FACULTY, STAFF AND BOARD

B.A. Stanford University, M.A. Princeton University, Ph.D. Princeton University

John Ahern grew up in Grand Junction, CO. He was homeschooled in a family which loved classical education and passed that love successfully (perhaps too successfully) onto John, who studied Latin, ancient Greek, and Hebrew in high school. He earned his B.A. from Stanford University in music and also got the chance to study for a year in a spoken Latin program in northern Idaho. After working for a few years as a software engineer, he and his family moved to New Jersey so he could embark on the PhD program at Princeton University in the history of fifteenth-century music. John loves the history of the Middle Ages and will gladly bore all his friends with details about all things Medieval ad infinitum (or perhaps, more accurately, ad nauseam).

B.A. The King's College, Ed.M. Boston University

B.A. Wheaton College, M.A. Eastern Michigan University

Jennia was an elementary school teacher for many years in both Michigan and Texas. She taught at our sister school, West Dallas Community School. Jennia has served on the Wilberforce Board of Directors, the Accreditation Committee as well as a former Admission Director. She and her husband have three daughters all of whom attend Wilberforce.

B.A. Moody Bible Institute

Carrie was our first Explorers teacher before her son was born in 2006. Over the years, she has stayed connected to our community through parent prayer, PTF, substitute teaching, Lower School chapel talks, and as a former board member. Carrie has a Bachelors's in Arts from Moody Bible Institute where she studied Christian Education, and she has a one-year Bible certificate from Word of Life Bible Institute. Carrie has three boys at the school: Caleb, Micah, and Josiah. Now Carrie is teaching Life Skills to Classes 3 and 4. Life Skills at Wilberforce is a class of "heart-work" and "handiwork". This year, she is excited to teach Pilgrim's Progress for children published by Great Commissions Publications as well as Honor Club by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller as well as various handiwork and practical age-appropriate life skills.

B.S. Houghton University, M.S. Cairn University

Carolyn brings more than 20 years of technology and teaching experience —gained in schools and corporate environments. Prior to Wilberforce, Carolyn was the Director of Technology at Faith Christian Academy in Sellersville, PA, where she spearheaded the transition to online learning for over 500 students. She has also been a varsity women's soccer coach at Cairn University and continues to coach youth teams. Carolyn holds degrees from both Houghton College and Cairn University. She is excited to help students in their formative years discover their God-given talents and gifts.

B.S. University of Maryland, M.A. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Mrs. Grace Cho is one of our Class Two teachers. Before coming to The Wilberforce School, Mrs. Cho worked as a public school teacher in Maryland and Virginia, served as a youth director for a large local church in Virginia, and edited textbooks at McGraw-Hill Publishing in New York City. God's providence led her to Wilberforce in 2007, and she has been captured by our school's mission and philosophy ever since. She especially delights in feasting with her students on the many "living books" that Class Two enjoys together during the year. She takes great pleasure in bringing her love of watercolor painting into the classroom, particularly during nature study. Mrs. Cho lives with her husband and daughter Hope in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

B.M. Oberlin College Conservatory of Music

Charlotte Chong is from Cherry Hill, NJ. After attending Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, she began teaching at The Wilberforce School in 2008. Since then, she has had the privilege of teaching at each grade level, conducting choirs in the Lower, Middle, and Upper School. She has also been involved in Wilberforce's extracurricular arts programs. She has directed Melodia, Grace Notes, and the chamber ensembles. Charlotte has served as the musical director for the musical theater productions as well, including Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, and Les Misérables.

B.A. Elizabethtown College

Elizabeth Cleere has been part of the Wilberforce community for many years as a parent. She graduated with an Early Childhood Education degree from Elizabethtown College. After a career of teaching First Grade (over 20 years!) in the public school system, she joined the Wilberforce faculty as a Class One teacher. She enjoys using her experience to assist her students in learning about God and His creation and as well encouraging them to grow both academically and spiritually.

B.S. Pensacola Christian College

Mrs. Laura Cobeña has been with the Wilberforce family since 2023. She graduated with an Elementary Education Degree from Pensacola Christian. Having taught in the classroom for many years, she is eager to help students reach their academic goals, while developing godly character. Laura and her husband have two children, and love spending their time with family and traveling.

