Faculty and Staff

Director of Technology, English

Dr. F. Stephen Costa

My path to Doane Stuart was a circuitous one, bringing me from another independent school and an urban Charter School. Here, while I am the Director of Technology, I also teach Defensive Critical Thinking (semester-long) based on my doctoral work, as well as Ethics and Mythology classes.  Additionally, I am the Ski and Snowboard team faculty liaison.  As I reside only 1.2 miles away, most days, I brave the elements and walk to work.

BA, Siena College, English & Education
MA, SUNY Oneonta, Educational Technology Specialist K-12
DA,  Murray State University, Doctorate in Pedagogy
NYS Teacher Grades 7-12 ELA Permanent Certification

Director of College Counseling & Athletic Director

Todd Crandall

I have spent my 36 professional years in education. After ten years as a College Admission Director, I have spent the past 26 as the Director of College Counseling at La Salle Institute. During my time as a college counselor, I have visited hundreds of colleges and have worked with thousands of students and families. I am passionate about helping young people navigate the college search process, one I see as a journey ultimately ending with the best fit, academically, socially and emotionally. Additionally, I have worked in curriculum development, coached varsity tennis for 22 years, and JV golf for five. Outside of work, I enjoy tennis, golf, and pickleball as well as, gardening and traveling. 

Director of Development

Darlene Gallagher

I started working for the Doane Stuart School in October 2005 as the Development Assistant.  Through my years at Doane Stuart, I have held many positions.  I became the Director of Development in March 2012.  In my spare time, I enjoy taking Kettlebell and Spin classes for my health and relaxation. I also enjoy volunteering for and working with our Veterans. I feel a deep gratitude to all those who have served this wonderful country and I thank them for their service. 

Head of School

Marcy Cathey

Dean of the Upper School, Upper School Biology

Dr. David Wells

After earning his degrees, David continued his training with Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Michigan and Brown University before becoming an Assistant Professor at Yale University in 2001 in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology.  He left Yale as an Associate Professor to join the faculty at Doane Stuart in 2012. David currently teaches Advanced Biology, Advanced Topics in Cell Biology, Molecular Psychology, and Bioethics. He is also the Dean of the Upper School. In addition, he helps coordinate student participation in National Chemistry Day and the International Brain Bee Competition. Outside of school, he play as much tennis as he’s allowed and he plays for the Albany team in an over 40 Men’s Soccer League.

Middle School Director

Lianne Adams

Lianne Adams is a motivated, creative, and reliable administrator and educator with over 25 years of experience in education. She has spent the last 18 years of her career working for the Susan Odell Taylor School. Before becoming the Susan Odell Taylor School Co-Head of School, she served as Taylor’s Assistant Head of School and the Director of Student Affairs. Prior to her leadership roles, Mrs. Adams was a fifth and sixth-grade classroom teacher in both the private and public sectors. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology from Potsdam State University and a Masters of Elementary Education with a Gifted Talented Endorsement from Utah State University. Mrs. Adams is privileged to serve as the Middle School Director for both The Doane Stuart School and Taylor School and lead the many talented teachers and students at both schools. Her goal is to continue cultivating an environment that encourages open communication, collaboration, and teamwork conducive to teaching and learning. She looks forward to interacting with all stakeholders in our school community this year!

Director of Experiential Learning & Curriculum Development, Upper School English

Joelle Russo

Joelle Russo currently serves as the Director of Experiential Learning and Curriculum Development at The Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer, NY. With a career spanning 24 years, she has taught at both the middle and high school levels, as well as at the Advanced level in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Throughout her career, Joelle has had the privilege of working with students and educators in various K-12 environments. Her professional roles have included serving as an English teacher, Department Chair, Director of Academic Mentoring, and Director of Professional Development and Teacher Training. Joelle’s overarching goal is to design progressive and engaging learning experiences within an academic environment that promotes intellectual rigor, creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Deeply passionate about literature and the arts, she teaches courses in Poetry, Songwriting, and a variety of literature electives, such as Banned Books, Dystopian Narratives, Songwriting, and The Narrative Journey. Additionally, Joelle organizes the annual Capital Region Poetry Slam competition. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from The New School Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, with concentrations in Poetics, Creative Writing, and Philosophy, a postgraduate diploma in 20th-century Literature from Kingston University London, and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from The General Teaching Council of England and Wales. 

