PRE-SCHOOL & PRE-KINDERGARTEN
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REGGIO EMILIA
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LANGUAGE ARTS
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HEADING TITLE
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LANGUAGE ARTS
Our rich Language Arts program is embedded in our daily curriculum, such as learning phonics through the “Letter of the Week” program, and through song, reading signs, labels in English and Spanish, names around the classroom, learning rhymes and songs, telling and making up stories, listening and reflecting on stories read during “Story Time,” expressing oneself and learning to write the letters of the alphabet and the conventions of writing, through our Handwriting Without Tears Program. Our Language Arts Program nurtures children to develop skills through which they use as one of the “Languages” in the “Hundred Languages of Children,” to express themselves as they learn and make meaning of the world in which they live. This child centered approach to supporting emergent readers and writers is best practice, to set the foundation for conventional reading and writing in elementary school, as well as creative thinking through the language of literacy.
We value all languages spoken by students and foster the development of a child’s home language, as well as the development of the English language. Spanish and ASL are integrated in our daily curriculum and our daily routines.
REGGIO EMILIA
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LANGUAGE ARTS
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HEADING TITLE
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PRE-SCHOOL & PRE-KINDERGARTEN
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Cynthia DelBello
Cynthia joined Arts & Sciences in 2018 as our Volunteer Coordinator and Admissions/Office Assistant. She brings over 20 years of Administrative work experience and 6 years of them in Management. She attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City studying Communications and Media Arts. After a decade in Seattle, she moved to Santa Fe so their children could grow up closer to their Grandparents. She enjoys spending her free time exploring small towns, reliving her childhood playing with her kids and has a passion for cooking and gardening. Her daughters, Mia and Rosie, are students at Arts & Sciences. cynthia@santafeschool.org
Todd Stiewing
In his 18th year at Arts & Sciences, Todd serves as our Principal and Leadership Teacher. For eleven years, Todd taught our 3rd and 4th grade Centaur class and has served in a variety of leadership positions, including Assistant Principal, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator, Staff Liaison to the Board; lead member of the Campus as Curriculum Committee; and Summer Director of Facilities. Todd received a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Education from the University of Connecticut. He has over 20 years of teaching experience both in the classroom and working with children, teens and adults in outdoor experiential settings. Before moving to New Mexico in 2004, Todd taught 4th grade and Pre-K through 5th elementary science in Maryland. Todd has many years experience leading wilderness and experiential education courses at schools around the country. He has shared his outdoor experience in his leadership classes and by running several hiking and backpacking camps in the summer. Todd’s daughter is a 8th grade student and his son is in 3rd grade, both at Arts & Sciences. todd@santafeschool.org
Suzanne Maheshi Shakespeare Jones
This is Suzanne Maheshi’s 21st year working at Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences. As a founding teacher, she brings her knowledge of the school’s core practices, values and culture, as well as her experience as State Licensed Educator, to her new role as the Curator to help lead the newly formed Arts and Sciences’ CoLab Initiative. She has a background in Early Childhood Education, the Reggio Emilia Approach; as well as advertising, design and marketing. Suzanne has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising from the Pasadena Art Center College of Design in CA and studied Early Childhood at Highlands University and the Santa Fe Community College. She loves working in collaboration with community members to co-create enriching learning opportunities driven by collective wisdom, and designed to enhance the lives of educators as well as the children they serve. suzannem@santafeschool.org
Stephanie Smith
