English

List of 13 members.

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  Ms. Erin Hennessy 

  Department Chair / MS/US English / MS Diversity and Inclusion Liaison

  Bio

  Erin Hennessy studied art and British literature at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and earned her master’s degree in reading, writing and literacy from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the Kent Place faculty in 2007, and teaches English in the Middle and Upper Schools. Ms. Hennessy is also the Chair of the English Department and the co-director of the Girl’s Leadership Institute. She enjoys teaching with an interdisciplinary approach, embedding social justice principles into her curricula that will ultimately develop strong women leaders.
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  Dr. Amanda L Berry 

  MS English

  Bio

  Amanda Berry, a graduate of Duke University, has a bachelor’s degree in religion and psychology. She also earned a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary with a concentration in the history of interpretation. A poet with a chapbook published by Finishing Line Press and poems in a number of journals, she has been teaching eighth grade English at Kent Place since 2003. Dr. Berry is also grateful to be involved with a variety of service opportunities as the advisor to Community Service in the Middle School.
• 

  Ms. Lisa Cohen 

  US English

  Bio

  Lisa Cohen teaches English to ninth and 12th graders, and develops literacy and writing curricula. She also advises Starboard, the Upper School's student digital publication, and has served as a class advisor for several years. Ms. Cohen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University, and a master's in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ms. Cohen taught the AP and IB English programs in South Florida for nine years, before joining the Kent Place faculty in 2013. She developed the course "Local Literature: Reading and Writing in New York and New Jersey," and she encourages her students to engage critically and passionately with literature and the world around them.
• 

  Ms. Jennifer Dwyer 

  US English

  Bio

  Jennifer Dwyer earned a bachelor’s degree in English and holds a master’s degree in media studies from New School University. Ms. Dwyer spent 11 years teaching literature, film, and writing in Jersey City before coming to Kent Place in 2015. She enjoys teaching English 11/AP Language and Composition and English 12/AP Literature and Composition, and trimester electives including Women's Studies, Women in Literature, and Race in Literature. In alternate years, Ms. Dwyer teaches a course called Media Literacy. In addition to teaching these courses, Ms. Dwyer also enjoys her work as an advisor, eleventh-grade dean, faculty advisor to Community Service Committee, and global trips leader. 
• 

  Mrs. Joanne L Emery 

  PS Learning Specialist & Language Arts Coordinator

  Bio

  Joanne Emery has worked in education for more than forty years as a classroom teacher, learning specialist, and curriculum coordinator. She has a B.A. in English from Douglass College, a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Education from Rutgers University, and has done extensive doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania in Reading, Writing, and Literacy.  She is a member of the Advisory Board at Rutgers University Center for Literacy, the VP of Publications at the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children and is a board member of the New Jersey Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia. Joanne regularly presents her work in educational journals and academic conferences. Her article “Fostering Curiosity and Imagination: Creative Arts in Constructivist Classrooms,” was published in the Journal of the Association of Constructivist Teaching. Joanne is also a published poet, as well as an accomplished artist. Joanne was an original member of Judy Chicago’s Birth Project, and her quilt is on permanent exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. She has exhibited her award-winning photography throughout the United States including the Salmagundi Gallery in New York City and the San Diego Art Institute. Joanne maintains a weekly blog on art, education, and writing in conjunction with Ruth Ayres blogging community, S.O.S. Sharing Our Stories.
• 

  Ms. Amanda Freiler 

  MS English

  Bio

  Amanda Freiler is a graduate of New York University, where she earned a bachelor’s in English and American literature. She earned her master’s in secondary education from Lehigh University. Prior to joining the faculty at Kent Place in 2018, Ms. Freiler spent six years teaching English to girls in grades 6 through 8 at the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, CA, where she found her passion for girls’ education. 
• 

  Ms. Carol F Gordon 

  US English

  Bio

  Joining Kent Place in 2002, Carol Gordon is an Upper School Dean of Students and a teacher of ninth grade English. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in history from DePauw University and her master’s in English from the University of Illinois. After many years in marketing, she fulfilled her dream of teaching high school English by coming to Kent Place and joining the faculty. As Dean, she especially enjoys overseeing clubs and helping students develop their leadership skills. Carol is advisor to the Junior State of America club, where students hone their public speaking skills.
• 

  Ms. Jennifer Hrebin 

  Fourth Grade

  Bio

  Jennifer studied anthropology at Montclair State University and learned to love teaching at the South Street Seaport Museum. After earning an MS in elementary education from Bank Street College, she came to Kent Place School to teach fourth grade in 2007.  She brings her love of history and literature into the classroom, and hopes to empower and inspire all of her students! 
• 

  Ms. Kimberly A Lee 

  US English

  Bio

  Kimberly Lee is a graduate of Rutgers University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English. She also earned a master's in teaching of English language arts from Teachers College, Columbia University. Ms. Lee joined the Kent Place faculty in 2014 and teaches  English 10, several AP Literature and Composition courses, and in the Writing Center. She also advises the Upper School publication club, Windward, APICA, and is the lead teacher in the annual Poetry Out Loud program.
• 

  Mrs. Susan E Mascioli 

  Fifth Grade

  Bio

  Susan Mascioli earned her bachelor’s in English and elementary education at Hofstra University and her master’s in reading, with certification as a reading specialist, from Montclair State University. She taught in public school for 7 years before joining the Kent Place faculty in 2003 as a fourth-grade teacher. Mrs. Mascioli currently teaches English/language arts and social studies as part of the fifth grade team. She is a member of the Primary School Admissions Committee.
• 

  Dr. Aubrey Porterfield 

  US English

  Bio

  Aubrey Porterfield completed a doctorate at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where she studied 20th-century literature through a transnational lens. She also spent time in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as a postdoctoral fellow at Queen’s University, where she researched the effects of 19th-century imperialism and travel writing on the novel. Dr. Porterfield brought her passion for teaching composition and literature to Kent Place in the autumn of 2016. She finds abundant joy and intellectual enrichment in her classroom teaching. Dr. Porterfield works with Kent Place’s tenth-, and twelfth-grade students to develop their analytic thinking, reading, and writing skills. Her courses include English 10, Dramatic Literature, Women's Studies, and Medicine and Literature.
• 

  Ms. Sara Wilson 

  PS Reading Specialist

  Bio

  Sara Wilson has a master’s in special and elementary education from Manhattanville College and earned a certificate of advanced study in reading from MGH Institute of Health Professions. An elementary classroom teacher since 1997, Ms. Wilson joined the Kent Place faculty in 2015 and is the Primary School Reading teacher.
• 

  Dr. Michael Schwartz 

  US English

  Bio

  Michael Schwartz has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and earned his PhD from Brandeis University. His fields are English and American literature with a specialization in romantic and modern fiction and poetry. He taught writing and literature at the college level for more than 20 years before coming to KPS in 2014. He currently teaches English 11 and the following senior electives: Supernatural Literature, The Literature of Creativity, and Advanced Fiction Writing. He is faculty advisor to Baggywrinkle, the Upper School creative writing group, and the Treblemakers, the Upper School a cappella group. Dr. Schwartz also serves as the advisor for the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the affinity group for Jewish students.