About our Faculty

Faculty Administration

Debbie Gibbs

Head of School

Debbie earned her BA in Theater Arts from Pomona College, her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, and her MA in Educational Technology from the University of San Francisco. Her career as a school administrator began when she became Interim Assistant Director at The Blake Schools in Minneapolis, MN. She went on to become the Head of Upper School and Assistant Head for Academic Affairs at Marin Country Day School in California. Debbie became Lowell's fourth Head of School in 2007. She serves on the Board of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS) and on the editorial Board of Independent School Magazine, a publication of the National Association of Independent Schools.  

Elizabeth Lener

Director of Primary School

Elizabeth has a BA in Environmental Studies from Binghamton University and an MAT in Elementary Education from Lewis and Clark College. Before coming to Lowell in 2008, she was a 5th grade homeroom teacher, taught elementary science, developed a curriculum for a middle school outdoor education program, and coordinated a K-6 science program. She also taught a teaching and methods course at The George Washington University and served as the founding Co-director of the Mid-Atlantic Teacher Institute. She was Lowell’s Science Coordinator before becoming Director of Primary School. Elizabeth has been an educator for more than 15 years.

Moira Regan

Director of Middle School

Moira graduated from Boston College with a double major in Elementary Education and Political Science. She earned her MA in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University while serving as Director of Wilkinson School in California for one year. She continued her professional development at the Middle School Institute at Santa Clara University and University of Virginia’s Institute on Academic Diversity. Moira has been teaching for more than 15 years, has experience consulting as a corporate trainer, and is also a Certified Professional Coach. She joined the Lowell faculty in 2005. 

Stefania Rubino

Director of Pre-Primary School

Stefania holds a BA in Education, an MA in Early Childhood Waldorf Education, a diploma of specialization in the Montessori method, and a certificate in Early Childhood Education Counseling. She began her teaching career in Italy at Scuola Montessori di Via Milazzo and also had the opportunity to work with educators from the town of Reggio Emilia. Before coming to Lowell in 2011, she worked at Oneness-Family School, where she founded and directed the Little Stars Program for 2-year-olds.

Faculty

Naomi Adam 

Kindergarten Teacher

Naomi earned her AA in Liberal Studies from Citrus College, her BA in Global Studies from Azusa Pacific University, and her MA in Education from Claremont Graduate University. She is certified to teach in both Maryland and DC, and has been in the classroom for more than nine years. She came to Lowell in 2010.

Sara Aguilar

2nd Grade Assistant Teacher

Sara worked at Hearst Elementary School in the DC Public School System for ten years before she came to Lowell in 1999. Since then, she has assisted in both Kindergarten and 1st grade.

Ana Ardon

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Before coming to Lowell in 2011, Ana taught 3-6-year-olds for four years at the Oneness-Family School. She received her Montessori Early Childhood credentials through the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies and plans to enroll in a master's degree program at Trinity University.

Mario Argueta

1st Grade Associate Teacher 

Mario has been teaching and coaching in the Washington, DC area since 1995. Before coming to Lowell he was an assistant teacher at Hearst Elementary School and the JV soccer coach at Wilson High School. He received his coaching license from DC Stoddert Soccer. Currently, he is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Art at Montgomery College. Mario began teaching at Lowell in 1999.

Lynn Arons

Director of Learning Services

Lynn has more than 30 years experience working in DC area schools and educational organizations. Before coming to Lowell, she served as Director of K-6 and Adult Services at the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. Prior to that, she was Director of Student Services at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and Guidance Counselor at Hebrew Academy. Lynn has a BS in Elementary Education from Ohio State University and an MAT in Guidance and Counseling from Trinity College. She joined the Lowell community in 2009. 

Karen Balian

3rd Grade Teacher

Karen graduated from Otago University in New Zealand with a double degree before going on to Dunedin College of Education where she attained her Diploma of Teaching. She taught for three years in New Zealand and came to the United States in 2001 on a teacher exchange program. Karen spent three years teaching 2nd grade in Loudoun County, VA, and eight years teaching 1st, 3rd, and then 4th grade at the McLean School of Maryland. She came to Lowell in 2012.

Candice Barnhart

Physical Education Teacher 

Candice earned her BS in Kinesiology and her MS in Adapted Physical Education from Texas Women's University. She joined the Lowell faculty in January 2010.

