Monday, September 3, 2018

From left: Karianna Brace, Cara Tommasino, Polly Pfau, Courtney Anastasia-Murphy, and Tamara Villalva Garcia.

Five experienced educators have newly joined the Glen Urquhart School faculty. Bringing expertise in language arts and literacy, Spanish, early learning, and science, GUS is delighted to welcome such talented individuals to enrich the educational experience of students.

Courtney Anastasia-Murphy joins the upper school as a Learning Specialist. She is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School, holds a BA from Bowdoin College, an MS from Simmons College in special education, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in language and literacy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Courtney previously served on the faculty of Landmark School and was an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University.

Karianna Brace has been a teacher for more than 20 years and joins GUS to teach upper school science. She graduated from Friends School of Baltimore and holds a BA in biology from Smith College and an MA from Loyola College. Karianna previously taught at North Shore Montessori School, River Valley Charter School, and Echo Hill Outdoor School. In addition, she has biked across the United States and worked on organic farms in Maine and Denmark.

Polly Pfau is a founding teacher for the GUS preschool program. She comes to Glen Urquhart School with ten years of experience at Parker River Community Preschool, The Advent School, and Belmont Day School. Polly also was on the staff at the Museum of Science and Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. She holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an M.Ed. from Lesley University.

Cara Tommasino will teach upper school Spanish in grades 6 and 8. She graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School, Saint Anselm College, and holds an MA from Middlebury College. Cara has lived in Madrid and Salamanca, Spain, was chair of the World Languages Department at Bishop Brady High School in New Hampshire, including leading student trips to Latin America, and has taught at the college level.

Tamara Villalva Garcia is a native Spaniard who speaks four languages. She holds a BA in foreign language teaching from La Salle University of Madrid and performed graduate coursework in computer engineering, IT technologies, and multicultural education at Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. Her interest in teaching and travel led her to work at the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) International School and Jefferson Parish Public Schools as well as teaching in Houston,Texas.

In addition to these faculty additions, GUS is pleased to announce new partnerships with area colleges, beginning this fall with Beverly Farms neighbor Endicott College. Glen Urquhart School will host teaching interns from Endicott in preschool and third grade—senior Katie Goldberg, and SUMMER@GUS staff member, will intern in the Pre-K classroom while fellow Gull and senior Megan Fales will join the third grade classroom. Welcome to all of the new faculty and interns!