Amanda Ackers
ackers@dutchessday.org

Amanda joined the DDS faculty in 2006. She teaches science to kindergarten, first, second, fourth and eighth graders, is the assistant coach for JV soccer and 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. Outside of school you may see Amanda hiking through the woods with her camera or out on the golf course hoping for a hole in one (or at least par!).

Diana Besteiro
besteiro@dutchessday.org

Diana joined the DDS faculty in 2008. She is the second grade homeroom teacher and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee.

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. Diana was born and raised in Bayville, a small village on Long Island. Last February she moved from New York City to the Town of Newburgh where she lives with her husband, Frank and their puppy.

Barbara Liebowitz Bettigole
bettigole@dutchessday.org

Barbara joined the DDS faculty in 1997. She is the lower school head and fourth grade teacher. In addition to these positions, Barbara is co-chair of the school’s Sustainability Committee.

Barbara attended Yale University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in American history, and Sarah Lawrence College where she obtained a Master’s degree in the art of teaching. While she was a student at Yale, Barbara played varsity basketball for four years.

Prior to taking on her present positions, Barbara taught second grade and was the reading room teacher. In the past she has coached the school’s basketball and tennis teams. Barbara’s interests include ultimate Frisbee, platform tennis, tennis, hiking, finding remote swimming holes, biking and reading by fireplaces.

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, MA 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.

Margaret grew up in New York City and Clinton Corners.

Donna Fedele
dfedele@dutchessday.org

Donna joined the DDS faculty in 2008. She is the assistant kindergarten teacher and the physical education teacher for preschool and Kindergarten. She is also coaches the school’s field hockey team.

Donna attended Colgate University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in history and educational studies.

Donna is a DDS Alum, graduating in 2000. She has lived in Millbrook all her life.

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.

Nancy grew up in Fairfield, New Jersey and spent many weekends in the Catskills. She is married with three children and lives in Pine Plains.

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 at 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.

Sherry was born in Oklahoma City where her father worked for the government. Throughout her childhood, her family moved to various places including a two year stint in Puerto Rico. After she married, she moved to Dutchess County from Albany. Sherry currently has two children who attend DDS.

Laurie Schoch

schoch@dutchessday.org
Laurie joined the DDS faculty in 1995. She teaches physical education for first through fourth, sixth and eighth grades, and coaches varsity volleyball and girls’ lacrosse. In addition, Laurie is an eighth grade homeroom teacher and an advisor. In the past she coached the school’s field hockey team and served as the athletic director.

Laurie attended SUNY Brockport where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and a teacher certification for K-12. She also was enrolled at East Stroudsburg University where she studied sports management and sports medicine.

Prior to coming to DDS, Laurie taught preschool through eighth grade physical education at St. George’s School in Poughkeepsie, and taught kindergarten through sixth grade physical education at St. Mary’s School in Poughkeepsie. She has coached Volleyball at Spackenkill High School and Van Wyck Jr. High School, and coached basketball at Van Wyck Jr. High.

In her free time, Laurie enjoys numerous outdoor activities, such as gardening, geo-coaching, SCUBA diving, softball, rollerblading, mountain biking, skiing and volleyball. She is an avid reader and animal-lover.

Charlessa Thatcher
thatcher@dutchessday.org

Charlessa joined the DDS faculty in 2007 and has been a DDS parent since 2003. She is the Co-Director of the Lillian Goldman Preschool, and is a Certified Kripalu and Creative Kids yoga teacher and provides instruction to preschoolers and seventh graders. Charlessa is also on the Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the faculty support task force.

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.

Charlessa grew up in Hyde Park and was married in Key West, Florida. She has two children, Jasmine in fourth grade at DDS, and Jaylen, a DDS preschooler.

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. She is married with two children, a daughter in first grade at DDS, and son entering Kindergarten at DDS in September.

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.

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