Lee Bissett

Math Teacher

Lee completed his Bachelor’s degree at North Carolina State University and his master’s degree at the University of Maryland College Park. Before teaching in the United States, Lee spent two years teaching English to middle-school, high-school, and adult students in Hakodate, Japan. When he returned to the US, he taught 7th grade mathematics at Martin Gifted and Talented Middle School in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. He joined Lowell's Middle School in 2011.

Kimberly Bruce

1st Grade Teacher

While completing her Bachelor’s degree at The Johns Hopkins University, taught Spanish to students from age three through 8th grade at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart School. Upon graduating, Kimberly moved on to the Associate Teacher Program at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, where she helped to develop an after-school Spanish program and teach Kindergarten and 2nd grade. She joined Lowell’s 1st grade team in 2012.

Scott Bryant

Aquatics Director and Physical Education Teacher

Scott brings over 15 years of experience as a life guard, 12 years as a summer league head swim coach, 10 years as an United States Club coach, and one year as an assistant head high school coach. He is also the Coaches' Representative for Northern Virginia on the United States Swimming Board (Eastern Zone). He worked at Gesher Jewish Day School for seven years as their sole physical education teacher before coming to Lowell in 2011.

Katie Butler

Kindergarten Teacher

Katie completed her Bachelor’s degree at Colby College in Maine and then her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in Andover, MA and joined the Lowell community in 2012.

Laurie Carter

3rd Grade Teacher

Laurie graduated from Cornell College with a double major in Biology and Sociology. She began her teaching career as a biology and general science teacher at a private high school in Chicago. She then went on to earn a master’s-level teaching certificate from the University of Colorado at Denver while she worked in the Cherry Creek School district. Laurie has spent 18 years in the classroom, teaching children ranging in age from Pre-Primary to High School. She also teaches adults at the Parent Encouragement Program in Kensington, MD. Laurie joined the Lowell community in 1996. 

Sara Chesson

Spanish Teacher

Sara earned her Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies and Psychology from Washington College in Chestertown, MD. She spent two years teaching English at C.E.E. Idiomas, a language academy in Madrid, Spain, and four years teaching 3rd-8th grade Spanish at St. Anne's School of Annapolis. She came to Lowell in 2012.
 

Sylvana Christopher

Middle School Dance Teacher

Sylvana came to Lowell in 2011.  She earned a BFA in Performance & Choreography from The Ohio State University. She formerly served as the Director of Dance at Holton-Arms School and now serves as a faculty member at Joy of Motion Dance Center, City Fitness Gym, and St. Coletta of Greater Washington. She is a founding member of Glade Dance Collective, a group dedicated to making danceworks of socio-political relevance and giving opportunities for choreographers and dancers to connect. 

Kathleen Clements  

3rd Grade Teacher

Kathie earned her BA in Early Childhood Education and her MA in Reading and Language Arts from the University of North Carolina. She is certified in the state of Virginia and has taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grades. In addition, she has worked as an educational diagnostician, served as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University, and led teacher training programs in the Republic of Georgia. In her mission to promote literacy, she serves as a volunteer with the Reading Connection, a group that supports children in housing crisis, and is a past president of Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia. She has been teaching for nearly 30 years and has been at Lowell since 1983. 

Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer

Academic Technologist

Yasmin earned her BA in Sociology from Smith College and her MA in Educational Communications and Technology from New York University. In addition to having taught at Manhattan Country School, West End Day School, and The Potomac School, Yasmin worked in the Publications and Media Group at Bank Street College of Education and in Multicultural Affairs and Public Relations at the University of Wyoming. She is also the author of several lesson plans for The Learning Network of The New York Times. She has been teaching for more than 10 years, and joined the Lowell community in 2010.

David Foreman

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Dave joined the Lowell community as a guest teacher in 2011, summer camp counselor in 2012, and full-time teacher in the fall of 2012. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at Howard University. After working at the National Archives for several years, he left to pursue an artistic career in music and theater and is currently on the roster at Young Audiences, a national school arts organization.

Lisa Freifeld

Kindergarten Teacher

Lisa graduated from George Washington University with a BA degree in Political Science. She then went on to earn a MA in Elementary Education from New York University. Lisa taught Kindergarten for six years at Lucy D. Slowe, a public elementary school in Washington, DC, and was the lead teacher for seven years in a 4-5-year-old class at Temple Sinai, an NAEYC-accredited nursery school in DC. She joined Lowell's Kindergarten team in 2011.

Maria-Emilia Gomez

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Maria-Emilia earned her CDA credential from the Early Childhood Institute in Hyattsville, MD, where she now teaches others pursuing certification. She has been teaching at Lowell since 1984. 