B.S. California State University; M.A. Pepperdine University

Mrs. Katie Fisher, a native of California, moved to New Jersey in 2012, and brought her three children to Wilberforce. She has a B.S. from California State University and a M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University. Katie has been teaching at The Wilberforce School since 2020, and delights in sharing her love of Jesus while honing students' God-given gifts for His kingdom. Outside of the classroom, Katie's favorite place to be is with her family at the lake, with plenty of time spent swimming, kayaking, and hiking.

B.A. Mount Holyoke College, M. Ed. Rutgers University

Nina Fitzgerald is the Lower School art teacher. Mrs. Fitzgerald has been on the staff at The Wilberforce School since 2017, and has been a Wilberforce parent since 2014. Mrs. Fitzgerald received a B.A. in Art History and Elementary Education from Mount Holyoke College where she also studied Studio Art. While teaching elementary school in North Brunswick, Mrs. Fitzgerald continued her studies at Rutgers University where, in 1990, she earned her Master's degree in Educational Administration. She is married and lives in Lawrenceville with her husband Frank. They have three daughters: Nina, Anya and Sofie. Anya and Sofie are both graduates of Wilberforce School. Mrs. Fitzgerald is feeling very blessed to be able to share her love of art with our students at The Wilberforce School!

B.M. University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music

Mrs. Sarah Forrester recently relocated from northern California to New Jersey and feels blessed to be a part of The Wilberforce School. Mrs. Forrester has over 15 years of experience teaching choir, voice, music theory, and theater. She has also been the musical director and director for various school musicals over the years, including Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Sound of Music. Mrs. Forrester lives in Ringoes with her husband and two children.

B.F.A. Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, O.Dip. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Mrs. Fung brings an inspiring combination of charisma, experience, and creativity to her theatre and Mandarin classes. Her specialty in creating student productions of Shakespeare plays has broken down the barrier of difficult language and encouraged the embrace of public speaking for many students. In addition to Shakespeare, Mrs. Fung brings more modern classical works to life in her 12th Grade productions and through her own script-writing and editing. In her language classes, the study of Mandarin comes alive through personal stories of Chinese culture and real-life applications. Mrs. Fung has twenty plus years of teaching experience, beginning with her own children's homeschooling education and extending through the local homeschool community and The Wilberforce School.

B.A. Messiah College, M.Ed. George Fox University

Mrs. Ganey's joined the Wilberforce School in 2014 and she began teaching Class Five in 2016. Prior to coming to Wilberforce Mrs. Ganey taught middle and high school Language Arts for 12 years in both Oregon and Pennsylvania. One of Mrs. Ganey's passions is to help students mature in their personal responsibilities and help them to take ownership of their education and so ready them to make the transition from Lower School to Middle School. Mrs. Ganey, her husband and two children live in Pennsylvania. In her free time, Mrs. Ganey loves to travel and work on her photography skills.

B.A. Eastern University

Anna is the Physical Education teacher for Lower School as well as the E1 Aide. For the last twenty-five years, she has had the privilege of investing in and training students through coaching sports, lead teaching and aiding in elementary schools, as well as directing children’s ministry in the church. She has been working alongside her husband and their three kids to plant and establish a church in Robbinsville, NJ since 2010.

B.S. Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Mrs. Greco has been the Explorers One teacher at Wilberforce since 2013. She absolutely loves teaching and exploring with our youngest students! Cheryl invests in building habits, sparking joy in learning, and nurturing faith in her students. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She is an ordained minister and missionary with the Assemblies of God and has lived in CostaRica and Mexico. She has 3 adult children and 8 grandchildren. Outside of teaching Cheryl enjoys reading, walking, biking and buying shoes!

B.A. Wheaton College

Jen is delighted to find herself at Wilberforce, after a season as a stay-home mom and active volunteer for church and school! Prior to that, she has worn lots of hats working in marketing agencies and corporate settings, but the ones she loves best are the opportunities she has serving her church in music and worship. Jen is a Chicago native, and graduate of Wheaton College, and she feels privileged to support staff, faculty, students, and parents as they pursue Christ in the work of education and discipleship.

