Faculty and Staff Directory

Faculty & Staff Department Directory

Department

Last Name

Amy Carpenter

Ceramics and Sculpture Teacher

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Massachusetts College of Art & Design - BFA
MassArt & Harvard CE Programs
Debra Castro

Grade 1 Teacher

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Tufts University - B.A.
Lesley University - M.Ed.

Bio

Raised in Lexington, Mass., Debra wanted to be a teacher or a singer when she was younger. Her positive experiences in elementary school with dedicated teachers also inspired her to pursue a career in education. Prior to joining Brimmer in 2005, Debra taught kindergarten in the Cambridge Public Schools and pre-kindergarten at the Cambridge Ellis School.

Debra strives to create a warm and welcoming environment for students and families that reflects and values their diversity, as well as encourages them to be curious and take risks to achieve their goals. Her goal is to get to know students and their families well in order to get a clear picture of each child's strengths and areas for growth. Debra believes in keeping rigor developmentally appropriate in early childhood and building in time for children to connect with one another as they explore and learn. She is committed to fostering a kind and inclusive learning community for her students, families and colleagues.

Debra enjoys the strong sense of community at Brimmer and the wonderful group of children, families, faculty, and staff who she says is a pleasure to work with. Outside of work Debra loves to spend time with her husband and two young daughters: reading stories, playing dress-up, having dance parties, and taking nature walks. She is also an avid salsa dancer along with her husband.

Debra holds a Massachusetts Teaching Certificate for grades Pre-K-3. She has also completed courses through Mindful Schools: Mindfulness Fundamentals and Mindful Educator Essentials.
Jessica Christian

Director of DEIB, Admissions Liaison

617-278-2324

Middlebury College - B.A.
New York University - M.A.

Bio

Jessica grew up in Northern New Jersey and is proud to be independent school–educated. Prior to joining Brimmer, Jessica worked for three years in admissions at her alma mater, The Dwight-Englewood School, in New Jersey, and for six years at The Spence School, in New York City. After receiving an M.A. in mental health counseling from NYU, Jessica spent time working as a psychotherapist at a small practice in New Haven, Conn.

For Jessica, independent schools have always been an environment in which she thrives and is her best self. At Brimmer, she appreciates the comradery among faculty and staff and enjoys the feeling of contributing and adding perspective to the Brimmer community.

When Jessica is not at work, she spends her time exercising, cooking, reading, learning and talking about diversity, and raising her children.
Tess Cicala

Associate Director of Admissions

617-278-2320

Providence College - B.S.

Bio

Growing up in Connecticut, Tess attended the Wooster School from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, which fostered her appreciation for community, school spirit, and independent school education.

Tess’s passion for admissions grew during her time at Providence College after participating in their Admissions Ambassador program. She discovered her enthusiasm for sharing her school with others, and became dedicated to cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment for prospective students. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Economics.

Shortly thereafter, she made her return to Wooster School to begin her career in advancement. She worked in development and marketing, before ultimately landing in the admissions office. She coached Junior Varsity and Middle School volleyball where she gained invaluable experience working with students across different grade levels. Tess was drawn to Brimmer for its feeling of belonging and togetherness.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Tess enjoys reading, being active, and socializing with friends. She is thrilled to join the dynamic team at Brimmer and looks forward to making new connections with students and families.
Joanne Clamage

Lower School Creative Arts Coordinator & Visual Arts Teacher

617-264-1421

Massachusetts College of Art - B.A.

Bio

Joanne has a rich background in teaching and arts administration, having been in the profession for almost 40 years. Prior to starting at Brimmer in 2002, she was the lead teacher for art and music for the Nashoba Regional School District and taught Visual Arts in Stow, Mass., for 12 years. Joanne is a firm supporter of Brimmer’s innovative spirit in creating and presenting curriculum. She is proud to be a part of a collaborative Pre-K-12 learning environment that is charged with energy and excitement for both teachers and students.

Joanne has participated in graduate-level coursework; Sign Language, “American Impressionism” at the Worcester Art Museum and “Global Art Traditions in the United States” at Primary Source. This past year Joanne completed two 6-week training courses in Mindfulness in Schools.

For 13 years Joanne has been a practicing Critical Friends Group Coach at Brimmer and has been trained by the National School Reform Faculty. She has been a workshop presenter and panelist at the New England Art Educators Conference and at several Very Special Arts Massachusetts events. In her spare time, Joanne enjoys costuming, quilt making, basketry, and antiquing. Joanne has exhibited her fiber works in galleries in Boston and Rhode Island.
Louisa Connaughton

Lower School Math Specialist, MS Math

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Williams College - M.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 18 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.
Carl Coombs

Assistant Head of School, Head of Middle School

617-278-2338

Carthage College - B.A.
Emerson College - M.A.

Bio

Carl became a middle school educator because he was passionate about working with adolescents during this important developmental stage as they are exploring who they want to be. He believes in personalized instruction, collaboration across disciplines, helping students find their passion, and emphasizing character education.

Carl had been an educator at Brimmer for 10 years before becoming the Head of Middle School in 2015. He previously served as the Middle School Drama Director, Humanities Teacher, and Dean of Grade 8. In 2021, Carl became the Assistant Head of School, where he partners with the Head of School on implementation of the Head’s vision and goals and the development and execution of strategic initiatives He also oversees hiring of faculty PK-12, manages the School’s mentor program for new faculty and staff, leads to School’s Emergency Response Team, and is responsible for the culture and climate of the faculty and staff experience.

He enjoys working at Brimmer because of its outstanding faculty, motivated students, and the School’s mission to create globally minded, empathetic leaders for tomorrow. He likes that students can take risks in Brimmer’s safe, supportive environment, where they are taught that they can learn as much from challenges as from strengths and successes. Because Brimmer focuses on the whole child, students can thrive in all aspects of School life: academics, the arts, athletics, and individually as young people.

