faculty and staff
meet our community
our faculty and staff are extraordinary. day in and day out, they find countless ways to remind our students how much they matter as individuals and as part of the doane stuart community.
communication between families and the school is encouraged. the faculty and staff should respond to voicemail and email messages within 24 hours or one school day. of course, about issues of importance, face-to-face meetings are encouraged.
click faculty/staff photos to reveal bios
- administration
- staff
- lower school
- middle school
- upper school



director of college counseling; assistant director of admission
kathleen bracken
i have served as director of college counseling at doane stuart since 2008 and have been with the school since 2005. this role is both great fun and a tremendous privilege. doane stuart’s favorable faculty to student ratio allows me to provide individual attention to each of our students, while establishing a rapport and relationship with their families. in addition to serving as the college counselor, i work with families applying for admission to doane stuart’s middle and upper schools. i am a runner, a yogi, and dog-mom to zelda, a rescue chihuahua mix (who occasionally visits school).
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 210
education:ba university at albany



director of lower school
sandy cassant
for the past 25 years i have been teaching kindergarten in a school that i absolutely love. i am also the director of the lower school. my own kindergarten teacher was my inspiration for becoming a kindergarten teacher. i strongly believe that children learn best by taking an active part in their learning experiences. kindergarten students are full of wonder. my goal is to help my students realize that they are scientists who are learning to ask questions that will help them discover the world around them. when i am not engaged in the many activites at doane stuart, i enjoy spending time with my family, doing crafts and recently have been interested in writing and illustrating a children’s book.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext.
education:b.a., college of saint rose /science minor m.a., elementary education/science minor , russell sage college
publications:co-author “watching and learning in multicultural classrooms” the educational forum a publication of kappa delta pi


business manager
constance (connie) correa
after my first daughter was born, i decided to make a career change. while i enjoyed my work as a senior accountant at a local accounting firm, tax season hours were wreaking havoc with my family life. transitioning to doane stuart as their business manager was just what i needed. this welcoming community was the place for my growing family. the added bonus: my children were able to attend school here and i was able to attend the various parent events while on the job. both my daughters graduated as “lifers” of ds and because of their preparation at ds, have gone on to have great college experiences. my oldest is happily employed in a job she finds rewarding, while my youngest is back in college pursuing a nursing degree. both are responsible, caring, contributing members to society . when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy swimming in the summer, bowling in the winter, reading and enjoying my family year round.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 204
education:b.s., accounting, siena college



director of technology
f. stephen costa
My path to doane stuart was a circuitous one, bringing me from another independent school and an urban Charter School. Here, while I am the director of technology, I also teach a Video Editing art class (semester-long) as well as the “Fairy Tales: Interpretation & Analysis” and the “Writing & Rhetoric” English courses for juniors seniors. Additionally, I am the Mock Trial team coach. As I reside only 1.2 miles away, most days, I brave the elements and walk to work.


director of development
darlene gallagher
i started working for the doane stuart school in october 2005 as the development assistant. through my years at doane stuart i have held many positions. i became the director of development in march 2012. in my spare time i enjoy taking kettlebell and spin classes for my health and relaxation. i also enjoy volunteering for and working with our veterans. i feel a deep gratitude to all those who have served this wonderful country and i thank them for their service.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 203



middle school co-director; middle school english and religion
patty hodgkinson
after graduating from boston college, i returned to the albany area to begin my teaching career. i was fortunate to be hired by sr. margaret canty, rscj, for a part-time middle school social studies position at the doane stuart school. eventually, i was offered a full-time job teaching language arts, and at the same time i went on to complete my master’s degree in reading from the university at albany. i have loved being a part of the journey my seventh and eighth graders undertake to blossom as readers and writers. i try to engage them in reading with a critical eye and writing with a keen sense of the intended purpose and audience for their pieces. as one of the co-directors of the middle school, it is always fun to help orchestrate our special programs, such as the integrated project and community service. when not grading papers or planning lessons, i enjoy cooking, biking, traveling, and most especially, reading!
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 404
education:ba in secondary education/history from boston college, ms in reading from the university at albany



assistant to the head of school and assistant to the director of development
barbara j. miller
With over 25 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant in a private school setting, I am excited to be back working at doane stuart. This is a school that is all about family and I could not be more proud to be working here. I love being around the students, they are so full of life and energy!. In my spare time I enjoy cooking & baking, especially with my son. When the weather’s nice I love to go for power walks, swim and golf.
phone:518-465-5222 ext 201


head of school
cecil f. stodghill
cecil joined the doane stuart school community on july 1, 2019 as the head of school. cecil said, “i am humbled, flattered, and excited to serve this community.” cecil is enthused by the opportunity to lead an outstanding faculty and administration, with the full support of the board of trustees, as we approach the next iteration of doane stuart’s successful impact upon the capital region. let’s go, thunderchickens!!
cecil earned a master of education in school leadership from the university of tennessee, and a bachelor of business administration (marketing concentration) from the university of miami. he has spent nearly 20 years working in administrative leadership positions – particularly in the area of admissions – at both day and boarding schools that serve students in grades k through 12.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 200
education:b.b.a, marketing, university of miami; m.ed, educational leadership, university of tennessee at chattanooga



