Teacher Features 2020

After growing up in Milton and attending both Clark University and UMass Boston, French teacher Alexander Craven went on to teach in France and in other parts of Massachusetts. Craven is happy to be teaching in Brookline, partially due to his “ultimate dream” of finally being able to commute by train. Did you like high school? I think it was around high school when I realized I wanted to be a...

Devina Sakaria is a long-term substitute for a 9th grade Responding to Literature class. Originally from California, she traveled to Brookline to work as a substitute before settling into Brookline High. In her spare time, Sakaria enjoys picnicking, going on walks, and playing with her family dogs. Do you have any childhood memories that you specifically remember or like thinking about? I had...

Dean Putnam is a French teacher at the high school. He speaks Arabic, is a devoted Steelers fan, and is an army veteran. He is fond of “bad guy” characters in his beloved dark TV shows and books. He loves the diversity of Brookline High and hopes to make classes fun for his students. What made you want to become a French teacher? Languages always came quickly to me and it's something that h...

Danielle Theissen, originally from New York, teaches statistics and Trig and Analysis. Prior to coming to the high school, Theissen worked at Lowell Catholic High School and Redding Memorial High School. Did you always know that you wanted to go into math? It was definitely one subject that I really enjoyed in school, but I had to put in a ton of work to do well. I feel like knowing that it can some...

Betsy Davis is a French teacher and the high school’s International Student Advisor. Davis is trying a plethora of new Zoom activities this year, and she has prepared to adapt to the stress and other difficulties surrounding distance learning. Davis enjoys watching her students grow as learners and as a community. What do you like most about teaching French? Helping the students progress and be ...

Substitute English teacher Ben Sherak loves to produce music, play piano, volunteer and play baseball. As a lifelong lover of English, he has been writing poetry since 6th grade. During the pandemic, Sherak started a movie analysis club with a group of fellow Brookline High School graduates. Some of his most beloved films include “Rookie Bookie” and “Vertigo” by Alfred Hitchcock. His favorite...

Elena Cruz-Lopez has been a Spanish teacher at Brookline High School since 2018. Originally from Spain, she taught English in Madrid for 10 years before teaching Spanish in the United States. She enjoys reading, cooking, and going out with friends. Outside of teaching, do you have any hobbies or things you like to do for fun? Going to the beach for me is my favorite activity. I am from the so...

Heather Crossen is a new special education teacher at the high school. She works in the 9th grade Learning Center and provides reading services to all grades. Crossen started her career in special education by working first at the Landmark School on the North Shore and then at Driscoll. She has been in the field since 1997. Crossen enjoys building relationships with students and helping them overcome...

Liza Martiniello is a traveler, cat owner, outdoors lover and a special ed teacher at Brookline High School. After years of working with elementary students as a speech pathologist, she found her place at the high school, where she advocates for her students. First off, what do you teach? I am one of four educational team facilitators for the special education department. I am a full advocate ...

Adam Fried is a freshman math teacher who has worked at the high school for eight years. He grew up in Lexington and continues to live in the Boston area. He majored in math in college at first, but then switched his major to art history. During quarantine, his favorite activity has been playing social deception games, like Among Us, with his friends. He has also been playing through every game on...

Wellness Coordinator Carlyn Uyenoyama has been a health and fitness educator for 27 years. She has worked at the Lawrence School, the high school, and in parts of Europe. Uyenoyama was the captain of her sailing team at Boston University and was previously the coach of the high school sailing team. She loves trail running with her family and ran at Nationals in the Masters race for cross country. As...

Stephanie McAllister is a ninth grade world history teacher. In her life outside of school, McAllister keeps busy with her kids and garden. She loves to be outside, especially with her dog. Why did you choose to become a history teacher? I started as an English teacher, but I enjoy thinking about civilizations and cultures, which teaching history has helped me explore. I am particularly interested in th...

Gisela Iribarren-Lopez is a new psychologist at the high school. She was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in various locations throughout the United States. Iribarren-Lopez enjoys drawing comics, listening to jazz and learning to play the harp. She looks forward to helping students overcome their struggles and problems during their time at the high school. Where did you grow up? I was born in Puer...

