Welcome, New Faculty & Staff

We are excited to welcome several new faculty and staff members to the Miss Hall’s community and announce new roles as we kick off the 2025-26 academic year — our 128th. We look forward to all of their contributions to a most successful year!

Among the changes are new roles and new additions in the Leonhardt Academic Skills Center and the MHS Admissions Office.

Alice Esteves has been named Director of the Leonhardt Academic Skills Center and is responsible for overseeing the innovative program that provides academic and related support to Miss Hall’s students while also promoting lifelong learning.

Alice joined the MHS ASC in 2022 as a Learning Specialist, offering individualized academic support and coaching for MHS students. Previously, she had worked at Blackstone Valley Prep, in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where she had held middle and high school special education positions since 2014.

Prior to her teaching career, Alice worked for nine years at the Cadmus Lifesharing Association in nearby Great Barrington, living and working with adults with developmental disabilities. She holds a B.A. in History from Brown University, has pursued further study at Brown’s Graduate School of Education, and has done additional coursework in History and Social Sciences at Mount Holyoke College and Yale University.

Available to all MHS students fee-free, the Miss Hall’s ASC provides one-on-one, group, and grade-level support on everything from executive function skills to subject-specific course work and study skills. Any MHS student can drop in for tips and coaching, and more intensive academic support is offered by the School’s team of Learning Specialists. The ASC also supports classroom teachers in their work with students.

Also in the ASC, Learning Specialist Evaguel Rhysing joined Miss Hall’s in January, working with students whose first language is not English. Originally from Puerto Rico, Evaguel brings experience as an educator, volleyball coach, and entrepreneur, having been an instructor in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and mathematics. She is a serial entrepreneur, with more than 8 years of experience in the field of aerospace innovation, having contributed to several initiatives where she currently continues to participate. Evaguel holds a B.S. and M.S. in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Pedras and a B.S. in ESL Education and Linguistics from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Additionally, Kelly Munn, Learning Specialist, joins the ASC with extensive training in executive function (EF) coaching, LD/ADHD strategies, reading remediation, dance, and mindfulness. Kelly was an EF Coach, Mindfulness & Movement Facilitator, and Choreographer at Forman School, in Litchfield Connecticut for thirteen years and held similar roles previously at High Mowing School, in Wilton, New Hampshire, and Marvelwood School, in Kent, Connecticut. Kelly is a Professional Certified Coach, credentialled through the International Coaching Federation, and has a private EF Coaching & Mindfulness practice, partnering with college students and adults in pursuit of their goals. In the summer, Kelly loves teaching creative movement and collaborative choreography with the dance company Pilobolus. She holds a B.A. in Drama and Dance from Bard College.

The Miss Hall’s Admissions Office also welcomes two new team members — Associate Director of Admissions Patricia Allen and Associate Director of International Admissions Jabari Smith.

Patricia comes to MHS from Tilting Futures (originally Global Citizen Year), a California-based nonprofit dedicated to experiential learning and leadership development for young people, equipping them with the skills and networks to create lasting global change. She had been Tilting Futures’ Director of Admissions and Director of Admissions & Enrollment since 2021. Previously, Patricia had worked since 2014 in the Admissions Office at Smith College, holding multiple roles, including Senior Assistant Director of Admission and Assistant Director of Admission. At MHS, she will work with prospective students and families from New England and New York. Patricia holds a B.A., with a double major in Psychology and Studio Art, from Smith.

Jabari comes to MHS with more than 15 years of intercultural leadership experience, having lived and worked across 6 continents. A global citizen and native of New Orleans, Jabari held previous roles with Sankofa Community Development Corporation in his hometown, the Center for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) in Tokyo, Spelman College's SMASH Academy in Atlanta, the U.S. Embassy of Ljubljana in Slovenia, WorldChicago in Chicago, and Africa Community Development Media in Nairobi. In 2010, he founded Jabari Inspires, providing motivational talks, leadership workshops, and seminars promoting inclusion, intercultural awareness, and personal development. At MHS, Jabari will work with prospective international students and families. He holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University.

Also new to MHS:

Moira Anderson joins MHS as a Chemistry Teacher, coming to the School from Kimball Union Academy, in Meriden, New Hampshire, where she was a Science Faculty member, Coach, and Dorm Parent. Moira previously held similar roles at Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall School, in Waltham, Massachusetts. She also previously served four summers as a Teacher, Dorm Parent, and Dorm Head with the Cushing Academy Summer Session, in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and she has experience coaching lacrosse and basketball. Moira holds a Master of Education, with concentration in Learning & Instruction, from Northeastern University, and a B.A. in Art History and Chemistry from Smith College, where she played four years of varsity lacrosse.