upper school director
james wheaton
after several years of teaching history at the high school and college level i came to doane stuart in 2015. i teach american history, economics, american government, the american civil war, god(s) and humans, as well as business, finance, and investing. i also serve as the head coach of the boys’ varsity baseball team and girls’ varsity soccer team. starting in 2019-20 i am the director of the upper school.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 428
education:ba cornell university ma minnesota state university, mankato


director of enrollment management
karen teich
my journey working within the independent schools’ arena began in 2004 at a small progressive school in dutchess county called the randolph school. this is where i sent my children and my career in school administration began. i was so curious about what was going on in my childrens’ classrooms that i jumped at the first employment opportunity that was fielded to the community. the inviting atmosphere which nurtures and inspires life long learning, did for me what we hope it does for our students: it instilled a love of learning that sees no end in sight. over the years i took on a number of administrative responsibilities and gained a plethora of knowledge about the inner workings of the independent and private school sector. it was during my time at randolph that i discovered how important it is for families, students, and educators to connect and work together to try and create the best possible learning experience we can for students. this relationship begins in admissions and ends in the right fit for everyone but most importantly, for the student. i am delighted to find myself the director of enrollment management here at doane stuart and look forward to welcoming each family and child through its doors. whether you are a lifelong learner yourself, or about to become one, i’m honored to help show you the magic that is doane stuart. our school is one whose mission and values completely align with my personal beliefs and it is my pleasure to be able to share that message to anyone who wishes to hear it.
education::BA Journalism, Broadcasting & Speech State University College at Buffalo
phone:518-465-5222 x 241


receptionist
karen leary
after working for 30 years in the corporate world, primarily in the areas of customer service, marketing, and management, it has been a joy to work with and around children, which was always my intention. as a receptionist for the school, my customer service experience has allowed me to develop an easy rapport with the students and their families; as well as with the faculty and staff. it is especially important to me that parents in particular feel they can call me at any time, knowing that i will do whatever i can to assist them. in my off time, in addition to reading and meditating, i enjoy traveling and exploring different cuisines from around the globe.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 202
education:b.s. art education, the college of saint rose


upper school registrar
holly o’brien
upper school registrar holly o brien graduated from sarah lawrence college and northwestern university, where she received a master of fine arts in writing for screen and stage. in addition to her work as a graduate assistant at northwestern, holly served as a general manager of the grassroots gallery in stone harbor, new jersey and as a self-employed tutor and editor for homeschooled primary and secondary students in chicago, where she also conducted act and sat test prep. locally, holly served as a class tutor for the troy district, where her responsibilities included co-teaching world history.
phone:mailto: hobrien@doanestuart.org
education:sarah lawrence college, ba northwestern universit, mfa


assistant to lower/middle school; upper school japanese
yoko segerstrom
i was born and raised in japan, and came to the us in 1986 after i married my husband. i started working for the doane stuart in april 2004 as a lower and middle school secretary, and have been teaching japanese as an independent study to upper school students since 2006. i also teach piano after school. in my spare time, i enjoy practicing taichi and qigong for my health and relaxation, and i volunteer at honest weight food co-op in albany every saturday morning.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 240
education:japanese teacher, certificate – cornell university associate degree – kyoritsu women’s junior college, tokyo, japan


nurse
roasemary walsh
i was born and raised in albany. i started working for doane stuart in september 2004 as the school nurse. i also work in aftercare each afternoon. when i am not at doane stuart i work in the nicu, and have worked there since i graduated from college. i teach cpr and first aid to hospital staff and nicu parents. in my spare time i like to cook, bake and knit.
a.a.s nursing-maria college school of nursing. american heart association cpr instructor, ashi cpr and first aid instructor.
518-465-5222 ext 225
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 225


director of publications
jacqueline kirkpatrick
While I’m the new kid in school, I am already feeling so welcome and inspired to hit the hallways running. I am an avid reader and I am also a writer. I can often be found performing poetry in and around the Capital District. I love social media, editing, and wordplay, which made me fall in love with this opportunity at doane stuart. I am a M.F.A. graduate from The College of Saint Rose and now teach creative writing there in the evenings. When I have free time, I love catching live music and playing disc golf (if you don’t know what that is, ask me). I am a mother of a moody tween and the grandmother of two overweight guinea pigs, Cookie & Martha.
m.f.a. creative writing, college of saint rose, b.a. english, university at albany
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 209
education:b.a. english, suny albany, m.f.a. the college of saint rose



assistant to the head of school and assistant to the director of development
barbara j. miller
With over 25 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant in a private school setting, I am excited to be back working at doane stuart. This is a school that is all about family and I could not be more proud to be working here. I love being around the students, they are so full of life and energy!. In my spare time I enjoy cooking & baking, especially with my son. When the weather’s nice I love to go for power walks, swim and golf.
phone:518-465-5222 ext 201


