New Faculty & Staff
School Year 2015-2016
Danielle (Dani) Baraty - Upper School Math
Dani is a New Jersey native who has taught for the last ten years at the Idyllwild School in
California. At Idyllwild she coordinated the middle school math curriculum as the grade-level chair
and represented the school in the district as the lead mathematics teacher. She has extensive lesson
planning and curriculum development experience and has designed goal-driven lessons for
students. In addition, Dani organized a behavioral database to encourage and reward positive
behavioral choices made by students. Earlier in her career, Dani instructed students in outdoor
programs and led marine classes at the Catalina Island Marine Institute in Avalon, CA.
Dani earned her B.A. from Drew University, where she was a tri-varsity athlete in soccer,
basketball, and softball, and an M.A., in teaching with a specialization in educational technology
from National University.
Cathy Cirrotti - Upper School Science
Cathy was the 2010 Deerfield School Teacher of the Year from the Mountainside School District
and a 2006 Distinguished Teacher of the Year candidate from the NJ Department of Education. In
2013 and 2014 she was a Maitland Simmons Scholar at NJSTA. She comes to Far Hills from the
Deerfield School in Mountainside, NJ, where she taught middle school science, served as a new
teacher mentor, and wrote successful science-related grant proposals that included a $15,000 grant
to develop a greenhouse program at Deerfield. She has been active in assessment and curriculum
writing work as well as programs to develop student achievement both in and out of the classroom.
Last summer Cathy participated in the Next Generation Science Standards Summer Science
Institute.
Cathy has an M.Ed., with a concentration in Biological Science Education from Rutgers. She also
holds a B.A. from Rutgers’ Douglass College, with a major in Biology.
Virginia (Ginny) Confer - M.A.L.L. Specialist
After relocating to Massachusetts in 2003, Ginny returns to Far Hills where she was the language
arts specialist and study skills teacher from 1985-2003. She provided academic support at Lawrence
Academy in Groton, MA, and then was a reading teacher and literacy coach in the
1 Groton-Dunstable Regional Schools. Most recently, Ginny provided private tutoring for students at
Private Tutoring Services in Wellington, FL. A lifelong learner, Ginny earned Special Education
Licensure at Fitchburg State as well as the Massachusetts DESE Professional License in Reading.
Ginny has a Master of Science, Reading Specialist from Wheelock College and a B.A. in Elementary
Education from Hood College.
Kevin Donnelly - Director of Admission and Enrollment Management
Kevin comes to Far Hills from Ranney School in Tinton Falls, NJ, where he increased enrollment
and implemented an online admissions process as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid.
Previously, Kevin served as the Director of Admission at Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, NJ
for eight years. Kevin, who has served on the admissions steering committee for the New Jersey
Association of Independent Schools, is a respected and well-known leader in the field and has
expertise in school governance, operations, and management as well as experience developing and
implementing strategic plans and in marketing and outreach.
Kevin earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Seton Hall University and
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kean University with a B.A. in English/Writing.
Melissa Duprat - Second Grade Teacher
Melissa began her career in 2002 teaching at The Grammar School in Somersville, CT, grades first
through third. Since 2008 Melissa has taught second grade in the Philippines at the International
School Manila where she collaboratively designed and delivered differentiated, center based
learning opportunities, including experience with the inquiry-based Common Ground
Collaborative Curriculum. She is excited to share her creativity, enthusiasm and love for learning
with the second graders at Far Hills.
Melissa has an M.A. with a concentration in Integrating Arts in Instruction and Curriculum from
Lesley University and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology/Elementary Education from
Western New England University.
Lori Fitzgibbon - Chief Financial Officer
Lori comes to Far Hills from Carrollwood Day School in Tampa, FL, where she directed all financial
matters of the school as their CFO. Previously, Lori served as the CFO at Washington Montessori
School in Washington, CT and as the Business Manager at the Wooster School in Danbury, CT.
Lori has extensive experience in budgeting, financial forecasting and reporting, cash management,
2 investment oversight, legal issues and contracts, debt financing, insurance, human resources and
compliance.
Lori holds a B.S. in Business and Economics and an M.B.A., both from Lehigh University. She is
also a Certified Public Accountant.
Brian Junger - Director of Auxiliary Services
Brian returns to Far Hills (he was a P.E. teacher and coach from ‘98-’11) after leaving to wear many
hats while supervising a large afterschool and summer camp program in New York City and
Ramapo County. He was responsible for developing the program, hiring and overseeing staff,
vendor sourcing and contracting vendors, managing facilities, scheduling, and all logistics. Brian’s
love of Far Hills, ebullient personality, and commitment to our Mission will extend the One School
vision into all of our programs including Extended Day, Enrichment, and Summer Camps.
Brian has a B.S. from Springfield College in Movement and Sports Studies.
