Claire Needell Hollander

English & History

Claire has taught English Language Arts for over twenty years, both in New York City and as a tutor in Westchester County. She is an essayist, young adult fiction writer and poet. She has three adult daughters and currently lives in Manchester, VT. In the warmer months, she enjoys spending time outdoors in her garden and on foraging walks. She has been skiing in Vermont since the early seventies.

- Brown University: MFA, Creative Writing

- NYU: Master’s of Secondary Education

- University of Colorado: BA, English and Creative Writing

Claire IsherwoodOctober 25, 2023Arts & Humanities

Carol Roe

English & History

Carol has lectured at Suffolk School of Law and conferences for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She’s been a sole practitioner of immigration law for over 7 years. She is a previous OMS parent and has lived in Ludlow semi-permanently for 6 years. Carol is an ultrarunner who also loves skiing and cooking vegan food.

- Susquehanna University, Bachelor of Art: Political Science

- Temple University School of Law, Juris Doctor

Claire IsherwoodOctober 24, 2023Arts & Humanities

Sabrina Easton

History & English
History Department Head

Sabrina grew up ski racing in the mountains of New York, but Vermont has become her new home. She graduated from Castleton University in 2018 with a BS in Secondary Education and History, and has acquired her teaching license for the state of Vermont. Sabrina was a part of Castleton University’s Alpine Ski Team for all four years of college, and coached for a high school ski team this past year in New York, where she gained experience substitute teaching as well. Sabrina will also be the assistant U14 coach at OMS this winter season.

Outside of the classroom she enjoys hiking, reading, skiing (of course), and petting dogs.

- Castleton University, Bachelor of Science: Secondary Education and History

Ashley BillingsNovember 6, 2019Arts & Humanities

Maura Cornish

Art

After 30 years of teaching in New York, Maura brings her many talents to us. She is certified in teaching braille and sign language and has used the arts as a way of communication. Maura also has trained countless guiding eye dogs. Maura lives in Ludlow for the winter with her husband, Pete, and they reside in Carmel, NY in the summer.

-College of New Rochelle, Bachelor of Arts in Special Education, Masters of Special Education

-Dominican College, Teacher of the Visually Impaired

KatieOctober 15, 2017Arts & Humanities

Wendy Hayward

History & English
College Guidance Coordinator

Wendy Hayward started at OMS in 2015. Wendy has served as the Associate Director of Education, Head of School, and served on the admissions staff at Southern Vermont College. She has been an independent educational consultant since 1980. Wendy lives in Chester and is also a landscape artist, writer and traveler.

- University of Denver: Bachelor of Arts: Social Sciences
- Northern Illinois University: Masters in Education: Secondary Ed, Special Ed, Administration
- University of Geneva: Certificate in French
- Penobscot Language School: TESOL/TEFL certificates

KatieOctober 14, 2017Arts & Humanities

John Rushing

English
English Department Head

John has taught at OMS since 2012. He previously taught English at the Long Trail School; spent twenty-five years as a professional writer in the fields of fiction, journalism and communications; and has been a tutor since 2007. John is married to the author, Ellen Stimson and lives in Dorset. He and Ellen are avid readers, amateur artists; home cooks and travelers with a particular love of France. John is a snowboarder and soccer player who loves spending time with his three adult children and the family dogs; living in VT; and working alongside the dedicated and joyous student-athletes at OMS.

- lllinois State University: BS Political Science

KatieOctober 11, 2017Arts & Humanities

Thom Serrani

English, History, Language & Economics

Thom spent the early years after college in the fields of teaching and journalism. He spent 18 years in government service and 14 years in trade association management/lobbying.

Thom is a script writer and novelist. His interests include research, travel, history, literature, languages, gardening, cooking, and Russian language and culture. He lives in Ludlow, VT.

- Sacred Heart University: BA English
- Fairfield University Graduate School: American Studies and Government

KatieOctober 8, 2017Arts & Humanities

Horacio Travaglini

Spanish
Language Department Head

Prof. Horacio Travaglini is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina and has lived in Manchester, Vermont since 2016. Since January 2016 Horacio has been teaching Macroeconomics and Microeconomics at Castleton University. His bi-cultural background and focus on community collaboration has led him to a number of volunteer opportunities and community leadership roles. He volunteers at chess and soccer clubs every time he can, and loves outdoor activities.

-University of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Bachelor of Science: Economics
-Northeastern University: Masters in Commerce and Economic Development

KatieOctober 1, 2017Arts & Humanities

Betsy Johnson

Art

Betsy is married to Eddie Johnson, who coaches the snowboard team at Okemo Mountain School. She has worked at Okemo Mountain since 2007. Originally from New Jersey she moved to Vermont when her son Eric, a snowboarder, started attending Okemo Mountain School. She coaches with the Okemo Mountain Snowboard Team and is head of the GROMS program. She has her degree in Garden and Planting Design and runs a business called Natural Landscape Designs in the summer months.

Betsy is primarily a watercolor artist. She is inspired by the Vermont landscape and will pack up her paints and walk or drive to areas where she can paint en plein air. Winter months are spent in her studio working from photos taken throughout the year.

Betsy lives in Weston Vermont with her husband Eddie and their two dogs. She loves to hike, run, paint and play in her ever expanding gardens.

Ashley BillingsSeptember 13, 2017Arts & Humanities

Aude Stengel

French

Aude is a native from Switzerland, and very proud to teach her language and her culture to your child. She has been working in education for teen years. Aude grew up Bilingual in French and German. In her twenties she traveled around the world for 1 year, and fell in love with discovering new cultures and their costumes and traditions. After her trip Ishedecided to move to Hawaii and opened a Youth Hostel for 6 years, where she learned all about running a small establishment and of course, meeting lots of young people from very different backgrounds and countries.

Living in different countries and learning their languages have given Aude a better understanding of the process of teaching a foreign language. She takes advantage of her personal experience in order to implement her teaching methods.

- Kaufmännische Handelschule, Reinach Basellandschaft , Bachelor of Arts: Business

Ashley BillingsFebruary 9, 2016Arts & Humanities