We’re delighted to welcome five new faculty and staff members to Rumsey Hall for the 2026–2027 academic year. Four teachers will join our Upper School faculty in the French, English, and Science departments, and one new colleague will join our Business Office. Together, they bring a wide range of domestic and international experience, advanced study, and a shared enthusiasm for working with students and supporting the Rumsey community.
Read more about them:
- French — Lara Caradimitropoulo holds a B.A. in French and History from the University of Virginia, with study abroad experience at Université Lumière Lyon 2 and Sciences Po Lyon in France, as well as a summer program in Dakar, Senegal. She has served as an English Language Assistant in Martinique, France, and, most recently, in Elche, Spain, teaching English, music, and arts to students ages 6–11. Lara also brings volunteer teaching experience with the Alliance Française and as an ESL volunteer in Charlottesville, VA. Lara will teach French.
- English Department Chair — Kathryn Congleton joins us with 14 years of experience in curriculum development, instruction, and residential leadership. She earned her B.A. in English Language and Literature (minor in Theater) from Pace University, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Merrimack College, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, also at Merrimack. Kathryn most recently taught English at Salisbury School, and prior to that served as Summer Session Department Chair of English and Curriculum Coordinator at Eaglebrook School, as well as Dorm Head and Affinity Group Leader. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Global Programming and International Student Support at Kents Hill School.
- Science — Désiré Essis brings over 20 years of international and domestic teaching experience in mathematics and science. He holds an M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Rhode Island and an M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Abidjan (Ivory Coast), along with a Certificate in School Management & Leadership from the Harvard School of Education and a College Counselor Certificate from Columbia University. Most recently, Désiré served as University Counselor and AP Coordinator at the American School of Douala, Cameroon, and previously spent eight years as Head of the Secondary School and Math/Science teacher at the American International School of Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, with additional leadership and teaching roles in Georgia (Eastern Europe), Qatar, and China. Désiré will teach Science.
- English — Christine Richey earned her B.S. in Secondary English Education at The Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated with honors and served as a Learning Coordinator and Teaching Assistant for Biological Science. This summer and last summer, Christine served as a Summer Teaching Fellow at The Taft School, co-teaching writing and literature courses, serving as a dorm parent to middle school students, and coaching afternoon athletics. Christine will teach English and coach athletics.
- Controller — Priscilla Rivas-Mancinone joins our Business Office as Controller. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Management from the University of Connecticut School of Business and a B.A. in Accounting from the Autonomous University of Central America. Priscilla brings over 20 years of accounting experience, most recently as Staff Accountant at Westover School, where she managed the month-end close process, reconciled tuition revenue and donor contributions, coordinated annual audit preparation, and prepared budget-to-actual reports and Board-level financial analyses. Priscilla is bilingual in Spanish.