B.S. Northwestern University; Ed.M. Harvard University

Irene Hahn joins the Upper School faculty as our 10th Grade and 12th Grade Chemistry teacher. With over 25 years of teaching high school chemistry at both introductory and advanced levels, Irene brings a wealth of experience to her classrooms. A graduate of both Northwestern University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Irene is certified as a secondary school chemistry teacher in California, Illinois, and New Jersey (with advanced standing). Irene and her family attend Stone Hill Church, and she is passionate about helping students learn as they joyfully discover God's beauty and creativity through the study of chemistry.

B.S. Cairn University

Rebecca Hailstone graduated from Cairn University with a B.A. in Secondary Social Studies Education and Biblical Studies. She taught middle and high school students for the following 6 years. Rebecca joins The Wilberforce School as the Admissions Assistant but has been part of the greater Wilberforce community for many years. Her husband works as a Middle and Upper School math teacher and coach, allowing Rebecca to see the school from a variety of perspectives before becoming a staff member herself.

Rebecca is excited to help bring new families into the Wilberforce community and partner together to raise up children as they navigate life while being enveloped into the school culture of grace and truth.

B.S. Cairn University, M.A. Villanova University

Wayne Hailstone has been part of the Wilberforce community since 2016. He loves teaching mathematics to Middle and Upper School students. Recently, he received a master's in mathematics from Villanova University. When not contemplating abstract ideas, Wayne occasionally accompanies the Wilberforce School choirs on the piano. Music has been an important hobby throughout his life, and he received a Minor in Music during his undergraduate studies at Cairn University. Outside of school, Wayne hikes and camps with his wife Rebecca in the national parks and wherever they can find a good view in the northeast. He and his wife have a son and a daughter.

B.F.A. Pratt Institute, M.A.T. New Mexico State University

As the child of two ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers, Mrs. Harrington grew up in a Cuban community in Miami, Florida, and learned to speak Spanish at an early age. She has a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Spanish, and has been a Spanish educator for more than 20 years. Before coming to Wilberforce, Mrs. Harrington worked at Plumstead Christian School, where she pioneered a Spanish elementary school program, developed a Spanish Advanced Placement course, and organized several missions trips to the Dominican Republic. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, and enjoys spending as much time as possible with her sons and their families.

B.A. University of Valley Forge

Niki joins the Wilberforce family with 19 years of experience in education. With a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from University of Valley Forge, Niki has taught in various environments including a boys' behavioral school, a Christian school, and a public school working with elementary students with autism and multiple disabilities. Niki lives in Robbinsville with her husband, Kevin, and their 3 daughters. She is most excited to come back into Christian education and to be part of a school family that emphasizes and supports educating the whole child.

B.A. University of Northern Colorado, Post-Bac Liberty University

Mrs. Michelle Huxel returns to the Wilberforce faculty to teach Class Five again this year. Prior to teaching at Wilberforce, Michelle started her teaching career as a Physical Education/Health teacher who taught at the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels. She then transitioned to becoming a classroom teacher and has taught both fourth and fifth grade. Michelle and her husband TJ have two daughters both of them attend Wilberforce. Michelle and her family love to travel and be active outdoors. She also enjoys playing tennis as much as possible! Her greatest passion, however, is teaching children and watching them grow in the gifts that God has given them.

B.A. Grove City College, Ph.D. New York University

Dr. James teaches Humane Letters and coaches Debate. Before coming to Wilberforce, Dr. James taught at Monmouth University and New York University, where he wrote his dissertation on Chaucer's indebtedness to Medieval Latin literature. He is a deacon at Community Bible Church.

B.A. Montclair State University

Mrs. Katie Joo is grateful to join The Wilberforce School as the Class One Aide. Katie has a growing passion for educating the next generation and has been working with children in many different capacities since 2010. She, with her husband and 3 young children, are currently church planters of King’s Covenant Church in central New Jersey. When she is not serving in Family Ministry, meeting up with fellow sisters, or creating sermon graphics for King’s Covenant, Katie enjoys reading, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors with her family.