Stephanie has worked with young children for over thirty years, both in California and in northern New Mexico where she has been living for twenty five years. Stephanie is a teacher in our Unicorn classroom during the school year and directs the summer camp program during the summer months.She studied early childhood education at Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA, though she has learned largely through her long experience in education. Co-founder and director of Dragonfly School in Santa Fe for ten years prior to joining Arts & Sciences five years ago, Stephanie holds the National Administrators’ Credential for directors of preschool programs. Her expertise includes facilitating compassionate communication, dynamic curriculum planning, implementing dramatic storytelling in the classroom and teaching early literacy skills. stephanie@santafeschool.org
Ronny Beeman
This will be Ronny’s fifth year at Arts & Sciences. She is our K-6th grade Art teacher. Previously she served in a variety of roles at Tacoma Waldorf School in Washington, including program director of after care, 5th grade lead teacher, and art teacher in the early elementary grades. Ronny received her Waldorf teaching certificate at Sound Circle Center in Seattle. Before moving up to the North West, she was a fine art teacher at Mission Renaissance in Southern California. Ronny enjoys spending time with family and their herd of cats. Her son Odin is going into 6th grade as a Badger this year! Ronny spends her free time painting impish fairies, New Mexico skyscapes and old classic trucks, gardening and swing dancing. She is currently enrolled at the Santa Fe Community College to complete a Fine Arts degree and offers an after school and weekend art program for all. ronny@santafeschool.org
Perli Cunanan
Perli Cunanan is starting her 9th school year as the Arts & Sciences Executive Director. Perli has worked as a volunteer and a development professional in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, including positions as Development Officer of Con Alma Health Foundation, Vice President of Development at United Way of Santa Fe County and Development Director at Youth Shelters. Before joining the Arts & Sciences staff, she served on the school’s Board of Directors. She co-chairs The Reading Group, an Opportunity Santa Fe Working Group at the Santa Fe Community Foundation, focused on supporting striving readers in Santa Fe. Perli is proud mom to 8th grader Isa and alum, Tom (Class of 2018). perli@santafeschool.org
Nate Moore
This is Nate’s 15th year at Arts & Sciences. Nate is a core teacher in the Middle School and teaches algebra and STEM electives. In addition to his teaching duties, Nate is the Middle School Director, spearheading the organization of activities such as 100 Elk, supporting crew (our advisory program), and coordinating the middle school curriculum and program. Nate is a proud father of two. A fluent Spanish speaker, Nate has also been a lead teacher during the 8th grade service trip to Costa Rica, where he enjoyed taking long walks on the beach. Nate received a BA from Oberlin College in Environmental Studies, Hispanic Studies, and Latin American Studies and a Master’s Degree in Science Teaching at New Mexico Tech. He earned a New Mexico Teaching License with a Secondary Science certification. In 2009 he was a fellow in the New Science Teacher Academy; in 2019 he was a Fund for Teachers Fellow; and in 2020 he was a Ramsden Project Fellow. Nate has presented at the EL Education National Conference and the MidSchoolMath Conference. Before teaching at Arts & Sciences, he taught Spanish in Oberlin’s SITES program, worked at the Big Sky Summer Camp, and volunteered at Escola Bosque in Brazil. nate@santafeschool.org
Matt Burke Newsum
This is Matt’s 19th year teaching our 5th-6th grade Badger class. Matt has a BS in Environmental Biology and Resource Management from UC Davis and has teaching certifications in all subjects from San Francisco State University with endorsements in Math and Science. Prior to teaching in Santa Fe, Matt worked for several years in the business world before deciding to become an educator. He then student taught for two years in Mountain View, CA, coached middle school basketball and helped run the Farm and Wilderness camp programs at Hidden Villa. Matt loves spending his free time in the mountains and in the ocean with his family. Matt’s daughter is a 7th grade Badger. matt@santafeschool.org
Liza Stanton Hitt
This is Liza’s 13th year teaching at Arts & Sciences and her 10th year as lead teacher in the “Grasshopper” Kindergarten class. Liza is a graduate from the College of Santa Fe, with a BA in Elementary Education with a TESOL endorsement. Liza is committed to creating a developmentally appropriate early childhood classroom, which instills a love of learning within our little ones. This is accomplished through an environment that nurtures wonder, discovery, exploration and learning through play. Liza’s has three daughters who have attended Arts and Sciences, one in the Middle School and two Alums. Liza is looking forward to another wonderful year in the Grasshopper class! liza@santafeschool.org
Lani Ersfeld
