The Rye City School District announced 22 new faculty members for the 2026-27 school year across all three elemenary schools, the middle school and the high school.
Note: The District did not provide teacher photos with the news, as it has in the past. We have noted this with the District and are expecting photos later this week.
Michael Eberman
School Counselor, Osborn School
Mr. Eberman joins Osborn School as a school counselor. Most recently, he served as a school counselor in the Byram Hills Central School District, where he provided individual counseling, led social-emotional learning initiatives, and collaborated with students, families, and staff to support student success. Previously, he completed a school counseling internship at P.S. 195 in Brooklyn and worked as a substitute teacher serving students across grades K through 12. He has a B.A. in Sociology from SUNY New Paltz and an M.S.Ed. in School Counseling from Alfred University.
Danielle Moskowitz
Second Grade, Osborn School
Ms. Moskowitz joins Osborn School as a second-grade teacher. Most recently, she taught third and fifth grades at The River School at PS 281 in Manhattan, where she also served as a grade-level leader. Previously, she taught third grade at PS 226 in the Bronx and completed a full-time teaching residency at Bronxville Elementary School. Ms. Moskowitz is certified in Childhood Education and Special Education. She has a B.A. and M.A. in Childhood Education, with an Early Childhood Extension, from Pace University.
Diana Trinchitella
Special Education Teacher, Milton School
Ms. Trinchitella joins Milton School as a full-year special education leave replacement teacher. Most recently, she served as a teaching assistant at Carmel High School, where she supported students with disabilities in the self-contained PACE Program, providing individualized and small-group assistance and helping students develop academic, social-emotional and life skills. She has also supported students through Special Olympics and Unified Sports and the Best Buddies program, fostering inclusive opportunities for students of varying abilities. Ms. Trinchitella has a B.S. in Business Administration from Mercy University and is completing a master’s degree in Special Education at Manhattanville University.
Stacey Guarino
First Grade Teacher, Midland School
Ms. Guarino joins Midland School as a first-grade teacher. Most recently, she taught kindergarten and fourth grade at Chatsworth Avenue School in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District, where she provided differentiated instruction and collaborated with specialists and families to support students’ academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs. Previously, she spent eight years as an ICT special education teacher at Brooklyn Arts and Science Elementary School and taught first-grade ICT special education at Community Partnership Charter School. Ms. Guarino is certified in Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education, Students with Disabilities and Literacy Education. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Cortland, an M.S.Ed. in Students with Disabilities from the City College of New York and a post-master’s advanced certificate in Literacy Education from Queens College.
Sophia Gelard
Science Teacher, Rye Middle School
Ms. Gelard joins Rye Middle School as a science teacher. Most recently, she taught fifth and seventh grade science at Sacred Heart Greenwich, where she also served as an academic advisor. Previously, she taught physical education at Sacred Heart Greenwich and worked as a public health project manager. Ms. Gelard has a B.A. in Psychology and a Master of Public Health from Binghamton University, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville University.
Gabrielle Thomas
School Counselor, Rye Middle School
Ms. Thomas joins Rye Middle School as a school counselor after serving in the district during the 2025-2026 school year. Prior to joining Rye, she served as a middle and high school counselor at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts in the Mount Vernon City School District, where she supported students with academic planning, social-emotional development, crisis intervention, and college and career readiness. She also completed school counseling internships at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, providing a strong foundation in supporting students across all grade levels. Ms. Thomas has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Valley Forge and a Master’s in School Counseling from Liberty University
Mia Verrigni
Speech/Language, Rye Middle School
Ms. Verrigni joins Rye Middle School as a speech-language pathologist. She recently completed graduate clinical placements at Hyde Park Central School District, the SUNY New Paltz Speech-Language Hearing Center, and Hudson Valley Speech and Swallowing, where she provided evaluations and therapy for children with a variety of speech and language needs. Previously, she worked as a substitute teacher and as an assistant teacher in preschool and childcare settings. Ms. Verrigni has a B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Iona University and an M.S. in Communication Disorders with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology from SUNY New Paltz.