bookkeeper
brenda schermerhorn
i joined the doane stuart family in the fall of 2019. having worked in various positions throughout the capital district in the medical, construction and public accounting fields, i’m very happy to be here at the school to offer my skills. i’m a native of syracuse, new york and have made columbia county my home with my husband of thirty years and two daughters. i enjoy volunteering at my church and
making visits with my therapy dog, max.
phone:518-465-5222 ext 205
education:ms accounting, siena college




librarian
christopher bradt
after having spent most of my life at doane stuart as a student, i was excited when the school reached out to me in 2015 to teach their foundations course. the class was a blast, and the terrific students i had made it an easy decision to become the school’s librarian in 2017. currently, i teach nursery through sixth library class; direct the writing center, which is a peer-based tutoring program; and run the piano performance club, which showcases some of the wonderful student and faculty musicians the school has. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy playing tennis, hiking, and snorkeling.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 212
education:B.A., English & Government, Skidmore College M.A., English, Bucknell University



director of lower school
sandy cassant
for the past 25 years i have been teaching kindergarten in a school that i absolutely love. i am also the director of the lower school. my own kindergarten teacher was my inspiration for becoming a kindergarten teacher. i strongly believe that children learn best by taking an active part in their learning experiences. kindergarten students are full of wonder. my goal is to help my students realize that they are scientists who are learning to ask questions that will help them discover the world around them. when i am not engaged in the many activites at doane stuart, i enjoy spending time with my family, doing crafts and recently have been interested in writing and illustrating a children’s book.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext.
education:b.a., college of saint rose /science minor m.a., elementary education/science minor , russell sage college
publications:co-author “watching and learning in multicultural classrooms” the educational forum a publication of kappa delta pi


fourth grade
chip follert
chip follert joined doane stuart as a fourth-grade teacher in 2014 after being a substitute teacher in the lower, middle, and upper school. prior to joining doane stuart, he taught at st. gregory’s school in loudonville and taught fifth grade at notre dame academy in georgia. he has also taught fourth and eighth-grade religious education classes for a number of years. mr. follert has his ba in english from st. lawrence university and his mat from mercer university in atlanta. mr. follert and his family live in niskayuna.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 414
education:ba english, st. lawrence university and mat, mercer university


second grade teacher
eileen galough
eileen galough joined doane stuart as a 3rd-grade teacher in the fall of 2019. prior to joining doane stuart, she taught 4th grade then some 5th-grade courses at st. ambrose in latham. she was also a substitute teacher for 3 years at various school districts in the capital region. mrs. galough has her as and bs degrees in business administration as well as her msed in childhood education. she is nys certified to teach childhood education 1-6 and social studies 7-9. in her free time, she enjoys zumba and spending time with her family.
msed- college of st. rose, bs- suny albany, as- hudson valley community college
518-465-5222 ext 436




lower, middle and upper school art teacher
jason martinez
i began my creative career as a high school student. i was painting murals, making logos, and entering art shows. i was a t.a., adjunct, and printshop monitor for purchase college during my undergraduate years. the summer of graduation, i became a graphic designer for kraft foods. i spent many years in advertising and package design. my return to full-time teaching happened in graduate school. my years teaching at ualbany gave me a masters experience in education. in 2007, i was recruited by doane stuart to teach visual art. currently, i teach prek-12 art and preside on campus ministry. when i am not teaching i make art and show around the country. my art has been presented in galleries and museums in hollywood, ca and new york city to name a few places. i also enjoy a spiritual life, yoga, running, and hiking.
phone:(518) 730-4804 ext. 443
education:b.f.a., visual arts, purchase college m.f.a., visual arts, new york state university at albany


lower school music
maria pflegl
maria pflegl is a classically trained soprano who began her education as a performance major at the crane school of music. however, it was after she realized that potsdam, ny was not a good fit for her, that her music career really began. as a professional singer, maria spent many years traveling across the country in various opportunities in the performing arts including popular music, theatre, and television. she began her private lesson studio after being asked to pass on her knowledge of how to transfer classical vocal training and skills into popular music and other genres. she also performed locally in theatre companies and with an italian trio. she taught privately for over 25 years while homeschooling her children, created an early childhood daycare music program and founded an elementary community service program and then, went back to school herself late in life to pursue a professional teaching career, ultimately earning a bs with a focus in both performance and vocal pedagogy from skidmore college and a ma in theatre from regent university. she also holds nys professional certification in k-12 music. maria continues to teach privately as well as at doane stuart. she has taught music and theatre arts to every age level from ec through college. she also served as sunday school director for twelve years at solid rock church and now humbly serves on our campus ministry team. it’s clear she has been uniquely gifted and prepared to reach and teach our wonderful students. ps. in her spare time, she enjoys going to theatre shows, hiking, and camping.
bs. skidmore college/ ma regent university
(518) 465-5222
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 451


