David Cerniglia joins our Upper School English Department. David received his BA in English from Southern Connecticut State College and an MA in Literary and Cultural Studies from Carnegie Mellon University. He is currently writing his dissertation as a doctoral candidate in the Department of English at CMU. In addition to teaching a variety of literature and writing courses at CMU since 2005, David has run his own test preparation business in which he readies high school students for various college entrance exams. David is the author of a multitude of publications and papers. David is an enthusiastic educator who takes pride in connecting with his students and helping them to grow as young writers and thinkers. He will teach American Literature to our juniors and will serve as advisor to the Ellis Literary Magazine.

Eva Gelman will join Joanna Schultz in the College Counseling office. Eva brings a wealth of experience including many years of service in admissions offices, and the last seven years at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to that, she served as Director of College Guidance at Sewickley Academy. She currently runs her own independent college counseling business, College Quest Counseling, and will continue to do so on a limited scale. Eva’s role at Ellis will center around the class of 2014 and its 60 members. During the fall of 2012, Eva will work quarter time. She will assist with the Test Prep/College Seminar course taken by all juniors and will attend meetings with parents of juniors and the Upper School faculty. Starting in January 2013, when the college process starts in earnest for the class of 2014, Eva will work half time with students and their families. She will counsel one-third of the members of the class through the college search and application process. She will also continue to collaborate with Joanna Schultz to inform and coach students and their parents about this daunting process. Eva will continue with us through the 2013-2014 school year.

Stacie Paré joins our Upper School Math Department. Stacie received her BA in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College of Maryland. She also received her MAT and National Board Certification from National University in La Jolla, CA. Stacie is a recent transplant to the Pittsburgh area, and she has been working in the Summerbridge program at Sewickley Academy as a math mentor/instructor this summer. Since January 2012 she has taught algebra at CCAC. Prior to coming to Pittsburgh, Stacie taught middle and high school math in Howard and Baltimore Counties in Maryland and in Hanover County, Virginia. Stacie’s BA included a computer science emphasis in addition to math. In addition to teaching, she has served as a programmer and systems consultant in business settings. Finally, Stacie homeschooled her three children from PK through grade 6. Her teaching experience has taken many forms! At Ellis, Stacie will teach geometry, algebra 2, and Test Prep math in the junior course at Ellis.

Meenal Patel will coach the new Ellis-only MS First Lego League robotics team on a part-time basis. Meenal was a co-teacher for the Ellis summer robotics camp this year. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in math from Purdue University. Meenal coached the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s First Lego League team last year. She is also a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh analyzing and developing processing streams for structural and functional MR images to study late-life cognitive disorders. As an undergraduate, Meenal participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates at John Hopkins University and has served as a tutor for the Women in Engineering Program. Her volunteer experience encompasses working with the First Robotics Competition, the First Lego League, Engineering Projects In Community Service (EPICS) and the American Indian Foundation.

Finally, Leah Thompson is the new Director of Fifth Avenue Family Child Care for faculty and staff children. As a caregiver at FAFCC for the last three years, Leah has been instrumental in the success and development of the program. Leah quickly formed meaningful and lasting relationships at the Center, where her warm and caring personality has helped her connect easily with children, parents and colleagues. Further, her previous and summer work experiences translate naturally to the work at the Center, and we are thrilled that she will now be serving in a leadership capacity. Leah has a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Much of her professional experience focuses on helping others and working with children and volunteers. She spent two years with the Peace Corps teaching English in Cameroon, Africa and training incoming volunteers. She also worked in Washington D.C. at the International Rescue Committee where she managed three direct assistance programs serving 550 refugees and asylees annually. Leah has continued to nurture her service-oriented skills over the course of the last three summers when she worked as Southeast Asia Program Director with Vision Service Adventures. There she designed and implemented summer service learning programs for high school students in Vietnam and Cambodia. This valuable work experience, combined with her three years of experience at the Center, will contribute to Leah being a fantastic leader. Please join us in welcoming Leah as the new director of FAFCC!