Faculty and Staff Directory

Faculty & Staff Department Directory

Department

Last Name

Matthew Gallon

Middle School Dean of Students, Middle/Upper School Science Teacher

Bowdoin College - B.A.
University of Michigan - M.A., Ph.D.

Bio

Matt is passionate about fostering a supportive climate and culture in the Middle School where students are encouraged to grow both academically and personally. He works closely with faculty to support the whole student and strives to help each child find their place and voice within the Brimmer community. In the classroom, Matt emphasizes collaboration and hands-on learning, designing labs and projects that allow students to experience the excitement of discovery while working together. He also values interdisciplinary teaching and partners with colleagues across departments to help students see meaningful connections between academic subjects.

Matt’s approach to education is rooted in his wide-ranging interests in science, history, and human diversity. He holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Bowdoin College and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan, where his doctoral research included archaeological fieldwork at early urban centers in Thailand from the 5th to 9th centuries C.E.

Matt joined the Brimmer community in 2015.

Outside of school, he enjoys hiking and skiing with his family.
Mary Gates

Administrative Assistant to Middle and Upper School Heads

Westchester Community College - A.S.

Bio

Mary started working at Brimmer in 2001, but has been a longtime member of the Brimmer community. Her husband Jeff is Brimmer’s Upper School Athletic Director, and she has two sets of twins who were lifers at Brimmer. She has enjoyed 14 years of watching them compete for the School. Mary enjoys the close caring community of parents, colleagues, and students.

When Mary is not at work, she likes to read, spend time with her family, and watch and attend all types of sports events.
Taran Gavrin

Head Chef

Plymouth State University - B.A.
Johnson & Wales University - Associate in Culinary Arts
Nia Gipson

Middle and Upper School Science Teacher

Swarthmore College - B.A.
Harvard Graduate School of Education - M.A.

Bio

Born in Colorado, but raised in San Diego, the first thing that Nia wanted to be was an Archeologist thanks to a wonderful Kindergarten teacher who set up an amazing archeological dig in the playground. Ultimately she received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Swarthmore College, but she never forgot that sense of wonder and discovery that she found in that classroom. Nia is committed to the same hands-on engagement in learning in the classroom. She strives to provide students with an integrative, project-based, and collaborative learning experience in the classroom, where students meaningfully construct knowledge about a topic and not just learn facts from a textbook.Prior to joining the faculty and staff at Brimmer, Nia taught high school STEAM and Chemistry at Saint Joseph Prep and worked in informal science education in museums and non-profits in both Boston and San Diego. Outside of work, Nia is an avid traveler, a lover of board games and escape rooms, and a clandestine archeology and history scholar.
Judith Guild

Head of School

617-278-2327

SUNY at Oswego - B.S.
Harvard University - A.L.M.

Bio

A dedicated educator for over 35 years, Judith Guild believes deeply in the life-changing power of a strong educational foundation. She possesses an exceptional work ethic, holds herself to a high standard of professional excellence, and always keeps the students we serve at the center of all her decisions. An expert in literacy and building reading fluency, she first joined Brimmer in the 1980s teaching English, including AP English Literature, before being named Head of School in 2012, elevating every aspect of Brimmer’s academic program for grades PK-12. Her vision led Brimmer to embrace what are now key tenets of our educational philosophy, such as project-based learning and global education.

Judy believes that Brimmer is a community of learners, where people are encouraged to take risks, be thought leaders, create content, and make a difference in the lives of others. To support this belief, she actively recruits, cultivates, and supports faculty as one of her annual top priorities.

Additionally, during her time as Head of School, Judy has successfully led two strategic planning initiatives and two capital campaigns. Her tenure has seen the construction of the Hastings Center, an Innovation, STEAM, and Media Center with vibrant community spaces and an elevated Dining Commons, and the upcoming Recreation & Wellness Center to be opened in spring 2026.

A voracious reader, deep thinker, and precise editor, Judy is generous with her knowledge, her time, and her spirit. In addition to her responsibilities of running the School, she mentors members of the Administrative Team, observes classes in all three divisions, and attends countless games, concerts, performances, and community events, while always making time in her busy calendar to meet with students, parents, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustee members. She encourages people to read her blog and listen to her podcast to become familiar with her philosophy and thoughts on what she believes are the best practices in education today.

Judy received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY Oswego and her Masters in American and British Literature from Harvard University.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty & Staff Department Directory

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