Marina Gutierrez

2nd Grade Associate Teacher

Marina first began working at Lowell in the After School and Summer Programs in 2001. She joined the Lowell faculty as an assistant teacher in 2008. She has her CDA credential from Montgomery College and is currently working toward an undergraduate degree in Art Education. 

Nuria Gutierrez

1st Grade Associate Teacher

In 2002 Nuria came to Lowell to help in the After School Program. In 2004 she joined the faculty as an assistant teacher. She earned her CDA credential from Montgomery College and is currently working toward an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education/Spanish.

Charmaine Hamann

2nd-5th Grade Music and Drama Teacher

Charmaine graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Music Education and a BM in Vocal Performance. She received her MA in Vocal Performance and her Graduate Performance Diploma in Opera from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the Lowell faculty in 1999, Charmaine taught at Gibson Island Country School, Norbel School, and Essex Community College Creative Arts Center. As a soloist, Charmaine has appeared with the Peabody Opera Theatre, the Columbia Symphony, the Mt. Vernon 21st Ensemble, the Baltimore Opera, and the Washington National Opera. She has been teaching for more than 10 years. 

Denielle Hill

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Denielle graduated from Howard University and completed the Teaching Associate program at Beauvoir where she taught Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten before coming to Lowell in 2002. She also worked at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, a museum-based pre-school, for 8 years. She has more than 15 years of classroom experience. 

Kelly Hoffmaster

Primary School Science Teacher

Kelly completed her Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics at The Pennsylvania State University and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Northeastern University. Kelly taught with The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth program in Santa Cruz, CA, as well as with Boston Public Schools in Massachusetts. She joined the Lowell community in 2012.

Irene Huntoon

3rd-5th Grade Language Arts Resource Teacher

Irene graduated from Harvard University with an AB degree in the History and Literature of Russia and from Bank Street College of Education with an MSEd in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She also attended Johns Hopkins University where she completed the coursework for certification as a reading teacher. Before coming to Lowell in 2005, she taught in 3rd grade in New York Public Schools and 2nd grade in Maryland Public Schools. She has been teaching for more than 13 years.  

Charlene Impey

4th Grade Teacher

Charlene earned her BA in Anthropology from Bates College and her MEd in Elementary Education from The George Washington University. Before completing her master's degree, she worked as an assistant teacher at the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica, the Two Rivers Public Charter School in Washington, DC, and Norwood School in Bethesda. She has also worked as an environmental educator at the Montshire Museum of Science in Vermont. She came to Lowell in 2010. 

Maria Lama

2nd Grade Teacher

Maria earned her BA in Sociology and Elementary Education from Gettysburg College and her MEd in Reading from the University of Maryland. She has earned an Advanced Professional Certificate from the state of Maryland and is certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Middle School Language Arts. She is also a certified K-12 Reading Specialist. Before coming to Lowell in 2010, Maria taught in several local public schools and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland and Trinity University. 

Kiira Lee

2nd Grade Teacher

Kiira completed her Bachelor’s degree in English, with a double minor in French and Linguistics from Georgetown University. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. She has taught in a diverse array of Early Childhood and Elementary classrooms for the past five years, before coming to Lowell in 2011.

David Levy

MS Teacher & Athletics Director

David is an alumnus of Lowell who earned his BA from Gettysburg College, where he majored in Political Science and minored in English and Education. Prior to joining the Lowell faculty in 2010, he taught middle school humanities and coached cross-country, track, and basketball at Barrie School for three years. 

Domi Long

Librarian & 8th Grade Humanities Teacher

Domi graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science. After working at Education Week and Teacher Magazine, she earned her MA in Special Education and Learning Disabilities from American University. During that time, she also completed a year-long internship at The Lab School of Washington and served as Sally Smith’s graduate assistant. Domi taught at The Lab School for six years and then came to Lowell to teach for three years (1999-2002). She left Lowell for a two-year stint as a special education teacher in the DC Public Schools before deciding to go back to school to obtain her MLS at the University of Maryland. She returned to Lowell as the Librarian in 2004. She has been in education for more than 19 years.

Renee McClinton

1st Grade Associate Teacher

Renee recently graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She was a student teacher in Kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms in Anne Arundel County for one year, worked for Lowell’s summer camp as a counselor for seven years, and was the former Director of the Kids Club at Gold’s Gym. Renee became a full-time teacher at Lowell in 2012.