Maintenance

Richard Koch

Office Manager/Administrative Assistant

Mariann Haggerty

Mariann Haggerty comes to Done Stuart as the Administrative Assistant for the Middle and Upper Schools this year.  Ms. Haggerty has been the Office Manager at Tavlor School for 21 vears. She is excited to be working with both Taylor School and Doane Stuart this vear.  Mariann has a black lab named Violet, who recently went through training to become a Companion Dog. Maybe you’ll see Violet around Done Stuart sometime in the near future!

Maintenance

Mark Adams

Director of Maintenance

Carl Snavely

School Nurse

Megan Rockwell

Ms. Rockwell is a lifelong resident of the Capital District.  She is a R.N. and has spent many years working in various medial settings.  As a mother to five children, and three new grandchildren, she brings the perfect combination of skill and compassion to our students at Doane Stuart.  When she’s not taking care of someone, Ms. Rockwell enjoys traveling, scuba diving, skiing, reading, and gardening.

518-465-5222 ext 225

Director of Food Services

David Greene

7th & 8th Grade Social Studies

Vincent Pruchnick

Mr. Pruchnick has always harbored a profound passion for education. Since 2019, Vincent has been an integral part of the Taylor School community. Within his classroom, he cultivates an environment of creativity and active engagement, inspiring his students to explore their untapped potential and reach new heights. Beyond the classroom, Vincent finds joy in quality time with family, friends, and his feline companion Sylvie.

Middle School Director

Lianne Adams

Lianne Adams is a motivated, creative, and reliable administrator and educator with over 25 years of experience in education. She has spent the last 18 years of her career working for the Susan Odell Taylor School. Before becoming the Susan Odell Taylor School Co-Head of School, she served as Taylor’s Assistant Head of School and the Director of Student Affairs. Prior to her leadership roles, Mrs. Adams was a fifth and sixth-grade classroom teacher in both the private and public sectors. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology from Potsdam State University and a Masters of Elementary Education with a Gifted Talented Endorsement from Utah State University. Mrs. Adams is privileged to serve as the Middle School Director for both The Doane Stuart School and Taylor School and lead the many talented teachers and students at both schools. Her goal is to continue cultivating an environment that encourages open communication, collaboration, and teamwork conducive to teaching and learning. She looks forward to interacting with all stakeholders in our school community this year!

5th Grade Math

Jessica Sharron

Ms. Sharron completed her undergraduate degree at Siena College with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Studies. She co-created a video game club at her previous school and helped coach the running club. This year, she hopes to coach modified cross country and is eager to get involved in the community.

Middle and Upper School Music

Joe Hetko

Joe Hetko has been teaching band and general music at The Doane Stuart School for the past 15 years. Prior to that, he was a private music instructor and free-lance musician; he continues both of those activities to this day. He has been the Performing Arts Chair at the Heldeberg Workshop in the Town of New Scotland for the past twenty years. Joe works as a guitarist and bassist in a variety of situations and enjoys doing some composing.

Lower, Middle and Upper School Art Teacher

Katherine Tholl

Middle/Upper School French Teacher

Alexandra Valenti

I came to Doane Stuart in 2009 after spending a year abroad teaching in Lille, France.  At Doane Stuart, I teach Middle and Upper School French. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, café-ing, baking, sewing, and quilting.  I have made several skirts and quilts and I am excited to teach myself how to free-motion quilt in 2019.

Assistant Director of Athletics and Physical Education Teacher

Nick Haggerty

A lifelong enthusiast of athletic pursuits, Coach Haggerty has dedicated his life to a passion for sports. He prides himself on creating a welcoming environment where each student finds inspiration to enhance their sportsmanship and teamwork abilities. When not engaged in friendly competition, Coach Haggerty revels in the company of his wife and two canine companions, finding joy in playing any sport that comes his way.

