Head of School - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michelle Edwards has worked at WHMS since 2012, the inaugural year of the Toddler program at WHMS. She served as Assistant Head of School for four years before becoming Head of School in 2020. You can view Michelle's biography here.
Assistant Head of School - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Erin Mergil was named Asssistant Head of School in July 2020. Erin is an experienced Montessori teacher, working at WHMS since 2016. She previously worked at Escuela Montessori del Valle in El Paso and Castle Island Montessori in Albany. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany in Spanish and linguistics, and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Montessori studies. Erin is credentialed from the Center of Montessori Teacher Education.
Director of Admissions and Community Outreach – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kris Gernert-Dott has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Union College and also studied for a year at the University of Erlangen in Germany. She is our Director of Admissions and Community Outreach. Kris joined WHMS in 2003 as a parent, and a year later became our Director of Admissions. Her prior work experience is in the field of college admissions. In 1987, she was an Admissions Interviewer at Skidmore College; she then worked at Hamilton College as an Assistant Director of Admissions from 1988 to 1991 and eventually returned to her alma mater, Union College, as an Associate Dean of Admissions from 1991-2003. She also co-owned the Montessori Toddler’s and Children’s House in Schenectady from 1998-2003. Kris had the good fortune of attending a Montessori school (the Bede School in Englewood, New Jersey) as a young child. Her own children have attended Montessori schools from a toddler program through graduating from Woodland Hill in the 8th grade.
Director of Finance - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ashley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from The College of Saint Rose. Prior to WHMS, she worked as the Accounting Manager for L. Brown Asphalt Service in Rensselaer, in the Member Relations Office at Cap Com Federal Credit Union, and as a Financial Planner for Ayco.
Director of Development and Communications – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Moira Rienzo graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She joined WHMS as the Director of Development and Communications in 2007. Her prior experience includes work for the Finance Department at RPI, and as Membership Coordinator at WAMC Public Radio. Moira is very involved in fundraising and event planning on a volunteer basis for the Friends of Prospect Park, and the Junior League of Troy.
Assistant Director of Communications – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nicholle Gregor graduated from the University at Albany with a bachelor's degree in Information Science. She previously worked at the Green Mountain Farm-to-School in Newport, Vermont, as an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator. She also interned at the University at Albany Office of Sustainability and the Informatics Office.
Office Manager - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cat comes to us with vast experience in administrative roles from customer service to program coordinator and administrative coordinator, primarily at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA. Cat has a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science from the Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Business Manager – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., aPHR
Danielle Hall holds a Certificate in HTML and Web Design from Global Solutions in Burlington, Mass. Her background includes Accounting Assistant for Support Plus where she also supported the Human Resources and Marketing Departments. At Americom, Inc., her responsibilities included accounts payable and bank reconciliations. She also assisted in the accounting departments of Loansnap, Inc., and Arrow Business Forms. She has worked at WHMS since 2010.
Director of Auxiliary Services - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Eraena Fraites-Gonzalez is the Director of Auxiliary Services for Woodland Hill. She leads our aftercare, enrichment, extracurricular, and summer programs. Prior to WHMS, Eraena worked as a school counselor, middle school Language Arts teacher, and substitute teacher for students in preschool through grade 12. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University and a master’s degree in school counseling from Alfred University.
Administrative Support Tech and Summer Camp Director - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patrick has a bachelor's degree in human development from the University at Albany. He began at WHMS as an intern and was hired to work in school care shortly afterward. He has also served as our Distance Learning Liaison.
School Nurse - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Renata is a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing from Maria College. Her professional experience includes five years at Albany Medical Center’s Neuroscience Progressive Care Unit and most recently she has worked as a nurse in a local pediatric practice.
Special Educator – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tami Meek holds a master's degree in education from the College of Saint Rose. She received a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland in recreation. Tami has certification in Special Education; Nursery, Kindergarten and Grades 1-6; and Recreation. Tami works for the East Greenbush School District as a Special Education Teacher. She has worked as a Consultant Teacher and K-2 Communication Skills Teacher at Genet Elementary School since September 2000. Tami also worked at Circle of Friends and Unity Sunshine Program as a Preschool Special Education Teacher, Special Education Itinerant Teacher, and Early Intervention Special Education Teacher since 1992.
School Counselor – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bethany Burroughs holds a master's degree in Professional School Counseling from Sage Graduate School. Bethany provides individual and group counseling to our students, as well as large classroom guidance lessons. She works closely with teachers, staff, and parents to support our students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. She is also a member of the Instructional Support Team here at WHMS. Bethany has gained experience as a School Counselor in other academic settings and has also worked in other counseling roles. She worked for the Center for Disability Services as a Behavior Specialist for children with Autism and Dual-Diagnosis. She also worked for Parsons Child and Family center to support youth with Serious Emotional Disturbances and Developmental Disabilities (ages 2-21).
Director of Facilities –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael joined the staff in 2016.