Administration
Dr. James Dawson
Head of School
State University of New York at Albany, B.S., Ph.D.
Appointed 1995
Dr. James Dawson has served as Head of School since 1995. He received his Ph.D. in Behavior and his B.S. in Biology at the State University of New York at Albany. Dr. Dawson is past president of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and continues to serve on the Health Insurance Program Advisory Council. He is a past trustee of The Brearley School and The Spence School. Prior to his appointment at PCS, Dr. Dawson served as Head of Upper School at The Spence School from 1988-1995.
Reem Abu-Amara
Director of Technology
Northeastern University, B.S.
Emerson College, M.A.
New York University, M. Ed.
Appointed 2021
Reem Abu-Amara was appointed Director of Technology in 2021. Prior to joining PCS, was Director of Technology at the City and Country School in New York City for many years. She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, her Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Emerson College, and her Master of Arts degree in Education from New York University. Her work prior to City and Country included work in communications for the Carrington Company, and in web design for New York University’s Department of Educational Communications and Technology. She has experience in strategic planning, network and information systems, productivity applications, and is a leader in supporting faculty to develop their technical skills.
Meghan Blakeman
Director of Community Engagement; Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement
Meghan Blakeman
Director of Community Engagement
Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement
University of New Hampshire, B.A.
Bay Path University, M.S. (Expected 2024)
Appointed 2021
Meghan joined the Institutional Advancement office in 2021, after spending nine years in arts programming and development at Wingspan Arts. Meghan earned her B.A. in Theatre (Acting & Secondary Theatre Education) from the University of New Hampshire, and has been a teaching artist, producer, and actor at various institutions in New York City and New England. She was the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Underling Productions for 7 years and continues to offer pro bono consulting services for small arts organizations. Meghan is currently pursuing an M.S. in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy from Bay Path University, expected to be completed in 2024.
Paul Q. Kane
Director of Finance
Minnesota State University, B.S.
University of Idaho, B.S.
Gonzaga University, M.A.
Appointed 2019
Paul Q Kane was appointed Director of Finance in 2019. Prior to joining PCS, Paul was the CAO at The International Preschools for 10 years after serving as the Business Manager at Marymount School of New York for five years. Paul has a B.S. in Accounting from Minnesota State University, a B.S. in Education from the University of Idaho and he earned his MA from Gonzaga University.
Lori Gigliotti Murphy
Director of Admissions
Lehigh University, B.A.
Appointed 2021
Lori Gigliotti Murphy has 20+ years of independent school admissions experience, leading recruitment efforts at several independent schools in the northeast before joining Professional Children’s School. Lori received her B.A. in English and Theater from Lehigh University and trained and performed extensively as an actress and vocalist in New York City. She is the co-founder of several theater and film producing organizations, including a New England performing arts summer conservatory.
Dania Nauholnyk
Head of Middle School & Alumni Liaison
Middle School Advisor & Science
New York University, B.S., M.A.
Appointed 1996 (PCS Since 1992)
Dania Nauholnyk joined Professional Children's School in 1992 as a Middle School and Upper School Science teacher. She was appointed Head of Middle School in 1996 and added the role of Alumni Liaison to her work in 2017. She is thrilled to be working with our students because they inspire with their drive to pursue their passions and with their love for learning. She continues to teach science in the Middle School.
Sarah Rutledge
Head of Upper School; Advisor
Kutztown University, B.S.
New York University, M.A.
Appointed 2022
Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, her Master of Arts in Dance Education from New York University, and her Certification in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education/Harvard Business School. As an arts educator, Sarah is passionate about elevating the arts to a scholarly level and developing robust interdisciplinary curricula that meaningfully integrates the arts with other academic disciplines, provides students different avenues of understanding, and allows for unique demonstrations of learning. A lifelong dancer, Sarah’s technical training is rooted in classical ballet and modern dance. Over the course of her career, she has performed, taught, and choreographed both locally and internationally, including as the co-artistic director of her own modern dance company for 10 years.
Prior to PCS, Sarah served as Department Chair of Upper School Arts and Integration, Grade Dean, and Director of the Dance program at The Chapin School.
Alex Shaurette
Associate Head of School
Indiana University, B.A.
Columbia University, M.A.
Appointed 2018 (PCS since 2013)
Alex Shaurette was appointed Associate Head of School in 2020. He joined Professional Children's School in 2013 as Head of Upper School, and was Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs from 2018 to 2020. Alex earned a B.A. in Secondary Education/Social Studies from Indiana University and a Master's degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University, Teachers College. He also attended the Independent School Leadership Institute at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University as well as the Principals' Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a teacher and administrator, Alex has been working in education for 20 years. Just prior to PCS, Alex worked at the Dwight-Engelwood School where he served as Learning Specialist and Class Dean.
Faculty
Sarah Barlow
English & History; Advisor
Occidental College, B.A.
Brown University, M.A.
