 5th grade at Buckingham Browne & Nichols school in Cambridge, MA. Louisa holds Masters' Degrees in Elementary Teaching and Teaching Mathematics.

Outside of the classroom, Louisa enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking in the White Mountains with her family and friends. She also enjoys running, biking, and playing ultimate frisbee. Louisa lives in Belmont with her daughter and husband.
Suzanne Pasko

Lower School Literacy Specialist

Wellesley College - B.A.
New York University - M.B.A.
Boston College - M.Ed.

Bio

Suzanne joined Brimmer in the summer of 2025 as the Lower School Literacy Specialist. Prior to joining the Brimmer community, Suzanne was a Reading Intervention Professional in Wellesley Public Schools, specializing in Grades K-5. She also served on Wellesley Public Schools’ Elementary Literacy Working Group. Suzanne received a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Boston College and holds a Massachusetts Elementary Teacher License.

Suzanne focuses on creating a positive and engaging learning environment in which students encourage one another as they endeavor in literacy-based work. The growth mindset is woven into Suzanne’s teaching philosophy, as she supports students persevering through novel tasks. Because every child is truly unique, she makes a purposeful effort to show particular care for and interest in every student. Suzanne’s instructional methods are research-based, with a focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

The overarching goal of Suzanne’s work is to foster a lifelong love of reading, writing, and thinking, as she inspires students to develop a sense of curiosity for the world around them.

Outside of Brimmer, Suzanne enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and biking with her husband Chris. She also loves reading, crossword puzzles, and board games. A mother of three adult children, Suzanne delights in spending time with her family.
Ina Patel

LS Director of Teaching & Learning, Admissions Liaison

Case Western Reserve University - B.A.
Boston University - M.P.H.
Boston College - M.Ed.

Bio

Ina began her journey at Brimmer as a 2nd grade teacher before transitioning to 4th grade and eventually stepping into her current role as Director of Teaching and Learning. Working alongside the Lower School Head and Assistant Head, she helps ensure that the School's mission and guiding principles come to life throughout the Lower School, developing initiatives that directly enhance student learning and engagement.

Guided by her belief that learning should be fun, innovative, and hands-on, Ina collaborates with teachers to create a student-centered program rooted in inquiry, exploration, and experiential learning. Her approach focuses on building essential 21st-century skills while nurturing Brimmer's commitment to fostering a lifelong love of learning and global engagement in every student.

Ina holds a TEEP Certificate from Tufts University School of Engineering, a program that connects educators with engineering principles and practices. This expertise proved instrumental in developing the school's design program, where she successfully integrated design thinking and the design process into the STEAM curriculum. Her passion for global education shines through in the projects she guides, where Lower School students tackle important real-world issues including water scarcity, deforestation, and cultural tolerance.

Beyond her daily responsibilities, Ina actively contributes to the broader educational community as a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the Lower School AI Task Force, and the Lower School diversity committee. She has served as chair on Brimmer's NEASC self-study committee as well as a member of a self-study visiting team.

In her personal time, Ina enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures, and seeking adventures in the great outdoors—experiences that continually inspire and inform her global and experiential teaching philosophy.
Namrata Schmottlach

PK-5 Teaching Assistant

Padma Kanya - B.A.
Tribhuvan University - M.A.

Bio

Namrata Schmottlach is a PK-5 Teaching Assistant at Brimmer. Mrs. Schmottlach holds a B.A at Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal and a M.A. at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. Most recently, she was a Preschool Teacher at Blue Horizons at MIT Stata Childcare Center, Cambridge, MA.

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