In her 10th year at Arts & Sciences, Lani is our Preschool-8th Grade Spanish Teacher as well as the Aftercare Coordinator and 5th-8th grade Aftercare Teacher. Lani is from Placitas, NM and attended the Albuquerque Academy for middle and high school. She then attended Lewis & Clark College in Oregon, majoring in Hispanic Studies and English. During her studies, Lani lived in the Dominican Republic and in Chile, where she solidified her love of the Spanish language and various cultures, and her desire to teach it to others. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching at Lewis & Clark Graduate School with an emphasis in ESOL. She holds licenses in both New Mexico and Oregon for Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Lani is instrumental in organizing and planning our 8th grade International Trip to Costa Rica in the Spring. In her off time, Lani enjoys time with her menagerie of animals on her farm in Española. lani@santafeschool.org
Joseph Smith
Joseph is in his 8th year at Arts & Sciences. He teaches Middle School English/Language Arts, as well as Creative Writing. Born and raised in Santa Fe, he earned his BA in English from UNM in 2004. He previously taught as a Special Education Teacher, with a focus on Gifted Education, and was the Education Coordinator at Santa Fe YouthWorks. Joseph tutored students in the Santa Fe area for many years, and also coached and continues to promote youth baseball. He is the proud father of 8th grader, Cruz, and 7th grader, Lea. joseph@santafeschool.org
Gina Kinstle
In her 9th year at Arts & Sciences, Gina is our Graphic Designer and Office Manager. In addition to coordinating many details of student and school activities, Gina designs our school yearbook and many of our expedition products, like books and posters. She even designed a board game for the Grasshopper class this past school year. After living in Brooklyn, NY for 8 years, working in the fashion industry as a handbag designer, she reestablished her roots back to Santa Fe. As a creative person with experience in the hospitality industry, Gina happily brings attention to detail in all of our visual messaging, and thoughtfulness to the complex task of keeping the wheels in the office running smoothly. Gina’s daughter is an 8th grader at Arts & Sciences. gina@santafeschool.org
Eddy Segura
This is Eddy’s 15th year teaching at Arts & Sciences as our K-8 Physical Education teacher and Facilities Director. For the past eight years, Eddy has also been the Lead Coordinator for the 8th grade service trip to Costa Rica. Eddy received his BA in Physical Education at the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. He has 14 years of experience teaching P.E. and coaching soccer in schools in Costa Rica and coaches soccer at Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe, where he previously taught P.E. He is the father of an Arts & Sciences alumna Emily (Class of 2015) and Allison (Class of 2018). eddy@santafeschool.org
Debbie McFarland
Debbie is our Bookkeeper and has been happily working at Arts & Sciences since 2016. She did her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, earning a BA In Psychology and a Masters of Social Work. She also received her BS in Accounting after moving to New Mexico and currently owns Eldorado Bookkeeping, through which she serves many clients in the Santa Fe and Eldorado areas. Debbie teaches payroll and accounting workshops to small business owners throughout the year and is a Quickbooks Proadvisor. She is also a knowledgeable herbalist and owned an herb and natural medicines shop in Eldorado named Rowan’s Leaf Herbal. She has lived in New Mexico for over twenty years and is grateful to call such a magnificent place home. eldobooks1@gmail.com
Cassandra Perez
Cassandra Perez, a Santa Fe native, is our American Sign Language (ASL) teacher. She is currently in her fourth year of teaching. ASL has always been her first language, English to the second. Her background is diverse; currently, she is a river guide. In the past, she has been a teacher aide, a substitute, a ski technician, and a community garden manager. She has taught several times during ASL Immersion programs at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. She is a mother to two children, Felix (12) and Theo (8). She is excited to see her oldest child, Felix starting 6th grade this year at Arts & Sciences. cassandra@santafeschool.org
Chintan Kess
Chintan has more than 25 years teaching experience and is the 1st and 2nd grade Lead Teacher in the Stargazer Room. Chintan is also the Summer Camp Director at Arts & Sciences. She began her teaching career as a preschool teacher and is committed to bringing early childhood best practice to her primary students, offering them a curriculum rich in inquiry, play and the arts. She has been teaching at Arts & Sciences since 2001 and holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Multicultural Education from Santa Fe Community College, a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from New Mexico Highlands University and a M.Ed. in Integrated Teaching through the Arts from Lesley University. She is licensed to teach in New Mexico with a Level Three-A Instructional Leader B-3 Early Childhood License. chintan@santafeschool.org