Appointed 2022
[email protected]
Sarah Barlow joined us after a long tenure at LREI: The Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School where she taught humanities, was the English Department Chair for many years, and created the Eighth Grade Social Justice Project, the middle school's capstone experience. She has presented her social justice work in various education conferences around New York City and beyond. Prior to her time at LREI, Sarah worked at her former high school, the Albuquerque Academy, teaching English to grades 8, 9 and 11. She also taught English as a new language to recent arrivals in Dharamsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-In-Exile, where she also worked for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Environment Desk. More recently, she was chosen to serve on the English Language Arts Advisory Board of Facing History and Ourselves, an organization for schools around the world that uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. Sarah attended Occidental College where she earned her BA in English and Comparative Literature and then went on to receive her Masters in Teaching English from Brown University. She has had the good fortune to travel extensively, is the proud mother to a sixth grader, loves living in Brooklyn while she misses the food of her home state of New Mexico, is an avid reader, and is currently gearing up to get back on the yoga mat.
Ernestine Byer-Tyre
Upper School Science; Advisor
University of North Carolina, B.S.
Life College, Dr. of Chiropractic
Appointed 2001
Ernestine Byer-Tyre began teaching science at Professional Children's School in 2001. She earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University. Ernestine earned her NYS teaching certification in Biology for grades 7-12. In addition to teaching Biology, Advanced Biology and Chemistry at PCS, Ernestine is an Upper School Advisor, is co-chair of the DEI Committee, and is the MLK Assembly Coordinator. Ernestine is an avid Carolina basketball fan. She lives on Long Island and has three daughters.
Kevin Casey
Physical Education & Middle School Health; Advisor;
St. Leo College, B.A.
Hofstra University, M.S.
Appointed 2001
Maureen Darcy
Spanish & French
New York University, B.A.
Columbia University, M.A.
Appointed 2014
Maureen has been a World Language Teacher at PCS since 2014. She earned a B.A. in French-Linguistics with a minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from New York University and a M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from Teachers College at Columbia University. In addition to French and Spanish, Maureen has studied Arabic and is currently learning German. An avid traveler, Maureen loves using her languages abroad, learning about new cultures, and trying local food. She lives in Brooklyn with her cat Pistachio.
Catherine Henry
Upper School English & History; Advisor
Fairfield University, B.A.
Boston College Law School, J.D.
Appointed 2013
Lambert Gingras
Upper School History
Lambert Gingras
Upper School History
University of Montreal, B.A.
Laval University, M.A.
Cornell University, M.A.
Appointed 2023
Jennifer Hill
Spanish
Jennifer Hill
Spanish
University of New Hampshire, B.A.
Middlebury College, M.A.
Appointed 2023
William F. Hirt
College Advisor & Upper School History
University of Minnesota, B.A., B.S.
Columbia University, M.S.
Appointed 1989
William Hirt was appointed College Counselor in 2006. Mr. Hirt earned a B.A. and a B.S. from the University of Minnesota. He spent two years as a Peace Corps member in Cameroon before earning an M.A. in Education from Columbia University. He joined the Professional Children's School history department in 1989.
Laura Inman
Music
University of Louisville, B.M.
Arizona State University, D.M.A., M.M.
Appointed 2018
Laura Inman is a soprano, conductor and educator based in New York City. Her love for music and singing has led her to win three Grammy awards with Phoenix and Kansas City Chorales, and is a member of the Ireland-based vocal ensemble Anúna where she has performed extensively in Europe, China, and Japan. Laura is an active freelance singer and conductor, maintains a private voice studio, and she is currently the head of the music department at Professional Children's School where she co-directs musicals, teaches Vocal Techniques/Chorus, and Poetics of Music. Inman sings with Mark Morris Dance Group, Bach Vespers series at Holy Trinity and NYC Concert Chorale which performs regularly with New York Philharmonic. Inman was most recently featured on the American cast album recording of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. Dr. Inman also serves as the Children and Youth Choirs Director at St. Michael's on the Upper West Side. Prior to PCS, she has taught at BASIS Brooklyn, Georgia Tech University, Arizona State University, and Arizona School for the Arts in Phoenix. She holds degrees in Voice and Music Education from University of Louisville and Arizona State University, where she also completed her DMA in Conducting.
Thea Kabacinski
Learning Specialist; Advisor
Hofstra University, B.A.
Columbia University Teachers College, M.S.
Appointed 2021
Jeff Laguzza
Upper School English; Advisor
Binghamton University, B.A., M.A.
Appointed 2004
Jeffrey Laguzza started teaching English at PCS in 2004. He earned a B.A. and M.A. at Binghamton University.
Brigid Le Minez
French; Advisor
Fordham University, B.A.
Middlebury College, La Sorbonne, M.A.
Appointed 2019
A French teacher at PCS since 2019, Brigid Le Minez holds an B.A. in French from Fordham University Lincoln Center and an M.A. in French Language and Literature from Middlebury College’s French School/La Sorbonne, Paris Censier. She also studied in Paris at the Reid Hall center of Sarah Lawrence College. A New Jersey state certified teacher of French, Mrs. Le Minez has previously taught at Summit Public Schools, NJ, as well as Rutgers Preparatory School and St. Paul’s boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire. Mrs. Le Minez’s interests include dance, travel and instilling in her students an appreciation for different cultures and a desire for continued education.
