Faculty & Staff Directory

Stephanie Sagaria brings nearly fifteen years of expertise in elementary education to her role at Rumsey Hall School, where she currently teaches Pre-Primes. Since joining Rumsey in 2020, following nine years of experience in public school education, she has been a valued member of the community. Stephanie holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University and a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Western Connecticut State University.
Drawn to Rumsey’s close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere, Mrs. Sagaria  immediately connected with the school’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, supportive environment for young learners. In her classroom, she encourages curiosity while embracing the school’s philosophy of letting children “be little” through enriched and balanced teaching that nurtures the whole child. “First graders,” she says, “are simply the best!”
Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Sagaria resides in Spooner House with her husband, daughter, and son. Together, they enjoy outdoor adventures, from biking and hiking to swimming and playing games. Stephanie also loves cooking, practicing gymnastics, running, and spending time with friends and family—especially when there’s laughter involved. She’s a fan of Kenny Chesney and values the simple joys of life.

AnnMarie Sarbello is the Library Assistant who earned an M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport and B.A. in Communications from Western Connecticut State University. Since 2011, she has also worked as an Independent Literacy Consultant, a role she continues to serve in today. Before coming to Rumsey she was an Independent Literacy Coach while working as a Library Clerk for the Region 12 School District and served as an elementary education teacher since 2001.

Mark Simonelli joined Rumsey Hall in 2016 and is currently the Associate Director of Technology. A graduate of Canterbury School and Salve Regina University, Mark enjoys supporting students with all their technology needs, whether it’s teaching safe usage, responsible device care, or finding solutions to tech challenges. As a residential staff member, he lives in a boys’ dorm and shares meals in the dining hall, fostering a strong sense of community.
Mark loves being in nature in his free time, whether relaxing by the lake while his kids swim or hiking the trails around campus. He also enjoys watching his kids’ activities and celebrating their participation with visits to local ice cream shops.

Pete Simpson brings more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and school leader to his role as Upper School Director at Rumsey Hall. He previously served as Director of the Upper School at the Buckley School in New York City and as Associate Director at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center, where he supported independent school leaders nationwide.
Pete has led initiatives in curriculum design, faculty development, student life, and inclusion. He has taught a range of subjects—from math and English to humanities and music—at schools across the country.
He holds an M.A. in Private School Leadership from Columbia University and a B.A. in Sociology from Dartmouth College. A passionate musician, Pete performed with The Choral Society in NYC and is a proud alum of the Dartmouth Aires. He joins Rumsey with his wife, Alice, and their daughter, Grace ’36.

Kent Smith joined Rumsey Hall School in the fall of 2025 as the Coordinator of Ancillary Services. As a career educator and student activities administrator, he found that he missed the buzz of a school and educational environment during a short-lived retirement. At Rumsey, he enjoys building relationships that help bring projects and initiatives to life and strengthen the School’s connection to the greater community. Kent enjoys history, politics, animals, agriculture, and sustainability issues.

Eric Stone teaches History and ESL History. With a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.Ed from Westminster College, Eric brings experience from classrooms in Utah and many summers of leadership at Camp Androscoggin in Maine. He lives on campus and coaches soccer.

Ms. Stukshis joined Rumsey Hall School as a Learning Skills Specialist after a classroom teaching career.  She earned M.S. and B.S. Degrees in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University. “I enjoy the opportunity to get to know and understand students fully.  Specifically, working one-on-one with students allows designing the curriculum according to the student’s needs. Guiding, encouraging, and empowering each student to find their strengths and achieve their goals, is an enriching experience.”  She also cherishes the opportunity to work in a close-knit, friendly environment with wonderfully talented and dedicated colleagues.
For Ms. Stukshis, finding Rumsey was purely accidental. She and her husband decided to look into the school for their six-year-old son David. He flourished and loved Rumsey. After that, they went to work and school together for several years!

Sarah Sullivan serves as the Lower School Art Teacher and Lower School Theater Director at Rumsey Hall School. Sarah holds a B.A. from Smith College and an M.F.A. from the University of California, Irvine. She brings to Rumsey a deep curiosity about how things are made and loves inspiring that same curiosity in her students. 
Sarah particularly enjoys working with Lower School students because of their inquisitive nature and the unique questions they ask. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking and playing the French horn.

Rachel Szala is a seasoned communications and brand strategist with over 15 years of experience in higher education, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University and dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology from The Ohio State University.
Before joining Rumsey Hall’s Leadership Team as Director of Marketing & Communications, Rachel served as Associate Dean for Communications & External Relations at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and as Director of External Affairs at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, where she led institution-wide marketing and communications initiatives focused on brand visibility, digital storytelling, and attracting mission-aligned students. Earlier in her career, she worked on branding and communications strategy at the Clinton Foundation and consulted for organizations including First Wind, Eli Lilly, Iron Mountain, and the ALS Association.
Originally from rural Ohio, Rachel is a third-degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, a certified sommelier, and a novice but enthusiastic tennis player. She enjoys cooking and spending quality time at the lake with her husband and son (Raev ’36).