early childhood Teacher (Ages 3&4)
brianna stauder
i had the opportunity to see doane stuart at their albany campus when i was a nanny for an attending family. i loved it and it’s vast opportunities for the students. i had the pleasure of joining the teachers and their journey into the new building for its first year in rensselaer. this is my 10th year teaching at doane stuart as the early childhood teacher. before teaching at doane i was a young three’s teacher for two years at a preschool in hawaii. i taught there while i earned my masters degree on the island. i am a proud mother of two children, maximus and mila. outside of school, i love to travel and enjoy the outdoors.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 419
education:bs. childhood education 1-6 (minor in english), the college of saint rose m.ed; emphasis on curriculum and instruction, chaminade university of honolulu, certified to teach students with disabilities and early childhood education birth - grade 2




director of athletics and physical education
larry yakubowski
in the school year of 1999-2000, i became the physical education teacher for our lower and middle school students. for over twenty years, i’ve worked hard to give our youngest students positive starts in their development of movement concepts, motor skills , and enjoyment of games. it is equally rewarding to observe our middle-school students strengthen their fundamental skills set and apply these in their exploration of many advanced games.
in my more recent capacity as director of athletics at doane stuart, i enjoy presenting opportunities for participation in interscholastic athletics to our upper schoolers. we observe a large majority of our upper school students enjoying their experiences in athletics and benefiting from the regular physical activity these opportunities provide.
in addition to encouraging physical activity from our school’s students, i worked for thirty years as a recreation leader for the town of bethlehem parks and recreation department as well as fifteen years (and counting) as manager and tennis professional at the albany tennis club. i’ve also coached women’s tennis teams at the university at albany and siena college.
i’ve enjoyed more than thirty years of marriage to claire burger who is also an educator. together, we are parents to leigh (a teacher too) and samuel ( a college student).
lastly, i enjoy working on old cars and motorcycles and playing the guitar.
bachelor of science from marist college 1985; coursework at the university at albany; tennis university 1990; certifications as tennis teaching professional from the professional tennis registry (since 1989) and the united states professional tennis association 1997
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 228




Middle & upper school Teacher
ansley chlastawa
i would like to introduce myself as a proud doane stuart alum. my journey began in 4th grade and i have many wonderful memories of my time as a student through high school graduation. i am thrilled to be back as a teacher! during my time as a student, the teachers at doane stuart fostered a love of learning that i hope to duplicate within my own classroom.
knowing that i wanted to pursue a career in education, i worked part-time at a local school while completing my undergraduate degree at russell sage college. prior to returning to doane stuart as a faculty member, i taught math and pre-kindergarten at the susan odell taylor school. i have continued my own education, pursuing a master’s in business administration degree. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy spending time with my family, my dogs, reading, and (recently) golfing.
education::bs russell sage college, mba liberty university (in progress)
phone::518-465-5222


third grade teacher
anna harrington
as a proud doane stuart alumna, i am thrilled to return as a third grade teacher. prior to joining the faculty at doane stuart, i taught fourth and fifth grades at brown school and kindergarten at the susan odell taylor school. as a teacher, i value each child on their own uniqueness and inspire them to believe in themselves. my greatest joy is that they wake up each morning looking forward to seeing me, as much as i look forward to seeing them. when i am not in the classroom, i am happy at home with my husband and our puppy, lucy.
phone:518-465-5222
education:b.a. in theatre from russell sage college, m.ed. in early childhood education from the college of saint rose. nys certified to teach early childhood education b-2 and childhood education 1-6.



middle school social studies; upper school humanities
erin baillargeon
i joined doane stuart in the 2007-2008 school year to teach middle school social studies. it’s hard to believe those students have already earned undergraduate degrees at colleges and universities! i currently teach students in grades six through eight about the foundations of european civilizations and american history. i always strive for students to realize that social studies is not merely memorizing and reciting names and dates. it is only through understanding the challenges faced by people in the past and their attempted solutions that we can grow and improve as a society. my favorite way to help sixth graders appreciate how far we’ve come: having them dress as famous figures from the renaissance as part of our “time machine” project.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 430
education:b.a., history and nys teaching certification: 7-12 social studies, suny geneseo




librarian
christopher bradt
after having spent most of my life at doane stuart as a student, i was excited when the school reached out to me in 2015 to teach their foundations course. the class was a blast, and the terrific students i had made it an easy decision to become the school’s librarian in 2017. currently, i teach nursery through sixth library class; direct the writing center, which is a peer-based tutoring program; and run the piano performance club, which showcases some of the wonderful student and faculty musicians the school has. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy playing tennis, hiking, and snorkeling.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 212
education:B.A., English & Government, Skidmore College M.A., English, Bucknell University



upper school math; lower school technology
james cernik
after graduating from union graduate college and completing a student teaching internship under the direction of a national board certified instructor, i joined doane stuart during the 2015 – 2016 school year as a math tutor for the upper school. during this first year, i worked with students during their free periods to provide homework help, review for quizzes and tests and general review of various math topics. my first year of full time teaching occurred during the 2016 – 2017 school year and ever since, i have taught a variety of math courses in both the middle and upper school. during my time at doane stuart, i have taught math courses including; math 6, math 7, pre – algebra, algebra 8, algebra 9, geometry 9, geometry 10 and probability and statistics.
whenever i have taught a math course, my main focus for students has been twofold; 1) providing an appreciation for math and its various applications and 2) helping students explore and justify the steps they take in the problem solving process. my goal for students is always that they walk away from a math course with a sense of confidence in their problem solving and reasoning abilities and that they aren’t afraid to apply their knowledge in other courses of study.
b. a. economics, union college mat mathematics, union graduate college nys teaching certification: 5-12 mathematics, union graduate college
(518) 730 – 4804 ext. 412
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 412


