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Magnolia Acosta – Administrative Coordinator
macosta@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Acosta is Salem Academy’s Administrative Coordinator having worked at the school since its inception. Ms. Acosta was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, but has lived much of her life in Salem. She attended Salem High School and North Shore Community College in Beverly. She has four children all of whom have attended public schools in Salem.
Jennifer Banville - External Affairs Coordinator
Ms. Banville, a native of Salem joined Salem Academy in 2010 as the External Affairs Coordinator. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Endicott College in Beverly, MA and now lives by the beach in Marblehead. Ms. Banville is a former employee of Northshore Magazine, as their Events Marketing Coordinator, assiting the editor with web development, editorial writing and photography for the magazine. She has most recently returned from a seasonal stay in California's South Lake Tahoe region working as an all-purpose staff member at the Stanford Sierra Conference Center, supporting Stanford University and their Alumni. In her spare time, Ms. Banville enjoys boating, bocce, and the relaxing at the beach.
Shawn Berry – English Teacher - First Form Leader
sberry@salemacademycs.org
Mrs. Berry has been involved in working with children from infancy to middle school. Originally from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Ithaca College. She was the Owner/Director of The Children’s Roost Early Childhood Center for children from infancy to early elementary school. She designed the center in order to provide a safe, nurturing care environment while students developed a strong foundation of positive early learning experiences. While completing the Masters Degree program in Elementary Education at Lesley University, Mrs. Berry worked as a classroom paraprofessional and Special Education teacher in Middleton and Topsfield. In 2004 she joined the Lowell Community Charter Public School. While there, she had the opportunity to be both a 4th grade classroom teacher and reading facilitator for grades 3-8. Now in her sixth year at Salem Academy she teaches First Form English Language Arts and is Form Leader for the grade 6 team.
Drew Betts - Athletic Director - Health & PE Teacher
Mr. Betts was born and raised in Bristol, CT and attended Endicott College in Beverly, MA. There he received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and a College Coaching Certificate. During his time at Endicott he was a four year member of the baseball team. Shortly after finishing his undergraduate work Mr. Betts went back to Endicott and received his Master of Education in Athletic Administration. He is a lifelong New York Giants and Yankees fan and is excited to have the opportunity to coach and teach many of the students at Salem Academy.
Ana Brea – Spanish Teacher - Final Form Leader -Curriculum Team Leader
abrea@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Brea was born in the Dominican Republic. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, and completed her diplomado in Education from APEC University in Santo Domingo. She has over ten years of experience as a teacher, having taught English as a Second Language in the D.R. and Puerto Rico, and Art in the D.R. She has also taught Spanish for the Global Child program in North Andover, MA. Ms. Brea is Board certified as a Spanish teacher and as an art teacher. Throughout her career, she has also been painting and has worked in stage design.
Anne Brobst - Spanish Teacher
Ms. Brobst spent most of her life in Columbus, OH before moving to Massachusetts. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Literature at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. At Kenyon, she participated in both soccer and softball at the varsity level, in addition to helping run sports clinics for members of the Gambier community. Ms. Brobst coached girls’ soccer in Middleton, MA in the Fall and Spring. She is passionate and enthusiastic about teaching the Spanish language to her students, as well as instilling the life-long values that come from playing competitive sports.
Stephanie Callahan – Head of the Lower School
Ms. Callahan hails from Scotia, NY. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University, she joined Teach For America. During that time, she also completed a Master of Arts degree in Education from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Ms. Callahan returned to Massachusetts to join KIPP Academy Lynn’s founding staff in 2004. She joined Salem Academy in 2007 as Dean of Students and is now Head of Lower School. Ms. Callahan loves traveling, running, painting, and of course – the New York Yankees.
Jessica Callanan – Dean of Students
jcallanan@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Callanan grew up in Upstate New York and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, with a minor in Systems Engineering, from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1998. Ms. Callanan is an avid athlete and played four years as a pitcher for the Army softball team during her time at West Point. She served in the US Army as an Engineer officer for five years, during this time she earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Callanan taught high school history in New Jersey, in both private and public schools, for five years and joined Salem Academy's administrative team in August 2010. Ms. Callanan earned her administrative certification in 2010 from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She loves to run, read, travel and spend time with her husband and two children. Ms. Callanan is excited to be back at Salem Academy for the 2011 – 2012 school year.
