Neill Bovaird, Nature (Part Time)

B.S., Natural Resource Studies, University of Massachusetts. Neill has completed several years as a teaching naturalist at a highly-regarded environmental center in Connecticut. He returned to the area and joined Four Rivers in 2007, having assisted in our Nature classes in our early years.

Michael Bukowick, 8th Grade English and Social Studies

B.A. Sociology, Univ. of Virginia; MA Landscape Architecture, Univ. of Massachusetts; MA, Education, Univ. of Massachusetts. Mr. Bukowick has been a high school vocational teacher in the Peace Corps, a clinical/student high school teacher in Springfield, and has taught high school history and been an advisor to club activities at Northampton High School. He joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Deborah Carlisle, 11th and 12th Grade Chemistry and Physics

B.S and M.S in Science from University of New Hampshire. Ms. Carlisle has 16 years teaching experience in the sciences and Chemistry at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA where she had many other academic responsibilities. She was a varsity ski instructor and is also an accomplished equestrienne. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Jennifer Chapin, Teacher Assistant

B.A. Political Science, University of Massachusetts; M. Ed. Antioch New England Graduate School. Jennifer has taught at the Academy School in Brattleboro, VT and has a broad variety of experiences working with youth through the YWCA and the Americorps Program. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Christine Childress, College Counselor (Part Time)

B.A. English, University of California Santa Barbara. Christine also holds a Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California and has begun graduate work related to college counseling at University of Massachusetts. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Kate Conant, Learning Specialist, 7th and 8th Grades

B.A., English and Community Service, Univ. of Massachusetts; M. Ed. In Special Education, Univ. of Massachusetts. Mrs. Conant’s experience includes fourteen years special learning needs experience at Great Falls Middle School in the Gill-Montague District and five years at the Guilford, VT. Central Middle School. She is certified in Special Needs and joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Steven D’Agostino, Music (Part Time)

B.A. Hampshire College, Music, Community and Education. Recipient of Hampshire College’s Ingenuity Award for his work building the college’s musical culture, Steven is also a private music instructor. He joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Susan Durkee, Assistant Principal and Co-founder

B.F.A. in Sculpture; M.F.A. in English, University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Ms. Durkee has experience teaching Art in grades K-6 and teaching writing at the college level, and was a member of the Friends and Faculty Network at UMass, an organization to which one is nominated for outstanding service to students with learning disabilities. She joined Four Rivers in 2002.

Dr. William Fogel, School Psychologist and Counselor (Part Time)

Ph.D., Child Clinical Psychology, St. John’s University; B.A., Psychology and Education, Hampshire College. Certified as a school psychologist. Dr. Fogel has worked in clinical and school settings for 10 years and most recently served as school psychologist in the Greenfield Public Schools. He joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Nikole Gilbert, 8th grade Mathematics and Science

B.S. Biology, University of Kentucky; M.S. Environmental Studies, Antioch New England Graduate School; Graduate Certificate of Environmental Education, University of Minnesota-Duluth. Ms. Gilbert has done research and taught environmental science and ecology in many settings around the United States with students from middle school through college ages. She joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Peter Garbus, Principal

B.A. in History/Writing/Education, Brown University ; M.Ed. in Teaching, Harvard University . Mr. Garbus has been the founder and director of the North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg , a grade 7 – 12 school somewhat larger than Four Rivers. He is certified as a principal in Massachusetts . He previously taught for many years at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens , MA and was part of the inaugural faculty of an innovative public high school in Arizona . He joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Amanda Griffith, Health and Physical Education; Dean, Middle School

B.A. Sociology and Anthropology, Wells College; M.A Social Work, Smith College. Ms. Griffith has had dual interests and experience in counseling adolescents at the Academy at Swift River, and an early college major in Physical Education, including as co-captain of her Wells College soccer team. She joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Cheryl Howard, 9th and 10th Grade Math

B.A. Mathematics, University of Massachusetts; M.A. in Education, Antioch New England Graduate School. Ms. Howard has worked at the Hampshire Educational Collaborative and earlier taught math at Turners Falls High School and the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

 Matthew Leaf, 7th grade English and Social Studies

B.A. Anthropology with a minor in Religion, Kenyon College. Mr. Leaf has 8 years of middle school classroom experience, and is also trained to teach Nature Studies and Outdoor Education. He joined Four Rivers in 2003.