B.S. Virginia Tech

Dianne Kling is excited to be a Co-Teacher of the Explorers One Class. She has over 25 years of experience teaching preschoolers through Sunday School and various Christian preschools. She loves seeing the joy and excitement of young children as they start to explore the world around them. Dianne has a B.S in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia Tech. She initially worked in the banking industry as a Systems Analyst in New York, but truly found her calling when she became a mother and has been working with "the littles" ever since. She is married to Rick and has three adult children. For recreation, she enjoys sailing, skiing, hiking, biking and beaching with her family.

A.A & B.A. Fashion Institute of Technology

Mary was born and raised in Queens, New York City. She earned her degrees in Communication Arts and in Graphic Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She was the Director of Marketing & Design at a prestigious construction management firm in Manhattan and brings over 18 years of design experience. Mary is also the founding member and Creative Director of 14+ Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to build and operate schools and orphanages in rural African communities. Mary, her husband, and their four children left behind all that was familiar to begin a new life in New Jersey because they felt a calling to root their children more deeply in the faith so they can learn to live as countercultural believers in the world. She has a passion for creating beautiful things and event planning for close friends and family. Mary is looking forward to bringing her design eye, social media savvy, and her love for creative storytelling to Wilberforce.

B.A., Post-Bac Wellesley College

Mrs. Caroline Lee joined the Wilberforce Lower School faculty in 2017. Before coming to Wilberforce, Mrs. Lee advised high school students in the Bay Area, taught sixth graders outside of Boston, and briefly homeschooled. In this season of life, she enjoys working with those in the Grammar Stage when foundations and habits are established, when curiosity is endless, and when enthusiasm for God's word is infectious. She is excited to serve as the Lower Grammar Lead Teacher and also partner with families as an aide to help our first graders joyfully discover and thrive here at The Wilberforce School.

B.A. Barnard College, M.A. Teachers College, Columbia University

Mrs. Sarah Lee initially joined the Wilberforce community as a parent, and went on to assume various roles supporting the Lower School before becoming a full-time teacher. Her previous experience lies in designing and developing instructional content for various industries. She enjoys applying her knowledge and skills to serve our young learners in training.

B.S. University of Pennsylvania

Jennifer grew up in NJ and received her BS in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. She eventually grew to love Philadelphia (it can take a few years) and remained there for a few years working as a nurse on a post-surgical floor. This worked out well because she met her husband who was studying for his MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary right outside Philadelphia. After a few years, they moved back to NJ and had three daughters. She currently works at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she has been caring for premature/ill newborns for over five years. Between her own children, NICU babies, and the Wilberforce students, Jen feels called to nurture and care for the little humans made in His image.

B.A. Rutgers University, M.A. University of Maryland, Ph.D. University of Maryland

Dr. Janet Madigan teaches Upper School Humane Letters to the 10th and 12th grades, and provides leadership to our Middle School debate team. Since receiving her doctorate in political philosophy from the University of Maryland, Dr. Madigan has worked as a lecturer in Princeton University's Politics Department. A mother of five who homeschooled her children for 15 years, Dr. Madigan firmly believes in the intrinsic connection between faith and reason. She enjoys spending time with her students discussing great books and pondering questions about truth, beauty, and the meaning of life. Her three younger children have benefited greatly from their Wilberforce education.

B.S. Cairn University

Mrs. Emelie McAlack is thrilled to join the Wilberforce community again! After graduating from Cairn University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, she served as a Lower School aide from 2016-2019. In 2019, she served as the Administrative Assistant to the Provost at Cairn University. She returned to The Wilberforce School in 2022 and is eager to combine her love for early childhood education and her skills in organization and administrative work.

B.A. Cairn University, M.A. Cairn University

Jeremy McAlack has over ten years of full-time pastoral experience and currently oversees the Youth Ministry at Riverstone Church. He is a graduate of Cairn University where he earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Bible with a major in Youth Ministry. He desires to help youth and families cultivate a love for Jesus Christ, a passion for God’s Word, and a devotion to serve others. Jeremy and his wife, Emelie, live in Morrisville, PA with their son, Everett, and daughter, Addilyn.

