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At The River School, an 18 month - Grade 5 private school in Washington, DC, our teachers are more than just educators – they're experts in child development. Our co-teaching model pairs a master's level teacher with a speech-language pathologist in each classroom. This unique combination allows us to provide personalized instruction and deep support for all students, fostering strong language, literacy, and social skills. Our teachers are passionate about igniting curiosity, encouraging critical thinking, and empowering each child to find their voice.

Faculty

Adams, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Adams, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Balkin, Marcia

Marcia Balkin, MEd

Educator

Bennett, Brooke

Brooke Bennett, MS

Educator

Benoit, Phedra

Phedra Benoit, MEd

Educator

Bergesen, Ashley

Ashley Bergesen, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Berman, Rachel

Rachel Berman, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Boas, Sam

Sam Boas, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Bonilla, Juliana

Juliana Bonilla, MS

Occupational Therapist

Brebbia, Katie | Faculty Staff

Katie Brebbia, MA

Educator

Cebulski, Becca

Becca Cebulski, MS

Speech-Language Pathologist

Chambers, Kate

Kate Chambers, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Christiane Connors

Connors, Christiane

Christiane Connors, Ed.D.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Coughlan, Catherine

Catherine Coughlan, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Farrelly, Liz

Liz Farrelly, MSEd

Speech-Language Pathologist

Fashola, Tosin | Faculty Staff

Tosin Fashola, MEd

Educator

Best Private School in Washington DC | Robin Goffen, M.A.T CCC-SLP Director of Speech and Language Services

Goffen, Robin

Robin Goffen, M.A.T CCC-SLP

Director of Speech and Language Services

Grogan, Brytnee

Brytnee Grogan, MEd

Educator

Grunza, Sasha | Faculty Staff

Sasha Grunza, MS

Speech-Language Pathologist

Heskey, Caryn

Caryn Heskey, MS

Community Programs Coordinator

Houston, Rebecca | Faculty Staff

Rebecca Houston, MA

Educator

Hughes, Sarah

Sarah Hughes, MA

Speech Language Pathologist

Jordanwood, Mia

Mia Jordanwood, MAEd

Educator

Jue, Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn Jue, MA Ed & HD

Educator

Gillian Lynch

Lynch, Gillian | Faculty Staff

Gillian Lynch, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

McArdle, Brittany

Brittany McArdle, MS Ed

Speech-Language Pathologist

McFetridge, Natalie

Natalie McFetridge, MA

Educator

McGuire, Julia | Faculty Staff

Julia McGuire, MEd, MS

Educator and Speech-Language Pathologist

Mellon, Nancy | Faculty Staff

Nancy Mellon, MS

Head of School

Miller, Carson

Carson Miller, MA

Educator

Nakatani, Laura

Laura Nakatani, MA

Educator

O’Brien, Kaitlin

Kaitlin O’Brien, MEd

Educator

Ottley, Sharlene

Sharlene Ottley, PhD

Director of Community Outreach & Research

Ouellette, Meredith

Meredith Ouellette, MS

Clinical Director

Parr, Emmie

Emmie Parr, MEd

Director of Early Childhood Programs

Rizk, Sarah

Sarah Rizk, MA, MEd

Educator

Robison, Emily

Emily Robison, CCC-SLP 

Speech-Language Pathologist

Sigler, Travis

Travis Sigler, MEd

Educator

Skliras, Star

Star Skliras, MA 

Speech-Language Pathologist

Smarte, Rachel

Rachel Smarte, MEd

Educator

Spies, Lynne

Lynne Spies, MA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Streletz, Tia

Tia Streletz, MS

Speech-Language Pathologist

Tanseco, Lea

Tanseco, Lea

Lea Tanseco, MS

Speech-Language Pathologist

Vershbow, Kelley

Kelley Vershbow, MSEd

Educator

Warischalk, Becky

Becky Warischalk, MEd

Educator

White, Dot

Dot White, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Private School in Washington DC | Private Elementary School Near Me | Marie Wright, MSEd., Assistant Head of School

Wright, Marie

Marie Wright, MSEd

Assistant Head of School

Arts & Sciences Faculty

Anderson, Capi

Capi Anderson, MEd

Director of Auxiliary Programs & Library Sciences Educator

Capelluto, Blas

Blas Capelluto

Music & Language Integration Educator

Charpentier, Poppy

Poppy Charpentier

Visual Arts

Cooper, Imogen

Imogen Cooper

Physical Education & Creative Movement

Harris, Stephen

Stephen Harris

Science/STEM & Maker Space

Harris, Vince

Vince Harris

Physical Education

Lewis, Chris

Chris Lewis

Performing Arts

Rose, Leigh

Leigh Rose

Science, Maker, & STEAM

Sheldon, Lindsay

Lindsay Sheldon

Upper Elementary Art

Staff

Anderson, Capi

Capi Anderson, MEd

Director of Auxiliary Programs & Library Sciences Educator

Aquino, Manuel

Manuel Aquino

Facilities Supervisor

Armstrong, Tracy R.

Tracy R. Armstrong, SHRM-CP, PHR

Director of Human Resources

Bard, Kelly

Kelly Bard

Teaching Assistant

Best Private School in Washington DC | Megan Campbell - Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

Campbell, Megan

Megan Campbell, MA

Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

Castro, Arnaldo

Arnaldo Castro

Custodian

Claure Becerra, Nilsa

Nilsa Claure Becerra

Ladybug Teacher

Claure, Maria

Maria Claure

Ladybug Teacher

David, Nichole

Nichole David, MEd

Director of Educational Operations

Independent School Washington DC | Private School Washington DC | Lenka Folger - Admission Associate

Folger, Lenka

Lenka Folger

Admission Associate

Gasperetti, Helen

Helen Gasperetti, MA

Teaching Assistant

Gilbert, Margaret

Margaret Gilbert

Teaching Assistant

Guerra, Carlos

Carlos Guerra

School Security Officer

Jones, Bob

Bob Jones

Front Office Manager

Knight, Larry

Larry Knight

Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs & Teaching Assistant

Leaverton, Emmy

Emmy Leaverton

Human Resources Assistant

Lopez, Chris

Chris Lopez

Chief Financial Officer

Lynch, Jennifer

Jennifer Lynch

Director of Advancement

McDermott, Elizabeth, BSN, RN, NCSN

Elizabeth McDermott, BSN, RN, NCSN

School Nurse

McWilliams, Jessica

Jessica McWilliams

Assistant Business Manager

Mellon, Rachel

Rachel Mellon

Administrative & Research Assistant

Mellon, Will

Will Mellon

IT Assistant

O’Meara, Aidan

Aidan O’Meara

Teaching Assistant

Pinheiro Sottile, Nicoly

Nicoly Pinheiro Sottile

Ladybug Teacher

Ramos, Jose

Jose Ramos

Assistant Facilities Manager

Rodriguez, Ely

Ely Rodriguez

Teaching Assistant

Manuel “Nick” Rodriguez

Rodriguez, Nick

Nick Rodriguez

Crossing Guard / School Security

Royer Shetter, Erin

Erin Royer Shetter, MS

Director of Philanthropy

Ward, Conor

Conor Ward

Teaching Assistant

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