Faculty & Staff Directory

David Stude is a dedicated Science Teacher who began his career in 2023 as a Teaching Fellow at Rumsey Hall School. There, he contributes to the academic and residential life of the community. He earned his B.S. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Pennsylvania State University and is an active coach and member of the Residential Life and Weekend Teams.
Passionate about hands-on learning, Mr. Stude enjoys creating engaging, experiential learning opportunities for his students. He takes pride in witnessing their growth over time and being a part of their journey.
Outside of school, he loves sailing, hiking, camping, and spending time in nature.

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).

Olivia Tarman, Upper School French, graduated from the Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, she taught at the Académie Nancy-Metz in France and has also worked with Duolingo as an independent contractor, translating course content in English, Arabic, and French, and developing a CEFR-aligned curriculum. Previously, she was an immigration paralegal with Klasko Immigration Law Partners in Philadelphia. At Rumsey, she teaches French and coaches recreational tennis.

Troy Taylor teaches in the Upper School History Department. Most recently, he taught in the Providence Public School District in Rhode Island while obtaining his master’s degree. He previously taught for 7 years in East Harlem, New York City for the Archdiocese of New York. He holds a BA in Africana Studies from Gettysburg College, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame and an MAT in Social Studies from Brown University. He is the chair of Rumsey’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging committee. He also coaches for the Blue Dog football and basketball teams at Rumsey. 

Jessica Thier is a Lower School Assistant since 2022 and holds a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education from Charter Oak State College. She believes teaching in the Pre-primes and Primes classrooms provides an opportunity to work with children at a time in which they are developing greater independence, understanding increasingly difficult concepts, and further expressing their individual personalities. Ms. Thier enjoys spending time with my family, as well as any opportunity she has to go to the beach.

Jeffrey Traver is a maintenance project manager and joined Rumsey in 2018. One of his many talents is teaching woodshop classes to various ages. Besides the opportunity to demonstrate the joy of working with wood, he finds it gratifying to interact with students worldwide and see their creativity. He is a former active-duty member of the United States Coast Guard.
When not on campus solving problems and improving student and faculty lives, he enjoys spending time fishing and boating with his wife and two daughters in Rhode Island.

William James Trosan joined the Rumsey Hall maintenance department in August of 2024. He takes pride working with his team to make our campus look its best. James earned his BFA at University of Hartford in 2006. He has previously worked as a teacher in the Newtown Public Schools, following a career in the culinary arts. James has lived in Connecticut for most of his life and currently resides in nearby Bethlehem. He enjoys spending time outdoors and cooking for his wife Erica and their children.
 

Keith Vidic joined the Rumsey Hall Maintenance Team in 2013 and has been a dedicated member ever since. He takes pride in working with his hands and has enjoyed expanding his skill set over the years. Keith values the strong sense of community and family at Rumsey, and especially cherishes the opportunity to watch his daughter thrive in the Lower School.
Outside of work, Keith loves spending quality time with his wife Sarah and their daughters. He also enjoys racing dirt bikes and volunteering with the Bethlehem Fire Department.

George Webb joined Rumsey in 2021 as the School’s Counselor. He supports students whether it be a one-time appointment or ongoing support throughout the year. In addition to his School Counseling role George also co-teaches 8th Grade Sex Education and engages with Lower School students in social and emotional learning lessons along with supporting the AEP activities. 

George has been in the field of Counseling for almost 20 years. He began his career in therapeutic group homes in 2007. In 2009, he started working at an in-home therapeutic program called IICAPS with Family and Children’s Aid. In 2017, George graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a graduate degree in School Counseling. Before joining Rumsey he worked in the public school districts of Danbury, Bethel, and Waterbury. 

George lives in Newtown with his wife and two children. His family loves to travel, and he enjoys playing baseball, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.