New Midland Elementary School Staff for 2024-25

On Monday, the Rye City School District announced 24 new staff members across the district.

Introduce yourself to the four new Midland Elementary School staff.

Midland School

Teachers

Briana Fitzer, Special Education Co-teacher Fourth Grade

Ms. Fitzer comes to Midland School from P.S. 8, the Isaac Varian School in Bronx, NY, where she worked for the past four years as a 3rd and 4th grade special education teacher. Previously, she spent two years as a 2nd grade teacher at P.S. 7 the Milton Fein School in the Bronx, where she also completed her student teaching. Ms. Fitzer has a B.S. in Childhood Education and an M.S. in Childhood Special Education, both from Manhattan College, and an M.S. in Literacy from SUNY Oneonta.

Stacy Lessen, Kindergarten

Ms. Lessen comes to Midland School from P.S. 116, the Mary Lindley Murray School in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan where she taught for the past 16 years. She has taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade ICT and general education classrooms. Since 2023, she has been the school’s K-2 Reading Intervention teacher and Special Education Teacher Support Services Provider. Ms. Lessen has a B.A. in Inclusive Elementary Education and Sociology from Syracuse University and an M.A., Literacy Specialist from Teacher College at Columbia University.

Isabella Santelia, Fourth Grade

Ms. Santelia is already a familiar face in the Rye City School District having worked as a 3rd grade leave replacement teacher at Osborn School for the 2023-2024 school year. Before coming to Rye, she worked as a 3rd grade leave replacement teacher at the Katonah Elementary School. She has also been a leave replacement teacher and teacher aide in the Tarrytown, Bedford, and Valhalla Central School Districts. Ms. Santelia has a B.S./B.A. in accounting and finance from Elon University and a Masters in Professional Studies in Childhood and Special Education from Manhattanville University.

Ashley Sheridan, Special Education Co-teacher Third Grade

Ms. Sheridan comes to Midland School from the Heathcote School in Scarsdale, NY, where she has worked as a special education teacher in Kindergarten, 2nd, and 3rd integrated co-teaching (ICT) classrooms for the past three years. Before working in Scarsdale, she spent five years as a special education teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade ICT classrooms at P.S. 96, The Richard Rogers School in Bronx, NY.  Ms. Sheridan has a B.A. in Psychology from Iona University and a Dual Master of Professional Studies in Childhood Education and Special Education from Mercy University.