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.

Maura Ambuter, 9th and 10th Grade English

B.A. American Studies, Smith College; M.Ed., Social Justice Education, University of Massachusetts. Ms. Ambuter has taught at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School and at Franklin Career Academy. She joined Four Rivers in 2007.

Elizabeth Beardslee, Spanish

BA, Biology, Brown University ; MA, Spanish Literature, Middlebury College . Eliza established an interdisciplinary ESL curriculum at the Monteverde Friends School , a middle/high school in Costa Rica and has taught Spanish and led school innovation at The Field School in Washington , DC . She joins Four Rivers in 2009.

Neill Bovaird, Nature (Part Time)

Donna Carpenter, Art (Part Time)

B.A. in Fine Arts, Westfield State College; M.Ed. University of Massachusetts . Ms. Carpenter is an Academic Program Manager at UMass overseeing The Lively Arts general education courses and has eleven years’ experience teaching art at both the elementary and secondary levels and horticulture at the Chicopee Public Schools, creating and supporting new and innovative programs. She joined Four Rivers in 2008.

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.

Nancy Curtis, Special Education Director (Part Time)

B.S., Education, North Adams State College; M. Ed., Elementary Education, Springfield College, post graduate SPED coursework at Univ. of Connecticut , American International College, and Boston College. Ms. Curtis has had many years teaching and Special Education experience in central and western Massachusetts public schools, with SPED Directorships in Palmer, Belchertown and Ware, and as Regional Special Education Director for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She joined Four Rivers in 2008.

Anthony Derricotte, Music (Part Time)

Attended Hampshire College, Dick Groves School of Music and Interlochen National School of Music. Mr. Derricotte has been teaching, performing, composing and producing music since 1990. In addition to these activities, he most recently has taught at the Academy at Swift River.

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.

Maureen Fagan, High School Chemistry and Physics

B.S., Chemistry, University of New Hampshire; Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Fagan has been studying math and chemistry and doing research work since 1990 and has been an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Smith College since 2002. She joins Four Rivers in 2009.

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.

Anita Falco, Teacher Assistant

Anita has earned Highly Qualified Status as a paraprofessional and certifications through the MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Anita was a Special Education Instructional Assistant in the Worcester Public Schools from 1997 to 2004 and for the Greenfield Public Schools until 2008, most recently coordinating an after school Community Learning Center through the Hampshire Educational Collaborative. She has extensive related volunteer and workshop experience and joins Four Rivers in 2009.

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 and Head of School

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, Wellness (Health and Physical Education);

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.

Robin Hampson, 8th Grade English and Social Studies

B.A., History, University of Montana; M.A. in Teaching, Lewis and Clark College. Robin has had roles working with youth in outdoor and experiential education programs and has taught 7th - 12th grade U.S. History at the Pacific Crest Community School in Portland, Oregon, where she also served as Social Studies Department Head. She has taught 7th grade Social Studies and Language Arts at Jackson Middle School in Portland since 2006. She joins Four Rivers in 2009.

Joshua Hornick, 11 th and 12 th Grade Math

B.A., Politics and Peace Studies, University of California at Santa Cruz; J.D., University of Chicago Law School; M.A., Science Education, City College of New York. Mr. Hornick has taught math as well as physics, science, and robotics for many years locally at Amherst Regional Junior High School, Mariamante Academy and Holyoke Community College, in addition to self-employment as an executive coach. He joins Four Rivers in 2009.

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.

G. Frederick Itterly, College Advisor (Part Time)

B.A., Psychology, Lafayette College; M. Ed., Educational Psychology, University of Utah; C.A.G.S.in School Counseling/Director of Guidance, University of Massachusetts. After a series of progressively more responsible Job Corps positions, Mr. Itterly has been School Counselor and Guidance Department Chairperson at Northampton High School from 1989 to the present. He joins Four Rivers in 2009.

Matthew Leaf, Dean of Students

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 nine 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.

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.

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.

Amy Palmer, 8 th Grade Math and Science (Temporary)

B.S. in Science Education and Wildlife Ecology, State University of New York; enrolled in M.Ed. in Education Administration, University of Massachusetts. Ms. Palmer has taught science and technology since 1995 with positions in the Peace Corps, Hampshire Educational Collaborative, Greenfield High School, Great Falls Middle School, and most recently at Greenfield Middle School. She joins Four Rivers in 2009 for Semester I.

Leah Plath, 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.

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.

Lisa Ritchie, 7 th Grade English and Social Studies

B.A. Comparative Literature, Brown University ; M.Ed. in English Education, Georgia State University . Ms. Ritchie has taught middle- and high-school English in the Atlanta area and has also been an Outward Bound Middle School Transitions Project instructor and an Intermountain Americorps alternative high school instructor. She joined Four Rivers in 2008.

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 as School Secretary and assumed the new role of Administrative Coordinator in 2009.

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.

Andrew Wallace, 10 th and 11 th Grade Social Studies

B.A. English, State Univ. of New York at Geneseo; M.A in Education, Tufts University; Mr. Wallace completed Naturalist Training at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and earned a Certificate in Environmental Education at the Univ. of Minnesota- Duluth. He has eight years of teaching experience, including 6 years of 7 th and 8 th grade Humanities at The Gordon School, East Providence, R. I. He joined Four Rivers in 2005.

Carolyn Wood, School Secretary

B.A, English, Boston College; Carolyn has many years experience in office management and advertising research and teaching at Full Circle School in Bernardston. She joined Four Rivers in 2004 and subsequently developed the SPED Secretary role. She assumed the role of School Secretary in 2009.