Welcome to Our New Faculty Members!

We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Rumsey Hall School faculty for the upcoming academic year. These educators bring a wealth of experience, passion, and innovation to our Blue Dog community, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them join us. Not just teachers but mentors and guides, these individuals will shape the future of our students. Their diverse backgrounds and innovative approaches align perfectly with Rumsey Hall’s commitment to academic excellence and holistic education.

Meet Our New Faculty:

4th Grade Assistant Teacher - Julie Lombardi is a Groton School graduate who earned her BS from the University of New Hampshire. She has a long-time connection with Rumsey and since 2011 has been a Head Teacher at the Kent School Early Learning Center. For the ten years prior she served Forman School as Director of Weekend Activities and supported both the Athletic and College Counseling offices. She has coached girls lacrosse, basketball, and ice hockey.

Director of Technology - Jeff Gaudet comes to us from Vermont Academy where he was the Director of Technology, and also served as Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Prior to VA, Jeff was the Director of Technology at the Montessori School of Denver. He has a BS from Franklin Pierce University.

Director of Marketing & Communications - Rachel Szala earned a Master of Public Administration from New York University and holds a Dual BA in Political Science and Sociology from The Ohio State University. She began her career as an account executive at a strategic communications firm and then worked as a public affairs consultant. She moved to New York University where she eventually became the Director of External Affairs for the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Most recently she has served as the associate Dean of Communications & External Relations at the School of International & Public Affairs at Columbia University.

Learning Skills - Christina McKeon is a Friends Academy graduate who earned her BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her MA in Teaching and Learning from National University. She has taught 6th Grade English at Spring View Middle School and East Woods School, in addition to History and Creative Writing. She then taught in the humanities department at Chase Collegiate and is the author of a children’s book. A stand-out high school athlete, she currently coaches girls lacrosse.

Learning Skills - Jessie Weinberg is a Reading and Literacy Specialist with over 25 years of experience, most recently as an Independent Reading and Literacy Specialist and a Literacy Consultant in New York City. Prior to that, she was a Reading Specialist at the Town School after teaching second and fourth grades. She earned her BA Magna Cum Laude from Carleton College, and her MS Ed in Reading and Literacy from the Bank Street College of Education.

Library Assistant - AnnMarie Sarbello earned a BA in Communications and a MS in Elementary Education. She has most recently been an Independent Literacy Coach while working as a Library Clerk for the Region 12 School District. Prior to that she served as an elementary education teacher since 2001.

Library Media Specialist - Brooke Faison earned a BA in Psychology Based Human Relations and a MA in International & Intercultural Service. She began her library work as a library clerk for Washington Primary School and then moved into the role of Library Clerk/Education Technology Specialist. Since 2022 she has been the Education Technology Specialist for Booth Free School and the Burnham School.

Lower School Art Teacher - Sarah Sullivan was an asset to Rumsey this past year as she supported the Lower School performances and our technical theater program. She has served as a middle and high school theater and visual arts teacher at Westtown School, and has been involved in Technical Theater and Theater teaching at North Broward Preparatory School, Groton, and Buckingham, Browne & Nichols. She earned a BA from Smith College and an MFA from University of California, Irvine.

Upper School English - Emily Gribbin is a Taft graduate who went on to earn her BA and MA from the University of Connecticut in English and Curriculum and Instruction. She has spent the last year at Bristol Eastern High School teaching English to high school juniors. She also taught 6th grade English in the Taft Summer Program. She has been a volunteer in Peru and Guyana where she worked with low-income students.

Upper ESL and Math Teacher - Guy Kennedy grew up on a boarding school campus where his father worked and received his BA in English from Manhattan College where he was also a member of four different honor societies. An aspiring writer, he served as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Barnstable High School and recently volunteered in Beersheva, Israel.

Upper School French - Joong Hyun Park is a recent Middlebury College graduate who majored in Political Science and was a member of the Varsity Crew Team. Before Middlebury, he went to high school in Hong Kong and attended Sciences Po Paris. A true polyglot, Joong Hyun speaks Russian, Chinese, French, and Korean.

Upper School Latin - Julia Holton is finishing up her MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh after receiving a BA from Kenyon College. An independent school graduate of the Rivers School she was most recently a 6th-8th grade Assistant Latin Teacher at Rivers where she also coached basketball and softball.

Upper School Math - Luke Hilliard graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in mathematical economics before teaching and coaching at Millbrook where he helped lead the varsity boys basketball team to the Class B Finals for the first time in school history. He will teach math and lead the Boys Varsity Basketball team, in addition to his residential responsibilities.