Daniel Lederer, Technology Coordinator (Part Time)

Mr. Lederer attended New Hampshire Vocational Technical College, Berklee College of Music ( Boston), and City College of San Francisco and has had complex web design and systems administration positions in private industry. He has had technology and teaching roles at area schools, including five years at Hilltown Cooperative Charter School in Haydenville to which he has added Four Rivers in a dual position, supported at Four Rivers by Technology Assistants. He joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Eliot Levine, 11th and 12th Grade Math

B.S Psychology and Electrical Engineering, Mass. Institute of Technology; M.A. Clinical and Community Psychology, Univ. of Maryland; Ph.D. Clinical and Community Psychology, Univ. of Maryland. Mr. Levine is the author of One Kid at a Time: Big Lessons from a Small School about his experience with the Met School in Providence, R.I. where he also taught for 4 years. He joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Amanda Locke, 7th Grade Science and Math

B.A. Communication Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies, Hamilton College; M.S. Environmental Education with Middle School General Science Certification, Antioch New England Graduate School. She has experience as an Outdoor Educator and as a Life Skills teacher in youth groups, and completed a year-long internship teaching high school Science prior to joining Four Rivers in 2003.

Leah Makuch, 11th and 12th Grade English

B.A. English, University of Massachusetts. Leah has teaching experience at New Leadership Charter School in Springfield and is College Board trained in Advanced Placement Instruction for English. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Patricia Marks-Sund, Spanish (Part Time)

B.S. Elementary Education and Bilingual Education, Univ. of Texas – Brownsville. Ms. Marks-Sund has had public and private school teaching and tutoring experience in Spanish, ESL and other subjects. She joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Melinda McCall, Teacher Assistant

B.S Environmental Design, Univ. of Massachusetts; M.S. Forestry, Univ. of Massachusetts. Ms. McCall has experience in all aspects of forestry, recycling programs, and as a child care provider. She joined Four Rivers in 2004.

 Craig McDonnell, Spanish

B.A., Spanish, Hamilton College; M.A. Hispanic Literature, Univ. of Massachusetts. Mr. McDonnell has overseas teaching and volunteer experience in the Dominican Republic and Spain, and has taught Middle and Upper School Spanish at the Williston-Northampton School for four years. He joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Jeanne Milton, Nurse (Part Time)

RN, St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, Providence , RI . Jeanne is experienced in all aspects of nursing and knows the local community health resources well. Her 27 years of practice in the local community includes 12 years as an emergency room and ICU nurse. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Raymond Neal, 11th and 12th Grade History

B.A., History, Johns Hopkins University; M.A., Teaching, Towson University. Mr. Neal has recent teaching experience in high school history in the Howard County (MD) Public Schools, and earlier professional experience as a music educator and performer. He joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Terry Plotkin, Physical Education (Part Time)

B.A. Economics, University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Mr. Plotkin has worked for several years as a coach of Ultimate Frisbee, and has also run after school programs in Greenfield schools. He joined Four Rivers in 2003 and serves as our Athletic Director.

Harlan Smith, Director of Operations

B.A. Sociology, Tufts University; Master of Hospital Administration, University of Minnesota/Minneapolis. Mr. Smith has over 30 years of experience in financial management, including 13 years as President and CEO of Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of Greenfield Community College and on the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. He joined Four Rivers in 2003.

Laura Stamas, 9th Grade Environmental Science and 10th Grade Biology

B. A Biology, Bard College; M.A. Environmental Studies and Teaching High School Biology, Antioch New England Graduate School. Ms. Stamas has been a Science and Math Teacher at Eagle Mountain School, and a High School Biology Student Teacher at Northampton High School. She joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Andrew Stenson, High School Learning Specialist, 11th and 12th Grades

B.A. Leeds University ; Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Bristol Polytechnic , England ; M.A., Education, Smith College . Mr. Stenson has extensive teaching experience in technology and special education, and he has also worked as an Outward Bound instructor. He joined Four Rivers in 2004.

Leslie Taylor, School Secretary

B.A. American Studies and English, Colby College. Ms. Taylor has worked as an administrative assistant for 20 years in business and educational settings, and most recently worked as Executive Assistant at a regional history museum. She joined Four Rivers in 2003.

Jennifer Tibbetts, Art (Part Time)

B.S., Studio Art, Southern Connecticut State University; M.F.A. in Painting and M.A. in Art Education, University of Massachusetts. Ms. Tibbetts is a practicing artist and has taught at Mohawk Regional High School and at a middle school in Framingham. She had prior experience at Four Rivers as a substitute teacher. She joined us again in 2007.

Anne Tumblin-Haxo, Learning Specialist 9th and 10th Grades

B.A. Education/Special Needs, Elms College. Ms. Haxo has three years experience in Special Education at the elementary and middle school levels prior to joining the Four Rivers faculty in 2003. She is certified in Special Needs (K-9). She joined Four Rivers in 2003.

Jane Vail, Teacher Assistant

B.A., Windham College. Ms. Vail is an experience middle school teacher with certification in English. She has also worked as a paraprofessional at middle and high school levels. She joined Four Rivers in 2004.

Heather Viens, Teacher Assistant

B.A., Business Studies and Finance, Anglia University, Cambridge, England. In addition to parenting and a diversified background in sales and marketing, Mrs. Viens has been a substitute teacher in Franklin County and serves on public and private education boards and councils. She joined Four Rivers in 2006.

Andrew Wallace, 9th and 10th Grade History and Social Science

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