Christine McDaniels

Librarian

Christine earned her BA in Professional and Creative Writing with a minor in Graphic Design from Carnegie Mellon University. She also received an MA equivalent in Early Childhood Education from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA. When she moved to Washington, she taught Music at Beauvoir and then taught Kindergarten and served as the Technology Coordinator at St. Francis Episcopal Day School in Potomac, MD. Immediately prior to coming to Lowell, Christine taught Kindergarten in a dual-immersion classroom at Oyster Bilingual School. She has been teaching for more than 17 years and has been at Lowell since 2003. 

Kristen Peck

1st Grade Teacher

Kristin holds a BA in American Studies from Wells College. She taught 1st grade for four years at the McLean School of Maryland, after earning her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from The George Washington University. She completed her graduate coursework and student teaching through the Mid-Atlantic Teachers Institute at Norwood School, where she taught both 2nd and 6th grade students. Kristen came to Lowell in 2012.

Jackie Pliskin

2nd and 3rd Grade Art Teacher

Jackie spent many years teaching middle and high school English, and directing school-based literacy programs in DC and Montgomery County schools. Jackie has also developed art-based programs in collaboration with museums and arts organizations, and has been the Board of Directors Co-Chair for a local arts-organization serving children and adults. A long-time potter, this is her first year at Lowell.

Elly Porter

Pre-Primary School-6th Grade Creative Movement and Dance Teacher

Elly earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Maryland and her MFA in Dance from Smith College. Before beginning her teaching career at Lowell in 1992 she was a company member of modern dance companies in Massachusetts, NYC, and Washington, DC. Elly has over 20 years of classroom experience, has served on the National Standing Committee to review the National Standards for Dance in Early Childhood Education, and has presented at numerous regional and national education conferences. 

Lisa Powell

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Lisa has been teaching in the Pre-Primary School division at Lowell since 1982. She earned her BA in Child Psychology from Loyola College of Baltimore, Maryland. 

Marina Recinos

Program Assistant

Maria, a native of Guatemala, worked as an assistant teacher at St. Paul’s Nursery School before joining the Lowell faculty as an assistant teacher in 2003. She has been teaching for more than 12 years. 

Wendy Reynolds

1st Grade Teacher

Wendy received her BS in Early Childhood Education and Cognitive Psychology from Vanderbilt University. She also has an MA in Educational Leadership through the Specialized Studies Program at American University. Prior to coming to Lowell in 2006, she taught 1st grade at Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda, MD and at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE. She also taught Kindergarten at The Country Day School in McLean, VA. She has more than 17 years of classroom experience.  

Carolina Rodriguez  

Kindergarten Associate Teacher

Carolina came to Lowell 1997. She has her CDA credential from Montgomery College and has been in the classroom for more than 16 years. 

Rosa Royle

Kindergarten Associate Teacher

Rosa earned her BS degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland and has worked as a programmer for a variety of companies, including Lockheed Martin where she designed databases for the Department of Agriculture. In addition to her role as Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, Rosa has also served as a Spanish Teacher in the After School Program and as an Assistant Teacher in the Summer Program. She is in the process of obtaining her CDA credential from Montgomery College. She first came to Lowell in 1993 and returned in 2008. She has been teaching for more than 20 years.

Andrea Savage

K-2 Literacy Specialist

Andrea graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education and taught 1st grade at Beauvoir Elementary School for five years. She is currently finishing her Masters of Science in Reading at The Johns Hopkins University. Andrea came to Lowell in January 2012.

Tara Scully

5th Grade Teacher

Tara earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Education from DePaul University and is in the final stages of completing a Master’s degree in Teaching K-8 with a focus on literacy. She came to Lowell in January 2012.

Sara Aaron Siegrist

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Sara came to Lowell School in 2001 to work in the After School Program and to substitute in grades K-6. In 2003 she joined the Pre-Primary School team full time as Resource Teacher and now has her own classroom. Before coming to Lowell she was lead teacher at the Pentagon Child Development Center. She has a BS in Psychology from Marymount University. She has more than 11 years of teaching experience.

Loriann Signori

K-1st Grade Art Teacher

Loriann earned her BFA from Swain School of Design and holds an MFA from American University. Trained in the Reggio Emilia approach, Montessori education, and the concepts of Mel Levine’s All Kinds of Minds, Loriann has been teaching for 27 years, 14 of those at Lowell. In addition, she is a professional artist who has gained national recognition and is an exhibiting member of American Women Artists. She joined the Lowell faculty in 1996. 