Chorus Teacher

Rebecca Angel Maxwell

As the Chorus Teacher, Rebecca Angel Maxwell bring over twenty years of music teaching and performance experience to Doane Stuart. Mrs. Maxwell was drawn to Doane Stuart for its encouraging and passionate educational atmosphere. Through Western Classical and diverse World music in the classroom, her students explore, create, and make beautiful sounds. When not playing music, she is most likely in nature, reading, writing, and/or drinking tea.

7th & 8th Grade Social Studies

Vincent Pruchnick

Mr. Pruchnick has always harbored a profound passion for education. Since 2019, Vincent has been an integral part of the Taylor School community. Within his classroom, he cultivates an environment of creativity and active engagement, inspiring his students to explore their untapped potential and reach new heights. Beyond the classroom, Vincent finds joy in quality time with family, friends, and his feline companion Sylvie.

Upper School Math

Patrick Fowley

Pat Fowley joined Doane Stuart in the summer of 2022.  Having worked as a teacher and instructor for 15 years, Mr. Fowley has an incredible passion for math and computer science.  His goal at Doane Stuart is to focus on his students’ individual abilities and to guide them toward their maximum growth potential. 

Upper School ESL & Resource

Sonjia Febrey

Upper School English

John Foster

Over the course of my career, I’ve taught both college and high school students. My first job was at a small boarding school. It was there, I think, that I first understood how vital a strong sense of community is on any campus; it is certainly a quality that makes working at Doane Stuart so rewarding. At the heart of my classroom here is a seminar table, not a lectern; it’s a sounding board for the lively exchange of ideas, and my students make the most of it. In the past few years, I’ve begun writing fiction; more than one of my stories was inspired by my work at DS.

Middle and Upper School Music

Joe Hetko

Joe Hetko has been teaching band and general music at The Doane Stuart School for the past 15 years. Prior to that, he was a private music instructor and free-lance musician; he continues both of those activities to this day. He has been the Performing Arts Chair at the Heldeberg Workshop in the Town of New Scotland for the past twenty years. Joe works as a guitarist and bassist in a variety of situations and enjoys doing some composing.

Lower, Middle and Upper School Art Teacher

Katherine Tholl

Upper School Chemistry

Maggie McLellan-Zabielski

Dr. McLellan-Zabielski, aka, Dr. Z, comes to Doane Stuart after serving as the Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at SUNY Schenectady. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Z enjoys participating in community theater and has acted locally over the last couple of decades. Another hobby is string craft – knitting, crocheting, spinning, and a small amount of sewing.

Director of Experiential Learning & Curriculum Development, Upper School English

Joelle Russo

Joelle Russo currently serves as the Director of Experiential Learning and Curriculum Development at The Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer, NY. With a career spanning 24 years, she has taught at both the middle and high school levels, as well as at the Advanced level in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Throughout her career, Joelle has had the privilege of working with students and educators in various K-12 environments. Her professional roles have included serving as an English teacher, Department Chair, Director of Academic Mentoring, and Director of Professional Development and Teacher Training. Joelle’s overarching goal is to design progressive and engaging learning experiences within an academic environment that promotes intellectual rigor, creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Deeply passionate about literature and the arts, she teaches courses in Poetry, Songwriting, and a variety of literature electives, such as Banned Books, Dystopian Narratives, Songwriting, and The Narrative Journey. Additionally, Joelle organizes the annual Capital Region Poetry Slam competition. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from The New School Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, with concentrations in Poetics, Creative Writing, and Philosophy, a postgraduate diploma in 20th-century Literature from Kingston University London, and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from The General Teaching Council of England and Wales. 