middle school English, history & Religion
nat corwin
after 26 years of teaching history at a boarding school, i came to doane stuart and found my true calling teaching 5th and 6th graders, english, social studies, and religion. the walls of my classroom attest to my fascination with maps; yet, in recent years, my passion has been to promote spiritual education. mindfulness is a mainstay in my classes, and i am honored to serve on the campus ministry team. i am an avid canoeist, an accomplished sailor, a devoted dog owner, and an enthusiastic celtic harmonica player.
hobart college b.a., mals wesleyan university, shalem institute certificate in contemplative spirituality.
518-465-5222 ext. 407
phone:(518) 730-4804 ext. 407



director of technology
f. stephen costa
My path to doane stuart was a circuitous one, bringing me from another independent school and an urban Charter School. Here, while I am the director of technology, I also teach a Video Editing art class (semester-long) as well as the “Fairy Tales: Interpretation & Analysis” and the “Writing & Rhetoric” English courses for juniors seniors. Additionally, I am the Mock Trial team coach. As I reside only 1.2 miles away, most days, I brave the elements and walk to work.



middle and upper school music
joe hetko
joe hetko has been teaching band and general music at the doane stuart school for the past 15 years. prior to that he was a private music instructor and free-lance musician; he continues both of those activities to this day. he has been performing arts chair at the heldeberg workshop in the town of new scotland for the past twenty years. joe works as a guitarist and bassist in a variety of situations, and enjoys doing some composing.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 424
education:b.a. music, st. lawrence university



middle school co-director; middle school english and religion
patty hodgkinson
after graduating from boston college, i returned to the albany area to begin my teaching career. i was fortunate to be hired by sr. margaret canty, rscj, for a part-time middle school social studies position at the doane stuart school. eventually, i was offered a full-time job teaching language arts, and at the same time i went on to complete my master’s degree in reading from the university at albany. i have loved being a part of the journey my seventh and eighth graders undertake to blossom as readers and writers. i try to engage them in reading with a critical eye and writing with a keen sense of the intended purpose and audience for their pieces. as one of the co-directors of the middle school, it is always fun to help orchestrate our special programs, such as the integrated project and community service. when not grading papers or planning lessons, i enjoy cooking, biking, traveling, and most especially, reading!
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 404
education:ba in secondary education/history from boston college, ms in reading from the university at albany


middle school co-director; middle school math and science
seamus hodgkinson
i arrived in this country from horrific catholic/protestant sectarian violence in my hometown of belfast. i consider it miraculous that i became a part of the historic first merger between an episcopal and roman catholic school in the u.s. since 1975 i have been inspired by the doane stuart mission of embracing and celebrating difference. my passion is middle school education, where life can be frantic and messy, but never dull, and young minds and personalities are forming before your eyes. i am co-director of the middle school. i also teach maths and science, and believe deeply in their power to inspire clear thinking and a sense of awe. in addition i lead the outdoor club, and coach soccer, cross country, and track, as well as always making time for my own serious running and hiking, (preferably in the grand canyon).
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 405
education:bsc. queen’s university, belfast, n. ireland bsc. hons. queens university, belfast n. ireland med. moray house, edinburgh, scotland




lower, middle and upper school art teacher
jason martinez
i began my creative career as a high school student. i was painting murals, making logos, and entering art shows. i was a t.a., adjunct, and printshop monitor for purchase college during my undergraduate years. the summer of graduation, i became a graphic designer for kraft foods. i spent many years in advertising and package design. my return to full-time teaching happened in graduate school. my years teaching at ualbany gave me a masters experience in education. in 2007, i was recruited by doane stuart to teach visual art. currently, i teach prek-12 art and preside on campus ministry. when i am not teaching i make art and show around the country. my art has been presented in galleries and museums in hollywood, ca and new york city to name a few places. i also enjoy a spiritual life, yoga, running, and hiking.
phone:(518) 730-4804 ext. 443
education:b.f.a., visual arts, purchase college m.f.a., visual arts, new york state university at albany



middle/upper school french teacher
alexandra valenti
i came to doane stuart in 2009 after spending a year abroad teaching in lille, france. at doane stuart, i teach middle and upper school french. in my free time, i enjoy playing tennis, café-ing, baking, sewing, and quilting. i have made several skirts and quilts and i am excited to teach myself how to free-motion quilt in 2019.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 432
education:ba union college mat union graduate college