B.A. University of Pennsylvania

Sarah McLean and her husband, Steve, have been part of the Wilberforce community since 2015 when the oldest of their four children started in Explorers 1. Investing time and energy into the Wilberforce community has always been a source of joy for Steve and Sarah, and she is so grateful to serve this community as a faculty member. Mrs. McLean received her BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania and taught middle school in Philadelphia for several years while earning her MEd. She is involved in the discipleship ministry at their church and has a passion for teaching the Bible, inspiring students to see the truth, beauty and goodness of God through His word.

B.S. University of Delaware, M.S. Rutgers University

Coleen and her family joined the Wilberforce community in 2019 after a decade of homeschooling. Prior to starting a family, she worked as a Registered Dietitian and as an oncology clinical trials Project Manager. After a 15-year hiatus from work outside of the home, Coleen returned to the workforce and eventually God led her to a position at The Wilberforce School. She especially enjoys working with the youngest students, celebrating with them as they master new skills and praying with them as they share their love of Jesus. Coleen appreciates any opportunity to read aloud and to share her love of great children’s picture books. As the daughter of a career Naval Officer, Coleen experienced the joy of being a new student in a new school every two years through high school. She has called New Jersey “home” for more than 30 years and now lives in Chesterfield with her husband and two sons.

B.S. Stevens Institute of Technology

Justin is a born and bred New Englander who spent his formative years running his own business, avoiding a Boston accent, and enjoying "real" winters. His non-stop drive for knowledge steered him to an education at Stevens Institute of Technology where he majored in Materials Engineering with a focus on metallurgy. During his graduate research on the Chemical Vapor Deposition of thin films (think potato chip bags and semiconductors), Justin learned he was pretty good at building systems and fixing things. In addition, Justin worked in Residence Life for nine years, helping residents through their college experience. Justin met his wife Victoria during graduate school and they are now parents to two Lower School students, who are entering their third year at Wilberforce. Some of Justin's long-running interests include woodworking, racquetball, model rocketry, biking, making pickles, and music.

B.A. Duke University

Gabrielle grew up in the Princeton area. She has spent her adult life working with youth, teens, and families in the tri-state area to achieve their aspirations, showing Christ’s love through her work in athletics and education. In 2021, she worked at Wilberforce as a substitute teacher. She is now joining the Wilberforce faculty as a Lower School Aide!

B.A. Fordham University, M.A. Fordham University

Mrs. Moscatiello completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in history and medieval studies at Fordham University. She has experience tutoring university students in writing skills and humanities as well as lecturing in history classes. Her strong background in Western history and Latin, and her experience teaching English writing, make her an excellent fit for History 8, Latin, and our unique Classical Roots class.

B.A. New York University, M.A. Fordham, M.A. Notre Dame

Mr. John Moscatiello holds degrees from NYU, Fordham, and Notre Dame and was a Fulbright Scholar to Spain in 2012. He worked for many years at the Princeton Review, where he taught thousands of students, trained teachers, and wrote content for more than a dozen books. He has also taught in a Christian homeschooling consortium and has led several small groups in his church. In addition to teaching logic, Latin, art history, writing, and theology at Wilberforce, Mr. Moscatiello mentors students in the college counseling office.

B.S. Eastern University

Molly O'Meara graduated from Eastern University in 2010 with degrees in Elementary and Special Education. She has been a part of the Wilberforce community since 2015, previously serving as a Middle School math and science teacher, and Middle School Dean of Girls. After taking time to stay home with her young children, she is now thrilled to be back at Wilberforce as a parent and serving as the Assistant to the Head of the Middle and Upper School.

B.S. William & Mary, M.A.P.E. University of Virginia

In their junior year, all high school students are introduced to MATLAB. MATLAB is a programming language that allows students to manipulate data, design simulations, and create both 2D and 3D graphs of data and algebraic relationships. After students have studied linear motion in the context of MATLAB and in calculus, they build on these understandings in order to complete a study of mechanics - including Newton's laws of motion, energy relationships, motion in two dimensions, and rotational motion. In their senior year, students continue to use MATLAB for modeling while studying universal gravity, oscillations, electricity, and magnetism. MATLAB is also used for 3D graphing in Multivariable Calculus.

