Faculty, Staff, and Board of Trustees

Faculty

The Brookwood School and The Children's Center has a faculty consisting of 29 talented and dedicated individuals.

The Brookwood School

Teaching at Brookwood demands an appreciation of the intricacies of learning and the reality of multiple learning styles, a love of young people, and an ability to make use of the "extended campus." In addition, the school embraces the notion that teachers should be offered the freedom to teach and continue their own learning process.
 

The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
—Maria Montessori
Maria Reisen Three-Year-Old Class Teacher
Vicki Hazzard Three-Year-Old Class Assistant
Sue Carr Three-/Four-Year-Old Class Teacher
Tiffany Kolka Three-/Four-Year-Old Class Assistant and After-School Assistant
Barbara Belknap Four-Year-Old Class Teacher
Cherish Paulson Four-Year-Old Class Assistant and After-School Assistant
Lissa Sidoli Kindergarten Class Teacher
Kelly Steele Kindergarten Class Assistant and After-School Assistant
Vivian Allison First-/Second-/Third-Grade Class Teacher
Amanda Bartl First-/Second-/Third-Grade Class Assistant and After-School Lead Teacher
Judy Wertenbaker Fourth-/Fifth-/Sixth-Grade Class Teacher
Judith Allen Fourth-/Fifth-/Sixth-Grade Class Teacher
Angela Clyne Class Assistant and After-School Assistant
Kara Rutledge After-School and SummerCare Lead Teacher
Ashlie Wilfeard After-School Assistant
Mandy Robinson French Teacher
Diane Ducey French Teacher
Mary Ashwood French Teacher
Dana LaCroix Music Teacher

The Children's Center

The staff of The Children's Center are trained in developmentally appropriate practices for infants and toddlers, as well as in infant and child CPR and first aid. They also attend regular training in child development and education.
 

Jennifer Connolly Infant Lead Teacher
Kathy Robinson Infant Lead Teacher
Vickie Barrett Infant Assistant Teacher
Elizabeth Daley Infant Assistant Teacher
Pamela Gus Infant Assistant Teacher
Heather Boxill Toddler Lead Teacher
Laurie Traglia Toddler Lead Teacher
Crystal Bateman Toddler Assistant Teacher
Melinda Crist Toddler Assistant Teacher
Melissa Garreau Infant and Toddler Assistant Teacher

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Staff

Amy Williams Director
Kristine Francis Director of Operations
Bennett Sandler Business Manager
Melanie Ahrens Office Assistant
Maria Bubko Office Assistant
Kara Rutledge Coordinator of After-School and SummerCare Programs
Jennifer Connolly Coordinator of Infant and Toddler Programs
Tom Breiten Coordinator of Construction Project
Ken McPhail Maintenance

Board of Trustees

J. Michael Moffat, Chairman

Justine Woolner-Wise, President

Lin Vincent, Treasurer

Peter Deysenroth, Secretary

Liane Hirabayashi, Trustee

Garet Livermore, Trustee

Jim Maloney, Trustee

Robin Moore, Trustee

Dominick Reisen, Trustee

Mandy Robinson, Trustee

Amy Townsend, Trustee

Amy Williams, Director

The Brookwood School Board is a committed, hard-working, hands-on group with representatives from all parts of Otsego County. We are a varied group including business persons, parents of past and current students, educators and other professionals.

It is the board's responsibility, in cooperation with the director, to provide the support and structure to enable our teachers to carry out Brookwood's mission every day as they nurture and teach our students.

The board is the keeper of this mission. We review the mission as we grow and change, ensuring that we are true to it and that it remains vital and appropriate to our identity. We use the mission as a guidepost for planning and making board decisions.

The board is responsible for establishing broad institutional policy, guiding the director in the operation of the school. We are there to support the director, advise when asked to, and offer feedback.

The board is legally and financially responsible for the school, acting as one unified body. We work as a team, and no one individual has the authority to act for the board. All issues are discussed, and decisions are made by majority vote.

We are a strong and committed team, offering our collective experience and expertise to the guidance and growth of Brookwood. We meet monthly as a group, and many of us are working continually on special projects or committees essential to the support of daily operations.

As a diverse group, the unifying thread among us is a passion for Brookwood. We all are excited by the innovative experience and high-quality education that Brookwood provides for children in our community. Our history is one of continual growth and strengthening. As our roots as an institution have grown deeper and broader, new branches have sprouted and new growth emerges very year. We are here to nurture that growth.

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For information on the programs or to enroll a child, call (607) 547-4060 or e-mail us.

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The Brookwood School and The Children's Center
687 County Route 59
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Telephone: (607) 547-4060Fax: (607) 547-2835
E-mail: brookwood@stny.rr.com