Meet new faculty and staff for 2024-2025!

As we near the first day of school, we are excited to introduce an exceptional cohort of new faculty and staff who bring a wealth and breadth of experience to our community. These are passionate educators who believe in our Sacred Heart mission and bring with them a zeal for educating and empowering young women in an environment designed just for them. Please join us in welcoming these new members of the Stuart community: 

• Ms. Olivia Atlee '19 returned to Stuart in 2024 to teach Middle and Upper School French. Ms. Atlee holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in French from Denison University, where she served as a teaching assistant and studied at Middlebury's renowned summer language program.

• Nina Austria '20 returned to Stuart in 2024 to teach Upper School computer science and Middle School science while also serving as the Technology Integration Specialist. She earned her B.A. in math-statistics from Lawrence University, where she worked as a T.A. and tutor for various statistics courses. She also helped build a community of data enthusiasts as a leader of Lawrence's Data Science Club. Her previous experience includes working as a marketing analyst at Afforai, an AI-powered platform for summarizing, translating, and answering questions about documents. Nina is thrilled to rejoin the Stuart community as an educator and inspire the next generation of students. 

• Susan Beshel first joined Stuart in September 2013 as a teacher and the Lower School math curriculum specialist. Prior to Stuart, Susan spent 10 years in NYC as a teacher, math coach, and data specialist. Susan attended Bucknell University where she earned a B.A. in economics and political science and an M.A. from Fordham in teaching. She has a minor in math and continues to take doctoral courses in math education. In 2020, Susan left Stuart to work for a cognitive assessment company, MindPrint Learning, to research middle school math outcomes under a National Science Foundation grant. She was the Director of Data and Curriculum and worked with schools across the country to help them understand how their students learn and what can be done to improve student outcomes. She is thrilled to be coming back to Stuart as a Middle School math teacher and integrate best practices in math education, cognitive science, and Sacred Heart values to help all girls see themselves as mathematicians. 

• Melissa Brescia joined Stuart in 2024, bringing with her over 15 years of experience working with children in both public and nonprofit sectors. She is a board-certified holistic nutrition coach and operates her own private coaching practice, where she empowers women of all ages to embrace healthier lifestyles. Outside of her roles supporting the Upper School and coordinating Cor Cordis programs, Melissa enjoys spending time at home with her daughter, Valentina, preparing nutritious meals or yummy treats. Their beloved beagle is always close by, enthusiastically taking on the job of cleanup crew!

• Annabeth Davis joined Stuart in 2024 as Chief of Staff. She previously worked at Princeton Day School, where she produced most of the school's digital content, news stories and press releases. During her time, Annabeth implemented new project management systems to build efficiencies and community within the Communications office and the wider school. She thrived in a role that required fast-paced yet intentional action. Annabeth has a B.A. in political science from Princeton University, where she was also captain of the field hockey team. In her free time, she loves coaching youth sports (field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse), knitting, and baking to satisfy her sweet tooth.

• Traci Hatcher joined Stuart in September 2024 with seventeen years of experience teaching grades 1-4 in lower school. She earned a B.S. in English from Rutgers University and an M.Ed. in teaching English as a second language from The College of New Jersey. Having previously taught at another Sacred Heart school, Traci deeply resonates with the mission and values defined by the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria. She is excited to continue fostering these principles at Stuart, nurturing and empowering young girls in their academic and personal growth.

• Amanda Leighton joined the Upper School science faculty in 2024, starting her 21st year of teaching. Ms. Leighton's career in science education includes Moorestown High School and Haddonfield Middle School, in addition to graduate work completed at Rowan University and Princeton University. Ms. Leighton holds a B.S. degree in biology from Stockton University, where she was a member of the women's crew team.

• Samantha Levy joined Stuart in 2024 as the Stuart Athletics trainer. Samantha earned her B.S. in kinesiology from Temple University in 2022 and her M.S. in athletic training from West Chester University in 2024. While studying for her master's, Samantha gained clinical experience at the K-12 and collegiate level, providing medical support and education to athletes at Archmere Academy, Villanova University, Central Bucks High School South, and The George School. 

• Heidi New joined the Stuart Country Day School community in 2024. She is not a stranger to Sacred Heart Education, having spent five years teaching music to the K-8 students at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart. She holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from Moravian College (now Moravian University) and was a representative for the Sacred Heart Network's Aspiring Leaders Program over the past two years. Ms. New is fully trained in the Orff-Schulwerk method of teaching, which provides a student-centered approach to music learning. She is an avid pianist and classically trained vocalist who uses her talents in various spaces throughout Bucks County, PA. When not at school, Ms. New can be found crocheting, digging in her garden, or cycling away in her local spin studio!

• Kate O'Brian joined the Stuart community in 2024 after two years of special education experience teaching Lower School Makerspace and Middle School STEAM. Kate earned a B.A. in studio art at Georgetown University, where she also minored in education, inquiry, & justice, and later received an M.S.Ed. in learning sciences & technologies from the University of Pennsylvania. Kate is passionate about applying her creative background to help students cultivate a life-long love of STEM through hands-on projects inside the classroom and outdoors. She also serves as the Middle School Robotics Coach. 

• Vaishali Pandkar joined Stuart in 2024 as the Technology Support Specialist with more than a decade of experience in the educational field. After completing a bachelor's degree in commerce and a master's degree in computer management (MCM) from Pune University, India, Vaishali began her career with Symbiosis International University, Pune, India. Later, she gained experience in Singapore as well. In New Jersey, Vaishali explored opportunities within schools and worked with elementary, middle, and high schools. Her passion for educational technology always motivates her to adopt and learn new skills in response to the rapidly changing technology. Vaishali is proficient in Marathi, Hindi, and English languages. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring various arts.

• Megan Reeves joined the Upper School math faculty in 2024. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Science in secondary math education with a minor in statistics from the University of Delaware and a master's in science of education from the University of Pennsylvania's Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR). With a passion for student-centered learning, Megan emphasizes inquiry and investigation in the math classroom, encouraging students to see themselves as mathematicians. Her approach focuses on developing habits of mind rather than the traditional "right or wrong" mindset, fostering a deeper understanding and love for mathematics. Megan is thrilled to join the Stuart community, where she is eager to contribute to the growth and development of young women, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in their academic journeys and beyond.

• Elizabeth Semrod will be covering Middle and Upper School counseling services until Ms. Ezra returns for trimester two. Ms. Semrod has been in private practice as a clinical social worker for the last nine years. In addition, she has worked for Trinity Counseling Services, Penn Medicine, The Lawrenceville School, and Johnson Park Elementary School.

• Judy Springer has been in the Development Office at Stuart since 2024. Judy is a founding parent of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart (Gavin '08) and has spent the last 20+ years employed there in Development, Admission and in the Office of the Head of School. Judy is a sustaining member of the Jr. League of Greater Princeton, where she enjoyed making friends and contributing to fundraising efforts of designer showhouses. Judy studied marketing and French at the University of Delaware and spent her junior year of college in France. Judy likes the beach, cooking, sewing, gardening, yoga, pilates and enjoys a little bit of golf. Fun fact, Judy and her family have visited in person the Mater Admirabilis in Rome. She and her husband Bob raised two young men, Christopher of West Palm Beach, FL and Gavin of Lawrenceville, NJ.