About Us

Faculty & Staff Directory

Meet our Faculty and Staff

Fernando Acosta Mathematics Teacher, Middle School	Mr. Acosta spent the past two years teaching at KIPP Academy Middle School in Houston, Texas. He completed his formal education at Rice University, receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.A. in Computational and Applied Mathematics. Previous job experience includes designing and testing diamond-covered drill bits for use in oil exploration, sending newts and snails into outer space to measure the effects of microgravity on the inner ear, and waiting tables in a home for Alzheimer patients. Of all of these pursuits, teaching has been the most fulfilling. Mr. Acosta was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas.
Sabrina Benedict Academic Resources Support, High School	Ms. Benedict attended Boston College with a major in English and minor in Philosophy. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Krysta Betit Humanities Teacher, Middle School	Ms. Betit graduated from Simmons College in 2005 with a degree in English and Fine Arts. Following her undergraduate career, Ms. Betit earned a Master's in Literature from Boston College while working as a wedding photographer. She joined Teach for America in 2007 and has spent the last two years teaching high school English and coaching varsity soccer at a large public high school near New Orleans, LA. Ms. Betit lives in The People’s Republic of Cambridge and enjoys poetry, cycling, and capoeira.
Sheila Bharucha MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Ms. Bharucha attended Boston College, where she majored in History and minored in Hispanic Studies. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
David Bloom Math Teacher, Middle School	Mr. Bloom attended Brown University where he majored in Computer Science and Economics. He was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Erinn Caley Humanities Teacher, High School	Ms. Caley graduated from Huntington College in 2003 where she majored in History and minored in English. Before MATCH, Ms. Caley taught in Japan and Indiana. Though Ms. Caley enjoys reading, traveling, and photography, her greatest joy springs from watching students come alive with new ideas.
Danny Clark MATCH Corps Program Director, Middle School	Mr. Clark graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science, and from St. John’s College with a Master’s in Liberal Arts.  He was a MATCH Corps tutor during the 2005-06 school year, and served as the Grantwriter, Development Systems Director, and Development Officer at MATCH before heading up the MATCH Corps at the middle school.
Matt Collins Dean of Students / Mathematics Teacher, High School	Mr. Collins graduated from Boston College in 2003 with a degree in Mathematics. This will be his fourth year as a math teacher at MATCH, and prior to that, he was a member of the inaugural MATCH Corps. He is excited to continue being a part of the fantastic academic community at the MATCH School.
Sara Colón Assistant to the Principal, Middle School	Ms. Colón graduated from Princeton University in 2006 with an A.B. in English.  After teaching high school English in N.J. public schools for a year, she joined MATCH Corps IV where she helped teach Spanish, assisted the coordinator of the SAT program and participated in AmeriCorps, in addition to tutoring.  Last year, she was a Corps Staff member.
Ashley Danoff Deputy Executive Director (part-time)	Ms. Danoff graduated from NYU in 2002 with a BA in International Relations, Italian, French, and Japanese. MA in Sociology of Education from Boston University in 2004. Ms. Danoff was a member of the inaugural 2004-2005 MATCH Corps.
Joanna Davis Humanities Teacher, Middle School	Ms. Davis graduated in May 2008 from Tufts University, where she majored in English. Joanna was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Johanna Dennehy Grant-Writer (part-time)	Ms. Dennehy graduated from Georgetown University in 2005 with a degree in English and History. She was a member of MATCH Corps III in 2006-2007 and part of the MATCH Corps IV Staff in 2007-2008.
Richard Dragon Controller	Mr. Dragon serves as the school’s controller. A 1990 graduate of Bryant University, his practical accounting and auditing background comes from working in the Providence office of Ernst and Young LLP from 1991 through 1995, and at a local Providence firm from 1995 through 1997. He then became self-employed in order to self-publish a book on R.I. history, and remained on his own until becoming involved with Boston charter schools in 2004. Mr. Dragon is a Boston native who has been a CPA since 1992 and joined MATCH in 2006.
Emily Duncan Academic Resources Director Director, Middle School	Ms. Duncan graduated from Carleton College in 2005 with a BA in Art History. She was a member of MATCH Corps II and a Senior Corps member during the 2006-2007 school year. As part of the Senior Corps, she also assisted the Special Education Director. She is a graduate of BU’s School of Education with a degree in Special Education.
Chris Dupuis Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment / Mathematics Teacher, High School	Mr. Dupuis graduated from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as Biology major in 1996. Mr. Dupuis taught math and science in New Hampshire for 8 years. During that time, he coached volleyball at the high school and college levels, earning a State Championship in 1998. He loves his work, his students, and his colleagues and could not ask for more from his career!