Gregory Cate - Math Teacher
gcate@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Cate completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics at The College of the Holy Cross under an ROTC scholarship and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. After a tour in the submarine force on the USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) and shore duty at Naval Submarine School, he received his M.S. in Education from The University of New Haven and taught in the math department at James Hilhouse High School in New Haven. Mr. Cate lives in Reading with his wife, Brianne and is a proud member of the Salem Academy Charter School staff.
Jonathan Cook - Upper School Science/Biology Teacher
Mr. Cook was born and raised in Dallas, TX. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Movement Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology with a Biomechanics focus from the University of Texas. More recently, Mr. Cook completed a PhD in Physiology from the Penn State University College of Medicine. This year he will teach upper high school students in biology and environmental science. In his free time, he enjoys photography, astronomy, running, and rock climbing.
Karen Corbett - Academic Affairs Coordinator
Ms. Corbett grew up in Canada, but has called Massachusetts home for 15 years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in French from Southwestern University in Texas, and a Master of Arts degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from The American University in Washington, D.C. Ms. Corbett has been lucky enough to experience a variety of jobs including flight attendant, special assistant in a Washington, D.C. lobbying office, mediator, creative problem solving consultant, corporate trainer, and most recently, middle school teacher in Salem, MA. After being home with her three small children, Ms. Corbett is looking forward to being back in Academia, especially in Salem. Ms. Corbett enjoyed spending time with her family.
Eleanor Corcoran - English Teacher - 7th Grade Team Leader
Mrs. Corcoran was born in Haverhill, MA and attended the University of Vermont. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a minor in English. After graduation, Mrs. Corcoran took on a year-long fellowship at the MATCH Public Charter High School in Boston, MA, where she fell in love with teaching. She enrolled in the MATCH Teacher Training Program to pursue a career in education. She is also now earning a Masters in Education at Simmons College in Boston. In 2009-2011 Mrs. Corcoran taught seventh grade English at Salem Academy, and this year will be teaching 7th Grade History. Aside from teaching, Mrs. Corcoran enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.
Teague Desmond – English Teacher
tdesmond@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Desmond originates from the tranquil sea town of Rockport MA. He grew up just down the street from where Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson would hike along the Atlantic coast and enjoy a spot of tea. Soon after transferring from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Mr. Desmond received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Salem State College. Upon graduation, he taught creative writing before becoming a learning specialist at Salem Academy. A licensed ELA teacher, he is delighted to be in the classroom fulltime implementing our new scope and sequence and bringing his love of literature to the community. Mr. Desmond also enjoys music (and an occasional spot of tea.)
Anabella Dominick - Spanish Teacher
Ms. Dominick is a resident of Danvers, married with two daughters. She was born in Peru and lived in Argentina, Peru and Spain while I was growing up. Ms. Dominick obtained her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Professional Spanish and Education 5-12 as a Minor at Salem State University. As well as studying Psychology at the University of San Antonio Abad in Peru. She has 8 years of experience teaching Spanish in the Middle School and High School level. In her spare time she enjoys practicing sports such as volleyball, basketball and soccer. She has a passion for travel and hopes to bring her daughters to Spain and Argentina to visit family and learn more about the culture. Ms. Dominick is very excited to be working at Salem Academy Charter School.
Kathryn Downes - ELA Teacher
Ms. Downes was born in Quincy, MA, and spent her early childhood in Stoughton and Milton, MA. At the age of 5, she moved to a small town in North Carolina. She then spent her high school years in St. Paul, MN. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in English, she moved back to the Boston area, to work as a tutor and student teacher at the MATCH Charter Middle School in Jamaica Plain, MA. While at MATCH, she worked with 6th-8th grade students as a math and humanities tutor, and with 6th and 7th grade students as a reading teacher. She concluded her student teaching training this past summer, working as a summer reading teacher at the Community Charter School of Cambridge.
Carli Flemming - 8th Grade Learning Specialist
Michael Fu - Math Teacher
mfu@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Fu was born in New York City and studied information systems and programming at SUNY Stony Brook, and later earned his Masters of Education at Pace University. He has seven years of experience teaching high school mathematics and aims to connect the academic experience in class to the real world for his students. Mr. Fu currently teaches AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and Pre-Calculus.His favorite past times include playing basketball, traveling, photography, tinkering and building computers / gadgets and is a kid at heart often squeezing in time for videogames and comic books.
