MS. MALLIKA BEACH-MEHROTRA: The Choate Science Department welcomed new Biology and Marine Science teacher Ms. Mallika Beach-Mehrotra. Hailing from the West Coast, Ms. Beach-Mehrotra was a teaching and research assistant as well as a Citizen Science Director and Curriculum Writer at Ocean Institute. At Choate, “Ms. M” — as her students fondly call her — looks forward to developing her collaborative and experimental teaching style and experiencing the traditional New England fall weather.
MR. YASSINE BENZINANE : Mr. Yassine Benzinane joined the Choate Language Department as both a French and Arabic teacher. After moving back to New England to be closer to his family, Choate’s Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies signature program drew Mr. Benzinane to the School. His budding love for the Choate community feeds into his teaching both inside and outside of the classroom. “I like the fact that students respond positively when challenged beyond their comfort zone,” said Mr. Benzinane. “They take the life of the intellect seriously despite their athletics, artistic, and residential life commitments.”
MRS. KIMBERLY FINN BOLSTER: Mrs. Kimberly Finn Bolster joined the Science Department after teaching Physics and Engineering and serving as Co-Director of Student Activities at Avon Old Farms. She received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Other than sharing her passions of Astronomy, Mrs. Bolster is also “looking forward to some of the traditions and events that help to make Choate, such as Deerfield Day and Mug Nights.”
MS. ELIZABETH BERESTECKY: Ms. Elizabeth Berestecky has worked in the Choate Admission office for the past six years as a staff member, but this year she became a faculty member — transitioning to the role of Assistant Director of Admission. “What I enjoy most about working in the Admission Office are my colleagues,” she said. “We have a great team and work very well together.” Ms. Berestecky also looks forward to “getting to meet our new students and watch them experience all that Choate has to offer.”
MRS. DEANNA CLARK: Mrs. Deanna Clark joined Choate this year as a new teacher in the Math and Science Department. Prior to Choate, Mrs. Clark received her Bachelor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and worked as an environmental engineer. Mrs. Clark plans to work in the Robotics Department, especially through the Advanced Robotics Concentration (ARC) signature program. Choate Robotics Co-captain Max Zhang ’22 is “very excited to have her as our mentor.”
MS. ALEXANDRA COPELAND: Ms. Alexandra Copeland was welcomed this year as Choate’s new Director of Health and Wellness. Ms. Copeland received her bachelor’s degree in science at Stephen F. Austin State University and went on to earn her master’s degree in science at Texas Women’s College. At Choate, Ms. Copeland is excited to “[build] meaningful relationships with the wonderful students, faculty, and staff.”
DR. SCOTT DAVIS: Dr. Scott Davis began teaching at Choate last year as an adjunct Latin and English teacher. This is his first year teaching as a full-time faculty member at Choate. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the incredibly talented, supportive, and kind faculty,” said Dr. Davis. “The best part of my job is that I spend all my time in the classroom teaching and rarely have to deal with disciplinary issues.”
MS. LAURA DiCARLO: Ms. Laura DiCarlo joined Choate this year as the Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey Head Coach, Admission Interviewer and Reader, and a member of the Teaching and Learning Center. Ms. DiCarlo is currently a faculty adviser in Hill House. Maddie Dubrinsky ’22, a Co-captain of Girls Varsity Ice Hockey, said, “Coach DiCarlo is amazing both on and off the ice. Her enthusiastic personality and kind heart will make this season one to remember.”
MR. MATTHEW FERRARO: Mr. Matthew Ferraro recently joined the Choate Language Department as a French teacher. He has a B.A. from Cornell University and lives in Memorial House. Before his arrival to Choate, Mr. Ferraro was a Teaching Assistant for the course “Global Climate Change Science and Policy” and Student Representative to COP23, the UN Climate Change Summit.
MS. LE’AH GRIGGS: Ms. Le’ah Griggs is new to Choate as a Spanish teacher and adviser in the Library dorm. Before taking up her full-time position at the School, Mrs. Griggs was a Spanish Teacher at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School and an Adjunct Spanish Teacher at Choate. She received a B.A. from the College of Charleston and her M.A. from Universidad de Alcalá. She is most looking forward to “getting to know my students better and exploring new and exciting ways of teaching Spanish.”
DR. AMBER HODGE: Dr. Amber Hodge is a new member of the English Department this year, currently living in Porter House. They previously worked as a Graduate Teaching Fellow in the English Department and Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Hodge decided to come to Choate to “work with some of the brightest, most talented students anywhere.” They are especially looking forward to teaching Modern Dystopian Literature in the spring.
