Faculty & Staff Updates

Lower School

Amy Benson
Lower School Math Specialist

Amy joins Park as the Lower School Math Specialist. Amy has an extensive background in supporting math instruction in higher education and in Lower School grades. Most recently, Amy was an affiliate instructor in education at Loyola University and an instructor in psychology at Anne Arundel Community College. Prior to this, Amy was the Assistant Head, and then Lower School Head, at Indian Creek School. Amy holds a B.A. in English from University of Mary Washington in Virginia, an M.A. in Education, Administration, and Supervision from Loyola University, an M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University.

emma Hunt
Third grade homeroom

Emma joins our Lower School as our new third grade homeroom teacher. Emma most recently taught second grade at Baltimore County Public Schools in Towson, and prior to that, she taught first grade at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Hyattsville. Due to the pandemic, Emma has significant experience teaching young students in hybrid settings. Emma has also created math and literacy lessons for first and second grade students. Emma holds a B.A. in History from Tulane University and an M.Ed. in Urban Education from Alvernia University.

elizabeth lewis
kindergarten homeroom

The Kindergarten team welcomes Elizabeth to Park. Elizabeth most recently taught second grade at Commodore John Roger’s Elementary School and first and second grades at Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary School. Elizabeth has worked collaboratively with teachers to create hands-on lessons for first and second grade students. At Park, Elizabeth will work closely with June Bennett to support our youngest learners. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Education: Elementary Education, Special Education from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, and an M.S.Ed. in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN.

brian vaught
lower school physical education

The Physical Education department welcomes Brian to Park! Brian most recently served as the Manager of Athletics, Health & Safety in Baltimore City Public Schools, and as a Middle School Health and Physical Education teacher prior to that. Brian was also previously Director of Athletics at The Odyssey School and at Calvert School. At Park, Brian will partner with Stradine Harris in teaching Lower School Physical Education. Brian holds a B.S. in Health Science from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Athletic Training from West Virginia University.

karla villa
First Grade Homeroom

Karla was most recently an Early Childhood Montessori Guide at Greenspring Montessori, supporting the dual-language mission of the school by delivering lessons in English and Spanish. Prior to that, Karla was a Pre-K teacher at the Bryn Mawr Little School, also working on bilingual curriculum, and has worked as a lead counselor in Park’s summer camps. Karla holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from Universidad Latinoamericana in Mexico, and a Montessori Guide Certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education.

Middle School

Tyler France
Middle School Science

Tyler joins the Middle School as an 8th Grade science teacher and a DEI liaison. Most recently, Tyler was a Middle School Science teacher, DEI Coordinator, and athletic coach at Tuxedo Park School in New York. In these roles, Tyler collaborated, led, and worked with almost all members of the Middle School division at the Tuxedo Park School. Prior to this, Tyler was a Grade K-VIII Apprentice at the Shady Hill School Teacher Training Center (TTC). Tyler holds a B.A. in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, and a Massachusetts Initial Licensure in Middle School Science from Shady Hill TTC.

Tucker snow
Middle and Upper School Counselor

Tucker is a counselor for our Middle and Upper School students. “My role is to help support all students to be as successful as possible throughout their time at Park, and beyond.” Prior to joining the Park community, Tucker spent five years as a school counselor at The John Carroll School. While there, he was the head men’s volleyball coach for three years. He has also coached lacrosse. Tucker holds a B.A. in Human Rights and Youth Development from Gettysburg College, and an M.S. in School Counseling and Preventative Mental Health from Creighton University.

Upper School

Jessica Bolus
upper school math

Jessica joins our Upper School Math department this fall. Jessica most recently taught integrated math at Meigs Academic Magnet Middle School in Nashville, Tenn., and served on the Metro Nashville Public School Math Textbook Adoption Committee, where she was able to advise the district on the textbook selection. Jessica holds a B.S. in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. in Education Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Carlos Casilla-Nova
upper school music and choral director

The music department welcomes Carlos as our new Upper School Music Teacher and Choral Director. Carlos comes to Park from the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., where he served as Pre-K-12 Performing Arts Department Chair. In this role, Carlos worked closely with the Upper School administration on student sectioning, faculty evaluations, and scope and sequence of the Performing Arts curriculum. Carlos is also the Artistic Director and Senior Honors Choir Conductor for the York County Honors Choirs in York, Pa., supporting and leading singers in the York county district. Carlos holds a Bachelor of Music, Piano, and Vocal Performance from William Carey University and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. 

