RIVERBEND SCHOOL - Key Persons
Aaron Levy has been a Riverbend parent since 2017 of two children who are now in 7th and 4th grade. As a former educator and now working in educational sales, he and his family recognize the value in a Montessori school education. When not working, Aaron can be found up in the woods of Maine with family, skiing, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors or working on perfecting his BBQ and smoker skills.
Job Titles:
- Physical Education / Athletics Teacher
Allison Kates joined the Riverbend community in 2020 and joined the Board in 2023. She has a son in Upper Elementary. Prior to joining the Board, Allison served as the Community Service liaison to the Riverbend Parent Community, overseeing the bake sale at Fall Festival and organizing Riverbend GIVES, and was a member of the Spring Fling Planning Committee. Allison is currently the Board President of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest and is also involved with Cradles to Crayons and Dignity Matters, as well as serving as Staff Appreciation Chairperson at Wayland High School, where her other son is a junior. Professionally, Allison worked as a School Psychologist from 2002-2013. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, baking, reading, and traveling. Allison lives in Wayland with her husband and two sons.
Joined Riverbend in 2022
Amy Gottschalk joined the Riverbend community in 2021 and became a member of Riverbend's Board of Directors in 2022. She has two children in the Upper Elementary program and a 2022 eighth grade Riverbend graduate. Having always been actively involved with her children's schools and previously having served in school council capacity, Amy has a passion for helping children develop a love of learning and is committed to supporting excellence in education. Professionally, Amy was a management consultant for PwC Consulting and IBM Business Consulting Services. She is a Wellesley Town Meeting Member, and in her spare time she enjoys practicing Sogetsu Ikebana.
Job Titles:
- Primary Lead Teacher
- Primary Lead Teacher / Trinity University
Angela enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing piano.
Job Titles:
- Toddler Lead Teacher
- Toddler Lead Teacher / Montserrat College of Art
Joined Riverbend in 2022
Audra Friend joined the Riverbend community in 2020 as a parent. Her son is currently enrolled in the Lower Elementary program. Audra is a digital communications and data specialist with the Unitarian Universalist Association. She lives in Holliston with her wife and son.
Becca enjoys photography, podcasts, poetry, and music.
Job Titles:
- Head of School
- Member of the Executive Board Committee
- Riverbend As Head
Brooke joined Riverbend as Head of School in 2023, after serving as Head of School at Oak Grove Montessori School in Mansfield, Connecticut and The Little School in Clarkesville, Georgia. A native Californian, Brooke started her educational career at a small school very similar to Riverbend, and eventually graduated from University California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Bilingual Elementary Teaching Credential. Before Brooke transitioned to administrative roles in admissions, marketing, development, curriculum design, and teacher education, Brooke taught every grade, preschool through high school in several regions in the United States. With over 20 years experience as an educator, Brooke believes that small schools are the best schools, and that a Montessori education provides the very best environment for children to thrive in and out of the classroom.
Brooke is a proud Volunteer Case Reviewer for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and she considers community service and activism work to be crucially important, both as a way to give voice and strength to those who need it, and to help inform the vital work we do in schools as we educate our future leaders.
In her free time, Brooke enjoys making the spaces around her more beautiful - in the spring and summer that means tending her vegetable and flower garden; in the fall and winter that means delving into design and decor projects in her home. Brooke enjoys checking in on her neighbors, and is a devoted morning walker with her two rescue dogs, and an evening cuddler with her four rescue cats. Brooke is an avid traveler and beach seeker, especially with her husband David and their two teenage daughters, Naomi and Juliet.
Job Titles:
- Middle School Science Teacher
- Middle School Science Teacher / University of Michigan
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
Job Titles:
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Toddler Lead Teacher
Danielle Leary-Jakes has spent 13 years in the field of education, working with children birth to three and their families. After Danielle received her AMI, 0-3 Diploma from The Montessori Institute Denver, in Denver, Colorado, she went on to complete her Master's in Early Childhood Development, with a specialization in working with children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. She has recently completed her Early Childhood Special Education Certification from the Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL.
Additionally, Danielle is a certified Early Intervention Specialist and Developmental Specialist. She has worked for years teaching and working with young children ages birth to three, as well as coaching parents both in early intervention and in Montessori Education and is extremely passionate about not only teaching her students but supporting and empowering parents through parent education.
Job Titles:
- Upper Elementary Program Coordinator & Teacher
- Upper Elementary Program Coordinator & Teacher / LaSalle
David is deeply passionate about the Montessori approach to education. He is a dedicated faculty and board member of the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative, METTC. Beyond his professional pursuits, David finds joy in spending quality time with his beloved wife and caring family. You might also find David exploring his other passions, such as swimming and photography.
Job Titles:
- After School Teacher
- After School Teacher / Boston College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Board
Deb Hall was a Riverbend parent for 9 years after her daughter, RVBS alumni class of ‘21, joined the school in Kindergarten. Deb served in a variety of volunteer positions including Room Parent, co-President of the then Parent's Association, Gala Committee member and Advancement Committee member. After joining the school's administrative team in 2016, her roles included Administrative Assistant, Director of Development for three years, and Outreach Manager. Deb's most recent position was as the Salute to Service Coordinator at the USS Constitution Museum supporting the Museum's outreach and programming for veterans, service members and their families. She is an active Alumni Parent community member.
Joined Riverbend in 2022
Deborah Farmer Kris is an author, parent educator, and founder of Parenthood365. A child development expert, Deborah works as a parenting columnist for PBS KIDS and writes about education for MindShift, an NPR learning blog. Her work has also been featured in The Washington Post, Boston Globe Magazine, and other national publications.