Pamela Aucoin
French Teacher, Rye Middle School
Ms. Aucoin joins Rye Middle School as a French teacher. Most recently, she taught French at Port Chester High School after spending eight years teaching French immersion and core French in the Toronto District School Board. Earlier in her career, she taught social studies and German in New York City public schools and English literature at a high school in Montréal. Ms. AuCoin has more than 15 years of world language teaching experience and is certified to teach French and Social Studies in New York State.
Benjamin North
Special Education Teacher (ICT), Rye Middle School
Mr. North joins Rye Middle School as a Special Education ICT teacher. Most recently, he served as a Behavior Support Specialist in the Beaverton School District in Oregon, where he coached teachers, implemented schoolwide behavior support systems, and led trauma-informed practices to support student success. Previously, he worked as a Student Success Coach and Case Manager in the Hillsboro School District and as a special education teacher and teacher leader at Pharos Academy Charter School in the Bronx. Mr. North has a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Touro College, an M.A. in Teaching from New York University, and a Principal License from Portland State University.
Dominic Guazzo
Latin Teacher, Rye Middle School
Mr. Guazzo joins Rye Middle School as a Latin teacher. Most recently, he taught Latin at Yorktown High School, where he instructed students in grades 6 through 12 and developed curriculum ranging from introductory Latin to Advanced Placement coursework. Previously, he taught Latin, English as a Second Language, and Spanish at Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn. Mr. Guazzo has a B.A. in Classical Languages from Fordham University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Kaplan University.
Anthony Abate
Music, Rye Middle/High School
Mr. Abate joins Rye Middle School and Rye High School as a music teacher. Most recently, he served as Band Director in the Amityville Union Free School District, where he directed concert bands, jazz ensembles, marching band, and percussion ensembles for students in grades 6 through 12. Previously, he taught general music and special education music while also serving as the district piano accompanist and later as Audio Visual Coordinator and Stage Manager for Amityville Memorial High School. Mr. Abate has a B.A. in Music Education from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.
Mike Evans
Science Teacher, Rye High School
Mr. Evans joins Rye High School as a science teacher. Most recently, he taught physics at Hicksville High School, where he spent 14 years teaching Regents Physics, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics C while helping expand the school’s Advanced Placement physics program. Earlier in his career, he completed physics teaching leave replacement assignments in the Longwood and Commack school districts. Mr. Evans has bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Adolescent Education from SUNY Oswego and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.
Marie Balemian
School Psychologist, Rye High School
Ms. Balemian joins Rye High School as a school psychologist. Most recently, she completed her school psychology internship with the Mount Pleasant Central School District, where she conducted psychoeducational evaluations, provided individual and group counseling, and collaborated with families and staff to support students’ social-emotional and academic success. Previously, she completed practicum experiences serving students in Title I schools and therapeutic day programs. Ms. Balemian has a B.S. in Psychology from Fairfield University and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut.
Tim O’Brien
Social Studies Leave Replacement (First Semester), Rye High School
Mr. O’Brien joins Rye High School as a first-semester social studies leave replacement. Most recently, he completed a leave replacement at Tuckahoe High School after retiring from Hastings High School, where he taught AP U.S. History, AP European History, and Economics for 15 years. Earlier in his career, he taught at Horace Greeley High School and North Shore High School before spending several years working in government and public service. Mr O’Brien has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Stephen Russo
Science Research, Rye High School
Mr. Russo joins Rye High School as a science research teacher. Most recently, he taught chemistry, environmental science, physics, and engineering for the New York City Department of Education, where he spent 14 years developing inquiry-based curriculum and mentoring student research. Earlier in his career, he worked as an environmental engineer and served as an Environmental Health Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Panama. Mr. Russo has a B.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.S. in Education from Lehman College.
