What's New in 2007-08
New Faculty and Staff
Cris Bringas | Co-Teacher, Early Childhood Center
University of Asia and the Pacific, B.A.
Cris comes to Advent from New York City where she taught Kindergarten for two years at the Horace Mann School. Prior to earning her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Creative Arts from Lesley University, Cris spent two years teaching at the Young Learners Collaborative preschool in Manila. A Filipino native, Cris also pursued her undergraduate studies in the Philippines, graduating from the University of Asia and the Pacific. Cristina was drawn to Advent’s Reggio-inspired program in the ECC and its responsive, emergent curriculum, having experienced a program with a similar philosophy at the Horace Mann School. In her spare time Cris likes to sketch, paint, and explore the outdoors.
Marissa Clark | Co-Teacher, Early Childhood Center
Tufts University, M.A.T.
College of the Holy Cross, B.A.
Marissa joins our ECC after five years at the Cambridge-Ellis School where she was Head Teacher of the 4-year-olds classroom. She earned her master’s degree in Arts and Teaching from Tufts University and completed her undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. Marissa believes that creative arts are crucial to a child’s delight in learning and their innate curiosity for learning about the world. She sees art as instrumental to a child’s developing a sense of self, and as a resource that helps to forge peer connections. Marissa fully embraces the concepts of Reggio Emilia and says that they have had a profound impact on her views on children’s learning. When she’s not in the classroom, Marissa can be found outdoors or listening to music.
Jessica Steffens | Co-Teacher, Second Grade
Leslie University, M.Ed.
College of the Holy Cross, B.A.
Jessica Steffens joins Sarah Strasenburgh this year as a co-teacher for the Second Grade. She comes to Advent from the Buckingham Browne and Nichols Lower School where she completed a year-long graduate internship program while working toward the completion of her master’s degree at Lesley University. Advent’s commitment to diversity, in addition to the importance of art and music education in the School’s curriculum, are among the reasons Jessica is thrilled to join the faculty. She looks forward to becoming a member of a tight-knit community that celebrates the differences among its students along with their individual learning styles. Jessica is a native of Dover, N.H., and received her bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in Art History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In her free time, Jessica can be found with her family and friends, traveling, and relaxing at the beach.
Annalee Harris | Co-Teacher, Fifth Grade
Smith College, B.A.
Joining Christine Size as co-teacher for Fifth Grade is Annalee Harris. Annalee comes to Advent from the Berkshire Country Day School in Lenox, Mass. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Education/Child Study at Smith College. Advent’s small and progressive community, its unique curriculum, and emphasis on sustainability and responsible citizenship is of special interest to Annalee, and a compelling reason for her joining the school’s faculty. She has recently traveled throughout New Zealand and Australia. Her interests include writing, hiking, biking, cooking, gardening, Spanish, lacrosse, and travel. Annalee grew up in Saxtons River, Vt.
Lori Towle | Physical Education Teacher
United States Sports Academy, M.S.S.
University of Southern Maine, B.A.
Also new to the faculty this year is Physical Education teacher, Lori Towle. Lori brings seven years of independent school teaching experience with her to Advent. She taught P.E. to Kindergarten through Eighth Grade for three years at the Columbia Independent School (CIS) in Columbia, Mo. At CIS, Lori coached basketball, cross-country, and boys’ and girls’ tennis, while also serving as the Director of Athletics. Prior to her experience at CIS, Lori was the Director of Physical Education at Stephens College Children’s School (K-5) for four years while also coaching women’s soccer, basketball, and tennis at Stephens College, also in Columbia. She attended Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine before receiving her master’s degree in Sport Science from the United States Sports Academy. Most recently, Lori has been the head coach of women’s tennis at the University of Southern Maine. She is a native of South Portland, Me.
Christine Valenti | Co-Teacher, Fourth Grade
Fordham University, M.S.
University of Colorado, Boulder; B.A.
Christine Valenti joins Sarah Slubowski in the Fourth Grade classroom replacing Candace Root who is on maternity leave this academic year. Christine came to Advent for the opportunity to be part of small, intimate community where the individual needs of all students can be addressed, and where learning is optimized. She also is thrilled to have the ability to work collaboratively and grow professionally in a team-teaching environment. Christine received her M.S. in Education from Fordham University and her B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While attending Fordham University on an AmeriCorps grant, Christine became a New York City Teaching Fellow, at which time she taught Third Grade in a Dual Language Program for two years. In her spare time, Christine loves to run. She has participated in a few half marathons in New York City and hopes to one day complete a full marathon. In addition, Christine enjoys traveling and tries to incorporate many visits to museums, castles, old churches, and ruins in her excursions.
Jeff Morgan | Director of Operations
University of Maine, B.S.
Jeff Morgan joined Advent in March 2007 managing the first phase of the school’s building renovations and in July this year assumed responsibilities as the School’s new director of operations. Along with his business acumen, there is now no one with greater knowledge on how to get lost and found at 15 Brimmer Street than Jeff. After graduating from the University of Maine in 1984 with a B.S. in Business Administration, Jeff worked for Marine Midland Bank in the Boston commercial finance office as an auditor and lender. In 1996 he left the banking world and joined East Coast Aero Tech, located at Hanscom Airfield in Bedford, Mass., as chief financial officer. In 2006 he joined the Salter School as school director managing the school’s operations that included an administrative staff responsible for admissions, education, financial aid, and career placement. Jeff has the distinction of being the second current member of the Advent faculty and staff to be a native of Hawaii. He has since undergone his own version of climate change variously living in Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Maine. When not pursuing his outdoor interests in skiing, sailing, cycling, and golf, Jeff can be found at his home in Maynard.
Stephanie Ellington | Assistant to the Head of School
Denison University, B.A.
New this year to the school’s administration as the Assistant to the Head of
School, Stephanie Ellington, is well known to the Advent community as the
mother of Sloane, now in Second Grade. A native of Connecticut, Stephanie
moved to Boston shortly after earning her B.A. in Art History in 1993 from
Denison University in Ohio. For two years she worked as an office manager
for Orion Partners, a venture capital firm in Boston, and then joined WGBH’s
marketing department for a year before moving to Philadelphia where her
daughter was born. Stephanie returned to Boston in 2000, and in 2004 began
work on her masters in teaching at Simmons College. As part of her masters
requirements, Stephanie spent much of last year substitute teaching in a
number of Advent classrooms. In her free time, which she is sure she will
have less of, Stephanie skis, plays tennis and golf, goes to the beach, and
spends as much time as possible with Sloane. Stephanie and Sloane live in
the South End with their dog, Suki, and a cat, Mr. Pickles.