Amanda Ackers
ackers@dutchessday.org

Amanda joined the DDS faculty in 2006. She is the fourth grade homeroom teacher as well as the eighth grade science teacher. She has also taught science to kindergarten, first, and second graders. Amanda also is the assistant coach for girls’ lacrosse, and a faculty advisor for the Student Leadership Council.

Amanda attended Bloomsburg University where she obtained a Bachelor’s of science in education and SUNY New Paltz where she obtained a Master’s of science in education. Prior to joining the DDS faculty, Amanda taught preschool, third and sixth grade at the public schools in the area and environmental education at Sharpe Reservation.

Diana Besteiro
besteiro@dutchessday.org

Diana joined the DDS faculty in 2008. She is the second grade homeroom teacher.

Diana attended Susquehanna University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and CUNY City College where she obtained her Masters degree in elementary education. Diana began her teaching career in a preschool teaching three and four year olds for several years, then moved to the Chapin school where she taught kindergarten for one year and second grade for two years.

Margaret Dreier
dreier@dutchessday.org

Margaret joined the DDS faculty in 1988. She is the reading and math specialist for the lower school.

Margaret attended Harvard University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

In addition to DDS, Margaret has worked at the Shady Hill School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a Teaching Apprentice for first through third grades. Before serving as the reading and math specialist at DDS, she taught third grade and upper school math.

Emilie Dyson

Emilie is teaching second grade in September through November of 2011, filling in for Diana Bestiero, who is on maternity leave. Emilie taught second grade at DDS from 2006-2008 and is the parent of an alumni. Emilie attended Elmira College and received a master's in education from SUNY New Paltz. She is a state certified reading specialist and founded and runs The Reading Barn, an innovative summer program that offers individualized reading, math and creative writing instruction. Emilie founded the Kids' Expo and serves on the boards of many nonprofit organizations.

Nancy Pelletier
pelletier@dutchessday.org

Nancy joined the DDS faculty in 1994. She teaches first grade teacher, co-coordinates of the ski program and administers the SSAT in November and January.

Nancy attended Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, NJ where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and SUNY New Paltz where she obtained a Master’s degree in education.

Prior to coming to DDS, Nancy worked as a long term sub in many local public elementary schools. She has also taught kindergarten, second grade, first grade and sixth grade writing at DDS.

Sherry Poholchuk
poholchuk@dutchessday.org

Sherry joined the DDS faculty in 1990. She is the third grade teacher.

Sherry attended SUNY Potsdam where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in K-6 education and psychology, and SUNY Albany where she obtained a Master’s degree and has doctorial credits in curriculum planning and development, and evaluation specializing in the gifted and talented.

Prior to coming to DDS, Sherry taught 5th grade, K-6th Science and courses for the gifted and talented at Heuvelton Central School. She also taught classes for K-10th gifted and talented students at Renseleer, Columbia Green BOCES-Gifted. At DDS, Sherry has taught fifth grade, seventh and eighth grade US History, kindergarten through third grade science and kindergarten through eighth grade health. Sherry designed the school’s health curriculum and the lower science curriculum.

Jonathan Shanks

Jonathan joined the DDS faculty in 2011. He teaches computer to first, second and sixth grade, and internet research to fourth and fifth grade. He also teaches first grade science, and assists Mrs. Park in sixth grade writing. Jonathan will be coaching soccer, basketball, and boys lacrosse. Jonathan attended SUNY New Paltz where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in English, and a Master's in English education. Prior to joining DDS, Jonathan taught English, and coached in public schools.

Charlessa Thatcher
thatcher@dutchessday.org

Charlessa joined the DDS faculty in 2007 and has been a DDS parent since 2003. She is the Director of the Lillian Goldman Preschool, and is a Certified Kripalu and Creative Kids yoga teacher.

Charlessa attended Marist College where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and Adelphi University where she obtained her Master’s degree in social work.

Prior to coming to DDS, Charlessa worked with children in a variety of capacities, including administering psychological testing, substance abuse testing and psycho/social assessments. She has provided counseling services to children, parent education programs and was a co-facilitator for a domestic violence weekly support group.

Charlessa has taught yoga since 1993 for all ages, including preschool children and adults. She was the yoga instructor at Spackenkill School district and at the Putnam County Youth Bureau. She has also taught classes on ethics, sexual harassment prevention, honoring diversity, controversial issues, office yoga and nonviolent crisis intervention for Putnam County Government. She was the Director of Putnam Co. Juvenile Diversion Program which serves children ages 12-15 and was a coordinator who aided in obtaining a Federal Grant to establish Parent Awareness Student Success, a program that partnered with all public Middle Schools located in Putnam County to meet the needs of middle school aged children.

Tracey Timson
timson@dutchessday.org

Tracey joined the DDS faculty in 2001. She teaches kindergarten.

Tracey attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario where she graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and attended University College of St. Martin in Lancaster, England where she obtained her Masters degree in early childhood education.

She spent her first four years teaching kindergarten through second grade at Odessa Infant School in London, England. Tracey grew up in Kingston, Ontario and spent four years teaching in London, England before moving to the US.

Georgette Verdier
verdier@dutchessday.org

Georgette joined the DDS faculty in 2000. She is the lower school French teacher.

Georgette attended SUNY New Paltz where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in French and her Master’s degree in education, and Université de Besanccn where she obtained a Diplome D’Etudes Françaises.

Prior to coming to DDS, Georgette taught K- 5 French at Williamstown Elementary School in Williamstown, MA, and French and Spanish levels 1-3 in grades 7-12 in New York State Public Schools.

Trina Whitridge