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Ranney Welcomes New Faculty for 2023-24

Ranney School Head of School Dr. John Griffith announced an impressive group of new faculty who will be joining the dedicated and passionate Ranney faculty this year.  As the school has grown, and especially in areas like STEAM and Business & Entrepreneurship, Ranney has had the wonderful opportunity to expand its faculty.

Mr. Ted Parker is the new Upper School Head. To view the full release, please click here.

Ms. Dana Geroni will serve as the new Upper School school Counselor, replacing Ms. Bander, who has moved to a position much closer to her home. Ms. Geroni comes to the Upper School following thirteen years as a school counselor at Brick Township Memorial High School; she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor with Bachelor's and Master’s degrees from Kean University, and has maintained a private practice in Little Silver. 

Mr. Daniel Lauber is the new Director of International Student Programs. Most recently, Mr. Lauber served as Senior Assistant Director of Admissions for New York University’s Shanghai campus. Previously, he spent three years as a college counselor in China. Mr. Lauber earned his Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and his Bachelor of Arts in Chinese from Georgetown University.
 
Mr. Ruchir Davé joins the Upper School English Department, teaching Grades 9 and 10 this year in the position vacated upon Mr. Felter’s retirement. Mr. Davé is returning home to the U.S. after nearly 20 years teaching abroad. Beginning in 2015, he was a founding English teacher and college counselor at the Shanghai Starrive Bilingual School. Previously, he taught English as a Second Language in Japan. He has a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a Concentration in Speech and Rhetoric from Northeastern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Applied Linguistics from the University of London Institute of Education. 

Mr. Thomas Kelly joins the Upper School Science Department, teaching Honors Biology and Forensic Science as a long-term substitute during Ms. Chelsea Kucharski’s maternity leave. Mr. Kelly, an avid student of zoology and animal behavior, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Ecosystems and Human Impact from the State University of New York, Stony Brook University, during which time he studied abroad at the Université de Fianarantsoa in Madascar and conducted independent research on chameleons.

Mr. Ian Farber '15 returns to the Ranney community in a new capacity as a seventh grade History teacher and advisor, an added faculty position.  Mr. Farber previously taught Middle School History at Success Academy in Bronx, NY.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Gettysburg College and a Master of Arts in Medieval History from the University of Glasgow.  As an alumni, Mr. Farber is very familiar with the journey Ranney Middle School students are currently traveling and looks forward to offering a unique perspective in that regard.       

Mr. Nezam Nikoo joins the Science Department and will teach sixth grade Science.  He will also serve as a sixth grade advisor.  Mr. Nikoo has taught a variety of Science, Engineering, Robotics, Technology, and Math courses to middle and upper school students.  Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Nikoo spent several years working at NASA.  During that time, he designed, tested, and integrated control systems, cameras, and robotic arms for Space Shuttle flights.  Resulting film footage appeared in both the Blue Planet and Destiny in Space IMAX movies.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston, and his teaching certification from Monmouth University.    

Ranney is excited to introduce a new position to the Lower School that advances the school’s commitment to implementing STEAM integration in all grades. Mrs. Janine Mitreuter will be filling the Lower School STEAM Coordinator position, overseeing and developing the Lower School STEAM (including robotics and coding) curriculum scope and sequence.

Ms. Nicole Caldvilla will be joining the Lower School faculty as a fourth grade teacher after teaching at Red Bank Primary School. Most recently she taught at Ranney Summer Institute. Ms. Caldvilla earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from College of New Jersey. 

Mr. Shawn McCorkle, will join the Lower School as a member of the physical education staff. Mr. McCorkle taught in the Monroe Township School District for 12 years. He was drafted in the seventh round in the 1998 MLB Draft to the Seattle Mariners and played for four years. Mr. McCorkle will also serve as the Assistant Athletic Director and the Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Montclair State.

Mrs. Jamie McGuire will be teaching kindergarten for the upcoming school year as the school expands kindergarten to three sections.  Ms. Lara Wolkomir ‘11 will be joining the Lower School faculty as a fifth grade teacher. She is a Ranney School alumni who just completed her 7th year of teaching as a third grade teacher at The Speyer Legacy School. Ms. Wolkomir earned her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s in Education from Lehigh University.

Mr. Bryan Matte will also be joining the fifth grade team, as the grade level will be expanding to three sections. He is completing his third year of teaching at Green Farms Academy and has served as a third grade, fourth grade, and first grade teacher. Mr. Matte earned a Bachelor’s degree at Hamilton College and Master’s in Education from Lesley University. 

Señora Jessica Whitworth will be joining the World Language Department as a Lower School Spanish teacher. She has eight years of teaching experience as a Spanish teacher at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. Señora Whitworth earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. 

Mrs. Peggy Winther will be joining the Lower School faculty as a kindergarten teacher. She has taught for 33 years and has taught kindergarten through sixth grade, most recently teaching at Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College.

Ms. Rebecca Shundler graduated from the Columbia University School of Nursing with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as a dual master’s degree. With over 17 years of experience in nursing, Ms. Shundler will be a wonderful addition to the Health Office. Ms. Dana Diodovico will support the Lower School as an afternoon Administrative Assistant, while Ms. Jacqueline Mattiello will support both Admissions and Athletics as an Administrative Assistant. Karolina Alvarez  joins the Operations Team as an Administrative Assistant. 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.