B.A. Princeton University, M.A. Relay Graduate School of Education

Ms. Allice Park has been a part of the Wilberforce community as an Explorers 2 teacher since 2022. After graduating from Princeton University in 2020, she joined Teach for America and taught 2nd grade at an all-girls public charter school in Bronx, NY, during which she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Relay Graduate School of Education. During those two years, Ms. Park began to understand the need for and importance of strong God-honoring and Bible-teaching schools and grew a desire to help raise the next generation of disciples through her calling as a teacher. She looks forward to seeing her students’ love for learning and the Lord grow throughout the year! Outside of teaching, Ms. Park serves as part-time staff at her church, King’s Covenant Church, and enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing sports (her favorite is flag football!) with friends.

B.A. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Mrs. Park joined the Wilberforce School as a Class Two teacher in 2008. After teaching second grade in North Carolina public schools, Hyme desired to educate the whole child, particularly by bringing faith instruction into the classroom. Wilberforce gave her that opportunity. She loves teaching with a biblical worldview and being part of a team of like-minded teachers!

B.A. Rutgers University

Jee joined Wilberforce in Explorers Two...as a classroom Aide! This school year marks her tenth, now serving as the Director of Operations. Prior to working at Wilberforce, Jee was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years, and in her past life, she worked in Human Resources for investment banks. Jee and her husband are parents to five children (three in college and two in high school). They cherish these years before becoming empty nesters.

B.A. Princeton University, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Jonathan Pratt is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, he has taught Ancient Greek, Latin, and related subjects to a wide range of students. Since leaving the professoriate, Dr. Pratt has resided with his family in the Princeton area, where he regularly attends Stone Hill Church.

B.S. McMaster University, M.S.E. University of Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Rapacchietta has over a decade of experience teaching mathematics at the secondary school level and is thrilled to be part of the Wilberforce faculty. She hopes to inspire her students to appreciate the beauty of mathematics. Liz is also a Wilberforce parent, with two children in the Lower School. She is happy to teach at Wilberforce where both academic rigor and spiritual growth are embraced.

B.A. Westmont College, M.A.T. Eastern University

Kristy Reardon has been a long-time member of our community as a parent, volunteer and teacher. All four of her children have attended Wilberforce, and she was instrumental in establishing our Parent-Teacher Fellowship. Kristy's past experience includes teaching middle and upper school humanities in an international Christian school in Moscow, Russia as well teaching third grade in an independent school in Washington, DC. As a middle school humanities teacher at Wilberforce, she enjoys sharing her love of history and great literature with her students.

B.A. University of Rhode Island, M.A. Montclair State University

Nicole completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island and received her Masters in Teaching from Montclair State University. As a military spouse, she has taught in different elementary schools in various states as well as homeschooled her children. Mrs. Reynolds and her family are looking forward to post-Navy life and being part of the Wilberforce community.

B.S., U.S. Naval Academy, M.B.A., Florida Institute of Technology

Walter serves as our school's Athletic Director, a Middle School science teacher, and a coach. He has also taught Middle School Math. Walter joined the Wilberforce faculty after completing 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy. In the Navy, Walt served as a helicopter pilot, a helicopter instructor pilot, and an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. His final tour was as the Officer in Charge at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, NJ. Walter holds a degree in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Masters in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology. Outside of Wilberforce, he enjoys playing sports with his four kids, taking trips to the beach, and hiking.

B.A. Princeton University, M.S. Cairn University, M.Div. Gordon Conwell Seminary, D.Min. Gordon Conwell Seminary

Karen Ristuccia has worked at The Wilberforce School since its beginning, first as Board member, then as teacher and administrator, and now as faculty mentor. Karen loves both seeing students grow as writers and thinkers and teachers develop as scholars and leaders. When not at Wilberforce, Karen, alongside her husband Matt, leads Linden Grove Ministries, a mentoring ministry for Christian leaders throughout the world. Closer to home, Karen (and Matt) love swimming, reading, and playing with their five grandchildren.

B.A. Princeton University,  M.Div. Trinity

Mrs. Sallade became a Wilberforce parent in 2008, two of her children have graduated from Wilberforce, and one is currently in the Upper School. Mrs. Sallade serves as the Middle School Dean of Girls. She also teaches Literature and Bible/Theology classes to various grade levels. She received her BA from Princeton University and her Master of Divinity from Trinity. Prior to joining the Wilberforce faculty, Mrs. Sallade worked alongside her husband on the ministry staff team of the Princeton Christian Fellowship. She is a member of Stone Hill Church in Princeton.