Geoffrey Gaurano - Upper School Learning Specialist
Grace Geden – Art Teacher
ggeden@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Geden received a BA in Studio Art from Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York. She continued her studies in fine arts at the Art Students League in New York as well as the Art Alliance and Guild of Creative Art in Red Bank, New Jersey. In 1982 she attended a highly specialized art restoration program in Florence, Italy in collaboration with the Uffizi Gallery. In 1984 she received a graduate teaching assistantship from Massachusetts College of Art where she taught drawing and painting at their satellite school, Nantucket School of Art and Design. Ms. Geden was a Special Education teacher’s assistant at Gloucester High School for seven years before coming to SACS. She worked closely with students in academic support and mainstream settings. She also taught specialized art instruction for gifted and talented students as well as elementary and middle school art. Ms. Geden is thrilled to be back for another year at Salem Academy.
Denise Granniss - English Teacher
dgranniss@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Granniss is delighted to be a Salem resident, even in October, and has been bringing her love of books, writing and drama into classrooms for over 15 years. She has helped to develop and taught all the Uper School English courses, including the recently added Advanced Placement program, and has had lots of fun directing a variety of plays and small theatrical events. Before Salem Academy, Ms. Granniss graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz and earned her MA from nearby Salem State College. She has served on the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild, the Huntington Theater Education Advisory Panel and as Massachusetts’ Director for the National Shakespeare competition for Teens. She and her husband, Chris, are the proud parents of a “Salts” fourth grader and a newly minted "Salts" kindergartner.
Pat Hansen – Math Teacher/Learning Specialist
phansen@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Hansen returns to Salem Academy for her seventh year as a math and Special Education teacher after a number of years in the Computer Industry. She received a BA in Math from Salem State and MS in Teaching with a major in Math from the University of Florida early in her career in the Computer Industry. In making the transition to teaching she received a M.Ed. in Special Education from Salem State in 2005.
Rachel Hunt - Head of School
rhunt@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Hunt is a Salem resident and former teacher at the Collins Middle School in Salem. She graduated from Wesleyan University in 1995 with a BA in sociology and 6-12th grade teacher certification in history and social studies. She went on to earn a M.Ed. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2000 specializing in administration and planning. She has taught and trained teachers in public schools in the U.S. and abroad. Ms. Hunt is fluent in Spanish and is the lead founder of Salem Academy.
Amanda Konkel - Music Teacher
Ms. Konkel was born in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and grew up on the west coast moving to Bainbridge Island, WA at 15 and finishing high school on the island located east of Seattle. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the Berklee College of Music. Her principal instrument is Tenor Saxophone, but she also sings, plays many other woodwind instruments, brass instruments, percussion, and the piano. She is very excited to become a part of the SACS community and can’t wait to get started on the new music program. Ms. Konkel’s hobbies include horseback riding, painting, and reading.
ManFung Lam - Lower School Learning Specialist
Ms. Lam grew up in New Jersey and attended Boston University for her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Special Education. Following graduation, she worked as a special education aide in Newton before returning to school in Nashville, TN. There she attended the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University for her Master's Degree in Special Education. During her time in Boston, she fell in love with the city and decided to return to Massachusetts. She is excited to start her first year of teaching at the Salem Academy Charter School! In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring new places.
Melissa Lassen - College Counselor
Ms. Lassen was born in Gloucester, MA and attended the University of Rhode Island (Go Rhody!) for her undergraduate degree. She received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a Psychology minor. After several years in corporate recruiting Ms. Lassen decided to pursue her passion for education and received a Masters of Education from Salem State University. Ms. Lassen is certified in middle and high school guidance counseling as well as K-12 health education.
Currently Ms. Lassen lives in Beverly with her husband Wes, their daughter Natalie, and their dog Georgia. This is her first year at Salem Academy and is enthusiastic about helping her students achieve their college goals.
Chelsee Lowe-Shiels - English Teacher
clowe@salemacademycs.org
Chelsee Lowe graduated from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC with a BA in English and received her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of schools including Real Alternative High School in San Francisco, Cambridge Rindge and Latin in Cambridge, MA, and Monument High School in South Boston. Chelsee is a native of the North Shore and is happy to be returning to Salem Academy Charter School!
Christopher Maniachi - Social Studies TeacherMr. Maniachi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a focus on American History and Geography from Framingham State College and completed a Masters of Liberal Studies focusing on History from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. He is currently working towards his M.Ed in Special Education from Fort Hays State University. Mr. Maniachi has taught history at Waltham High School and Wellesley Middle School, and has served as a Special Education teaching assistant in Wellesley, Bedford, and Carlisle. He has several hobbies including martial arts, working out, sports memorabilia collecting and reading. He is looking forward to sharing his passions of history and lifelong learning with his students at Salem Academy Charter School.
