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2006-2007 Fellow Profiles
Margaret Ranny Bledsoe
Margaret brings to the Boston Principal Fellowship five years of experience as an educator in the Boston Public Schools and eighteen years of experience in higher education. For the past two years, Margaret has served as a Mathematics Coach. In this role, Margaret has worked closely with school leaders at several Boston middle and high schools to support classroom teachers in improving their instructional practices. Prior to serving as a coach, Margaret served as an 8th Grade Mathematics Teacher at the Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Dorchester. Over the course of her tenure at BPS, Margaret has assumed substantial leadership roles in schools including coordinating grade level and school- wide professional development workshops that support implementation of the district's mathematics initiatives, facilitating instructional leadership team meetings, and mentoring new teachers. Margaret also lived and worked in Venezuela for ten years. Margaret earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Mathematics from the University of Louisville - Kentucky, and a Masters and Ph.D. in Mathematics from New York University.
Derrick Ciesla
Derrick brings to the Boston Principal Fellowship five years of elementary classroom teaching experience. Derrick started his career as a teacher at the Renaissance Charter School in Boston. For the past two years Derrick has served as a teacher at the Michael J. Perkins Elementary School in South Boston. At the Perkins, Derrick has exhibited strong teacher leadership skills by serving as an active member of the school's Instructional Leadership Team and working with family and community members to support his students, both academically and socially. Derrick earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing and is completing a Masters degree in Special Education at Northeastern University.
Bettie Fordham-Nolan
Bettie brings to the Boston Principal Fellowship over twelve years of strong administrative experience developed through her work in schools and community-based health education initiatives, both locally and internationally. Most recently, Bettie has served as a school nurse working at both Charlestown High School and Boston Day and Evening Academy. At Charlestown High School, Bettie is an integral member of the school's administrative team, developing school-wide programs and professional development opportunities that address student, parent, and staff needs. Prior to working in the Boston Public Schools, Bettie served as the Director of the Home Visiting Department at the Martha Eliot Health Center in Boston where she demonstrated leadership that fostered positive health, educational, and economic outcomes for youth and families. Bettie holds a Bachelors degree in Science Nursing and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University.
Vayanda Renee Lewis
Renee brings to the Boston Principal Fellowship nine years of mathematics teaching experience. Renee started her career as a teacher at the Somerville Charter School in Somerville, MA. For the past four years Renee has served as a teacher at the John W. McCormack Middle School in Dorchester. During her tenure at the McCormack, Renee assumed substantial leadership roles including co-founding the school's 8th Grade Academy, serving as a mentor teacher for aspiring teachers in the Boston Teacher Residency and Harvard University Teacher Education programs, and serving on the school's hiring committee, School Site Council, and principal screening committee. Prior to working at the McCormack, Renee served for two years as a teacher at the former Robert G. Shaw Middle School previously located in West Roxbury. Renee earned an Associates degree in Business Administration from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida and a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Catherine MacCuish
Catherine brings to the fellowship two years of experience as an assistant principal at the Home for Little Wanderers' Knight Children's Center, a private special education school located in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. In this capacity, Catherine co-leads a school supporting students identified with emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. During her tenure at the Knight Children's Center, Catherine has provided curriculum support to, and coordinated professional development for teachers that promoted effective instructional practices. Prior to working as an assistant principal, Catherine worked for one year as a lead teacher at the Knight Children's Center and served as a spanish teacher in the Port Jervis City School District in New York for two years. Catherine holds a Bachelors degree in Inclusion Elementary and Special Education from Niagara University in New York and a Masters of Education in Policy, Planning and Administration from Boston University.
Nadine Marcellus
Nadine comes to the fellowship from Peace Games, where she has served for the last four years as Regional Director of the Boston office. In this capacity Nadine is responsible for developing, and overseeing implementation of Peace Games' violence prevention curriculum in a network of six elementary schools in the Boston area. Nadine has exhibited great leadership in her work at Peace Games by overseeing and managing staff supervision, partnership development, and funds management to ensure effective implementation of the Peace Games curriculum across school sites. Over the course of her career as a non-profit leader, Nadine has had experience in various social service sectors including, education, mental health, and the juvenile justice system. Nadine holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Suffolk University.
Rachel G. Skerritt
Rachel began her teaching career in the Boston Public Schools seven years ago at Boston Latin School (BLS). A graduate of BLS, Rachel returned to her high school alma mater after earning her degree in education and is currently teaching 7th, 10th, and 12th grade English. In addition to her teaching duties, Rachel has been a member of the school's Instructional Leadership Team, a cooperating teacher to graduate students engaged in field work, faculty advisor to the student Step Squad, and co-chair of the BLS Faculty Steering Committee for the school's 2005 accreditation visit. Rachel is also a published fiction and nonfiction writer. Rachel holds both a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters in Secondary English Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Jeffrey Slater
Jeff brings to the Boston Principal Fellowship fourteen years of experience as a public school educator. For the past two years, Jeff has served as a Literacy Coach in the Boston Public Schools. In this role, Jeff has worked closely with school leaders at several Boston schools to support classroom teachers in improving their instructional practices. Over the course of his tenure at BPS, Jeff has assumed substantial leadership roles in schools including supporting individual teachers in improving their practice and coordinating school-based professional development workshops that support implementation of district initiatives e.g. Readers and Writers Workshop. Prior to coming to Boston, Jeff served as a literacy coach and teacher in the Harrisburg School District in Pennsylvania. Jeffrey earned a Bachelors degree in Education from Millersville University in Pennsylvania and Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix.