New Faculty and Staff, Part II

Adria Bell is a Southern California native, graduated from Boston College with a major in English.  She taught second grade at a charter school in Dallas, Texas, before relocating to New York and embarking on a career in fashion.  Throughout her years as a C.O.O. for an international accessories brand, her passion for teaching never waned.  Eventually this passion prompted her decision to transition into education.  Before coming to St. Bernard’s, Ms. Bell taught at the Buckley School as an associate in Kindergarten.  She is currently enrolled at City College in pursuit of her master’s degree in early childhood education.  Ms. Bell lives in Harlem with her husband and their toddler son, and they are thrilled to welcome a second child into the family in October.  In her free time Ms. Bell enjoys bike rides along the Hudson, reading vintage cookbooks, and making jam.

 

Laura Chatzky grew up in Bedford, New York.  She attended Franklin and Marshall College and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology with a specialization in developmental psychology.  After graduating from college Ms. Chatzky worked as a Kindergarten and Pre-K teacher in Westchester at the Rippowam Cisqua School.  After several years at Rippowam, Ms. Chatzky decided to move to the city and attend graduate school at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she worked toward earning a master’s degree in early childhood education and special education.  After the completion of her graduate program, Ms. Chatzky taught Kindergarten in New York at Marymount and has made the switch from an all girls’ environment to an all boys’!  In her free time Ms. Chatzky enjoys running in Central Park with her dog, swimming, skiing, watching New York sports, and spending time with family and friends. 

 

Brittany Corso grew up in Bedford, New York.  She studied communication and Spanish at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.  Ms. Corso loves to travel and has spent time living abroad in Madrid, Spain, and Costa Rica, where she tutored students in English.  Ms. Corso is currently enrolled at Bank Street College of Education and is working toward a master’s degree in general childhood education.  Before coming to St. Bernard’s, Ms. Corso worked as a second grade assistant at Rippowam Cisqua School in Westchester, New York.  In her free time, Ms. Corso loves traveling, hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.         

 

Isabel (Izzy) McDonald grew up in Manhattan, just across the street from St. Bernard’s!  She attended college at Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where she was graduated with a major in English literature and a minor in education.  Ms. McDonald then returned to New York and completed her M.A. in English education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Since graduating last spring, Ms. McDonald has worked at Tabor Academy Summer Program where she ran the events department.  Ms. McDonald loves to spend time on the water in Maine. 

 

Tim Waugh began his teaching career in 1987 as an assistant to Michael Falcone, his predecessor at St. B’s, at the Village Community School.  After a three year apprenticeship under Mr. Falcone, Mr. Waugh had the opportunity to develop his own woodworking program at Brooklyn Friends School.  Mr. Waugh spent twenty-seven years at Brooklyn Friends, teaching woodworking to students in Kindergarten through eighth grade.  He was fortunate to work alongside many master teachers in BFS’s extraordinary art department, many of whom influenced his approach to design and finish work.  He is thrilled to join the St. Bernard’s community as the new Junior School carpentry teacher.