Over the course of her career, Deborah has taught elementary, middle and high school, worked as a school administrator, and served as an associate scholar at the Boston University Center for Character and Social Responsibility. She is the author of the All The Time picture book series.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Secretary of the Executive Board Committee
An educator for almost twenty years, Diana Baruni currently serves as the Academic Dean at The Cambridge School of Weston in Weston, Massachusetts. Diana has also served as a Language Department Chair and French teacher at CSW, as well as a French teacher and Class Dean at The Webb Schools in Claremont, California. Diana earned her Bachelor's degree in French with a minor in Film Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and a Masters Degree in French Linguistics and Pedagogy from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. A Natick resident, Diana enjoys dancing, skiing, theater, travelling, and exploring the Boston area food scene with her family in her free time.
Job Titles:
- Primary Lead Teacher
- Primary Lead Teacher / Mass Bay Community College
Job Titles:
- Primary Lead Teacher
- Primary Lead Teacher / University of Vermont
Elisabet enjoys spending time with her family in Maine
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Executive Board Committee
- Governance Co - Chair
Elizabeth Milewski joined the Riverbend community as a parent in 2017 and the Board of Directors in 2019. She has two daughters currently enrolled in the Lower and Upper Elementary programs. Prior to joining the board Elizabeth served the Riverbend community as a Room Parent, Annual Fund Ambassador, Taco Tuesday volunteer, and on the Gala committee. She previously worked in the non-profit sector as Communications Coordinator for The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs, an organization dedicated to advocacy for musicians and music preservation. She later transitioned to a career in medicine, working as a Physician Assistant in Orthopaedics, specializing in spine surgery. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from UVA and a Master of Medical Science from the Yale School of Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Executive Board Committee
- Co - Chair / Advancement Committee Co - Chair
Joined Riverbend in 2017
Emeka B. Iffih joined the Riverbend Community in 2015 as a parent, and joined the Board in 2017. He is the proud parent of four daughters; one currently at the school and three alumni. Emeka is the vice chair of the Board, chair of the Advancement committee, a Lower Elementary and Alumni Parent Community member. Professionally, he is the Vice President of Corporate Development at CyberArk.
Job Titles:
- Art Teacher / Enrichment Teacher
Evan paints, works on his 100 year old house, and does ceramics at home with his wife and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Administration
- Director of Finance / Bridgewater State University
My husband and I have 3 adult daughters. I enjoy traveling, reading, walking and spending time with family and friends.
I am very passionate about the environment and marine science. I was recently scuba certified and I hope to dive in Australia and see the Great Barrier Reef one day.
Job Titles:
- Director of Auxiliary Programs
Job Titles:
- Children 's House Director
I have been at the Riverbend School for 13 years, and I am passionate about Maria Montessori and Early Childhood Education. I enjoy spending time with my family - whether we're on an outdoor adventure or relaxing on the couch for Friday movie night. I am a loyal iced coffee drinker (no matter the weather), and am constantly searching for the best doughnut you can buy MA!
Job Titles:
- Naturalist Teacher & Floater
- Naturalist Teacher & Floater / Lesley University
To relax I love to cozy up with a good book and ride my bike on the Holliston rail trail. My husband and I enjoy finding new outdoor spaces for walking and when my daughter is home from college we like to scout out a great cup of coffee thrift store and breakfast nook!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- EVP of Global Customer Success at HubSpot
Jeetu Mahtani is currently EVP of Global Customer Success at HubSpot. As part of this role, he manages a global customer success organization's four pillars: Professional Services, Customer Support, Direct and Partner Success, and Integrated Customer Experience. Before the customer success role, Jeetu founded HubSpot's International business and launched the first office in Dublin, Ireland. Jeetu served as the International MD from 2013 to 2020 and owned all new revenue growth across LatAm, EMEA, and JAPAC. During this time, Jeetu and his family spent three years living in Dublin, Ireland, followed by three years in Singapore.
As part of his hobbies, Jeetu enjoys International cuisines, and he can be seen regularly at local farmer's markets, trying to challenge his taste buds and share new foods with his two young kids. In addition, he enjoys tennis and swimming as sporting hobbies. Jeetu has an MS in Operations and Technology and BS in Computer Engineering.
Job Titles:
- Middle School Teacher & Fundations Instructor
- Middle School Teacher & Fundations Instructor / Smith College
Jenn is an avid reader and writer, an exercise enthusiast, a dog-lover, and a mom to three amazing girls.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Executive Board Committee
- Governance Co - Chair
Jessica Baur joined the Riverbend community in 2017 as a parent. She has a daughter currently enrolled in the Upper Elementary program. Jessica is a former estate planning attorney with extensive experience advising nonprofit organizations and she has always shown a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector and philanthropic work. She joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and is currently serving as a member of the Executive Committee, Governance Committee and the Strategic Working Group. Prior to that, Jessica served Riverbend as Co-Chair of the Advancement Committee, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, the DCC Committee, the Gala Committee, a Parent Community Member, and as a Room Parent and Tasty Tuesday volunteer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Board
- Alumni Parent Community Member
Job Titles:
- Middle School Teacher & Social & Emotional Learning Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Communications
Job Titles:
- Director of Elementary and Middle School
Job Titles:
- Children 's House Learning Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Director of Enrollment Management
Job Titles:
- Middle School Math Teacher / Math Specialist
Job Titles:
- Community College - Early Childhood Education
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Executive Board Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Board Committee
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Current Upper Elementary Community Member
Job Titles:
- Business Office Assistant
Job Titles:
- Registrar
- Systems Administrator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Board
- Advancement Committee Co - Chair
Job Titles:
- Floater / After School Teacher
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Lower Elementary Teacher
Job Titles:
- Floater & After School Teacher