Chapin Welcomes New Professional Community Members

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Chapin Welcomes New Professional Community Members


Twenty accomplished, energetic and interesting individuals joined Chapin this fall. Here are brief profiles of these newest members of the School’s Professional Community:

LOWER SCHOOL

VANITY DAVID

Class 1 Head Teacher

  • Education: Ms. David received her undergraduate degree in women’s studies from Barnard College. She then pursued a dual master’s degree in early childhood education and special education from New York University.
  • Experience: Prior to teaching at Chapin, Ms. David taught first grade in a co-ed private school in Manhattan.
  • Fun Facts: During her free time, Ms. David likes to dance and perform. She started her dance training at age 9 and is a professional dancer in salsa and liturgical dance. She currently performs at various events throughout the city. 

AIMEE MCSHERRY

Assistant to Head of Lower School

  • Education: Ms. McSherry received her bachelor of education degree from Dublin City University.
  • Experience: She has worked as a primary school teacher in Dublin for over 10 years, teaching Kindergarten through Grade 3.
  • Fun Facts: She is certified as a tag rugby and Gaelic sports foundation coach. On the weekends, Ms. McSherry loves to cook her must-have roast chicken and spend time with her husband and their baby boy, Jack.

SYLVIA MORALES

Class 3 Head Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Morales earned her B.A. and master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and earned her teaching credential from San Francisco State University.
  • Experience: She worked as a classroom teacher for many years before becoming a school-based curriculum/teacher coach and principal in San Francisco.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Morales is an admitted “education research geek” and enjoys reading myriad professional development books. She lives in Brooklyn with her son and loves walking around her neighborhood.

BROOKE OOTEN

Kindergarten Associate Teacher (maternity leave replacement)

  • Education: Ms. Ooten graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts from Colgate University and was granted honors in English. Following this, she spent time working in investment banking before pursuing her master of arts in teaching of English at Teachers College, Columbia University.
  • Experience: After completing her M.A., Ms. Ooten went on to work as a high school English teacher at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and then later as a middle school homeroom and English teacher at Marymount School.
  • Fun Facts: She resides in New York City with her husband and four children.
  • In Her Own Words: “Chapin fosters a sense of altruism and independence in its girls from their first days in Kindergarten. By forging this uniquely symbiotic bond among the girls, Chapin creates a sense of capability in its students that is tempered by social awareness and compassion. A Chapin girl doesn't simply extend her hand to you; she reaches down and pulls you up using her strength of mind, body and heart.”

LIANA ROSABUL-BUSHNELL

Lower School Science Associate Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Rosabal studied media and culture as an undergraduate at The New School. She received a master’s in literacy and general education from Bank Street College of Education.
  • Experience: She joins Chapin from a charter school in Brooklyn, where she served as a founding kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, and science/robotics teacher. This opportunity led Ms. Rosabal to develop a deep interest in science and STEM education.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Rosabal enjoys gardening, watching movies and spending time with her family.  

VERONICA SANABANI

Class 2 Associate Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Sanabani received her bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism from the University of North Florida and a dual master’s degree in childhood education and special education from New York University.
  • Experience: During her time at NYU, she had the opportunity to study literacy instruction in the United Kingdom at the Sion-Manning Roman Catholic Girls’ School. Prior to teaching at Chapin, Ms. Sanabani taught kindergarten and 1st grade at Grace Church School.
  • Fun Facts: As a native Floridian, Ms. Sanabani enjoys exploring the five boroughs of New York City, in addition to trying new restaurants, traveling and reading.

KAMESHIA SHEPHERD

Class 3 Associate Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Shepherd recently graduated from Bank Street Graduate School of Education with a master's degree in museum and childhood education.
  • Experience: She joins the Chapin community after teaching 1st and 2nd grades at The Spence School. She has also taught English in South Korea and served as a museum educator at the Children's Museum of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Shepherd was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica and raised in Queens, New York. Her hobbies include traveling, visiting museums and historical sites, singing at noraebangs (Korean-style karaoke rooms) and trying different foods.
  • In Her Own Words: “I love curriculum and I am excited about the math and social studies curriculum at Chapin. The content is so engaging!”

JONATHAN TALBOT

Class 1 Associate Teacher

  • Education: Mr. Talbot received his undergraduate degrees in communication and international film studies from Loyola University Chicago.
  • Experience: After working in the healthcare industry for years, he changed his career path to education. He has worked as an associate teacher in both the 1st and 3rd grades at a fellow NYSAIS school in Manhattan prior to joining the Chapin community.
  • Fun Facts: Currently, Mr. Talbot is pursuing his master's degree in childhood education and special education from Fordham University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and eating.