Amy Martyn - ELL Coordinator
Ms. Martyn graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Comparative Literature, and achieved her M.Ed at Lesley University in Curriculum & Instruction: Literacy. She has been a teacher at Salem Academy since 2006 (year 3!) and is currently the ELL (English Language Learner) Coordinator and teacher, as well as an 11th grade Connections and Service Learning teacher. Ms. Martyn lives in her hometown of Beverly, MA with my husband John and two sons Max and Leo.
Misty McBrierty - Science Teacher
Ms. McBrierty grew up on the shores of Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine. She graduated from Foxcroft Academy and attended the University of Maine at Farmington, earning her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. From there she taught for middle school science & math for 11 year. During those years she earned a master’s in Middle Level Curriculum and a CAS in Educational Leadership. Misty became an administrator for a few years and before coming back to teaching. She is very passionate about education, leading and teaching in schools. It is her life’s work and she feels she have a great deal to offer any school that she works or leads in. "I love what I do and enjoy coming to work everyday." Ms. McBrierty invites students and parents to check out her class website for more information about her and her classes
at Salem Academy Charter School.
Emily Mitchell - Learning Specialist
Ms. Mitchell, a classically trained artist with New England roots, is a passionate advocate for the arts who works with children year round to develop their talent and creativity. Ms. Mitchell has a fine arts degree with a focus in painting from Montserrat College of Art and apprenticed under professional fine artists and returned to the Bay State after working as a frame designer and gallery manager in Florida. During her training Ms. Mitchell was nominated for the Yale University Norfolk Fellowship and was awarded the Carol Schlosberg Memorial Prize for excellence in painting. Away from school, Ms. Mitchell volunteers the Marblehead Children’s Festival Committee and works as an arts specialist with the Concord Academy Summer Camp.
Shamus Mruk – History Teacher
Mr. Mruk has devoted the past six years to student development and teaching. He is certified in ninth to twelfth grade history by the Commonwealth. Mr. Mruk achieved his Bachelor of Arts at Assumption College and his Master of Arts at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His studies focused on United States, Latin America, and Post-World War II history.
Beth Murphy – Reading Teacher
Beth Murphy is a lifelong resident of the North Shore having grown up in Beverly, and currently residing in Hamilton with her husband Steve and their two children; Kevin 8 and Kyleigh 6. Having worked in business for several years after graduating from Salem State with a B.A in English, Mrs. Murphy returned to Salem State and earned a Masters degree in Education. Mrs. Murphy worked several years as a middle school ELA and Social Studies teacher before coming to Salem Academy. In addition to her Master’s degree, she is certified in Wilson, and has been trained in the Linda Mood-Bell reading program Visualizing and Verbalizing. She is enthusiastically returning for her 5th year at Salem Academy as the Reading Teacher. “My goal as a teacher is to find a way for each of my students to reach their personal goals in an environment that helps them realize that they have to power to succeed.”
Emma Nairn - Math Teacher (7th Grade)
Ms. Nairn was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. At Dartmouth she earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry with a focus in organic chemistry, and also studied music and piano. Last year Ms. Nairn worked as an Americorps member as a full-time tutor and a teacher resident at the MATCH Charter Public Middle School in Jamaica Plain. Ms. Nairn tutored 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in math and english, and taught sixth grade science during summer school. Ms. Nairn loves math, and is excited to begin her teaching career this year teaching 7th grade pre-algebra at Salem Academy. When she is not at school, Ms. Nairn enjoys playing the piano, reading, road biking, skiing, and playing outside.
Sean O’Neil – Executive Director
soneil@salemacademycs.org
Mr. O’Neil has many years of experience as an English teacher and an administrator at public and private schools including Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School, Cambridge School of Weston, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, and Lawrence Academy. He has a B.S. in Business Administration from Rider University and M.A.T in English from University of Notre Dame. He has particular interests in curriculum development, progressive education, and arts education and has served on the Boards of several performing arts organizations on Cape Cod. Mr. O’Neil and his wife, Nancy, have two daughters.