B.A. Vanderbilt University

Ben Schellack grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. He earned his B.A. in Classics from Vanderbilt University after which he taught ESL and Public Speaking at Phillips Academy - Andover's Summer Session. He spent the next year in Italy studying Second Temple Judaism and Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical Gregorian University. While in Rome, Ben had the opportunity to study Latin with Father Reginald Foster, the Pope's chief Latinist. He moved to New Jersey where he began an MDiv at Princeton Seminary, met his wife, and founded Penstock Coffee. Ben began teaching Latin and Humanities at The Wilberforce School in 2010.

B.A. The College of New Jersey, M.A. The College of New Jersey

Barb Seidle joined The Wilberforce School during the 2011-12 school year. She is the Upper Grammar Lead Teacher and teaches Class Four. She is married and raised four children into adulthood. Prior to joining our community, Barb homeschooled her children and served in youth ministry for many years. Barb enjoys sharing her great loves with her students which include reading great books, exploring nature, and the study of history. She also enjoys writing, cooking, and hiking (especially when it's downhill).

B.S. Calvin College, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Steen has been a Wilberforce parent since 2007 and has taught at Wilberforce since 2014. She currently teaches Middle School science and Upper School biology. Before teaching, Sharri earned a PhD in molecular biology from Baylor College of Medicine, performed post-doctoral research at Princeton University, and worked as a medical writer for the pharmaceutical industry. She is married and has two children, both of whom started at Wilberforce as Explorers. Sharri is passionate about sharing her love for biology and about, together with students, pondering the connections between faith and science. As an enthusiastic writer, she also enjoys leading the middle school creative writing club.

B.A. Trinity College - Hartford, M.A. University of Cambridge

Clifford joins Wilberforce with a varied breadth of experience in ministry and education and a strong focus on pastoral care, spiritual leadership, and teaching. He has served as Vicar, Associate Minister, and Chaplain in both the U.S. and U.K., where he led ministries, managed significant restoration projects in historic churches, and strengthened community outreach programs. In his educational roles, he served as Head of Theology at Kingham Hill School and Chaplain at Monmouth School, where he taught theology, philosophy, history, bible, and coached a few rowing teams along the way. Clifford himself was an avid rower, having competed in the Henley Royal Regatta. He is married to Katharine, has five children, and is a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford (B.A. in Philosophy) and the University of Cambridge (M.A. in Theology).

B.A. Roberts Wesleyan College, M.Ed. McGill University

Mrs. Sarah Tink joined the Wilberforce School in January 2024. Before coming to Wilberforce, Mrs. Tink taught Special Education in public school for over 30 years. Mrs. Tink is excited to apply her passion for meeting the unique needs of students to the Reading Support program at Wilberforce. She is also committed to helping her students grow in their love and knowledge of Christ.

MEng University of Bath

Mrs. Alex Vardeman is excited to share STEM studies with our middle school and high school students. A native of England and a mechanical engineer, Mrs. Vardeman teaches our Middle School Science and Upper School Math. She also serves as Middle School Girl's Dean. Mrs. Vardeman affirms our mission’s union of academic excellence with Christian conviction. Mrs. Vardeman and her husband have 3 children and live in Belle Mead.

B.A. University of Tennessee, M.S. University of Tennessee

Mrs. Julia Wallace has been a Class Three teacher at Wilberforce for over a decade. Before joining the faculty in 2010, Mrs. Wallace taught fifth grade in North Brunswick, New Jersey, after graduating with her Masters of Education from the University of Tennessee. Her children, a son and twin daughters, are all young Wilberforce scholars, and her son is already leagues ahead of her in Latin. Salve, magistra! Outside of work, Mrs. Wallace enjoys reading mystery novels, running through the park, and watching cooking shows.