EDWARD WIERNIK

Lower School Music Teacher

  • Education: Mr. Wiernik studied at Duquesne University and received a dual degree in K-12 music education and jazz performance.
  • Experience: Prior to joining the Chapin community, Mr. Wiernik taught general music (K-6) at Laurence School in Los Angeles and Pre-K through 6 at Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills for a total of 12 years, in addition to serving as the K-12 Arts Coordinator. He developed the music curriculum for both Laurence and Kew-Forest and has experience working in drama, dance, concert band and STEAM.
  • Fun Facts: Mr. Wiernik is also a professional musician who had the privilege of being mentored by Harry Connick Jr., Ellis Marsalis, Sean Jones, and Yellowjackets. He currently performs under the Hank Lane Music Agency, where he has worked for seven years, and has recently established his own band within the company.
     

MIDDLE SCHOOL

DENNIS BOGUSZ

Middle School French Teacher & Advisor

  • Education: Dr. Bogusz completed a bachelor's degree in business at American University and a master's in international affairs and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He studied at Sciences Po in Paris and was a recipient of the Chateaubriand Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences of the French Embassy.
  • Experience: Dr. Bogusz worked as an administrator and adjunct professor at Cornell and Stanford Universities and has also taught at the Université Paris-Dauphine. He has tutored students in French and history and substituted at The Spence School.
  • Fun Facts: Prior to his career in education, Dr. Bogusz worked for French commercial and investment banks, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank, as well as for the United States Senate as a Congressional Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He enjoys running, cooking, and reading, especially with his young nephews.

 

SARAH CYR-MUTTY

Middle School Health Educator (maternity leave replacement)

  • Education: Ms. Cyr-Mutty attended Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy before making her way to Boston for higher education. She holds a bachelor's degree in women & gender studies and social justice from Simmons College and a master's degree in human sexuality education from Widener University.
  • Experience: She has been involved with Chapin for the past two years as a guest educator in the Middle and Upper Schools. In addition to her work at Chapin, Ms. Cyr-Mutty runs a peer-led sexual health program in the South Bronx and is an adjunct lecturer at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. 
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Cyr-Mutty grew up in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
  • In Her Own Words: “What excites me most about working at Chapin is being part of a community that is thoughtful and intentional about empowering young women (and by extension, all people) to create a world with more bravery, more compassion and more justice. I'm really thrilled to be here.”

COREY HOPP

Middle School Mathematics Teacher

  • Education: Mr. Hopp earned a B.A. degree in architectural studies from Tufts University and a master’s of teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education.
  • Experience: He taught conversational English, phonetics and Western culture at Anhui University of Technology in Anhui, China, and at Xiangyang University in Hubei, China. He then taught elementary-level English in Hubei before coming to New York and joining the New York City Teaching Fellows. Prior to Chapin, Mr. Hopp taught 6th and 7th grade mathematics at Mott Hall III Middle School and 10th grade geometry at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts.
  • Fun Facts: An avid student of martial arts, Mr. Hopp studied for six years at Wudang Mountain in China, before becoming a 16th generation disciple of Wudang's Sanfeng Pai Kungfu. Since then, he has taught and assisted martial arts classes for young people both in and out of the schools where he has taught math. He is also a black belt in Taekwondo, and is interested in creative outlets like drawing, sculpture and blacksmithing.
  • In His Own Words: “I am really excited to work in a school that embraces and acts on the belief that love of learning is paramount. Chapin dedicates the time and energy to building relationships that bolster the learning environment.”

ANNA MELLO

Middle School Science Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Mello earned her bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in education from Swarthmore College. She earned a master's degree in ecology from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianópolis, Brazil, and a post-graduate specialization in special education from Associação Sagres in Florianópolis, Brazil.
  • Experience: Prior to coming to Chapin, Ms. Mello worked for two years at the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica as a middle and high school science teacher. She also worked for five years at the International School of Florianópolis, Brazil, also as a middle school science teacher. As a graduate student she worked at the Federal University of Santa Catarina as an assistant teacher collaborating with the Engineering and Automation departments focusing on the conservation of natural resources.
  • Fun Facts: Over the past eight years, Ms. Mello worked as a translator and editor of scientific articles for various chemistry, ecology and biology journals. When she is not teaching she enjoys reading, traveling abroad and cooking foods from her home country of Brazil.  
  • In Her Own Words: “The first moment I entered the main hall at Chapin I felt at home. I was immediately drawn to the school’s welcoming environment. I was excited when I learned that I would be the Class 5 science teacher for 2018-2019. There is warmth and kindness from the professionals in the Middle School and an amazing willingness to work together and collaborate on many projects. I am excited to get to know Class 5 students and help implement the advisory curriculum encompassing concepts of identity, power, privilege and equity.”