director of athletics and physical education
larry yakubowski
in the school year of 1999-2000, i became the physical education teacher for our lower and middle school students. for over twenty years, i’ve worked hard to give our youngest students positive starts in their development of movement concepts, motor skills , and enjoyment of games. it is equally rewarding to observe our middle-school students strengthen their fundamental skills set and apply these in their exploration of many advanced games.
in my more recent capacity as director of athletics at doane stuart, i enjoy presenting opportunities for participation in interscholastic athletics to our upper schoolers. we observe a large majority of our upper school students enjoying their experiences in athletics and benefiting from the regular physical activity these opportunities provide.
in addition to encouraging physical activity from our school’s students, i worked for thirty years as a recreation leader for the town of bethlehem parks and recreation department as well as fifteen years (and counting) as manager and tennis professional at the albany tennis club. i’ve also coached women’s tennis teams at the university at albany and siena college.
i’ve enjoyed more than thirty years of marriage to claire burger who is also an educator. together, we are parents to leigh (a teacher too) and samuel ( a college student).
lastly, i enjoy working on old cars and motorcycles and playing the guitar.
bachelor of science from marist college 1985; coursework at the university at albany; tennis university 1990; certifications as tennis teaching professional from the professional tennis registry (since 1989) and the united states professional tennis association 1997
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 228




Middle & upper school Teacher
ansley chlastawa
i would like to introduce myself as a proud doane stuart alum. my journey began in 4th grade and i have many wonderful memories of my time as a student through high school graduation. i am thrilled to be back as a teacher! during my time as a student, the teachers at doane stuart fostered a love of learning that i hope to duplicate within my own classroom.
knowing that i wanted to pursue a career in education, i worked part-time at a local school while completing my undergraduate degree at russell sage college. prior to returning to doane stuart as a faculty member, i taught math and pre-kindergarten at the susan odell taylor school. i have continued my own education, pursuing a master’s in business administration degree. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy spending time with my family, my dogs, reading, and (recently) golfing.
education::bs russell sage college, mba liberty university (in progress)
phone::518-465-5222



middle school social studies; upper school humanities
erin baillargeon
i joined doane stuart in the 2007-2008 school year to teach middle school social studies. it’s hard to believe those students have already earned undergraduate degrees at colleges and universities! i currently teach students in grades six through eight about the foundations of european civilizations and american history. i always strive for students to realize that social studies is not merely memorizing and reciting names and dates. it is only through understanding the challenges faced by people in the past and their attempted solutions that we can grow and improve as a society. my favorite way to help sixth graders appreciate how far we’ve come: having them dress as famous figures from the renaissance as part of our “time machine” project.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 430
education:b.a., history and nys teaching certification: 7-12 social studies, suny geneseo



director of college counseling; assistant director of admission
kathleen bracken
i have served as director of college counseling at doane stuart since 2008 and have been with the school since 2005. this role is both great fun and a tremendous privilege. doane stuart’s favorable faculty to student ratio allows me to provide individual attention to each of our students, while establishing a rapport and relationship with their families. in addition to serving as the college counselor, i work with families applying for admission to doane stuart’s middle and upper schools. i am a runner, a yogi, and dog-mom to zelda, a rescue chihuahua mix (who occasionally visits school).
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 210
education:ba university at albany




librarian
christopher bradt
after having spent most of my life at doane stuart as a student, i was excited when the school reached out to me in 2015 to teach their foundations course. the class was a blast, and the terrific students i had made it an easy decision to become the school’s librarian in 2017. currently, i teach nursery through sixth library class; direct the writing center, which is a peer-based tutoring program; and run the piano performance club, which showcases some of the wonderful student and faculty musicians the school has. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy playing tennis, hiking, and snorkeling.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 212
education:B.A., English & Government, Skidmore College M.A., English, Bucknell University



upper school math; lower school technology
james cernik
after graduating from union graduate college and completing a student teaching internship under the direction of a national board certified instructor, i joined doane stuart during the 2015 – 2016 school year as a math tutor for the upper school. during this first year, i worked with students during their free periods to provide homework help, review for quizzes and tests and general review of various math topics. my first year of full time teaching occurred during the 2016 – 2017 school year and ever since, i have taught a variety of math courses in both the middle and upper school. during my time at doane stuart, i have taught math courses including; math 6, math 7, pre – algebra, algebra 8, algebra 9, geometry 9, geometry 10 and probability and statistics.
whenever i have taught a math course, my main focus for students has been twofold; 1) providing an appreciation for math and its various applications and 2) helping students explore and justify the steps they take in the problem solving process. my goal for students is always that they walk away from a math course with a sense of confidence in their problem solving and reasoning abilities and that they aren’t afraid to apply their knowledge in other courses of study.
b. a. economics, union college mat mathematics, union graduate college nys teaching certification: 5-12 mathematics, union graduate college
(518) 730 – 4804 ext. 412
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 412


upper school math
robin clapper
i came to doane stuart in 2019 after teaching in independent schools and at the college level. i love teaching and working with math at all levels, but i currently teach algebra ii, precalculus, calculus i, and calculus ii. outside of school, i enjoy reading, gardening, and spending time in my kitchen cooking and baking. i am the proud dog mom of bodie, a shepherd-lab mix who thinks he is a lap dog.
ba mathematics and bs in secondary education, massachusetts college of liberal arts
certificate of applied statistics and data management, nc state
maed mathematics education, east carolina university
(518) 465-5222 ext. 563


