Who We Are
Leadership Team
Dr. Marjorie Castro
Head of School
email: mcastro@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. Bucknell University;
M.A. and Doctorate Teachers College, Columbia University/Educational Leadership
Certification: Supervision and Administration, Superintendent of Schools, Remedial Reading, Elementary Education
Mr. Stephen Bennhoff
Director of Admissions, Development, Marketing and Communications
email: sbennhoff@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Northwestern University; M.Ed., Harvard University
Mrs. Patricia Fink
Finance Director
email: pfink@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. University of Notre Dame; M.S.M. Villanova University
Sister Carol Ann Nawracaj
Director of Mission Advancement and Alumni Relations
email: scarol@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Alvernia College; M.A. Fairfield University; Certificates from in Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University
Certification: Comprehensive Education Pre K-12, Intermediate Administrator and Supervisor
Joanne Sabato
Chairperson PPT/CSE; Coordinator of Student Assessments and Progress Monitoring/Reporting
email: jsabato@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Lehman College; M.A. Lehman College
Certification: CT State Educator; ASHA Certified (American Speech and Language and Hearing Association); CT Department of Health License in Speech Pathology; Visualizing Verbalizing
Faculty
Ms. Reem Al-Fikey
Teacher
email: ralfikey@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Helwan University, Egypt; M.A. Southern CT State University;
Certification: Special Education K-12
Ms. Ashley Bernardo
Teacher
email: abernardo@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. and M.A. University of CT
Certification: Special Education K-12
Joanne Cordaro
Teacher
email: jcordaro@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S., Ithaca College; M.A., University of South Florida – St. Petersburg
Certification: Special Education K-12; Elementary Education 1-6
Ms. Megan Duncan
Teacher
email: mduncan@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Eastern CT State University; M.A. Sacred Heart University
Certification: Early Childhood Education / Special Education K-3, Elementary Education
Ms. Rhegan Fisher
Speech Pathologist
email: rfisher@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. University of CT; M.S. Speech Pathology, Sacred Heart University
Mrs. Elizabeth Fontana
Art Teacher
email: efontana@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Fairfield University
Certification: Art PreK-12
Jennifer Friedman
Teacher
email: jfriedman@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.B.A. George Washington University; M.P.S. Manhattanville College
Certification: Special Education
Joshua Genovese
Physical Education
email: jgenovese@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Southern New Hampshire University; M.S. Mahattanville College
Certification: Physical Education; NASM Personal Trainer
Marilyn Guttman
Teacher
email: mguttman@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. SUNY Oneonta; M.S. Brooklyn College
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education
Jessica Hajj
Teacher
email: jhajj@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. Salve Regina University; M.A. Southern CT State University
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education
Mary Hennig
Teacher
email: mhennig@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. College of Mount St. Vincent; M.P.S. Mahattanville College
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education
Nancy Kennedy
Social Worker
email: nkennedy@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Queens University, Canada; B.A. University of CT; M.S.W. Fordham University
Certification: LMSW
Jane Kowaleski
Teacher
email: jkowaleski@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. Southern CT State University; M.S. College of New Rochelle
Linnette Lodato
Teacher
email: llodato@villamariaschool.org
Degrees:B.A. George Washington University
Certification: Elementary Education
Ms. Victoria Loiacono
Teacher
email: vloiacono@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. Elementary Education and Special Education
Certification: Special Education K-12
Ms. Emma Lynch
Teacher
email: elynch@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Loyola University
Certification: Special Education K-12
Jessie Lyons
Teacher
email: jlyons@villamariaschool.org
Degrees:B.A. University of CT; M.S. University of Bridgeport; M.S. Fairfield University
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education
Mrs. Kathy Mak
Occupational Therapist
email: kathymak@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. State University of New York at Buffalo; M.S. Columbia University
Certification: Sensory Integration, Interactive Metronome, Therapeutic Listening Program
Carolyn Mullins
Teacher
email: cmullins@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S., New York University; M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University
Certification: General Education/ Special Education 1- 6, Literacy: Birth-12, New York
Elementary Education K- 6; Special Education, K-12, Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts, 1-12, Connecticut
Stephanie Myint
Teacher / Librarian
email: smyint@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A., M.P.S. Mahattanville College
Certification: Literacy; Elementary Education
Ms. Christa Nessel
Teacher
email: cnessel@villamariaschool.org
Degrees:B.A. Manhattanville College; M.A. Southern CT State University
Certification:Elementary Education K – 6 and Special Education K – 12
Pam Nessel
Teacher
email: pnessel@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A., M.A. Marist College
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education
Christine Oliver
Counselor
email: coliver@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Marist College; M.A. Fairfield University
Certification: Elementary Education, Special Education, School Counseling
Alexandra Radano-Formisano
Teacher
email: aformisano@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. Sacred Heart University; M.A. Sacred Heart University
Certification: Special Education and Elementary Education
Maureen Roux
Teacher
email: mroux@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.S. SUNY New Paltz; M.A. Lehman College
Certification: NY and CT State Educator; ASHA American Speech and Language Association Speech and Language Pathologist
Mr. Max Sage-Robison
Teacher
email: msage@villamariaschool.org
Degrees:B.A. University of Hartford
Certification: Special Education K-12; Elementary Education 1-6
Staff
Mrs. Mary Ann Guglielmo
Education Director Assistant
email: mguglielmo@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: A.S. Business / Marketing; University of Bridgeport
Ms. Phyllis Wilson
Executive Assistant
email: pwilson@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. American College, Luzern, Switzerland
Pat Torchen
Receptionist
email: ptorchen@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: B.A. University of Dayton, M.A. Sacred Heart University
Mr. Edward Brakoniecki
Custodian
Mrs. Daniella Brakoniecka
Custodian
Ms. Tracey Trecartin
Nurse
email: ttrecartin@villamariaschool.org
Degrees: M.S.N., A.P.R.N., F.N.P.-B.C. College of New Rochelle
Parents Association
pa@villamariaedu.net
Natasha Gandhi
maat0101@aol.com
Co-President
Courtney-May Reilly
cmayreilly@gmail.com
Co-President
Katherine Sullivan
katcsull@hotmail.com
Treasurer
Trustees
Howard G. Capek
Chair
Michael Boccardi
Vice Chair
Sr. John Ann Proach
Secretary
Sr. Barbara Ann Winnals
Treasurer
Sr. Clare Chabot
Will Hickey
Sr. Rose Jameson
Jenifer Jehn
Brian T. Kelley
Carole M. Neysmith
Karolann Patranzino
Gail R. Ryan
Sr. Mary Joseph Tirpak