Meet Our New Staff
Emma Ruel - Teaching Fellow: We’re excited to welcome Emma to our team as a Teaching Fellow. Emma is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education at Endicott College and brings valuable experience from her internships and practicums in Ipswich, Peabody, Beverly, and Duxbury. With a strong background in supporting student learning and a passion for education, Emma will be providing academic intervention to help students thrive. Outside the classroom, Emma is also an enthusiastic volleyball coach who brings teamwork and energy to everything she does. We're thrilled to have her on board!
Katy Corrigan - Teaching Fellow: We’re happy to introduce Katy, who joins us as a Teaching Fellow while completing her Master’s in Education at Endicott College. Katy has gained valuable experience through internships and placements in Rowley, Andover, Beverly, and North Andover. She brings a strong commitment to supporting students and a thoughtful approach to teaching and learning. Katy will be working with students to provide academic intervention, and we’re excited for the care and dedication she brings to our school community!
Kate Reed - Elementary Library Teaching Assistant: We’re thrilled to welcome Kate to the team as our Library Teaching Assistant. Kate brings years of classroom teaching experience from North Reading, where she worked across all elementary grade levels. Last year, she served as a substitute teacher in our district, building strong connections with students and staff. Kate’s deep understanding of teaching and learning, combined with her familiarity with our school community, makes her a wonderful asset to the library and beyond.
Julie Norman - Grade 5 Teacher: Julie Norman joins our school community with 11 years of teaching experience at Roosevelt Elementary School in Melrose, Massachusetts, where she has taught first, second, third, and most recently fourth grade. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive classroom built on respect and dedicated to supporting students’ academic and social-emotional growth. Julie is skilled in differentiating instruction, using data to guide teaching, and collaborating with colleagues and families to create engaging, rigorous learning experiences. She looks forward to inspiring a love of learning in her students and helping them develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to thrive.
Phyllis Cunningham - SAIL TA: Phyllis Cunningham joins our team with a decade of experience working with children with developmental and behavioral challenges, specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Recently, she provided individualized ABA support to children with autism and developmental disabilities, implementing behavior intervention plans and collaborating closely with families and educators to foster growth. Known for her calm, patient, and compassionate approach, Phyllis brings strong interpersonal skills, a heart-centered commitment to education, and a passion for helping students succeed both academically and socially. She is excited to join the SAIL program and begin the training and certification process for her registered behavior technician credential.
Kate Reed - Elementary Library Teaching Assistant: We’re thrilled to welcome Kate to the team as our Library Teaching Assistant. Kate brings years of classroom teaching experience from North Reading, where she worked across all elementary grade levels. Last year, she served as a substitute teacher in our district, building strong connections with students and staff. Kate’s deep understanding of teaching and learning, combined with her familiarity with our school community, makes her a wonderful asset to the library and beyond.
Elizabeth Taylor - Interim Principal: Elizabeth (Betty), who will be joining us for the 2025-2026 school year, retired as principal of Beverly High School in 2023. Subsequently she has served as interim principal for Andover High School and Andover West Middle School. Betty was an English/Theatre Arts teacher for over 28 years. She looks forward to meeting and working with the Manchester Middle School community.
Caitlin Ferris - School Adjustment Counselor: Caitlin will be joining the middle school as our new adjustment counselor. Prior to joining MERMS, she was an adjustment counselor at O’Maley Middle School in Gloucester. She holds degrees from Plymouth State University and Salem State University. We are extremely excited to welcome her to the school community.
Katie Nawfel - Special Education Teacher: Katie is joining the middle school as a new Special Education teacher where she will be the English/History content specialist liaison. She earned degrees from both Eastern Connecticut State University and Southern Connecticut State University. She has previously worked in Arlington Public Schools. She’s excited to get settled in and to work with our students.
Catarina (Rina) Angelou - Main Office Administrative Assistant: Rina joins us as our new main office administrative assistant. Rina has been with MERHS for 7 years as the Academic Center Teacher Assistant. We are so excited to have her in the main office in this new role.
Michael Orie - Math Teacher: Michael Orie comes to MERHS with several years of experience teaching math on the north shore. Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him, and will round out our fantastic math department. Michael has been a coach and a familiar face in extracurricular activities throughout his career, and we are happy to have him join our team.
Anjali Bhardwaj - Science Teacher: We are very excited to bring Anjali Bhardwaj onboard as our new science teacher. Anjali has an extensive background in marine biology, and has worked as a teaching fellow for Harvard University, a graduate researcher at Boston University, and a program coordinator for Tufts University.
Isabel Kidwell - Teaching Assistant: Isabel joins the Bridge/Academic Center as our new teaching assistant. Isabel brings experience as a tutor and in private sector, and she is currently enrolled at Endicott College working towards an education degree.
Hannah Duffy - District Speech Pathologist: Speech pathologist and clinical fellow Hannah Duffy will work at both Memorial School and the middle high school this year in covering maternity leaves for Katie Fortier and Alison Howlett. A recent graduate from the Emerson College master’s program in communication sciences and disorders, Hannah brings clinical experience from her work at Cotting School, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Memorial Elementary School.
Andrea Pinner Reczek - Multilingual Learner Teacher: We welcome Andrea as our districtwide Multilingual Learner Teacher and are excited for the experience she brings to our team. She joins us after five years working in this role at Beverly Middle School and Everett High School. During that time she supported students in whole class, small group, and push-in settings while providing ongoing assessments and implementing new curriculum resources. Before she earned her degree in education she received her JD and worked as a Protective Services Investigator.
Elizabeth Schena - Special Education Reading Specialist (Memorial & Essex): Elizabeth joins us in the role of special education reading teacher and as a district MTSS Literacy Specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Moderate Disabilities from the University of Delaware, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University, and is certified as a Reading Specialist with Orton-Gillingham through Gordon College. Her previous experience teaching grades 1, 3, and 5 in an inclusive public-school setting will support her efforts as a Reading Teacher in our IRWL program and a literacy interventionist supporting students in literacy across Memorial and Essex elementary schools.