Kirsten Ecker Mathematics Teacher, High School	Ms. Ecker is a graduate of Colorado State University where she got her BS is Mathematics with a concentration in Education. She grew up in Fort Collins, CO and recently moved to Boston. Before joining MATCH, she taught in a rural high school in Keenesburg, Colorado.
Nashwa Elgadi MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Ms. Elgadi attended Temple University where she majored in Political Science and minored in History. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Brent Ellis IT Consultant	Mr. Ellis holds a BA in Philosophy from Boston University, 1999; Graduate Certificate in Web Technologies from Boston University, 2005; MS in Computer Information Systems from Boston University 2006. He currently works with 3 schools, assisting them with their Information Technology needs. He enjoys learning new things and is constantly reworking things to try to make them better.
Angelica Gibbs Spanish Teacher/Director of School Culture, High School	Ms. Gibbs is originally from New Haven, Connecticut and majored in Hispanic Studies and Education at Connecticut College. While there she studied Latin American literature, history, and culture. During her junior year she had the privilege of studying abroad in Cholula, a small town in Puebla México where her interest and understanding of the ubiquity of the cultural, historical, and social issues that impact western civilizations emerged. After teaching Spanish I and II for two years, she is pleased and excited to come back as the school's first full-time Spanish teacher and bring the mysteries of language and culture to life for her students.
Veronica Gentile Assistant to the CEO, Teacher Training Program	Ms. Gentile graduated from Boston College in May of 2008, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Italian. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Stew Gilson Operations Coordinator, Middle School	Mr. Gilson graduated from Williams College in 2008 where he majored in philosophy. He was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Madelaine Glassberg MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School	Ms. Glassberg graduated from Middlebury College in May 2008 with majors in Geography and English and a minor in Education. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Michael Goldstein Founder, MATCH School CEO, MATCH Teacher Training Program	Mr. Goldstein designed the MATCH School as his senior thesis project at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. From the school's inception to June 2005, he served as the school's CEO; he is now part of the team launching the teacher training program, while he remains senior director of writing overly lengthy emails. He serves on the advisory boards for National Council on Teacher Quality and Lee Academy Pilot School, and is a non-resident Senior Fellow at Education Sector, a non-partisan Washington think tank. He's a former journalist, Duke grad, and basketball junkie.
Sara Gussin Math Curriculum Consultant	Ms. Gussin graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a degree in mathematics. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Orin Gutlerner Teacher Training Program Director	Mr. Gutlerner received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin ('96) and M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education ('01). He entered the teaching profession through Teach for America, and then later went on to direct the Massachusetts Institute for New Teachers and Harvard's Undergraduate Teacher Education Program. He loves coaching and playing basketball and hanging out with his two kids.
Cormac Harkins MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Mr. Harkins attended the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in Anthropology and minored in Irish Studies. He was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Matt Higger Science Teacher, High School	Mr. Higger graduated from Tufts University with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics. He had previously been teaching at Nomtsub Primary and Otjikoto Secondary Schools in Tsumeb, Namibia.
Bob Hill AP United States History Teacher, High School	Mr. Hill holds a BA from UMass, Amherst, 1992; MAT from Simmons College, 1996; M Ed from Providence College, 2000. Mr. Hill loves to play basketball and to play the piano. He was raised in a small town in Massachusetts called Stow. He lives in Attleboro with his wife, Jen. Mr. Hill has been teaching at MATCH since its first year.
Lisa Hwang Principal, Middle School	Ms. Hwang earned degrees from UCLA in 1999 in English and International Development Studies, and from the Stanford School of Education in International Education Administration and Policy Analysis. Her interests include foundation work, education research, and education in community/international development.
Angelita Isenberg MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Ms. Isenberg attended Boston College as a double major in Psychology and Human Development. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Denva Jackson English Teacher, High School	Ms. Jackson graduated from Sweet Briar College with degrees in Italian Studies and Art History. She was a member of the 2006-2007 MATCH Corps.
Kristina Jones Human Resources Manager/ Director of Development/ Alumni Support Director	Ms. Jones graduated from Stetson University with a BBA in Finance.  Before coming here, she spent two years in DC working at another charter school as their Business and Operations Manager.
Joanna Khalil Chemistry and Health Teacher, High School	Ms. Khalil graduated from the University of RI in 2004 with a degree in biology. She taught chemistry for two years in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas as a member of Teach for America. She loves teaching and enjoys traveling, drawing, and martial arts.
Sean Koebley Math/Science Teacher, Middle School	Mr. Koebley graduated from the College of William and Mary with a major in Biology and a minor in Mathematics. Sean was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Hannah Larkin Humanities Teacher, High School	Ms. Larkin attended Stanford University, where she earned a degree in Anthropological Sciences. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Michael Larsson Deputy Executive Director	Mr. Larsson received his B.A. from Boston College in 2004 and was in the first MATCH Corps.  He has worked as Director of Development at City on a Hill Charter School, and as Director of the Annual Fund for Boston College High School.