Upper School Physics & Middle School Science

Garrett Combs

Garrett Combs teaches Physics, Conceptual Physics, and 8th grade Science here at Doane Stuart.  Mr. Combs’ in-class methodology focuses less on solutions and more on problem solving techniques.  By solidifying formulas, concepts, and the “why does this matter” parts of lessons, students expand their knowledge through research, derivations, and other observations and experiments. 

Prior to coming to Doane Stuart, Mr. Combs taught a multitude of courses ranging from 6th grade math to Precalculus and college-level mathematics.  He holds degrees in Meteorology, Math, Broadcasting, and Teaching.   When he is not teaching or preparing for classes, Mr. Combs is a huge sports fan.  You may catch him on a softball field, officiating a contest, or watching college softball in the spring.  Mr. Combs lives in the Southern Adirondacks with his golden retriever, Ryley.

Middle & Upper School Spanish

Kaitlin Mehleisen

“Kaity” brings over a decade of experience in language instruction, curriculum development, and student mentorship. In addition to teaching, Kaity has also coached both high school and collegiate track and field and figure skating. She recently relocated to the Capital Region with her husband to be closer to family and will be teaching both Middle and Upper School Spanish.

B.A. Spanish, Union College
M.S. Education, Bucknell University

Middle/Upper School French Teacher

Alexandra Valenti

I came to Doane Stuart in 2009 after spending a year abroad teaching in Lille, France.  At Doane Stuart, I teach Middle and Upper School French. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, café-ing, baking, sewing, and quilting.  I have made several skirts and quilts and I am excited to teach myself how to free-motion quilt in 2019.

Dean of the Upper School, Upper School Biology

Dr. David Wells

After earning his degrees, David continued his training with Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Michigan and Brown University before becoming an Assistant Professor at Yale University in 2001 in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology.  He left Yale as an Associate Professor to join the faculty at Doane Stuart in 2012. David currently teaches Advanced Biology, Advanced Topics in Cell Biology, Molecular Psychology, and Bioethics. He is also the Dean of the Upper School. In addition, he helps coordinate student participation in National Chemistry Day and the International Brain Bee Competition. Outside of school, he play as much tennis as he’s allowed and he plays for the Albany team in an over 40 Men’s Soccer League.

Upper School History Teacher

Susan Cullen

Susan Cullen comes to Doane Stuart as an accomplished educator with extensive experience in social studies instruction. Her academic background and dedication to fostering student growth are evident in her impressive tenure and diverse roles. Mrs. Cullen recently retired from the Bethlehem Central School District where she taught for more than 20 years.

Assistant Director of Athletics and Physical Education Teacher

Nick Haggerty

A lifelong enthusiast of athletic pursuits, Coach Haggerty has dedicated his life to a passion for sports. He prides himself on creating a welcoming environment where each student finds inspiration to enhance their sportsmanship and teamwork abilities. When not engaged in friendly competition, Coach Haggerty revels in the company of his wife and two canine companions, finding joy in playing any sport that comes his way.

Upper & Middle School Japanese

Yoko Segerstrom

I was born and raised in Japan, and came to the US in 1986 after I married my husband.  I started working for the Doane Stuart in April 2004 as a Lower and Middle School Secretary, and have been teaching Japanese as an Independent Study to Upper School students since 2006.  I also teach piano after school. In my spare time, I enjoy practicing Taichi and Qigong for my health and relaxation, and I volunteer at Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany every Saturday morning.

Director of Technology, English

Dr. F. Stephen Costa

My path to Doane Stuart was a circuitous one, bringing me from another independent school and an urban Charter School. Here, while I am the Director of Technology, I also teach Defensive Critical Thinking (semester-long) based on my doctoral work, as well as Ethics and Mythology classes.  Additionally, I am the Ski and Snowboard team faculty liaison.  As I reside only 1.2 miles away, most days, I brave the elements and walk to work.

BA, Siena College, English & Education
MA, SUNY Oneonta, Educational Technology Specialist K-12
DA,  Murray State University, Doctorate in Pedagogy
NYS Teacher Grades 7-12 ELA Permanent Certification

School Counselor, Girls Soccer Coach

Patrick Ryan