Andrea Diaz
Social Worker, Rye High School
Ms. Diaz joins Rye High School as a social worker. Most recently, she served as a bilingual school-based lead clinician at Rye High School, where she provided individual, group, and family counseling while collaborating with staff and community partners to support students’ social-emotional needs. Previously, she worked as a bilingual school-based and outpatient clinician and as an inpatient clinical therapist serving children, adolescents, and families. Ms. Diaz has a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Concordia College and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University.
Gabriel Frabasile
English Teacher, Rye High School
Mr. Frabasile joins Rye High School as an English teacher. Most recently, he taught ninth- and eleventh-grade English at Eastchester High School after spending five years teaching English at Iona Preparatory School. Earlier in his career, he served as a teacher aide and coordinator of the RISE mentoring program in the Valhalla Union Free School District. Mr. Frabasile has a B.S. in Biology and Italian from the University of Scranton and a Master of Professional Studies in Secondary English and Special Education from Manhattanville College.
Elizabeth Saporito
School Counselor, Rye High School
Ms. Saporito joins Rye High School as a school counselor after serving as a full-year leave replacement in the school’s counseling department during the 2025-2026 school year. Prior to joining Rye, she served as a guidance counselor at St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx for 13 years, where she supported students with academic, social-emotional, and college planning. She has extensive experience guiding students and families through the college admissions process and developing comprehensive counseling programs. Ms. Saporito has a B.A. in Sociology from Fairfield University, an M.A. and Professional Diploma in School Counseling from Manhattan University, and a College Admission Counseling Certificate from Villanova University.
Scott Milliken
School Counselor, Rye High School
Mr. Milliken joins Rye High School as a school counselor after serving as a full-year leave replacement school counselor at Osborn School during the 2025-2026 school year. Previously, he worked as a guidance counselor at New Dawn Charter High School in Brooklyn, where he supported students with academic planning, college and career readiness, and social-emotional development. Earlier in his career, he served as a guidance counselor intern and tenured teaching assistant in the White Plains City School District. Mr. Milliken has a B.A. in Political Science and Business from Villanova University and an M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from The College of New Rochelle.
David Windmueller
Physics Teacher, Rye High School
Mr. Windmueller joins Rye High School as a physics teacher. Most recently, he taught physics, engineering, and forensic science at Westlake High School after previously serving as a cybersecurity instructor at Rockland BOCES. Before transitioning to education, he spent more than two decades in the technology industry, holding leadership roles at Google, Bloomberg, NASA, and Jefferson Lab, and also served honorably in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Windmueller has a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison State University, an M.S. in Computer Science from Christopher Newport University, and an M.S. in Secondary Education for Physics from Old Dominion University.
Yaneisis Dushey
Spanish Teacher, Rye High School
Ms. Dushey joins Rye High School as a Spanish teacher. Most recently, she taught Spanish and AP Spanish at The Scholars’ Academy High School in the New York City Department of Education, after previously teaching Spanish at John Jay School for Law High School and serving as an adjunct instructor at Lehman College and Hartwick College. She has extensive experience preparing students for Advanced Placement coursework, the NYS Checkpoint B exam, and the Seal of Biliteracy while fostering culturally responsive language instruction. Ms. Dushey has a B.A. in Journalism from Universidad de Oriente in Cuba and master’s degrees from the City College of New York, Baruch College, Universidad de Oriente, and Universidad de Havana/ESEM in Spain.
Tracy Saracino
Art Teacher, Rye High School
Ms. Saracino joins Rye High School as a full-year leave replacement art teacher. Most recently, she taught studio art, mixed media and art history at John Jay Middle School, where she also developed a K-12 curriculum map to strengthen alignment across the district’s art program. Previously, she taught art at Edgemont Junior/Senior High School and completed student teaching experiences at the elementary and high school levels. Ms. Saracino is certified in Visual Arts Pre-K through 12 and has experience across a range of media, including drawing, painting, metalsmithing, digital photography, ceramics, printmaking and 3D design. She has an M.A. in Visual Arts Education from Hunter College, a B.F.A. in Metal from SUNY New Paltz and an A.A.S. in Jewelry Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