Catherine Lewis Executive Assistant to the Principal, High School	Ms. Lewis has a degree in Sociology from Westmont College, a private liberal arts college located in Santa Barbara, California. She greatly enjoys working with youth and aspires to return to school for her Masters Degree in Social Work.
Sandy Little Humanities Teacher and Chairperson, High School	Ms. Little graduated from Clark University in 2000 with a degree in History, and in 2001 with a master's in Urban Education. She taught GED classes in Dorchester for teens coming out of lock-up facilities, and co-founded the Phoenix Charter Academy for the North Shore. She has published articles in Field Notes, an adult education publication.
Joanne Liu Academic Resource Director	Ms. Liu earned a Bachelors Degree in English/American Literature from Brandeis University and a Masters in Special Education from George Washington University. As a Teach For America Corps Member, she taught middle schools students in Special Education in Washington, D.C. for two years. After TFA, she developed programs and curriculum for a private academic enrichment program in Boston for Asian American students. Ms. Liu is a member of Gund Kwok, the only Asian Women's Lion Dance Troupe in the nation. She also loves to eat, especially sushi.
Julia Manoli Director of Student Records and Enrollment	Ms. Manoli is originally from the Boston area, and was a member of MATCH Corps IV.  She graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Spanish.
Cassandra Marcelin MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Ms. Marcelin attended Spelman College, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Comparative Women's Studies. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Meg McDonough Humanities Teacher / Assistant Principal, High School	Ms. McDonough attended Clark University for both undergraduate and graduate study. She has degrees in Urban Education and History. She is a traveler at heart who loves to bring the global world to life for her students.
Nedra McLaughlin Math Teacher, High School	Ms. McLaughlin graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Economics. She was a member of MATCH Corps IV and a member of the MATCH Corps Staff for Corps V.
Kate Merrill MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School	Ms. Merrill graduated in 2008 from the University of Richmond, where she double majored in psychology and criminal justice. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Jorge Miranda Principal, High School	Mr. Miranda is a Dartmouth College graduate who taught Algebra I and II at MATCH for 3 years before becoming MATCH's second principal. Mr. Miranda previously taught ESL history at a traditional district high school. In addition to his work at MATCH, he co-founded a national non-profit organization called 2020 Democrats and once served as an education advisor to Robert Reich in his 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign. Mr. Miranda is the first in his family to graduate from college and is proud and humbled to be able to help others take this important step in their lives.
Dan Mirsky Humanities Teacher, Middle School	Mr Mirsky earned a BA with Honors in History from Wesleyan University in CT, and a Masters in Education in Instructional Leadership from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He has been a classroom teacher since 1998, and has taught grades 6-12, while also coaching soccer and lacrosse. Mr. Mirsky grew up in nearby Newton, and now lives in Brighton with his wife Claire and their cat Peter. For fun, all three of them like to cook elaborate meals for themselves and their friends, and watch movies while they eat.
Christie Paul Director of Operations, High School / Director of Non-MATCH Tutoring	Ms. Paul received her bachelor's degree from Boston University in May 2006 in Ancient Greek and Latin and Classical Civilization. After being a part of MATCH Corps III, she returned as a member of the MATCH Corps Staff, coordinating the MCAS tutoring program.
Maureen Radzikowski Bookkeeper	Ms. Radzikowski has returned to her hometown Boston after many years of travel with her former employer of more than 20 plus years Barclays Bank PLC (BBPLC). Her job description with BBPLC included Operations Manager, Investigations Manager and Internal Auditor. Ms. Radzikowski brings many years of experience in accounting and audit to her bookkeeper position with MATCH. She enjoys working for MATCH: “working with the best and brightest is always a plus.”
Christine Ranney English Teacher, Middle School	Ms. Ranney began her formal teaching career at Orr Middle School in Las Vegas, NV, where she taught seventh grade English as a Teach For America corps member. After two years in Las Vegas, she took a position as Executive Director of Breakthrough San Francisco. She has taught around the United States in New Orleans, Manchester, and Las Vegas, as well as in Shenzhen, China. She has also presented published work with the National Council of Teachers of English. She earned her undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy at St. Lawrence University and her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Alan Safran Executive Director	Mr. Safran has served as the Executive Director of the MATCH School since July, 2002. Prior to MATCH, he served 9 years at the MA Department of Education as Administrator for Public Affairs, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Chief of Staff, Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Policy, and Senior Associate Commissioner for Student Achievement. Prior to this, Mr. Safran worked as a lead staff member of the MA Republican State Committee; as an SAT tutor; as an Assistant District Attorney in the Queens, NY District Attorney's office; as a Washington DC lobbyist on tax, environmental and trade matters; and as Spokesman for two committees of the United States Senate-the Senate Arms Control Observer Group (1985) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1981-1985). He worked for the International Rescue Committee on the Thai-Cambodian border (1980). He holds a law degree from George Washington University (1987) and a B.A. in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University (1980). Mr. Safran is certified as a Superintendent in MA, and is a member of the Bar in the States of New York and MA.