Leslie Sinsay

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Leslie Sinsay earned her BA in English Literature from Tuskegee Institute and has completed coursework towards her MA in Human Development with a concentration in Developmental Education from Pacific Oaks College. She joined the Pre-Primary School team in 2001. 

Valerie Slattery

School Counselor

Valerie holds a PhD in Education/Special Education: Learning Disabilities/Emotional Disturbance from American University and a second doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. She is a certified school psychologist and also holds certification in neuropsychology. In addition to being Lowell’s counselor, Valerie maintains a private practice in Bethesda, MD that specializes in psychoeducational assessment. She has been working as school psychologist for 30 years and joined the Lowell community in 2008. 

Sarah Smith

Middle School Humanities Teacher

Sarah graduated from Williams College with a BA in History and went on to Cornell University where she earned her law degree. After practicing law for over a decade, she returned to school to earn her MAT from Trinity University. She began her teaching career at Lowell in 2000. 

Andrew Spriggs

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Drew earned his BS in Human Development from Virginia Tech and his MA in Curriculum and Teaching with an emphasis in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Before coming to Lowell in 2010, Drew worked for two years as an Associate Teacher at Beauvoir, The National Cathedral Elementary School.

Natalie Stapert

5th Grade Teacher

Natalie earned her BSEd in Elementary Education with a minor in International Studies from Shippensburg University. She is National Board certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist and is also certified in DC to teach grades 1-5. Before coming to Lowell, Natalie taught at Murch Elementary as a classroom teacher and reading specialist. She came to Lowell in 2010.

Mary Sutliff

Physical Education Teacher

Mary is a graduate of Purdue University where she earned a degree in Health and Physical Education. While at Purdue, she coached basketball and volleyball in community schools and was active in local and national organizations that promoted physical activity among youth and adults. She started her career at Lowell in 2008.

Emily Tignor

4th Grade Teacher

Emily graduated from the College of William and Mary and spent her first two years teaching 6th and 7th grades at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, MD. She went on to teach 4th grade at St. Francis Episcopal Day School, also in Potomac, before coming to Lowell in 2005.

Eli Traini

K-3rd Grade Spanish Teacher

Eli studied law at the Universidad Catolica de Bolivia and began her career in education by volunteering to teach under-represented prisoners in La Paz, Bolivia. She then took a position teaching Spanish at the Monterey Bay Waldorf School in Pacific Grove, California and later taught Spanish to students in Kindergarten-11th grade at New Hope Academy. She joined the Lowell faculty in 2006.

Iris Vargas

Pre-Primary School Teacher

Iris came to Lowell in 2002 and has more than ten years of teaching experience. She has her CDA credential and is working towards a four-year degree in Psychology and Special Education from Montgomery College. 

David Vickers

4th-8th Grade Art Teacher

David received his BA in Studio Art from Central Michigan University and his MA in Art Therapy from The George Washington University. He was employed as a registered art therapist for 12 years and was the sole proprietor of a remodeling business for five years before he began teaching art at Lowell in 1999. He has been teaching for more than 16 years. He maintains a studio in Virginia and exhibits locally through Foxhall Gallery and The Art League in Alexandria.  

Michael Woods

Pre-Primary-1st Grade and 6th-8th Grade Music Teacher

After earning a BA in Educational Studies and Music from Leeds University, Mike taught in England, Tanzania, and Romania. Since moving to the U.S., Mike has taught in the Arlington County schools and more recently, at Sheridan School. He has been teaching for more than 11 years, and joined the Lowell faculty in 2009. 

Kavan Yee

Science Coordinator, ∆U Program Chair

Kavan earned his BS in Biology from North Park University and his MEd in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. He is certified to teach Biological and Physical Sciences. Before coming to Lowell in 2010, he taught at the Carleton W. Washburne School in Chicago and was a Marine Science Educator at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, also in Chicago. He has been teaching for more than 13 years.

Allison Yood

Pre-Primary School Art Teacher

Allison studied Painting and Drawing and earned her certification to teach at Temple University's Tyler School of Art. Since graduation, Allison has worked at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) as an outreach teacher, teaching art classes for The Higher Achievement Program, Brent Elementary School, Center City Charter Schools, and CHAW itself, among others. Before coming to Lowell in 2011, Allison was assistant teaching at the Oneness-Family School in a program that combined Waldorf and Montessori philosophies.