Aurora Hvidsten
This is Aurora’s 13th year at Arts & Sciences. She is the Lead Teacher for the preschool and pre-k students in the Unicorn classroom. She received her BA from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2008 and her MS in Early Childhood Education with an endorsement in Dual Language Learning at the Erikson Institute of Chicago in 2015. Aurora enjoys integrating her love for stories into the classroom and feels passionately about supporting each child to feel comfortable, loved, and seen at school. aurora@santafeschool.org
Andrew Lescht
Andrew is entering his 7th year as our 3rd-4th grade teacher. He is dedicated to teaching the whole child and recently began integrating teaching mindfulness in the Centaur class. As a lifelong learner Andrew is dedicated to advancing his practices. He is currently a fellow with Environmental Education New Mexico’s Exploring Equitable Education Outdoors, helping further equal access to outdoor learning opportunities for all New Mexican youth. He has a B.A. in Anthropology from State University of New York Plattsburgh, and for many years he split his seasons between working as an archaeologist, environmental educator and a ski instructor. His passion for teaching led him back to school to obtain an MA in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to Arts & Sciences, Andrew’s classroom experience includes third and fourth grades in Colorado, and teaching at an international school in Ecuador. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, reading, hiking, travel, music, skiing, and mountain biking. andrew@santafeschool.org
Elli Hindmarch
Elli, Director of Finance & Administration, started at our school in 2010. She has a B.B.A. in Management from New Mexico Highlands University and twenty plus years of administrative and financial experience. She also enjoys teaching and performing swing, tango & salsa dance in Santa Fe. Some families may remember Elli’s parents, Willy & Phil, who helped start Arts & Sciences and taught at the school, and her sister Lucia, who was in our first graduating class. Her son Sebastien is an 8th grader at Arts & Sciences. elli@santafeschool.org
Satara Bixby
Satara brings over 25 years of experience working in various capacities with local and international non-profit organizations, including organizational oversight, board development, administrative management, translation services and fundraising. She served for 4 years as Secretary on the Arts & Sciences Board of Directors, and 6 years overseeing admissions. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a certificate in Language Arts, and has taught in Kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms at several schools in Santa Fe. Since 2007 she has been an active parent in the Arts & Sciences community. Satara has lived in Santa Fe since 1995 with her husband Tai Bixby, a local Realtor at Keller Williams Realty. She has three children who have thrived at Arts & Sciences, including a current 7th grader, as well as two alumni.
Brandon Fitzpatrick
Brandon Fitzpatrick was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona. He has three brothers. Brandon studied the sciences as an undergrad at Northern Arizona University, and went on to receive a Masters in Medical Ethics from Midwestern University, Glendale and a Masters in Western Classics from St. John’s College, Santa Fe. He currently works in real estate development and business advisory services. Brandon lives in Santa Fe with his lovely wife, Naomi, and his two beautiful, funny, smart and independent daughters, Suki (student at Arts & Sciences) and Mika. He runs, swims and reads in his leisure time.
Lucy Foma
Born in Santa Fe to a family of West African dance and drum artists, Lucy Gent Foma is a mother, dancer, city planner, and writer who has lived in Senegal, Cameroon, and Brazil. She has received merit-based funding to conduct research and implement projects in American and African cities alike. After graduating from Smith College, she was a Fulbright Fellow and a Rotary Scholar in Senegal before attending Cornell University with a Foreign Language and Areas Studies Fellowship for her master’s degree. Her book about finding funding to pursue life’s passions, Funded, came out in 2016. She currently works as a community planner for Santa Fe County, facilitating and writing long-range plans with traditional communities like Galisteo and Tesuque. In her free time, Lucy enjoys studying West African and Haitian dance with her mother and occasionally substitute teaching. After traveling around the world, Lucy and her husband bought a house around the corner from her childhood home so their children could grow up with their grandparents and cousins. Lucy’s daughters attend Arts & Sciences.