Carl is a member of the Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE) and has attended several of their conferences. He has also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Art of Leadership summer institute.

Carl is also a Brimmer parent. His son, Brennan, is in 10^th grade. Outside of school, Carl is a certified spin instructor and enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with his husband and two children. He also is active with organizations like the Matthew Shepard Foundation, amfAR, and Sandy Hook Promise.
Amanda Crater

Admissions Coordinator

617-278-2316

New York University - M.A.
New York University - B.F.A

Bio

Originally from Beverly, MA, Amanda spent 20 years in New York City and worked at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and JCC Harlem for 12 years in a variety of managerial roles. Amanda is thrilled to be back in her home state and at Brimmer. Ms. Crater holds both a B.F.A. in Technical Theater and an M.A. in Arts + Humanities Education, both from New York University. A highlight of her career was working on Witness Theater, an inter-generational program bringing together Holocaust survivors and high school students to elicit, expose, and memorialize the moving stories of survival. She was drawn to Brimmer because of their global focus and D.E.I. work and is continually impressed by the faculty and staff and their dedication to the students.
Georgia Cronin

Kindergarten Teacher

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Wheaton College - B.A.
Fairfield University - M.Ed.

Bio

Georgia grew up in Greenwich CT. Her mother has been in education for over 30 years, so it was no surprise she wanted to also pursue teaching. Prior to Brimmer, Georgia taught abroad in Madrid, Spain. In addition, she worked at Brunswick School, Riverdale Country School, and Friends Academy, teaching grades K-3.

“Joy in teaching, joy in learning” is at the foundation of Georgia’s classroom. She believes students should enjoy the process of learning and take pride in their hard work. Georgia strives to create an inclusive, supportive, kind, and fun classroom! As an educator, Georgia spends a lot of time getting to know both her students and their families. By the end of the year a strong relationship is built with each student. Creating a sense of belonging in her classroom is a common theme through the year — each child feels they are seen, heard, cherished and loved.

The sense of worldliness at Brimmer is what draws Georgia to Brimmer. An avid traveler herself, she loves learning and sharing about other cultures and cities she has visited. A sense of community is so important to her, and she felt that sense of community the minute she stepped on the Brimmer campus. Outside of work, Georgia enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and a strong cup of coffee. She loves fashion and shoes — in fact she collects shoes!

Georgia holds a dual degree from Wheaton College in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. She holds her Masters in Special Education from Fairfield University and her teaching licensure in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Parker Curtis

Middle School History Teacher

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Wake Forest University - B.A.
University of Virginia - M.Ed.

Bio

As a Middle School History teacher, Parker aims to bring the past to life. He believes that history is living, breathing, fascinating, and begging to be questioned. He strives to make his students active agents in the classroom—encouraging each to take on the role of detective, to interrogate the source material, and to craft hypotheses and arguments. Ultimately, he wants them to find joy in history. He believes that history fosters a love for learning, a passion for discovery, the instinct to analyze, and the critical thinking skills that will prove useful for life.

Parker’s mother and grandmother were both teachers, and after college he felt called to the classroom as well. He holds a BA in history from Wake Forest University and an M.Ed in curriculum and instruction, with a concentration in social studies, from the University of Virginia. Parker has 14 years of independent school teaching experience, and in that time he has learned that it is crucial for teachers to be lifelong learners. He loves all the opportunities Brimmer presents for collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, and professional growth.

Parker grew up in New Jersey, but his family’s roots are in the greater Boston area. He is also a devoted fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. In his free time, Parker enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, playing basketball, skiing, hiking, exploring the outdoors, and traveling.
David Cutler

U.S. History, Government, and Journalism Teacher

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Brandeis University - B.A.
Brandeis University - M.A.

Bio

As a 2002 Brimmer graduate, David loves working at his alma mater. Before starting at Brimmer in 2014, David taught history and journalism for six years at Palmer Trinity, a private school in Miami, Fla. He seeks to help students reach their fullest potential by encouraging them to take risks and learn from failure. His biggest goal is to help students take ownership of the learning, while making plain the real-world relevance of skills and knowledge.

At Brimmer, David enjoys learning from his colleagues and the atmosphere of collegiality. He is equally grateful for the trust to teach in his own unique style. Outside of work, David remains committed to writing and researching about the education landscape. He is currently writing a book about how to teach news literacy for Rowman and Littlefield. David’s articles about education have been published by The Atlantic, the American Historical Association, PBS, and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). He is also passionate about promoting use of comic books in the classroom. He has presented on the topic at major comic cons, including San Diego and Chicago.

In 2013, David was selected as an NAIS Teacher of the Future.
Sue Cuyler

Director of Marketing & Communications

617-278-2333

Colby College - B.A.
Clark University Graduate School of Management - M.B.A.

Bio

Sue joined the Brimmer community in 2018 as Director of Marketing & Communications bringing with her decades of experience working with organizations of all sizes to craft strategic marketing campaigns and create brand experiences. After attending Colby College and Clark University’s Graduate School of Management, Sue began her career as a management consultant before moving in-house to Primary Source, a nonprofit committed to educating global citizens, and KnowledgeLink, an international organization committed to ensuring access to educational opportunity around the world. Drawn to Brimmer’s global focus and dedicated faculty and staff, Sue is thrilled to be a member of such a strong and supportive community.

Sue sits on the Board of the Alray Scholars Program, a scholarship and mentoring program that helps Boston students return to college to earn their degree. In her spare time, she enjoys running, swimming, reading, travelling, and family time.

Faculty and Staff

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