Celebrating New Roles:

Welcoming New Faculty:

Katelyn O’Donnell, Kindergarten Teacher

Katelyn will be joining Sandy Thoms on the Kindergarten classroom team! Katelyn graduated from Endicott College in 2020 with a BA in Liberal Studies Education, with a concentration in Educational Studies and a minor in Music. Last fall she interned in the 2nd grade at GUS, where she enjoyed providing individualized support to students in math and writing, facilitating small reading groups, and creatively engaging with students through music. They produced a music video about Growth Mindset in the fall, and this spring, Ms. O’Donnell joined the class virtually and helped produce the Counting Through Quarantine music video.

Emily Dellisola, 1st Grade Teacher

Emily will be joining the first grade classroom, alongside Amy Billings! Emily graduated from Endicott College in 2020 with a BA in Liberal Studies Education, with a concentration in Liberal Studies Education. Last fall she interned in the 3rd grade at GUS, where she enjoyed facilitating small reading groups, working one-on-one with students on writing, and teaching open circle. Emily wrote her senior thesis on the impact of field trips on motivation, success and achievement.

Tribute To Departing Faculty + Staff:

Jessica Duryea, Grade 1 Teacher

Jess is a kind, compassionate and hard working teacher who always puts her students first.  Her calm and reserved demeanor sets the tone in the classroom resulting in a safe and pleasant environment for her students.  Jess has an amazing ability to foster young children's creativity and allows them to express themselves without constraint.  She is keenly aware of her students' social/emotional needs and puts a great deal of time and effort into helping them resolve conflicts and ultimately feel heard and understood.  We are grateful to Jess for her years of dedication and commitment to her students and to GUS.  She has been a supportive, collaborative and dependable colleague who will be truly missed.  Thank you, Jess, and we wish you much love and happiness.  Trust and go forward.

Kristie Gonzalez, Director of Admission

Kristie will not be returning to Glen Urquhart School upon completion of the fiscal year on June 30. During her tenure as Director of Admission, Kristie worked tirelessly with potential and current families, helped implement a new pre-K program, and designed a number of successful marketing events such as Nature Fair and Winterfest. These combined efforts had a positive impact on the school community and on enrollment. Kristie’s passion for the GUS community could be seen in her efforts constructing the playground, arranging for more school-supplied transportation for our families, and generally immersing herself in the GUS community. We are deeply grateful for the many outstanding contributions Kristie has made to GUS over the past three years, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Anna Mei Gubbins, Grade 7 Spanish Teacher

Anna Mei returned to GUS to teach Spanish for the 2019-2020 school year. Students enjoyed her engaging lessons that included music, games, and creative projects. As a 7th grade homeroom teacher, she connected with students and brightened everyone’s day, especially during on-line learning when she frequently hosted Seventh Grade Fun and Games Zoom sessions. As a GUS alum, Anna Mei understood the GUS philosophy at its core. Her work as part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional Learning Group was particularly noteworthy. Anna Mei asks great questions and is a deep thinker and we have all benefited from her voice and perspective. She will be missed, but we wish her all the best in graduate school. May she find her way back to GUS once again in the future!

Tom Kotwicki, Director of Buildings + Grounds

Tom is the most can-do person on the planet so it was lucky for GUS that he found his way to us seven years ago. He has shepherded big and small projects from building the new playgrounds and new roofs to renting goats to keep poison ivy at bay on the nature trail during the summer. And all with a smile and a "yes we can'' attitude - not just occasionally but each and every day. Tom oversees every facet of the GUS grounds from the silo to the greenhouse, from the Hart Street rental property to the swimming pool under the Idea Garage. We have an unusual campus and Tom has been an unusually dedicated caretaker. He's been a supportive colleague to every faculty member, a fabulous Dad to his two sons Joseph '18 and Luke in seventh grade, and loving husband to Sarah, our previous Director of Lower School. Beth and Nancy will miss his smiling face each morning as he's often the first person on campus. Tom has made GUS an even better "green and shady place" than it was when he arrived. We're grateful for his contributions and positive spirit and wish him and all the Kotwickis well in South Carolina.

Jenifer Malette, Grade 5 Science + Math Lab Teacher

Jen Mallette is the definition of what every GUS teacher should be. She is wise, creative, clear, caring, and inspiring. She delivers ideas deliberately and with such precision. A gifted and talented teacher, her passion for the outdoors and for supporting her students truly set her apart. Jen embraces the process of learning and finds the joy in inquiry, which allows for real exploration in her classroom. She makes science fun for children and all those around them who get to hear them explain what they've been up to. She's an incredible teammate. She makes those around her better. She has a calmness about her that is contagious. Her positive outlook and support of the school and her colleagues has made  a real difference here. We've been so lucky to have her as part of our faculty. Her presence will be sorely missed, but her impact will leave a lasting effect. A GUS Alum, Jen taught here until 2012 and then returned to teach again for the past three years. Jen always finds her way back to GUS and we will happily welcome her back anytime. 

Katie McCarthy, Grade 5 Teacher

Katie is a super star teacher! She's dedicated to doing the best for her students. She knows them all very well and cares that they succeed. She holds high standards for herself and for her students. 

Katie is an exemplary educator. When she loves her students, she loves with her whole heart. When she teaches them, she teaches with her entire being. Whether she's creating a vigorous curriculum for her students, or accommodating an assignment for a child's needs, or staying in at lunch to eat with a kid who just needs that extra boost, she is always looking out for each and every student in her class. They are each lucky to have her, and they always know that. There isn't a kid in our school who hasn't shouted her name out at recess, desperate for her signature smile and open arms. Preschoolers and Upper Schoolers alike seek out her kind heart. She has a way of listening to students, and adults for that matter, which makes them feel incredibly heard and cared for. Katie is the kind of teacher we all strive to be. Though she's moving on to her other passion, she has left a legacy of love here at GUS with the lives she has touched.

Margaurita Spear, Pre-K to Grade 1 Art Teacher

Margaurita has a depth and breadth of understanding of how artists work and how best to turn the students into the artists they can become. The children are always at the center of her classes, with their interests and skill levels guiding her choices for studio art sessions. She is not afraid of a project that has complex steps or is super messy or calls for unusual materials. She has confidence in the children and they in turn find confidence in themselves!

She has the bravery to take that leap of faith with her students coupled with the carefully crafted systems and structures to support this kind of experiential learning. She is also always more than willing to step up and help! 

Margaurita will be missed for her daily contributions to the after care program, creativity with vacation camp programs, and her commitment to SUMMER@GUS. She always worked to prepare projects and programs that were meaningful to the entire community.