Joanna Sanborn Director of College Counseling	Ms. Sanborn grew up in Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate degree. After spending time as a Corps Member both in Teach For America (Phoenix) and the Peace Corps (Belize), she earned a master’s degree in Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She and her husband recently moved to Boston after working at KIPP Gaston College Prep in rural North Carolina.
Laura Schwedes Researcher & Writer for the Teacher Training Program	Ms. Schwedes hails from Wilmette, Illinois and Edina, Minnesota.  She attended Princeton University, graduating in 2003 with a degree in history.  Her first job was a fellowship with a Chicago non-profit that provided job training for adjudicated criminal offenders.  In 2004, she was accepted into the first year of the MATCH Corps.  Next, Ms. Schwedes attended a master’s program in the Teaching of Social Studies at Teacher’s College, Columbia.  After graduating from the program, Ms. Schwedes taught fifth and sixth grade social studies at KIPP:STAR College Prep Charter School in Harlem, New York.
Robert Shames MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Mr. Shames attended Dartmouth College, where he majored in music. He was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Erica Shipow MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School	Ms. Shipow graduated in May from Tufts University with a degree in English. Erica was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Alia Smith MATCH Corps Program Director, High School	Ms. Smith graduated from Spelman College in 2004 with a degree in Psychology. Ms. Smith was a member of the 2004-2005 MATCH Corps. She is a passionate believer in the MATCH School, its students, its leaders, and its mission. Originally from San Jose, California, she attended school in Atlanta, Georgia, and is now continuing her tour of the U.S. by living in Boston.
Samantha Spaeth MATCH Corps Staff, High School	Ms. Spaeth graduated from Wake Forest University where she majored in English and minored in Women's and Gender Studies. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Jared Taillefer Dean of Students/Mathematics Teacher, High School	Mr. Taillefer graduated from Boston University in 2005 with a degree in Applied Mathematics. Mr. Taillefer was a member of the 2005-2006 MATCH Corps.
Patti Tao MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School	Ms. Tao graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where she double majored in Psychology and Spanish. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Bess Thaler Science Teacher, High School	After majoring in biology at Wesleyan University and doing ecological research in Connecticut and Scotland, Ms. Thaler returned to her home state of Massachusetts to pursue a career in science education. She has taught in Boston and Cambridge, and she recently completed her Master’s of Education at UMass Boston. She is excited to be here at MATCH surrounded by terrestrial isopods, drosophila, philodendrons, hamsters, and a wonderful community of humans.
Angelene Thompson English Teacher, High School	Ms. Thompson holds a BA from Boston College where she was an English major and a MA in English Lit from Northeastern University. She is currently in her thirteenth year of teaching, and she is looking forward to a fantastic year at MATCH!
Kathryn Thornbury MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School	Ms. Thornbury graduated in May from the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in Anthropology and Irish Studies. She was a member of MATCH Corps V.
Ross Trudeau Director of MATCH Corps Recruiting	Mr. Trudeau graduated from Brown University '06 with a degree in English Literature, and currently serves as Director of Recruiting for the MATCH Corps. He joined MATCH Corps III as a first foray into the world of teaching, but has since learned his passions (and indeed his skills) will likely translate better into school administration. He plans to apply to graduate school in education or government.
Erica Winston Deputy Director of Training, MATCH Teacher Training Program	Ms. Winston holds a BS from Northwestern University, 2005; Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2009. Ms. Winston loves to sing karaoke and visit fondue and hibachi restaurants around town. She was raised in Harvey, a small town right outside of New Orleans, LA. Last year, Ms. Winston coached part-time in the MATCH Teacher Training (MTT) program. This year, she will work full time with the MTT team as the Deputy Director of Training for the high school.
Marilyn Yorgey Math/Science Teacher, Middle School	Ms. Yorgey is originally from Oregon and moved to Boston last year. She graduated from Goucher College, where she double majored in Dance and Biology. She then went on to graduate from Oregon State with a Masters in Science. In her free time Ms. Yorgey enjoys quilting and sewing, cooking, playing with her cat, working on crossword puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.
Eli Zaritt MATCH Corps Staff, Middle School/Co-Athletic Director	Mr. Zaritt attended the Univeristy of Michigan, where he majored in History and Sociology. Eli was a member of MATCH Corps V.