Specialty Teachers

AnaneThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Owusu previously served as a Senior Legislative Analyst for State Senator Kevin Parker and State Senator Cecelia Tkaczyk as a Senior Administrative Assistant. He also worked as a substitute teacher at Albany Public Schools, and as an Albany High School football coach. Owusu has a bachelor’s in history from the University at Albany. Owusu started working at WHMS in 2016. 

 

1005 WHMS 21Sue Anthony - Piano Teacher

Sue Anthony earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education - Piano from the Crane School of Music. A longtime music teacher in the area, she has taught in public and private schools. She is on the faculty at Little Falls School of Music and Arts in Kinderhook where she is a piano teacher and has also taught Music for Little Mozarts. Sue is a member of the Hudson Valley Choral Society and serves as organist at Emmanuel St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hudson. She teaches piano using traditional methods as well as implementing modern technology to encourage the development of musical skills. She is currently working on projects composing, arranging, performing, and co-producing for a production company that has done work for PBS, cable TV, and multimedia presentations.

 

 BurnsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Literacy Specialist

 Jennifer Burns joined the WHMS faculty in 2018. Before that, she was a reading teacher and classroom teacher for the Troy School District, where she taught for the past eight years. She was also a long-term substitute in Troy for four years. Jennifer has a master's degree in Education-Literacy from the College of St. Rose.

 

CalabriaThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Music Teacher, UE and MS 

Iggy Calabria joined WHMS in 2017 as the Upper El and Middle School music teacher. Iggy has a bachelor's degree in English from Muhlenberg College, a BM in Jazz Guitar Performance and an MAT in Music Education from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. An award-winning guitarist, Iggy has studied with jazz greats Jimmy Bruno and Pat Martino and has performed extensively in the Philadelphia and Albany area. While active and experienced in composing, arranging, and music scholarship Iggy strongly believes in the value of music education and examines and teaches music and music-making as an essential part of life. Iggy has completed the Leadership and Overview of Montessori at Early Childhood Level Montessori Fundamentals course through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies.

 

ColwillThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.- Librarian 

Sarah Colwill serves as our school librarian. She is also a youth services librarian at the East Greenbush Community Library. Previously, Sarah worked as an adjunct librarian at Sage Colleges. Sarah has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Russell Sage College, a master's degree in educational administration from the University at Albany, and a master's of library science degree from Southern Connecticut State University. 

 

Maria GermainThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Primary and Lower El Music Teacher

Maria Germain joined the WHMS staff in the fall of 2022. She is an actively working collaborative pianist and music director throughout the Capital Region. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Nazareth College of Rochester. She has served as Collaborative Pianist and Adjunct Piano Faculty at SUNY Schenectady as well as District Wide Accompanist and Music Librarian for the Niskayuna School District. Pre-pandemic she music directed Les Miserables and Aida with the School of Performing Arts at Proctors. Other recent credits include Ordinary Days at Schenectady Light Opera Company as well as And the World Goes Round with Not So Common Players. Maria is excited to get back into the classroom and bring more music to the students at WHMS.

 

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Elementary and Middle School Spanish Teacher

Katja is a graduate of the University at Albany with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's degree in Hispanic literature.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Hispanic literature. Katja was a teaching assistant here at Woodland Hill from 2012 through 2019, before returning to teach Spanish.  Most recently, she has been an executive assistant in the New York State Secretary of the Senate’s office.

 

Staff Krysten HouserThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.- Assistant Primary Floater

Krysten joined the WHMS staff in 2012. She assists at the Primary level with nap, recess, and various classroom needs. 

 

 

 KeltsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – PE teacher and Athletic Director

Ben Kelts joined WHMS in 2013 as our Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director. Ben taught for five years at Riverdale Country School in NYC for children in Pre K-grade 6. He also taught middle school and high school students for the past eight years at the Opportunity Charter School in NYC. He has coached lacrosse, basketball, gymnastics, and soccer, and has taught sailing and boating, high ropes, First Aid and CPR as well as math. Ben has a bachelor’s in Physical Education and a master’s degree in Special Education from Manhattan College, as well as graduate-level coursework in Physical Education from Canisius College and a master’s in Education/Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.

 

LambChuck Lamb - Piano Teacher

Chuck Lamb, a virtuoso piano player, has been in the Brubeck Brothers Quartet for more than 15 years and has performed with the Quartet and/or his own groups at numerous renowned venues around the world. In addition to being a professional touring musician and prolific composer, Chuck is also an accomplished and creative music educator.  He has taught workshops and clinics across the United States, as well as in Japan, Singapore, and Russia, where he taught a class in composition and improvisation to students from ages 6-70 and enjoyed the novel experience of doing the entire class via the assistance of a Russian translator.

 

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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – Primary Spanish Teacher

Lourdes Ortega received Montessori training from Princeton Montessori Center in New Jersey. Lourdes joined the WHMS faculty in 2003. Lourdes also served as our School Care and Enrichment Director for five years. Currently, she is an assistant teacher in the Toddler program, serves as co-director of our summer program, and teaches Spanish to the Primary classes.

 

 SchneiderThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Assistant Art Teacher 

Sandy Schneider holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in literacy education both from SUNY Oswego. She taught Kindergarten and reading before taking on administrative roles as a YMCA Childcare Director and Daycare Director. She has worked at WHMS since  2018.

 

SnowThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Violin Teacher

Andrew Snow teaches Suzuki Violin and directs the WHMS Chamber Ensemble. Andrew began his instrumental studies as a young Suzuki student himself and graduated with his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Viola Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. Andrew is actively involved as a performing artist and has performed many times with local ensembles including the Albany Symphony, Albany Pro Musica, Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, and Musicians of Ma'alwyck.

 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Art Teacher

Megan Stasi is a NYS Certified Visual Arts teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz and an MFA in scenic design from Northwestern University.  She has taught sewing at both the Albany Art Room and the Troy Arts Center, theatrical set design at Ulster County Community College, as well as Altered Book Workshops.  Megan has also worked in the music business, as a theater designer, a muralist, and recently started a local non-profit community organization focused on upcycling fabric and yarns.  Her own artistic practice includes fiber arts, oil paints, and printmaking. Megan joined the WHMS faculty in 2018.