NADIA MURRAY GOODMAN

Learning Resources Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Murray Goodman earned her bachelor's degree in religion from Princeton University. She worked in live event production and music before deciding to pursue a master's degree in teaching urban students with disabilities with a concentration in social studies from Long Island University - Brooklyn. Ms. Murray Goodman went on to study curriculum development at Bank Street College of Education.
  • Experience: She worked with Expeditionary Learning Education, focusing on bringing project-based learning into middle and high school classrooms. Ms. Murray Goodman has taught for over 10 years in various settings, including a Quaker school outside of Philadelphia, a public school in Brooklyn and an international school in Santiago, Chile. Most recently, while living in San Diego, she worked as a consultant, helping struggling schools and districts create international strategies to address student intervention needs.
  • Fun Facts: When not at work, Ms. Murray Goodman enjoys singing, dancing, cooking and spending time with her family.

 

MALLORY NEIDICH

Middle School Humanities Teacher

  • Education: Ms. Neidich began her education as a Kindergarten student at Chapin. After graduating in 2006, she earned a bachelor's degree in literary arts and in gender studies from Brown University and went on to earn her master's in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
  • Experience: Before returning to Chapin to teach, Ms. Neidich taught 7th and 8th grade English at Village Community School in downtown Manhattan.
  • Fun Facts: In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading novels and poetry, going to plays and trying new restaurants. 
  • In Her Own Words: “I’m excited by the thoughtfulness and curiosity of the students and the intelligence and creativity of the professional community.”
     

UPPER SCHOOL

LAURA BRADFORD

Upper School Mathematics Teacher 

  • Experience: Prior to coming to Chapin, Ms. Bradford taught math and coached diving at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. She also tutored independently in Manhattan. 
  • Education: She earned a B.A. in mathematics and a master’s of teaching from Bard College.
  • Fun Facts: In addition to her love of mathematics, Ms. Bradford enjoys an array of crafts including sewing, crochet and origami.

STEPHEN BONNETT

Upper School Mathematics Teacher

  • Education: Mr. Bonnett studied sociology at the University of Chicago and went on to earn a master's degree at Hunter College.
  • Experience: He has taught math and special education since 2011. Before arriving at Chapin, Mr. Bonnett led the math team for four years at the Newark, New Jersey, campus of Bard High School Early College.
  • Fun Facts: In addition to teaching, he enjoys reading, biking and running. 
  • In His Own Words: “I am already impressed at how eager my students are to collaborate, experiment, share, and apply their thinking. I am energized by the work my colleagues in the Upper School Math Department are doing to reimagine high school-level math as a window into problem-solving, critical thinking, and logical reasoning - a set of skills that will prepare them for any future. And I am honored to join a broader community so passionate about developing in the next generation of leaders the compassion and courage to confront the challenges of our world.” 

VIVIENNE FORRESTER

Head of Upper School Academic Technology; Coordinator of Upper School Robotics Team  

  • Education: Ms. Forrester earned a bachelor's degree in education with a major in computing and a minor in accounting at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and a master's degree in MIS from Nova Southeastern University (NSU).
  • Experience: Prior to joining Chapin, she worked as a computer instructor with the National Agency in Jamaica. More recently, Ms. Forrester completed a 9-year stint at the Washington Math and Science PCHS in Washington, D.C., serving in the capacities of International Baccalaureate IT teacher, technology department chair, Project Lead the Way engineering coordinator and STEM coordinator. She is also an IB IT examiner.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Forrester is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Information Systems at NSU. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing sports (netball, basketball and track) and spending time with her family.
  • In Her Own Words: “The Chapin School is an amazing place to work as an educator. Chapin is an environment with a fantastic professional community, students and parents working together to create a culture of excellence. It’s exciting to work with educators who are passionate about educating students, students who are very respectful and eager to learn and administrators who are flexible and supportive. Chapin provides a very collaborative and structured environment, deep-rooted in research, compassion and a growth mindset. I am excited to be here!”
     

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

AOIFE LEONARD

Advancement Associate

  • Education: Ms. Leonard received her B.F.A. from Tufts University.
  • Background: Prior to joining Chapin, she worked as a development intern at the Irish Arts Center.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Leonard grew up in Massachusetts and currently lives in Brooklyn with her cat. In her spare time, she enjoys creating digital art, reading, cooking and spending time in nature.

JENNER SCHLAFLY

Administrative Associate for Athletics & Coach

  • Education: Ms. Schlafly received her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Michigan.
  • Background: After spending six years in advertising sales in Chicago, Ms. Schlafly moved to New York City to pursue her passion for athletics. Prior to Chapin, she spent time in the Athletics department at The Brearley School.
  • Fun Facts: Ms. Schlafly was a Big Ten Tournament field hockey champion and captain at Michigan.
  • In Her Own Words: “I love how eager and capable the students are to learn and try new things.”