Meet the Newest Members of the Foote School Community

The Foote School is happy to welcome 13 new members to the Foote School community as part of the faculty and staff for the 2023-2024 school year. Please join us in welcoming the following:

Kaila Ablao — Kindergarten Associate

A self-described “educator, a dancer, an artist, and a caregiver,” Kaila is no stranger to New Haven. She served as a substitute teacher in the New Haven school district last spring, and works at City Climb as desk and belay staff. A graduate from Colorado College with a B.A. in Dance, and a master’s in Teaching, Kaila was a student teacher for first grade at Monroe Elementary School (Colorado), a teacher’s aide at Daniel Webster Elementary School in San Francisco, and an outdoor school educator for The Environmental Center in Oregon.

Ebou Bobb — Staff Accountant

Ebou joined the Foote staff this summer, most recently serving as a tax accountant for Concierge Tax Services, LLC. With a master’s in Accounting and Financial Management from DeVry College of New York, a bachelor’s in Accounting from Queens College, and an associate’s degree in Accounting from Hostos Community College, Ebou brings with him a wealth of experience. He was a bookkeeper for Tower-IQ Inc and Boyd Mechanical LLC, before becoming a tax auditor for the New York Department of Finance, and a tax preparer for Bobbs Income Tax Service.

Marie Buenger - French Teacher and Teaching Intern at Foote School in New Haven, CT

Marie Buenger — Teaching Intern; French 9 Teacher

Many will remember Marie, who was at Foote for much of last year as a French teacher for grades 8 and 9. She hails from France, and has a great deal of international work experience that spans England, Belgium, and the United States. In the education space, she has served as a French teaching assistant in London, and a French teacher in both the North Haven and Guilford school districts.

Gregory Dean — Campus Safety Manager

With a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Post University, Gregory has more than 20 years of experience in security management. Most recently, he served as the protective services manager and senior patrol officer for Yale New Haven Hospital. Before that he worked in the Naugatuck Police Department for 21 years, rising to the rank of Detective Lieutenant.

Stacy Iemma Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Board of Trustees

Stacy Iemma — Executive Assistant to the Head of School & Board of Trustees

For 24 years, Stacy was the backbone of the Croton-Harmon School District. As secretary to the principal at PVC Middle School, she handled everything: main office oversight; managing multiple calendars and schedules; providing written and verbal communications for parents, faculty, and staff; overseeing event management; and much much more. She also has a great deal of experience as an office administrator in the corporate world. Stacy has an associate’s degree in Applied Science in Word Processing/Office Administration from Westchester Community College.

Mercedes Martin — Part-time Spanish Teacher

At La Salle University (Madrid) Mercedes earned a master’s in Occupational Therapy and at UNED (Madrid) she earned a master’s in Management of Social Centers and Residences for the Elderly. She also has post-graduate degrees in Gerontology and Early Childcare. A native Spanish-speaker, Mercedes was a Spanish Language teacher and private tutor at Centro Picasso in Lithuania. Prior to that, she was an occupational therapy instructor and lecturer in Madrid for corporations and educational institutions and an occupational therapist at an eldercare facility in Madrid. Oregon.

Audrey Morrow First Grade Head Teacher at Foote School in New Haven, CT

Audrey Morrow — Grade 1 Head Teacher

Audrey spent the last two years as a lead teacher at Teach For America, working in Connecticut public schools. Prior to that she was an early education and support specialist in New Haven and North Carolina, providing private and classroom support for students ages 2–9. Audrey earned her Resident Educator Certificate at Relay Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology (with a minor in Spanish) from Hendrix College in Arkansas.

Kiera Mulvehill 2nd Grade Associate and Assistant Director of After School Program for Music at Foote School in New Haven, CT

Kiera M. Mulvehill — Grade 2 Associate; Associate Director of After School Program for Music

Kiera is a familiar face at Foote, having acted as a substitute teacher and After School Program teacher last school year. She has been a wilderness guide at a YMCA camp in Minnesota, where she was also a communications coordinator and “canoe master.” After Vassar College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science with an Anthropology correlate, she worked as an asbestos analyst for EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Alison Nauen — Theater Associate

A recent graduate of Denison University, Alison has a degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in theater — while also acting as manager for the school’s softball team. She has served as a teacher and R.A. for EXPLO in Bronxville, N.Y., where she taught acting, musical theater, competitive swimming, and debate. At Denison, she served as an orientation leader, and was a camp counselor at Camp Sewataro in Massachusetts.

Timothy Norman Math Teacher and 6th Grade Advisor for Foote School in New Haven, CT

Timothy Norman — Math Teacher; 6th Grade Advisor

Beginning in 2017, Timothy was an academic teacher and Learning Lab coordinator at Newport Academy in Darien, acting as both mentor and academic instructor covering a variety of disciplines from math instruction, to student advising and resume writing, to financial aid guidance. Timothy has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Carolina Novaes — Grade 3 Associate

Originally from Brazil, Carolina majored in Political Science and German Studies at Grinnell College. She held a variety of jobs while studying at Grinnell, including serving as a German teaching assistant, a Brazilian Portuguese tutor, an English tutor, Admissions tour guide, Brazilian Student Association program coordinator, and cultural attaché where she led sessions on Brazilian culture for Grinnell community members.

Aimée Rochon — Kindergarten Head Teacher

Aimée returns to Foote this fall to lead the third kindergarten class. Last year she served as a maternity leave sub in first grade, and continued to fill in as a substitute throughout the year. She came to Foote from Thacher Montessori in Milton (MA), and has a strong background in elementary education. Prior to Thacher, she was a lead teacher at Discovery Montessori Academy in Hong Kong and a classroom assistant at Quincy Montessori School in Massachusetts. Aimée has a bachelor’s degree in English from Bridgewater State University, and a Lower Elementary Teacher Certification from North American Montessori Center.

Miriam D. Young — Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance

Miriam’s love of theater guided her undergraduate and graduate degrees — a bachelor’s in Art Management from The College of Charleston and a master’s in Arts Administration from The University of Chicago, College Conservatory of Music. She later transitioned to admissions work as an admissions associate and database manager for Manhattan Country School. She worked in development at Medical Development for Israel, Inc. and for YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. A former Walt Disney World character, she continues to stay connected to theater as co-founder and parent producer for the Saugatuck Theater Club at Saugatuck Elementary School in Westport.

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