Old Lincoln School Secretary Mona Saltalamacchia is a proud mother of three children and a passionate member of her community in Dedham. In her free time, Saltalamacchia enjoys barbecuing with her family, playing softball, and walking in Millennium Field in West Roxbury. She grew up in Brookline and went to Brookline High for all four years of high school. Could you describe some of your daily p...

Kathleen Bernier has been at the high school since 2016 as a paraprofessional teacher in the RISE Program, where students with autism or similar disabilities can interact with their peers. As a lover of inclusivity, Bernier knew Special Education was the path for her as soon as she began working as a substitute teacher in the RISE Program. Now, Bernier has her very own class at the high school. Why is ...

Betty Strong is a math teacher at Old Lincoln School. She was born and raised in New Hampshire and attended the University of New Hampshire. She worked in the corporate world before becoming a teacher, and she has been at BHS for 21 years. Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? No. I majored in math and economics in college, and my first jobs were more around data, statistics and analysis for...

While new history teacher in the Alternative Choices in Education (ACE) program Laura Honeywood originally didn’t believe she wanted to teach, she has since found her passion in education. Honeywood says that her favorite part of her work can be captured through the Yiddish word “naches,” which means the pride you feel when someone you’ve taught does something well. Honeywood is excited to...

Yoko Yasuhara is a new Japanese teacher at Brookline High School. Yasuhara works part-time at the high school and part-time at a Japanese language school in Boston. Yasuhara enjoys several different hobbies including quilting, baking, cooking and different outdoor activities. Yasuhara is very enthusiastic about teaching and sees it as her way of contributing to society. Sharing, exchanging new...

Former engineer and video game enthusiast, Imad Abselem is currently an Algebra II teacher at the high school. Prior to Brookline, he has taught in the Boston Public Schools, New Mission High School and TechBoston Academy. When he’s not grading tests, he loves riding his motorcycle and playing Ghost of Tsushima on his PS4. Why did you want to get into teaching? When I left college, I didn't go into...

School Within a School (SWS) history teacher Jen Martin is taking on a new role this school year as the Interim Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator. In addition to running Student Government and the Whipple Writing Fellowship, Martin is an avid knitter and listener of murder podcasts. Her house is like a zoo, with a blind dog, another dog, two cats and a hermit crab named Beyoncé. Are you enj...

Born and raised in Milton, Mass., Richkaard Verrier is going into his fourth year as the in-school suspension coordinator and his first year as the freshman boys’ soccer coach at the high school. Verrier is a die-hard Real Madrid fan and loves to play soccer and basketball. He also enjoys spending time by Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire. Could you tell me a little bit about your position at the ...

Kathy Hitchcock is a businesswoman turned math teacher who has taught for 18 years. She enjoys gardening and has race-walked multiple marathons. What inspired you to become a teacher? Even though I’ve been around a long time, I’m also a mid-career changer. I actually was in business for 18 years, plus I have an MBA. I was getting really tired and really bored of it. I didn’t see what the poi...

As a current graduate student who works in the Bridge Alliance Program, helps run the Learning Center and teaches 10th and 11th grade English, Kathleen Lowe is “definitely always busy.” She grew up in Pembroke, Mass. with her three siblings and attended Merrimack College before coming to Brookline in September of 2018. In her free time she enjoys baking, going on runs and spending time with friends...

John Ortiz is a first year social worker at Brookline High School. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Ortiz enjoys most sports-related activities, old-school hip hop and watching the Yankees. What was your education experience like? I ended up not going to school for three years in a row because I had too many distracting stressors outside of school, including inside my house and in my neighborho...

Kelle Griffin is a Career & Technical Education (CTE) teacher at the high school. She grew up in Brookline, attended the Lawrence School, and now lives in Cambridge. As a former English teacher, she likes to read in her free time. She also enjoys yoga, cooking and dining out. Over the summer, she participated in professional development and travelled to Vermont. Are there any memories that stand o...

Loring Greene grew up in California and graduated from Medford High School. He started his new job with the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) just 10 days before schools closed down in March. Outside of school, Greene loves running and martial arts. Why did you decide to start working at the Brookline Public Schools? I originally got recruited to work as a paraprofession...

Eric Colburn is an English teacher. He has been working at the high school since 2001 and is an alum. Some of his favorite things about BHS are the open and caring and humane atmosphere, the freedom for both teachers and students, and the real attention to people as people. What would you say is the biggest change online school has created? The hardest thing for me is not being able to see peop...