Chyna Onembo – Upper School Learning Specialist
conembo@salemacademycs.orgMs. Onembo has been fascinated with learning and teaching since she was a small girl. She was born in Broadway, NJ where she resided until she attended the University of Connecticut. She took pride in becoming a part of the UCONN Husky community, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History. After graduation Ms. Onembo spent the summer living on Nantucket and naturally fell in love with Massachusetts. That fall she enrolled in a Graduate School Program at Salem State College where she completed a Masters degree in Education with a focus in Middle School Humanities. After obtaining her Masters degree Ms. Onembo traveled to many places in the world that she had always wanted to explore. After returning to Massachusetts she was excited to start her career in education. Ms. Onembo will be returning as a Learning Specialist in the Upper School at Salem Academy. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Erica Pelletier- Athletic Instructor
Mrs. Pelletier came to Salem in 1994 to attend Salem State College where she earned her BA in English and minored in Philosophy. She lives in Salem with her husband, their son- who is a student at Salem Academy, two cats and two dogs. Mrs. Pelletier teaches athletics classes during Choice Block and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for soccer by coaching the Salem Academy soccer team. She especially loves organizing skiing and snowboarding trips for the students and their families where they can all grind together. During her spare time she travels and watches anything NASCAR related.
Robert Pelletier - History Teacher
Curriculum Team Leader
rpelletier@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Pelletier is a graduate of Boston University's School of Education where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Social Studies Education. Having grown up in Salem, he is delighted to contribute to the city's educational diversity. He enjoys molding the minds of youths through his classes and in action, as coach of the mock trial team, and also serves as the History Department's Curriculum Team Leader. Mr. Pelletier also attended a charter school as a middle schooler and is excited to once again be a part of a charter school.
Elisabeth Reickert - Upper School Adjustment Counselor
Elisabeth Reickert, LMHC, is thrilled to join Salem Academy as the Upper School Adjustment Counselor. Originally from Newburyport, MA, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Montserrat College of Art, followed by a Masters Degree in Expressive Therapy from Lesley University. Mrs. Reickert has experience in a wide range of academic settings, including working with adolescents and families whose lives are impacted by mental illness, learning challenges, traumatic brain injury, emotional trauma, and behavioral issues. She has extensive experience facilitating individual, family, and group therapy, focusing on topics such as anger and stress management, social skills, substance abuse, and community safety. Mrs. Reickert brings a commitment to helping students navigate the challenges of their adolescent years and achieve their academic goals by realizing their innate strengths and building strong partnerships with teachers and families. Ms. Reickert enjoys camping, making art, and eating with friends.
Allison Rourke - Science Teacher
Ms. Rourke grew up in Wellesley, MA, and currently resides in Danvers, MA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology from Connecticut College in 1997 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Simmons College in 2004. She comes to Salem Academy from the Marblehead Veterans Middle School where she taught 8th grade Science and also started the school’s first engineering club. In addition to her classroom teaching experience, Ms. Rourke has been an educator with both the New England Aquarium and the UMASS Boston Upward Bound Program. More recently, she worked with Teachers21, a nonprofit organization focused on improving teacher quality in Massachusetts. She also has extensive research experience, which includes a trip to Kenya in the summer of 2006 to study Sykes monkeys. When she isn’t in the classroom, Ms. Rourke’s hobbies include running, cooking, dance and theater. She is a member of Salem’s Wicked Running Club and the Wellesley Players theater group. This is her third year at Salem Academy Charter School.
Sarah (Pickens) Roy – Lower School Adjustment Counselor
Sarah (Pickens) Roy, LICSW, returns to the Salem Academy community this school year as the Lower School Adjustment Counselor. Originally from Indiana, Mrs. Roy received dual undergraduate degrees in Counseling and Sociology from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN. She then earned her Masters of Social Work degree from Boston College. Prior to joining the SACS team in 2010, Mrs. Roy spent four years working at Germaine Lawrence, an Arlington, MA residential treatment program and school for adolescent girls facing challenges related to mental illness, trauma and learning difficulties. She has extensive experience facilitating both individual and group therapies, including those emphasizing how
adolescents can learn to cope and manage stressors in an effective and positive manner and how they can build and practice social skills, anger management techniques and improve self-esteem. Mrs. Roy believes that every child is capable of achieving their full potential when given resources, support and encouragement. In her spare time, Mrs. Roy enjoys traveling, being outdoors with her dog Milo and spending time with her friends and family.