upper school history
andrew forte
i teach 10th grade world history, and a set of electives. i am especially happy to have designed and implemented electives that focus on interdisciplinary approaches to issues in east asian history. in addition to classroom teaching, i co-advise the 10th grade class, and advise doane stuart’s board games club. in moments of leisure i enjoy exploring manhattan’s modern music, experiencing digital literature from a variety of cultures, and developing my chinese language skills.
ba in philosophy, minor in astrophysics – union college; mat in social studies – clarkson university
(518) 465-5222 ext. 410


upper school english
john foster
over the course of my career, i’ve taught both college and high school students. my first job was at a small boarding school. it was there, i think, that i first understood how vital a strong sense of community is on any campus; it is certainly a quality that makes working at doane stuart so rewarding. at the heart of my classroom here is a seminar table, not a lectern; it’s a sounding board for the lively exchange of ideas, and my students make the most of it. in the past few years, i’ve begun writing fiction; more than one of my stories was inspired by my work at ds.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 409
education:B.A., English Literature (major) & Studio Art (minor), Hamilton College M.A., Ph.D., English Literature, The University of Virginia



middle and upper school music
joe hetko
joe hetko has been teaching band and general music at the doane stuart school for the past 15 years. prior to that he was a private music instructor and free-lance musician; he continues both of those activities to this day. he has been performing arts chair at the heldeberg workshop in the town of new scotland for the past twenty years. joe works as a guitarist and bassist in a variety of situations, and enjoys doing some composing.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 424
education:b.a. music, st. lawrence university


upper school history
ashley legenbauer-sigond
i came to doane stuart in 2015 after teaching for several years in both public, and independent schools. i currently teach 9th grade world history, world religion, and a variety of social science electives. i am also a freshman advisor, and the faculty advisor to doane stuart’s gsa. outside of school, i enjoy baking and spending time outdoors- hiking in particular. i am a proud mother to my son, mason; and dog-mom to bear (a great pyrenees).
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 401
education:ba anthropology and history suny geneseo, mat union graduate college, nys permanent certification social studies 5-12




lower, middle and upper school art teacher
jason martinez
i began my creative career as a high school student. i was painting murals, making logos, and entering art shows. i was a t.a., adjunct, and printshop monitor for purchase college during my undergraduate years. the summer of graduation, i became a graphic designer for kraft foods. i spent many years in advertising and package design. my return to full-time teaching happened in graduate school. my years teaching at ualbany gave me a masters experience in education. in 2007, i was recruited by doane stuart to teach visual art. currently, i teach prek-12 art and preside on campus ministry. when i am not teaching i make art and show around the country. my art has been presented in galleries and museums in hollywood, ca and new york city to name a few places. i also enjoy a spiritual life, yoga, running, and hiking.
phone:(518) 730-4804 ext. 443
education:b.f.a., visual arts, purchase college m.f.a., visual arts, new york state university at albany


upper school chemistry
liam pickett
liam pickett teachers chemistry, advanced chemistry, environmental science, and theatre in the upper school at doane stuart. he also works with the middle and upper school drama clubs as co-director of the theatre program and helps to coordinate the scamp program over the summer. before coming to ds he worked as a substitute teacher, student-teacher, and drama club advisor in the wappingers falls school district after graduating from marist college in 2015. when not teaching and working with the drama club, liam often works as a designer and a volunteer at the home made theater in saratoga springs as well as other local theater groups. he also enjoys reading, writing, being outdoors, kayaking, and legos.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 406
education:b.a. biochemistry and secondary education, marist college


upper school english
joelle russo
after having spent more than 11 years living and teaching abroad, i returned to my native new york in 2012. a brooklyn girl by birth, i decided to make columbia county, ny my home. since that time, i have been an administrator, teacher and academic mentor in the private school sector. currently, i have returned to the classroom full time to teach english. teaching has been so much more than just a career choice; it has been my passion for over 16 years. building relationships with students, fostering empathy, and enabling them to realize their unique potential is the key to their academic development. inspiring students to fall in love with literature and connect with voices and ideas across time and place is truly a gift. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy writing poetry, playing guitar, attending concerts, cooking, gardening, travel, practicing yoga and meditation, and spending time with my two sons.
phone:(518) 730-4804 ext. 430
education:b.a., english, the new school university qualified teacher status (qts), british council for teaching of england and wales


upper school physics
kyle schindler
kyle schindler teaches conceptual physics, physics and advanced physics. he is an assistant coach for the doane stuart baseball team and coaches the combined doane stuart – rensselaer high school cross country and indoor track team. as well as an advisor to the doane stuart ski/board club. before coming to ds kyle taught astronomy through outdoor education in the mountains of california. outside of ds kyle enjoys adventuring in the adirondacks and exploring the national parks over the summer.
b.s physics, astrophysics university of massachusetts amherst
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 439