Dan Kramer - Upper School History
Dan comes to Far Hills from The Wight Foundation, a Newark-based organization that works with
talented, underserved students. Prior to this work he was at The Purnell School in Pottersville, NJ
where he held many jobs including History Department Chair, history teacher, Director of
Athletics, coach, Dean of Residential Life, Technical Theater Assistant Director, and served as an
accreditation team member. As History Department Chair he oversaw all department curriculum,
mentored new department members, planned and facilitated department meetings, and maintained
the department budget. As a history teacher, Dan taught American Law and Justice, America in the
1960s, Model United Nations, Model Congress, and Russian History. He was an instructor of 9th
grade World Cultures and an 11th grade interdisciplinary humanities course focusing on literature,
history and writing.
Dan has an M.Litt. from Drew University and a B.A., from Northeastern University in History.
Peter McBride - Third Grade Teacher
Peter graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2013, earning his Bachelor of
Education in Primary Education. His personal research centered on the self-efficacy of students for
mathematics and the factors which influenced this. He is an accomplished water polo player and was
the British University and College Shield Champion in 2011. Peter has spent the last two years
teaching in Scotland and Northern Ireland. He has worked for three summers at the Rutgers
3 Lindley G. Cook 4-H Summer Camp as a camp counselor, receiving top honors as a counselor his
first year, serving as mentor and role model to other staff members, and returning there this
summer in a supervisory capacity.
Sara Ridder - Library/Media Specialist
Sara entered the School Librarian profession after more than seven years evaluating and marketing
manuscripts in the publishing market and editing texts and training colleagues on technology
systems, online resources and editorial standards in the world of business. She gained her
experience in school libraries assisting the librarians of the Lower and Upper Divisions at Gill St.
Bernard’s School.
Sara holds a M.A. in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University and a B.A. in
American Studies from Hamilton College.
Pamela Rose - Upper School Chinese
After living in Taiwan for six years, where she taught at Taipei American School and ran her own
language services company, Pamela returned home to the United States to teach Mandarin at Lake
Forest Country Day School in Lake Forest, IL. At Lake Forest Country Day, Pamela designed and
taught a proficiency-based Mandarin program for middle school students. She also organized and
lead a five day, eighth grade immersion trip to New York’s Chinatown, drawing on her earlier work
experience as docent for the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas.
Pamela has earned an M.A. in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from National Taiwan
Normal University and B.A. in East Asian Languages and Art History from the University of
Chicago. She is in the process of completing a second Master’s degree in East Asian Languages and
Cultures at Columbia University.
Howard Roseman - Chef
Howard has been a Chef with Flik Independent School Dining since 2012 as both a Chef Manager
and Floating Chef, serving independent schools in the tri-state area. Prior to working with Flik,
Howard was the Senior Executive Chef at Aramark Corporation, and Executive Chef at Zagara’s
Specialty & Natural Foods, Delaware Market House, and Ashbourne Market. His experience
includes P&L management, strategic positioning, operational management, tactile business
planning, and team building. Howard loves building community and teaching about healthy eating
through the art of food.
4 Howard has an AOS degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park,
NY and an AOS degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Philadelphia Community College,
Philadelphia, PA.
Emily Seelaus - Upper School English
Emily taught sixth grade English at Oak Knoll School, a K-12 school in Summit, NJ. Prior to the
position at Oak Knoll, she was the Assistant Principal and then Principal at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, an
innovative middle school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn that featured volunteer teachers, small class
sizes, an extended school day, and a month-long leadership program. She served as Director of
Camp Holy Child, a summer camp for both academics and leadership training targeting middle
school-aged girls, in Lake Placid, NY. Emily has attended the prestigious Iowa Writer’s Workshop
Summer Conference, the Jesuit Collaborative Leaders Workshop, and served on the Nativity
Miguel Mission Assessment Team.
Emily holds an M.A. in Literature from the University of London, a B.A., in English from Miami
University, and graduated high school from Oak Knoll.
Megan Simpson - Marketing and Communications Assistant
Megan comes to Far Hills from Aidan Montessori School in Washington, DC, where she was
Director of Communications and Events. Her background includes working in the White House as
a Media Affairs Intern, and several positions at ​
Campaigns & Elections​
magazine. In addition to
working at Far Hills, she is also an Interactive Web Content Assistant for South by Southwest
(SXSW) Interactive.
Megan holds an M.P.S. in Political Management from George Washington University and a B.A. in
Advertising/Public Relations from Pennsylvania State University.
Jill Tuazon - Upper School Math
Jill taught math and geography at Cedar Hill Prep, a PK-8 school in Somerset, where she was also
the math department chair. Previously, Jill taught at Sayreville Middle School for over a decade and
then at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School and New Providence Middle School. She has also
served as a mathematics coach for Jersey City Public Schools as well as a math club advisor and
tutor. Jill is committed to her community, serving as a leader of both girl scout and boy scout
troops. She is an active member of the New Jersey Track and Field Officials Association, serving as
its Secretary and then President.
Jill holds a B.A. in Psychology/Education from Rutgers University.
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