Danielle Lewis
English & English as a New Language; Advisor
Oberlin College, B.A.
Long Island University, M.S.ED.
Rutgers University, M.I.S. (Expected 2023)
Appointed 2022
[email protected]
Danielle has served as an ESL, English and History teacher in public and independent schools in New York City, and comes to PCS from the United Nations International School where she served as Middle School Librarian. In addition, she is an Adjunct Instructor in ESL and Educational Skills at Fashion Institute of Technology. Danielle has edited, researched and co-authored curricula for organizations such as the New-York Historical Society, Simon & Schuster, Inc., and as a member of the Curriculum Educator Consultant Team at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. She is a research fellow at Rutgers University where she is earning her second Master’s degree in information science. A classically trained soprano, Danielle enjoys performing, imbibing music of all varieties, studying languages, working with animals, and traveling the globe.
Guthrie Porter
Mathematics; Advisor
Fordham University, B.A.
New York University, M.A.
Appointed 2003
Kevin Rodd
Upper School Science
Regents College, B.S.
New York University, M.S.
Appointed 2002
Kevin Rodd has been teaching Physics and Science at PCS for the past 20 years with a combined 32 years teaching Physics in secondary schools. He obtained his Bachelors degree from Excelsior College and his Masters in Secondary Education from New York University. Prior to becoming a teacher, he was an active duty member of The U.S. Navy SeaBees - Engineering corp in various countries around the world. Kevin is a theater enthusiast and a vocalist / actor and performs in a local chorale group as well as in various regional musical theater productions.
Vincent Sagona
Director of Performing Arts
Drama and Health; Advisor
Director of Summer Academy
Seton Hall University, B.A., M.A.
Brooklyn College, M.F.A.
Appointed 2000
Vincent Sagona has been a professional actor in theatre and film for 25 years and the drama teacher at Professional Children’s School for 22 years. Vincent earned his MFA at Brooklyn College where he studied with F. Murray Abraham and spent 2 years in advanced scene study with the world renowned acting teacher, Uta Hagen. Through his extensive acting work in the professional theatre, Vincent has honed his craft in numerous productions playing such roles as; Happy in Death of a Salesman, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fr. Flynn in Doubt and the critically acclaimed one man show, My Italy Story for which he earned a Star Ledger Peter Filichia Best Actor nomination. As a current member of The Writer's Group, a New York based theatre workshop, he has become part of a process by which scripts are tested, reworked and presented on stages across the country. These experiences have enabled him to impart first hand knowledge of the challenges of acting in a variety of settings as well as the realities of being an actor for hire. Vincent has a deep appreciation for the importance of ensemble and, perhaps most importantly, he believes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Jodie Schaeffer
Mathematics
Marist College, B.S.
Pace University, M.B.A.
St. John’s University, M.S.
Appointed 2020
Rachel Soyk
Mathematics
New York University, B.S.
Appointed 2019
Rachel Soyk has her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from New York University and her Master of Sciences degree in Pure Mathematics from the City College Of New York. Rachel has taught math to hundreds of students over the past 16 years. Outside of PCS, Rachel continues to work with Lexicon Academics as a math tutor/teacher and with CCNY as an adjunct Mathematics instructor. Prior to full-time teaching, Rachel was an analyst in Jersey City. Rachel has traveled to over 25 countries and lived overseas during 2014-2015 (studying abroad) and 2017 (volunteer work in Asia). Besides her love of math and traveling, Rachel is an avid runner and will be completing 3 major Marathons this fall (Berlin, Chicago, and NYC). She is hoping to get more into ultra running come 2023!
Anh Ta
Art
Augustana University, B.A.
Ohio University, M.F.A.
Appointed 2021
Staff
Nick Cerda
Sous Chef
Nick Cerda
Sous Chef
Appointed 2023
Rocio Izurieta
Night Time Head Custodian/Security Coverage
Appointed 2008
Lisandro Jaquez
Custodian
Appointed 2022
[email protected]
Raquel Martinez
Director of Human Resources; Controller
Appointed 2009
AJ McGuire
Technology Instructor & Integration Support Specialist
Ithaca College, B.S.
Appointed 2018
Jazzy Pedroza-Watson
Institutional Advancement Administrative Assistant
University of Alabama at Birmingham, B.A.
Appointed 2023
Ayana Pena
Assistant to the Associate Head & Head of Upper School
Appointed 2016 (PCS since 2010)
Altagracia Ramos
Custodian
Cassandra Rhoades
Executive Chef
Appointed 2023
Jean J. Scales
Business Office & Admissions Coordinator
Appointed 1986
Myron Toltsis
Network Administrator
New Jersey Institute of Technology, B.S.
Stevens Institute of Technology, M.S.
Appointed 2018
Ashley Torres
Receptionist; Medical Records Coordinator
Appointed 2022
Ashley Torres joined Professional Children's School in 2019 as a prep cook with FLIK in the school's cafeteria. She spent two years in that position and although she loved cooking for the students and staff, she preferred to join the PCS team directly. She was hired as the Professional Children's School Head Receptionist in August 2022.