Karima Hana-Meksem
upper school french

Karima joins the Upper School modern language department this fall as a French teacher. She was most recently an adjunct faculty at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, teaching French Language and Francophone Culture courses in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Prior to that, Karima was an ESL/French Bilingual Teacher at Edison Middle School in Champaign, Illinois. Karima holds a Licence & Maitrise Sciences de L’Education from Sorbonne Universite in Paris, an M.A. in Foreign Languages & Literature – French, and a Ph.D. in Education, both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. 

EDWARD JURKOWITZ
UPPER SCHOOL MATH

Ed joins us as an Upper School math teacher. Ed has spent most of his teaching career in higher ed institutions, teaching history and philosophy of science, calculus, physics, and astronomy. Most recently, Ed taught physics and math at Cape Cod Academy. Ed holds a B.A. in Physics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the Institute for History & Philosophy of Science & Technology at University of Toronto. 

Bowen Kelley
upper school history

Bowen joins our Upper School history department this fall, also serving as an Upper School DEI liaison. Most recently, Bowen was a history teacher at The Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, teaching four sections of 9th Grade World History and one section of a Media Studies-meets-African History 11th/12th Grade elective, “Africa Through the Lens.” At Packer, Bowen also co-designed and co-facilitated the “White Educators for Racial Equity” affinity group. Bowen has also taught at the African Leadership Academy in South Africa and Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. Bowen holds a B.A. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in African Studies and French, and a Master’s in Teaching and Teacher Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

emily pan
upper school science

The Upper School science department welcomes Emily as our new physics teacher. Emily is moving to Baltimore from Beijing, China, where she taught 10th-12th Grade physics using project based learning. Prior to becoming an educator, Emily worked in the medical physics field both in China and in the United States. Emily holds a B.S. in Physics Education from Nanjing Normal University, in Nanjing, China, and an M.S. in Medical Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Tucker snow
Middle and Upper School Counselor

Tucker is a counselor for our Middle and Upper School students. “My role is to help support all students to be as successful as possible throughout their time at Park, and beyond.” Prior to joining the Park community, Tucker spent five years as a school counselor at The John Carroll School. While there, he was the head men’s volleyball coach for three years. He has also coached lacrosse. Tucker holds a B.A. in Human Rights and Youth Development from Gettysburg College, and an M.S. in School Counseling and Preventative Mental Health from Creighton University.

jonah steiss
upper school spanish

Jonah joins our Upper School modern language department as a Spanish teacher this fall. Jonah is currently leaving Brookline, Mass., where he taught Upper School Spanish at Dexter Southfield School. He also taught a section of public speaking and coached varsity and junior varsity lacrosse. Jonah is eager to continue growing as a teacher and collaborating with creative colleagues. Jonah holds a B.A. in Secondary Education, Hispanic Studies and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Boston College.

Melanie Weiskopf ’15
upper school history

A graduate with the Class of 2015, Melanie returns to Park as a one-year leave replacement in the Upper School history department. Most recently, Melanie taught history at Oldfields School, creating curriculum for U.S. History, Geography, and Current Events. Melanie also volunteered her time for the American Prison Writing Archive at Hamilton College, transcribing and archiving hundreds of letters written about the poor treatment and exposure to COVID-19. Melanie holds a B.A. in Political and Social Thought from the University of Virginia.

KeShawn Williams
upper school science

KeShawn joins our Upper School science department as our new biology and chemistry teacher. Most recently, KeShawn taught biology and chemistry at Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans, creating hands-on and innovative labs for his students. Prior to Warren Easton, KeShawn taught chemistry at Epic Academy and physics at Urban Prep Academy for Young Men, both in Chicago. KeShawn holds a B.S. in Biology from Morehouse College and is currently working towards his M.S. in Secondary Education at Saint Joseph’s University.