upper school spanish
april stromberg
i came to doane stuart in 2019, after several years working as a private tutor and more recently as an adjunct faculty member at a local community college. i did this while raising small children, who are now school-aged and enrolled at doane stuart. prior to that, i spent ten years working as a full-time spanish teacher at upland country day school and ambridge area school district (both in pennsylvania). i earned both my bachelor’s and my master’s degrees in spanish at west chester university, where i was able to participate in study abroad programs in spain, mexico, and peru. i was also fortunate to travel to mexico as an interpreter and to bring a group of students to costa rica. all of my study abroad experiences were paid for by merit-based scholarships or grants. i learned a great deal of spanish by being totally immersed within our local immigrant communities and serving as a volunteer spanish-english interpreter and community english as a new language instructor for sixteen years. i try to provide a similarly immersive classroom environment for my students by speaking exclusively in spanish in class, with a strong reliance on storytelling and other methods for providing comprehensible input. the students at doane stuart are wonderful, and it is my absolute delight to work with them!
west chester university bs ed. social studies (spanish minor) 2000; post-baccalaureate teaching certificate in spanish 2003, spanish ma 2013



middle/upper school french teacher
alexandra valenti
i came to doane stuart in 2009 after spending a year abroad teaching in lille, france. at doane stuart, i teach middle and upper school french. in my free time, i enjoy playing tennis, café-ing, baking, sewing, and quilting. i have made several skirts and quilts and i am excited to teach myself how to free-motion quilt in 2019.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 432
education:ba union college mat union graduate college


upper school art teacher
michael van winkle
i came to doane stuart in 2015 to teach photography and drawing classes in the upper school. i also teach in the creative arts department at siena college. i’m interested in helping students build a strong relationship with creative processes. in each of my classes, we explore developing complex compositions in stages, beginning with generating concepts, experimenting with materials, then refining the visual language and analyzing the results.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 425
education:bfa nyscc at alfred university mfa suny albany


upper school biology
dr. david wells
after earning my degrees, i continued my training with postdoctoral fellowships at the university of michigan and brown university before becoming an assistant professor at yale university in 2001 in the department of molecular, cellular and developmental biology. i left yale as an associate professor to join the faculty at doane stuart in 2012. i currently teach advanced biology, advanced topics in cell biology, molecular psychology, and bioethics. i am the senior class advisor. in addition, i help coordinate our student participation in national chemistry day and the international brain bee competition. i also coach the varsity boys soccer team where we have a merged program with rensselaer high school that was successful enough for us to start a jv boys soccer program in 2015. my wife and i have two children who both attend doane stuart and are active in sports both at doane stuart and in our town leagues. outside of school, i play as much tennis as i’m allowed and i play for the albany team in an over 40 men’s soccer league.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 445
education:ba zoology, ms biochemistry, phd anatomy and neurobiology, university of vermont



upper school director
james wheaton
after several years of teaching history at the high school and college level i came to doane stuart in 2015. i teach american history, economics, american government, the american civil war, god(s) and humans, as well as business, finance, and investing. i also serve as the head coach of the boys’ varsity baseball team and girls’ varsity soccer team. starting in 2019-20 i am the director of the upper school.
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 428
education:ba cornell university ma minnesota state university, mankato




director of athletics and physical education
larry yakubowski
in the school year of 1999-2000, i became the physical education teacher for our lower and middle school students. for over twenty years, i’ve worked hard to give our youngest students positive starts in their development of movement concepts, motor skills , and enjoyment of games. it is equally rewarding to observe our middle-school students strengthen their fundamental skills set and apply these in their exploration of many advanced games.
in my more recent capacity as director of athletics at doane stuart, i enjoy presenting opportunities for participation in interscholastic athletics to our upper schoolers. we observe a large majority of our upper school students enjoying their experiences in athletics and benefiting from the regular physical activity these opportunities provide.
in addition to encouraging physical activity from our school’s students, i worked for thirty years as a recreation leader for the town of bethlehem parks and recreation department as well as fifteen years (and counting) as manager and tennis professional at the albany tennis club. i’ve also coached women’s tennis teams at the university at albany and siena college.
i’ve enjoyed more than thirty years of marriage to claire burger who is also an educator. together, we are parents to leigh (a teacher too) and samuel ( a college student).
lastly, i enjoy working on old cars and motorcycles and playing the guitar.
bachelor of science from marist college 1985; coursework at the university at albany; tennis university 1990; certifications as tennis teaching professional from the professional tennis registry (since 1989) and the united states professional tennis association 1997
phone:(518) 465-5222 ext. 228




Middle & upper school Teacher
ansley chlastawa
i would like to introduce myself as a proud doane stuart alum. my journey began in 4th grade and i have many wonderful memories of my time as a student through high school graduation. i am thrilled to be back as a teacher! during my time as a student, the teachers at doane stuart fostered a love of learning that i hope to duplicate within my own classroom.
knowing that i wanted to pursue a career in education, i worked part-time at a local school while completing my undergraduate degree at russell sage college. prior to returning to doane stuart as a faculty member, i taught math and pre-kindergarten at the susan odell taylor school. i have continued my own education, pursuing a master’s in business administration degree. when i am not at doane stuart, i enjoy spending time with my family, my dogs, reading, and (recently) golfing.
education::bs russell sage college, mba liberty university (in progress)
phone::518-465-5222