Rye Country Day Faculty and Staff gathered to honor retirees and long-time faculty members, as well as recognize endowed chairs and award winners at the Employee Tea in the Middle School/Upper School Dining Hall.

ANNIVERSARIES

30 Years of Service
Angela Monti - Main Entrance Receptionist
Remarks presented by Ali Morgan and Joshua Noel Rivera

20 Years of Service
 
Jennifer DeVito - Upper School Librarian
Remarks presented by Randall Dunn

Meredith deChabert - Assistant Head of School for Academics, Institutional Research, and Data
Remarks presented by Rebecca Drago and Ali Morgan

Joan Kubisch - Upper School Spanish Teacher
Remarks presented by Laura Mungavin

Caryn Olson - Lower School Grade 4 Teacher
Remarks presented by Stacy Kaufman 

Ethan White - Upper School Humanities Teacher
Remarks presented by Clemmie Everett 

RETIREES

Stephen Tofano
MS Manual Arts Teacher (27 years of service)
Remarks presented by Ginny Black and Betsy Stedman 

Lizanne Rosenzweig P’03, P’06, P’11
MS Spanish Teacher (21 years of service)
Remarks presented by Libby Jeliffe 

Joan Kubisch
US Spanish Teacher (20 years of service)
Remarks presented by Matt Cavanaugh 

AWARDS

Seniority Fellowship
Awarded to faculty and staff who have served Rye Country Day for over 10 years are eligible for one of five Seniority Fellowships.

Monique Caterina, Lower School Kindergarten Teacher
Sarah Danziger, Classics Department Chair and Upper School Latin Teacher
Clemmie Everett, Humanities Department Chair, Upper School Humanities Teacher
Ryan Horton, Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Tim Silverman, Grades 5 & 6 Dean, Middle School Spanish Teacher, Middle School Seek Teacher

Will McCurdy Memorial Award
Established in 2015 in memory of Will McCurdy ’05. Given in recognition of outstanding advising in the Upper School. 

Meaghan O’Brien, Upper School Science Teacher
Angelo Bove, Upper School Science Teacher

Carol Lichtenfeld Memorial Award
Established in 2019 in memory of RCDS Teacher Carol Lichtenfeld. Given in recognition of outstanding Middle School advising.

Beatrice DeSabatino, Middle School Latin Teacher

Lower School Advising Award
Established in 2022 to recognize a Lower School teacher who went above and beyond in support of students.

Kristin Kassay, Lower School Fourth Grade Teacher

Frank Effinger Outstanding Coaching Award
Established in 2013 by Adam Friedlander ‘79 in honor of longtime RCDS Coach and Field House Director Frank Effinger. Given in recognition of a member of the RCDS coaching staff for their outstanding service to RCDS.

Elani Landman, Director of Squash, Coach

Linda Grossman Award
Established in 2010 in honor Linda Grossman, Administrative Assistant to the Head of School. Given in recognition of a staff member for their outstanding service to RCDS.

Mike Kenny, Director of Security

ENDOWED CHAIRS
The Rye Country Day Endowed Faculty Chair program was established to honor and reward outstanding teachers in all three divisions of the School. The following endowed chairs rotate every three years.

Brockman Lower School Chair
Karen Cosgrove, Lower School Second Grade Teacher (2025-26 - First Year)

RCDS PA Chair
Craig Burt, Grade 10 Dean, Upper School Science Teacher (2025-26 - Second Year)

English Department Chair
Andres Cerpa, Grade 11 Dean, Upper School English Teacher (2025-26 - Second Year)

Class of 2006 Chair 
Charlotte Green, Upper School Humanities Teacher (2025-26 - First Year)

Wachenheim Family Chair 
Clemmie Everett - Upper School Humanities Department Chair & Teacher (Third Year)
Kyle Mitschele, Middle School Social Studies Department Chair (Third Year)

Lower School Chair 
Amy Haff, Lower School First Grade Teacher (2025-2026 - First Year)

Middle School Chair
Tammy McKenna, Middle School Learning Specialist (2025-2026 - First Year)
Heather Russell, Middle School Math Teacher (2025-2026 - Second Year)

THE COHEN FELLOWSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

Through yearly Cohen Fellowship for Excellence & Innovation grants, Rye Country Day School actively advances the School’s commitment to pedagogical excellence and continual professional growth for employees. These grants afford Cohen Fellows the opportunity to develop their passion for education and stay current in their individual fields through innovative knowledge acquisition. Through the personal and professional endeavors associated with the receipt of this award, Cohen Fellows help the School to build upon its tradition of excellence through creativity and innovation.

Lauren Behar, Lower School Art Teacher
Tatum Bell, Grade 9 Dean, Upper School English Teacher
Kaitlin Boyer, Associate Director of Marketing & Communications
John Calandros, Physical Education Teacher, Coach
Charlotte Fleischman, Lower School Associate Teacher, Coach
Michelle Graziosa, Lower School Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Leif Halverson, Upper School Learning Specialist
D.D. Huang, Middle School Chinese Teacher
Sarah Istwany, Middle School French Teacher
Donald Kyle, Upper School Dean of Students, Upper School English Teacher
Dan Murray, Director of Global Studies, Upper School Classics Teacher, Upper School Humanities Teacher
Jamie Radwan, Lower School Learning Specialist
Heather Russell, Middle School Math Teacher
Ariana Wimpy, Senior Accountant
Melissa Wirth, Director of Alumni Relations, Coach