Teacher Features 2022

Rabia Mazhar has been an English, Social Studies, and Science secretary at the high school since March of 2021. Mazhar began her career at an Emergency Vet in Woburn, Massachusetts, before finding her place in administration four years ago. What university did you go to and how was your experience? I graduated from Andover High in 2015 and took a gap year, and then I started at UMass Lowell ...

Social worker and peer leadership co-teacher Charlie Malwitz started working at Brookline High this September after working at an elementary school for his masters program at Simmons University. Malwitz has always been interested in education, but what drew him to social work, specifically, is how he can listen to students’ stories. What does a typical day look like at work? Since I’m new, a lot...

Assistant Director of Educational Equity Haeyoung Koh grew up in Seoul, Korea and moved to Seattle when she was in 4th grade. Koh attended Redmond High School and majored in political science at Scripps College in Claremont, California. She is married and has two kids named Josie and Finn. She enjoys watching Korean dramas, riding her skateboard, and traveling. What was your high school experie...

John Magee is a 10th grade chemistry teacher at the high school. Before his teaching career, Magee was a software developer and part-time musician. In his free time, Magee likes to write original songs that have been played on SiriusXM radio, which can be found on YouTube music or Spotify (see down below). Magee enjoys biking, surfing and has recently taken up snowboarding. How did you find BHS? ...

Esther Bibas grew up attending a small high school in Buffalo. She later moved to Boston to pursue a career as a paraprofessional in the school environment. She previously worked at the Curley School in Boston and is now working as a paraprofessional at Brookline High School. She is excited to pursue this career and continue to expand her horizons. Why did you choose to come to BHS? What did you...

Serena Smith has always been interested in working with kids, which has translated to her working as a paraprofessional in the ExCel program. A Brookline native, she attended the Florida Ruffin Ridley School in Coolidge Corner and, subsequently, Brookline High School as a member of the METCO program. Outside of her work at the high school, she particularly enjoys spending time with her dog, Leo, and...

Arika Nabutoksky teaches Legal Studies, Backstage Power Tools and Drama II at the high school. Most of her time outside the theater is spent on the playground with her son. Nabutoksky is also a painter, designer, director, secret cake decorator and an Aaron Sorkin fan. What inspired you to become a performing arts teacher? I had a rough childhood, and I was in really bad shape. What saved me wa...

As a new psychologist at the high school, Samantha Melaragno takes pride in shaping a collaborative, nurturing environment for students who need support. She was born and raised in Smithfield, Rhode Island and studied school psychology at the University of Massachusetts- Boston. When she’s not working, you can find her binge-watching television, going to concerts or hanging out with her puppy, Koda. What are you...

Reaching for Independence Through Structured Education (RISE) teacher Lea Luniewicz loves connecting with her students and giving them the tools they need to express themselves. Luniewicz minored in Special Education in college and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree. What made you want to work in special education? I always approached school differently and when I was growing up, stud...

Digital Video Production and Drawing Foundations teacher Anamary Levasseur is a multimedia artist and fluent German speaker. She lives with her husband and two kids: a five year old who’s just starting to draw digits on hands and a two year old who’s starting to scribble. She loves exploring human relationships through art and sees art as a therapeutic practice. Where are you coming from? W...

David Rubino teaches Japanese II and Japanese II Honors. Before becoming a teacher at the high school, he tutored students learning for 10 years and later taught elementary school English in Japan. His favorite ice cream flavors are mint chocolate chip and ginger. In his free time he likes reading, hiking and playing video games. Tell me a little bit about where you’re from and where you grew up...

Joanna Khalil is a 10th grade chemistry teacher at the high school. Previously, Khalil taught in both Texas, and Jamaica Plain Massachusetts. Khalil enjoys doing outdoor activities and spending time with family. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I like doing martial arts, I like drawing, I like reading and I like traveling with my family. I just got my second degree black belt in Ta...

Janet Kelley joins the high school staff this year as a 10th and 12th grade English teacher. Kelley previously taught in the Boston area and Indiana. In her free time, Kelley enjoys running, playing the ukulele and reading. Where were you before working at the high school? Before coming to Boston, I lived in Indiana where I was trained and certified to teach. I worked at Penn High School, whi...

Yuki Nishizawa works in special education at the Bridge Program, an alternative learning classroom for students with special needs. She grew up in Tokyo, Japan, where she was classmates with many Olympic athletes. She has been in the Boston area since 2003. Nishizawa enjoys dancing, working out and hanging out with her kids. What got you into special education? There are a few factors. I grew ...

Kaitlin Chau is a counseling intern working with guidance counselor Richard Gorman. Prior to moving to Boston, she lived in San Diego, California, and attended University of California San Diego before attending Boston College for graduate school. In her free time, Chau enjoys reading. What led you to counseling and the high school? I’ve always wanted to be that person in the guidance suite t...

Sabine Strauch is an art teacher at the high school. She earned her BFA in 2019 from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, and received her Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education in 2022 from Tufts University. Strauch creates artwork that responds to current events and focuses on messages of social change. Strauch loves trying new restaurants and playing tennis in her...

Abby Jaynes is a Biology teacher for 11th grade. She was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts and now lives in Jamaica Plain. She went to Florida Ruffin Ridley and graduated from the high school in 2018. Ever since a geology and seismology project she did in the 7th grade, Abby has known since that science is for her. What was your favorite thing about Brookline growing up? First off, [Brookline]...

Wan Wang is a Chinese VI teacher and a new addition to the world language department. Previously, she worked as a Chinese teacher at Pierce and Driscoll for 10 years. Wang likes to travel and cook, and is a big fan of “The Office”. What classes do you teach here at the high school? I teach level VI Chinese, so my students have already passed their AP class, but they want to continue advanci...

Brittany Hyslip is a new dance teacher at the high school this year. She taught for nine years before starting here. At the high school, she seeks to make dance a reflective and mindful practice. How did dancing become a reflective practice for you? When I was younger, I would just learn a new dance performance and then move on. Then when I was in college, I had a ballet professor who made us jour...

Jesse Combs has been a teacher for six years, previously working at a school in Chicago, and now teaches 10th grade Honors Algebra 2 and 11th grade Trigonometry and Analysis at the high school. Combs also has a decorated athletic career: he was a three time All-American runner at the collegiate level and played men's college volleyball. Where are you from, and where did you go to school? I am from southeas...

Catherine Beck has been teaching for 20 years. Beck believes the most valued part of a learning environment is for everyone to feel welcomed and comfortable. She wants the students to be so engaged in what they are learning that time becomes irrelevant. What has been your favorite part of teaching? My favorite part of teaching is meeting the coolest kids ever. I enjoy making connections, fin...

Julie Stubbs began working at the high school this year as a social worker intern while also starting her first year at the Simmons School of Social Work. She was previously a psychology and English teacher for six years. She enjoys hiking, trying new foods and biking. Why did you pursue social work? I've wanted to [do social work] for a long time. I was a psychology and anthropology major. I love pe...