Williston is pleased to welcome four new faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year.
Alexia Ildefonso is a St. Andrews School alum and therefore familiar with independent boarding schools. She graduated from Harvard University this spring with a bachelor’s degree in History of Science. She has experience as a camp counselor, as an RA at St. Andrews, and is a certified EMT. She will be teaching two History classes, coaching 3 seasons, and working in the residential program. Alexia will live in John Wright dorm.
Darlenia Kokoszka has taught Spanish for 12 years including stints at The Kiski School in Pennsylvania, and for the last three years at The Indian Mountain School. She is a native Spanish speaker and graduated from St. Lawrence University with a degree in Spanish and Sociology. She will teach four Spanish classes and work in the afternoon program for two seasons. Darle and her husband Matt and their two sons will live in Mem West.
Science teacher Allison Tucker graduated from Mt. Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Science degree. She was an environmental science major with extensive experience in restoration ecology. She has worked as a private science tutor for the past three years. She will teach eighth grade science and health and will be a Middle School advisor. She will also work in our afternoon program. Allison lives off campus with her husband Taylor.
Learning Specialist Darcy Vogel-Albanese has lived in the Pioneer Valley for more than 20 years with her family, which includes four children who attended Williston. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, a Doctorate of Medical Dentistry from the University of Connecticut (she was a pediatric dentist before becoming an teacher), and Master’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Previously, she served as Head of Middle School and Curriculum Director at the MacDuffie School; taught science; and developed science curricula for English language learners. “As a child, I was encouraged to seek out the curiosities of life,” she said, “and, as a result, I developed a passion for learning. This zeal for learning is something that I hope to instill in my students. As part of the academic support team, I want to help students learn how to learn effectively.”