Our Academic Program.
TSS believes that learning happens best and students progress faster in small groups. This approach enables teachers to tailor instruction at our independent school to the individual learning needs of each child while focusing on the strengths he or she brings to the classroom. Students who are elementary and middle school aged challenged with dyslexia, ADHD, auditory processing disorders, and other language-based learning differences can in time successfully transition to more traditional programs that fits his or her needs.
Students come to TSS to unlock their full potential. Instead of a one-size-fits-all philosophy, we focus on understanding how each student learns best. Then, into every classroom and every co-curricular activity, our expert faculty integrate literacy and executive function strategies that are grounded in scientific and educational research.
With a 4:1 student-to-faculty ration, there is no failure here because we focus on strengths as a foundation for learning. Our faculty are passionate about educating students with learning disabilities.
Each TSS student has the following academic programming every day.
Academic Programming
- Tutorial
- Writing
- Math
- Social Studies & Science Class
- Literature for Lower School Students, Grades 2-5
- Humanities for Upper School Students, Grades 6-8
- Our Approach to Executive Functions
Tutorial
Writing
Math
Social Studies & Science Class
Literature for Lower School Students, Grades 2-5
Humanities for Upper School Students, Grades 6-8
Our Approach to Executive Functions
Our Faculty.
We only use pedagogical approaches that are grounded in scientific and educational research. All faculty at The Southport School are trained in structured literacy instruction.
All TSS faculty have undertaken, at minimum, the Classroom Educator coursework and through faculty mentorship. All reading instructors have received Classroom Educator training and/or certification from the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE), or are working towards or have received Associate Level certification.
Additionally, all reading teachers receive ongoing training and supervision from our on-site Orton-Gillingham Fellow. They are also trained in Lindamood-Bell’s Visualizing and Verbalizing Method® for Language Comprehension and Thinking.
Teaching Faculty |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Education |
Years at TSS |
Years In Profession |
|||
Aline Anderson | Teacher |
|
4 | 9 | |
Kari Anderson | Teacher |
|
|
2 | 27 |
Stacey Angelico | Teacher |
|
18 | 18 | |
Megan Aversano | Teacher |
|
25 | 25 | |
Justin Behn | Teacher |
|
14 | 14 | |
Karin Bowman | Teacher |
|
10 | 27 | |
Melissa Brown | Teacher |
|
24 | 24 | |
James Bruce | Teacher |
|
8 | 12 | |
Julia Cascio | Teacher |
|
5 | 5 | |
Tricia Ciminera
|
Teacher
|
|
|
3 | 23 |
Theresa Collins |
Director, Orton-Gillingham Academy Training & Instruction Tutorial Director |
|
10 | 37 | |
Sarah Crupi | Art Director Teacher |
|
10 | 13 | |
Carrie Curtin | Teacher |
|
|||
Brandon DeMunnik |
Teacher |
|
24 | 24 | |
Kristin DuCharme | Teacher |
|
6 | 14 | |
Christine Filep | Teacher |
|
25 | 26 | |
Janine Forry | Teacher Student Advisor |
|
22 | 24 | |
Jeannine M. Gallagher | Teacher |
|
10 | 15 | |
Ashley Halkowicz
|
Teacher |
|
2 | 2 | |
Melanie Higgins | Teacher |
|
23 | 23 | |
Audra Hoag | Teacher Student Advisor |
|
5 | 8 | |
Erin Johnson | Teacher |
|
4 | 4 | |
Meghan LaMonica |
Teacher School Counselor |
|
3 | 7 | |
Genevieve Martinez | Teacher |
|
1 | 4 | |
Catherine Morris | Physical Education Teacher |
|
3 | 33 | |
Taylor Myers | Teacher |
|
9 | 14 | |
Talya Oral | Teacher |
|
5 | 5 | |
Kylie Palmer | Teacher |
|
3 | 3 | |
Julie Papp | Teacher Student Advisor |
|
20 | 25 | |
Joanna Quinn | Mindfulness and Movement Teacher |
|
2 | 6 | |
Shelbey Roy | Teacher |
|
4 | 4 | |
Kim Ruggiero |
Department Head |
|
28 | 28 | |
Marisa Scott | Teacher |
|
6 | 6 | |
Laurie Strazza | Teacher |
|
4 | 9 | |
Cadia Wiley |
Teacher School Counselor Faculty Member |
|
6 | 8 | |
Elizabeth Zobel | Teacher |
|
1 | 30 | |
Administration and Staff |
|||||
Samantha Berg | Director of Student Enrollment Management |
|
10 | 17 | |
Dr. Hallie A. Buckingham |
Associate Head of School for Student Engagement |
|
35 | 35 | |
Julie Ceja | Accounting Manager |
|
1 | 13 | |
Alexis Czeterko |
Project Manager, The Southport CoLAB |
|
1 | 15 | |
Rick Fedeli |
Facilities Support |
5 | |||
Mario Fiallo |
Director of Facilities |
|
24 | 36 | |
Dr. Kathleen Gallagher | Associate Head of School for Administration Student Advisor |
|
30 | 29 | |
Kate Haft |
Director of Development |
|
1 | 14 | |
Jodi Hanna |
Front Office Administrator |
|
3 | 9 | |
Lauren Jones |
School Programs Coordinator |
|
4 | 8 | |
Melissa Kinyon, C.C.C./SLP | Speech-Language Pathologist |
|
13 | 32 | |
Peggy Lewis | Chef |
|
5 | 35 | |
Maggie Macari |
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
|
|
12 | 38 | |
Krissy Moschetta | Office Manager/Advancement Assistant |
|
1 | 3 | |
Sarah Neumann | Executive Assistant to Dr. Benjamin N. Powers |
|
1 | 10 | |
Patty O'Brien |
Database Specialist |
|
1 | 20 | |
Jimmy O'Hara |
Facilities Support |
|
2 | 17 | |
Anna Petruny | Nurse |
|
2 | 2 | |
Sharon Plante | Chief Technology Integrator Student Advisor |
|
20 | 28 | |
Dr. Benjamin N. Powers |
Executive Director, The Southport School
Founder & Executive Director, The Southport CoLAB
Senior Scientist, Haskins Laboratories
Chair of Scientific Symposia, The Dyslexia Foundation
|
|
12 | 25 | |
Christine Restrepo | Marketing & Communications |
|
1 | 25 | |
John Robbins
|
Director of Student Programs
Director of Summer Academic Program Student Advisor Faculty Member
|
|
26 | 26 | |
Jeffrey Ruggiero | Associate Head of School for Academics |
|
33 | 33 | |
Joyce Tracey | Accountant |
|
8 | 15 |