IMS Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

The Lower School welcomes Emily Spalding as an assistant Kindergarten teacher. Ms. Spalding earned her bachelor’s degree from Skidmore University and has several years of experience teaching in early childhood classrooms locally at Housatonic Child Care and also in New York City and Simi Valley, CA. Ms. Spalding is no stranger to IMS; she is a graduate of the class of 2002 and currently lives on campus with her husband, Danny Tieger, and their two children.

Nora Yasumura is returning to IMS part-time to teach Health and Wellness (previously titled “Life Skills”) on the Upper Campus. She previously taught Life Skills at IMS from 2015-2017. Since then, she has been working as a class dean and affinity group leader at Hotchkiss. Additionally, Ms. Yasumura works as a diversity consultant and trainer. 

Noa Schumann will be working on the Upper Campus as a full time faculty member, teaching Spanish, science and Language Analysis and Development (LAD). She graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in Education and Latin American Studies. Ms. Schumann played squash while at Bowdoin and led backpacking trips for student orientation. She was also a facilitator and participant in the Intergroup Dialogue on Race and participated in the Social Justice Leadership Institute. 

Sharon Mutoni joins the Upper Campus math department at IMS. Sharon is a graduate of Williams College where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Ms. Mutoni has been a teaching assistant in Williams’ math department and spent a summer interning at KIPP schools in Texas. She is also a blogger/writer and runs a free mentoring program that supports students from her home country of Rwanda with college applications and guidance. 

Liz Hodosy returned to IMS this summer as a Senior Associate Director of Admissions. After leaving IMS in 2016, she spent two years in the admissions office at Kent School and then another five years in the admissions office at Suffield. 

Kevin Gorey has joined the IMS community as the new Executive Assistant to the Head of School. He has a background in administration, event planning, and as a professional writer. Mr. Gorey comes to us most recently from Kripalu where he has worked as an administrator since 2019. He also served as the President of the Board of Directors at the Berkshire Food Co-op in Great Barrington, MA. Mr. Gorey worked at the Interlaken Inn as an event planner and previously in his career, he worked as a writer and producer at NBC Sports and MLB.com. 

Sonya Friel is joining our science department. Ms. Friel is a recent graduate of Bryn Mawr College, earning a bachelor’s in Neuroscience and Anthropology. She has previous work as a teacher, camp counselor and classroom aide. In addition to work in the US, Ms. Friel has worked internationally in both Spain and Nepal. 

Xanthe Hilton joins our history department this year. Ms. Hilton has worked previously in Alumni and Development and also as a dorm parent at both Rumsey Hall School and Foxcroft School. She also worked as an Annual Fund coordinator at her alma mater, Mercersburg Academy. 

Max Miller, last spring’s coach of  the JV Boys lacrosse team,  joins  as a full-time faculty member teaching English and coaching three seasons. Mr. Miller attended the University of Michigan for undergraduate work and also earned a law degree from Temple University. Mr. Miller is making a career switch to teaching, having previously worked at law firms in Philadelphia. 

Melanie Greenberg will be teaching one section of English this year. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University. She also holds two master’s degrees from the New School University (Creative Writing) and Bank Street (Education). Ms. Greenberg has previous experience as a student teacher and as a learning specialist as well as extensive experience in other not-for-profit work. 

Katy McEnroe will be joining the academic support department as an Academic Support Specialist and teacher. She will be teaching LAD and supporting Tammy Decker in the Ascend program on the Upper Campus.  Ms. McEnroe comes to IMS most recently from Salisbury School where she served as a learning specialist. Prior to her time at Salisbury, she served as principal and director of special education at Webutuck Central School. 

Dylan Brownson has been with us for the past three summers and joined IMS full time in June as a Maintenance Generalist in the Buildings and Grounds Department.  Mr. Brownson graduated in May with a Business Degree from Western New England University. 

Lee Robinson has joined the IMS community as our new Food Services Director for SAGE. He has previous work in schools. He worked for seventeen years at the Harvey School in Katonah, New York. Most recently, Mr. Robinson served as the food service director at Darrow, a small boarding and day school in New Lebanon, New York. He earned his degree in Culinary Arts from The Culinary Institute of America. 

NEW ROLES

In addition to these new community members, a few returning faculty and staff are assuming new roles. Ashaad Tillman has been appointed as the Interim Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Amy Tedder assumes the role of Interim Head of Lower School. John Zahner will be moving from 4th grade to a new role as the Lower School STEM teacher. Tammy Decker will assume the title of Upper Campus Director of Academic Support and the Ascend Program, and  Amanda Halloran has a new role as Lower School Director of Auxiliary and Special Programming.