We’re pleased to introduce a number of new faculty and staff members across divisions and departments, while also celebrating employees who are stepping into new roles and responsibilities. 

Administration

Amirah Mahdi, Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid: Amirah brings to Calhoun her extensive expertise in admissions, financial aid, and revenue management within independent schools. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Emory University and is currently pursuing her master's degree in private school leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She most recently served as the Assistant Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Prior to that, she gained invaluable New York City experience by leading the admissions and continued enrollment efforts for the opening of The Winchendon School's Brooklyn campus. 

Nyasha J. Quinones, Director of Human Resources: We are thrilled to welcome Nyasha J. Quinones as our new Director of Human Resources. Nyasha brings nearly a decade of independent school experience, joining us from Corlears School in Manhattan, where she most recently served as Employee Relations Manager. Nyasha pairs rigorous HR compliance with high emotional intelligence and a relational, human-centered approach. She will be an exceptional partner in supporting our faculty and staff.

Caroline Garcia-Then, Admissions and Advancement Coordinator: We welcome Caroline, former Upper School Coordinator, into a role that bridges two vital institutional areas. Caroline will expand her influence across constituents through event planning and execution, supporting Upper School admissions, and assisting with our signature Senior Work program.

Lower School

Claire Payen will be stepping into the role of Lower School STEAM Teacher this year. We are excited to see her share her passion for science with students, and we look forward to the curiosity, innovation and joy she will bring to our community in this new role.

Fernando Rueda returns as the second-grade classroom teacher. Already an integral part of the community (and a proud alum!), he will now be leading his own classroom.

Middle School

We are excited to welcome Ahlo Lee to the Middle School team. Ahlo has taught middle and high school math in New York City and abroad. She holds an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and will teach 7th grade math this year.

Paula Champin will teach Spanish part-time in the Middle School. She previously taught lower and middle school Spanish at Bay Ridge Prep. Picture coming soon

Upper School

Kymberly Mattern will be teaching social studies in the fall. Kymberly is very excited to be joining the Calhoun community. She is dedicated to helping students connect to the past through historical inquiry, projects, discussions, music and art, and placed-based learning. Prior to becoming a history educator, she worked as a conservator and historic preservationist at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In her free time, you can catch her reading, training for the 2026 NYC marathon, spending time with her dog Chestnut, or exploring historic sites and museums. 

Lázaro Mancilla will also be teaching social studies in the fall. A native of Los Angeles, California, Lázaro Mancilla will be starting his 12th year of teaching. He has taught all over the world, including Cambodia, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. Although his academic background is in ancient and medieval history, his passion and current projects focus on histories of colonization, diasporic communities, and liberation movements. Outside of the classroom, Lázaro enjoys collecting antique jewelry, gardening, and making his grandmother's Mexican recipes. 

Gareth Lee will be teaching English in the fall. Gareth joins Calhoun after a decade at Grace Church School, where he taught world literature. After a nearly two-decade hiatus from writing poetry, he has recently returned to the craft. Outside the classroom, he enjoys hiking in the woods, traveling, steadily improving his Mandarin and Spanish, and spending time with his family. 

Performing Arts

Alex Philbin, who previously served as Calhoun's sound designer, is transitioning to be our Technical Director and Theater Manager. He will be teaching courses in both the Middle and Upper School and supporting all the events that happen in the theater. Alex's most recent position was at Malloy College where he worked on the technical aspects of productions and mentored students. We are very excited to have Alex in this position.