Who We Are
Leadership Team

Dr. Marjorie Castro
Head of School
email: mcastro@villamariaedu.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

Mrs. Eileen Cassidy
Assistant Head of School for Education
email: ecassidy@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Manhattanville College; M.A. from both Fairfield University and Sacred Heart
Certification: Special Education K-12 and Interim Administration

Mr. Stephen Bennhoff
Director of Admissions, Development, Marketing and Communications
email: sbennhoff@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Northwestern University; M.Ed., Harvard University

Mrs. Patricia Fink
Finance Director
email: pfink@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.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
Faculty

Ms. Reem Al-Fikey
Teacher
email: ralfikey@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Helwan University, Egypt; M.A. Southern CT State University;
Certification: Special Education K-12

Ms. Ashley Bernardo
Teacher
email: abernardo@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.S. and M.A. University of CT
Certification: Special Education K-12

Ms. Megan Duncan
Teacher
email: mduncan@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Eastern CT State University; M.A. Sacred Heart University
Certification: Early Childhood Education / Special Education K-3, Elementary Education

Joanne Cordaro
Teacher
email: jcordaro@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.S., Ithaca College; M.A., University of South Florida – St. Petersburg
Certification: Special Education K-12; Elementary Education 1-6

Ms. Rhegan Fisher
Speech Pathologist
email: rfisher@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. University of CT; M.S. Speech Pathology, Sacred Heart University

Mrs. Elizabeth Fontana
Art Teacher
email: efontana@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Fairfield University
Certification: Art PreK-12

Jennifer Friedman
Teacher
email: jfriedman@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.B.A. George Washington Unviersity; M.P.S. Manhattanville College
Certification: Special Education

Joshua Genovese
Physical Education
email: jgenovese@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Southern New Hampshire University; M.S. Mahattanville College
Certification: Physical Education; NASM Personal Trainer

Marilyn Guttman
Teacher
email: mguttman@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. SUNY Oneonta; M.S. Brooklyn College
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education

Jessica Hajj
Teacher
email: jhajj@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.S. Salve Regina University; M.A. Southern CT State University
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education

Mary Hennig
Teacher
email: mhennig@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Queens University, Canada; B.A. University of CT; M.S.W. Fordham University
Certification: LMSW

Jane Kowaleski
Teacher
email: jkowaleski@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.S. Southern CT State University; M.S. College of New Rochelle

Linnette Lodato
Teacher
email: llodato@villamariaedu.org
Degrees:B.A. George Washington University
Certification: Elementary Education

Ms. Victoria Loiacono
Teacher
email: vloiacono@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.S. Elementary Education and Special Education
Certification: Special Education K-12

Ms. Emma Lynch
Teacher
email: elynch@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Loyola University
Certification: Special Education K-12

Jessie Lyons
Teacher
email: jlyons@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A., M.P.S. Mahattanville College
Certification: Literacy; Elementary Education

Carolyn Mullins
Teacher

Ms. Christa Nessel
Teacher
email: cnessel@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A., M.A. Marist College
Certification: Elementary Education; Special Education

Christine Oliver
Counselor
email: coliver@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Marist College; M.A. Fairfield University
Certification: Elementary Education, Special Education, School Counseling

Alexandra Radano-Formisano
Teacher
email: aformisano@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: B.A. Sacred Heart University; M.A. Sacred Heart University
Certification: Special Education and Elementary Education

Maureen Roux
Teacher
email: mroux@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: A.S. Business / Marketing; University of Bridgeport

Ms. Phyllis Wilson
Executive Assistant

Pat Torchen
Receptionist
email: ptorchen@villamariaedu.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@villamariaedu.org
Degrees: M.S.N., A.P.R.N., F.N.P.-B.C. College of New Rochelle
Parents Association
pa@villamariaedu.net
Katherine Sullivan
katcsull@hotmail.com
Treasurer
Natasha Gandhi
maat0101@aol.com
Co-President
Courtney-May Reilly
cmayreilly@gmail.com
Co-President
Trustees
Howard G. Capek
Chair
Michael Boccardi
Vice Chair
Sr. John Ann Proach
Secretary
Sr. Maria Bartos
Treasurer
Sr. Clare Chabot
Lauren Gallagher, PhD
Sr. Rose Jameson
Brian T. Kelley
Carole M. Neysmith
Karolann Patranzino
Gail R. Ryan
Sr. Mary Joseph Tirpak