MS. EMILY KAPLAN: Hall adviser Ms. Emily Kaplan joined the HPRSS Department this year. She previously worked as a history teacher at Tabor Academy. Ms. Kaplan decided to join Choate after her interview process when she “got a real sense that this was a community of learners who were asking the right questions about how to best educate teenagers in our rapidly evolving and often divisive world.” She is looking forward to “watching students question their assumptions and preconceived ideas about America’s past.”
MS. WINNIE MALONEY: This year, Ms. Winnie Maloney joined Choate as an Associate Dean of College Counseling and Testing Coordinator. Ms. Maloney said that her experience reading Choate students’ college applications and meeting them made her eager to join the community. Getting to know other new faculty at orientation and meetings has been an enjoyable part of her time at Choate so far. Although she is only a few weeks into her job, “I’ve already felt supported by these folks as we adjust to life at Choate ourselves,” she said.
MR. DEREK PALMORE: Coming from The Taft School, Mr. Derek Palmore is a new addition to the Choate English Department. Mr. Palmore was drawn to Choate because of its diversity and representation. Feeling confident about settling into a new environment, Mr. Palmore said, “the conversations, the programs, how we talk about our students: that [all] feels good.” Other than teaching English, Mr. Palmore is also assistant coach for Girls’ Varsity Volleyball and an adviser in Quantrell.
MS. NICKIE PAUL: Ms. Nickie Paul is no stranger to Choate, having taught part-time at the school for the past seven years. With more time on her hands now that her children are older, Ms. Paul decided to make the transition into her first year as a full-time teacher. In addition to teaching both introductory and advanced psychology classes and Cognitive Neuroscience, she is a Capstone adviser and a coach to Track & Field in the spring.
MR. BARI ROBINSON: Mr. Bari Robinson, who attended boarding school himself, has decided to return to his roots by joining the Choate Art Department this fall. He said, “I thought it would be good for me to be on the other side of things at one point and take my experience I had as a student, and my life experience, and see if I could make a difference.” He teaches Theater 100 and 351, will direct the winter main-stage show, and is voice coaching in the fall productions, Xanadu and 12 Angry Jurors.
DR. MARY ROCA: Dr. Mary Roca is a new member of the English Department this year, currently living in Richardson House. “I felt like Choate was a place where I could not only teach, but also learn and grow myself,” she said. Dr. Roca looks forward to learning more about Choate’s extracurricular activities and athletics in the coming few weeks. She added, “I’m new to Connecticut, so I’m looking forward to autumn weather!”
MR. MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ: Mr. Michael Rodriguez is a new Admission Officer and currently lives in Ray Brown House. “I decided to come to Choate because I am drawn to the opportunity to connect with prospective students and their families to make the admission process more accessible,” he said. Mr. Rodriguez looks forward to interviewing prospective students and learning more about their interests, backgrounds, and families.
MS. AMY SUN: Ms. Amy Sun is Choate’s newest Associate Director of Admission. “After teaching Latin for the last two decades, I really wanted to shift beyond the classroom to Admission,” she said. “I was eager to interact with families in a new way.” Ms. Sun looks forward to hearing the stories of prospective Choate students and learning more from her colleagues.
MS. CHANTAL WANG: Having previously worked as a research assistant at Colorado School of Mines, Ms. Chantal Wang is now teaching math at Choate. She was drawn to Choate for its supportive network and common curiosity. Reflecting on her two weeks of teaching geometry so far, Ms. Wang said, “Inside the classroom, the students here are lovely. They are very, very enthusiastic and eager to learn.” She looks forward to seeing connections grow as students become more comfortable in her classes and at Choate.
MR. TIMOTHY YUN: Born and raised in Los Angeles, new HPRSS teacher Mr. Timothy Yun has always wanted to experience the boarding school culture. Joining the Choate community after teaching in Korea and New York, Mr. Yun seeks a different type of teaching experience. He a, “With boarding, you get to be very immersed with students’ lives. It’s a really close-knit community.”
MS. VIVA ZHAO: Ms. Viva Zhao joined the Choate Science Department after previously teaching at Northeastern University. She was drawn to Choate by its “emphasis on holistic education.” In the few weeks of school thus far, Ms. Zhao has appreciated the students in her Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology classes, and looks forward to getting to know their “pursuits and passions in life.”