Persaram Batra, Ph.D., Math & Chemistry Teacher, brings more than fifteen years of teaching experience at the secondary school and collegiate levels, most recently with the Gateway Regional School District, in nearby Huntington, where he had worked since 2017 as a Chemistry/Math Teacher. Previously, Persa was a Math Fellow and Math Teacher with Springfield Public Schools, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and, for six years, was a Visiting Assistant Professor and Lecturer with the Department of Earth and Environment at Mount Holyoke College. He holds a Ph.D. in Geosciences from Pennsylvania State University, and a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Cultural History, both from the University of Maryland.

Natanya Bittman joined Miss Hall’s in May as Executive Assistant to Head of School Julia Heaton. Natanya previously worked 11 years at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in nearby Stockbridge, where she held multiple roles, including Program Manager, Academic Coordinator, and Executive Assistant to the CEO and Donor Relations Specialist. Natanya previously held roles as an Executive Assistant with wellness brand KrisCarr.com, as Assistant Director with leadership development nonprofit WholeHeart, Inc., and as a Career Advisor at Bennington College. She earned an M.A. in Consciousness Studies and Life Coaching from The Graduate Institute for Holistic Studies and a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Davis.

Kelly Dolan joined the MHS Finance & Operations Team in February 2024 as Interim Accounts Payable Specialist and stepped into the permanent role of Accounts Payable & Student Accounts Specialist in August 2024. Kelly brings more than 30 years of experience in office management, accounts payable, and customer service to the MHS Business Office. She previously held roles as Office Manager for Yarok Plant Based Beauty, in Hudson, N.Y.; Customer Service Representative with Hook and Loom Rug Company, in Pittsfield, and Country Curtains, in Lee; and 11 years as Office Manager with Oraceutical, also in Lee. Kelly holds a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Madeline Fralia, Associate Director of DE&I and Horizons Coordinator, joins MHS from the City of Little Rock Mayor’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she was Community Mapping and Outreach Researcher. From Natchitoches, Louisiana, Madeline previously held positions with Race Equality First, which challenges discrimination in Wales and the United Kingdom, as Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Researcher at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, also in Little Rock, and with AmeriCorps VISTA in Tucson, Arizona. Madeline holds a Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a B.A. in Global Comparative Studies from Birmingham-Southern College.

Victoria Hua joins MHS as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Teacher, bringing more than eight years of experience working with students whose primary language is not English. Most recently, Victoria was a Mandarin/Japanese/ESL Instructor at the San Jose Learning Center, in Santa Clara, California. Previously, she was a Middle School Chinese Language Teacher in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and from 2014 to 2019, Senior English Instructor at the ESL English Language Center, in Cupertino, California. Victoria holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Foreign Languages from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (a graduate school of Middlebury College) and a B.A. in Japanese Language from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.

LJ Lawrence is the new Manager of Athletics, adding to his role in the MHS Athletics Department, where he also coaches varsity basketball. In this added role, LJ will work closely with Director of Athletics Dr. Katrina Hall to perform administrative and logistical duties for practices and games; capture and develop content to promote the MHS Athletics program; work directly with student sports managers to ensure their respective teams are sufficiently supported; and oversee events such as athletics awards, senior awards, athletics banquets, and Blue/Gold Field Day. A freelance software developer, LJ brings extensive athletics experience to MHS. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Bates College, where he was Player/Captain of the rugby team.

Stephanie Masters, Spanish Teacher, brings nearly two decades of experience in teaching and professional development. Since 2014, Stephanie has been a Spanish/French Teacher at Gilford Middle School in Gilford, New Hampshire, where she was a New Hampshire Teacher of the Year finalist in 2018. Stephanie has also held previous roles as a Division Leader for Arts and Humanities with the Monadnock Regional School District in NH, and as a Resource Teacher for Staff Development, and World Languages Teacher Mentor with Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland. She holds an M.Ed. in Leadership in Teaching from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and a B.A. in Spanish from Bates College.

Ashley Wood, R.N., joins the MHS Health and Wellness Center as a school nurse, coming to Miss Hall’s from Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York, where she has worked since August 2022 as a Labor and Delivery/Postpartum Registered Nurse. Previously, Ashley was a Certified Nursing Assistant at The Wesley Community, a senior community and care facility in Saratoga Springs, New York. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing.

Also joining MHS since our last update:

• Abriana Card, Campus Safety

• Elizabeth Conkey, R.N., School Nurse (per diem)

• Tom Dahl, Driver

• Ravi Dangi, Sous Chef

• Samuel Halla, Cook

• Megan Patton, Cross-Country Coach

• Sophia Santiago, Cook