Meg Russo – Math Teacher - 9th Grade Team Leader
mrusso@salemacademycs.org
Excited to begin her sixth year at Salem Academy, Mrs. Russo is looking forward to encouraging a love of learning and an interest in mathematics in her students. She earned her degree at Boston College and continued her education with graduate work at Salem State. Her past work as an engineer helps her to bring real world examples to the classroom and hands-on projects into class to help make math tangible. Mrs. Russo loves to read, garden, go camping, travel, swim, and listen to music but her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family.
Todd Schumacher – History Teacher
tschumacher@salemacademycs.org
Born in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Schumacher grew up in California, Egypt, Massachusetts and Pakistan before earning a degree in Environmental Biology and Religious Studies from the University of Colorado. He worked in the fields of youth development and education while serving with both the Peace Corps in Central America and AmeriCorps in Washington DC. He has a Masters degree in Media & Public Affairs from George Washington University and has taught at schools in Belize, Washington DC, India and North Carolina before coming to Salem, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Samantha Sharpe - Food Service Coordinator
David Shiels – Math Teacher
Curriculum Team Leader
dshiels@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Shiels completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MSc in Public Policy Economics at the University of Hull in England. In his graduate work, he focused on research and statistical analysis of the link between unemployment and criminal activity. Upon graduation, Mr. Shiels worked as a Business Analyst of a large financial services company. He then completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Manchester where he taught in a wide range of schools and colleges. Before becoming a teacher at Salem Academy, he taught Mathematics and Computer Science at a sports college in England, specializing in differentiating learning outcomes to meet the needs of mixed ability groups. He is a founding faculty member of Salem Academy Charter School.
Dan Smith – Science Teacher
8th Grade Team Leader
dsmith@salemacademycs.org
Mr. Smith was born in Belleville, PA and attended Penn State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop and Soil Sciences in 2005. He then taught middle school science in Philadelphia for two years as a Teach For America corps member. During those two years, he completed a Masters degree in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Having a lifelong passion for soccer, Mr. Smith coached three teams in the Philadelphia area before moving to England in 2008 to pursue a Masters degree in Sport Psychology at the University of Exeter. Mr. Smith is excited to start his second year teaching 8th grade Introduction to Physical Science and his first year as 8th grade team leader at Salem Academy.
Linda St. Pierre – Special Education Coordinator
lstpierre@salemacademycs.org
Ms. St. Pierre is a Salem resident and former teacher at the Horace Mann Lab School in Salem. She has worked in the field of Special Education in private and public settings since earning her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Salem State College in 1979. She completed one year of graduate study in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1990. Ms. St. Pierre is a founding faculty member of Salem Academy.
Edward (Jed) Stamas - Science Teacher
Mr. Stamas grew up in the Hudson valley region of New York and received a B.S. in physics and astronomy from Haverford College in 1996. After graduating he worked at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He taught calculus, chemistry, and physics at the Academy at Charlemont in western Massachusetts. From 2004 to 2006, he attended graduate school in urban physical science education from the University of California, Berkeley, where he participated in two research groups and completed a master's thesis. Mr. Stamas has over ten years of experience in education, mostly in urban schools. Prior to coming to Salem Academy, he taught physics, astronomy, and environmental science at Saugus High School. Mr. Stamas arrived at SACS with great energy and enthusiasm for the school and students. He is currently teaching physics and chemistry. His interests outside of science include hiking, music, and philosophy.
Elena Vasilakis - Lower School Learning Specialist
Ms. Vasilakis graduated from Trinity College with a BA in Sociology and Educational Studies. After college, she joined Americorps in South Carolina and completed a 10-month service all over the Southeast. Ms. Vasilakis completed her Master’s of Education from Lesley University in Special Needs in 2007. She has taught at Watertown Middle School before joining Salem Academy Charter School. She enjoys playing soccer and spending time with her family and is excited for the new school year!!
Julie Wolf – School Nurse
jwolf@salemacademycs.org
Ms. Wolf has been working with children and families throughout her professional career. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Social Science from Washington University. From there, she worked internationally through the United States Peace Corps, focusing on environmental health and agriculture. Upon her return to the states, Ms. Wolf obtained her Masters degree in Sociology from Colorado State University, completing her thesis on the study of care work and emotional management. She moved to Massachusetts in 2005 and served as the Director of Children’s services at a shelter in East Boston. In 2008, Julie returned to school to pursue nursing and has been practicing as a registered nurse since 2009. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating environment, nutrition, emotion and physical health, and is excited to be returning for another year at Salem Academy.
Fara Wolfson - Learning Specialist