B.A. Syracuse University

Tina White became a Wilberforce parent in 2015 and quickly became an active member of the Parent Teacher Fellowship. Before joining the Wilberforce staff, Tina worked as a Surface Pattern Designer in New York City’s home furnishings industry, creating designs for bedding, rugs, and wallcoverings, and traveling to print mills to oversee production. In 2007, Tina discovered her passion for working with children while teaching at a pottery studio during the summers. After her sons were born, she began teaching at St. James Nursery School, where she developed a new curriculum for their toddler program and taught children ages 3-5. Tina also dedicated over 10 years to teaching religious education classes for students in grades 1-8 at her church. Even though her two sons have graduated from Wilberforce, Tina continues to enjoy her role as the After School Coordinator, which allows her to work with students of all ages.

B.A. Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; M.B.A. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Howe Whitman, Jr. is Head of The Wilberforce School. He and his wife, Brenda, have four children, all of whom attend or have graduated from The Wilberforce School. They are also co-founders of The Wilberforce School. Howe worked in real estate development and investment for the JBG Companies in Washington, DC. Before his work in real estate, he served as executive assistant to Chuck Colson, the founder and Chairman of Prison Fellowship Ministries. He holds a BA from the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

B.A. Rutgers University, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Wille has been teaching Math and Chemistry at Wilberforce since 2014. He earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and completed postdoctoral studies at Princeton University. Dr. Wille brings to Wilberforce a wealth of experience after working in the chemical industry for 13 years. He enjoys running and is an avid reader of military history. Dr. Wille lives in Robbinsville with his wife and son. He also serves as a deacon at Hope Presbyterian Church.

B.S. Illinois State University, M.S. University of Southampton, Ph.D. University of Colorado

Dr. Willett earned her doctorate in aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado as a fellow of the NASA Graduate Student Researchers’ Project. She also holds a Master’s degree in ocean physics from the University of Southampton, England, and a Bachelor’s degree in applied computer science from Illinois State University. In addition, Dr. Willett brings with her several years’ experience teaching both high school physics in a Christian school setting, and courses in aerospace engineering to undergraduate students at the University of Colorado. Before teaching, her post-doctoral work in atmospheric physics was under Dr. Judith Curry, and she worked designing, launching, and operating satellites that monitor geophysical earth elements. She enjoys bringing real world examples from her previous work into her classroom. Dr. Willett will be teaching Upper School calculus classes and an introductory MATLAB section for the10th grade.

B.A. College of William & Mary, M.A. The American University

Kerry is delighted to serve as the Director of Admissions. She and her husband Wes have five children attending The Wilberforce School. Kerry is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and she also completed a masters degree in International Development at The American University. Kerry comes to Wilberforce with a wealth of experience and knowledge of Classical Education and Charlotte Mason pedagogy, along with a passion for sharing these educational approaches. Kerry has led and directed a variety of educational teams, serving as director for a Suzuki group, a Charlotte Mason Co-op, and an instructor at English Now Institute (for international students and families). Kerry also worked as the Assistant Director of Outreach and Coordinator of Immigrant Ministry for a church in Falls Church VA.

Ph.D. New Jersey Institute of Technology

Originally from Shanghai, China, Fei came to the United States twenty years ago as an international student. With a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she has dedicated much of her career to research and program management. Alongside her professional pursuits, she has taught Sunday school classes, which deepened her appreciation for nurturing young minds. She is delighted to join the Wilberforce School community. Fluent in both Chinese and English, Fei has embraced the unique perspectives of both cultures and looks forward to sharing her cross-cultural understanding with our Mandarin students.

B.A. Rutgers University, M.Ed. Rutgers University

Irving has been a part of the Wilberforce faculty since 2011, and he currently serves as the Middle School Director and Math Department Chair. He is passionate about the Middle School community and the privilege it is to walk with families through these formative years.

B.A. Calvin College, M.A. Westminster Seminary California

This semester Mrs. Kristen Yonkman will be working with our Middle and Upper School art students. Kristen, familiar to us not only as the mother of two Wilberforce Lower School students but also as an active volunteer, has a BA from Calvin College (Major: Art/Philosophy and Minor: Art History) and an MS from Westminster Seminary (Major: Systematic Theology). She has tutored university students (writing, Calvin College) and spoken to them on art (Cairn University). In addition to her commitment to art, Kristen loves sports and young athletes. She has coached track and soccer in various locations, and has worked in Physical Education both at the Hamilton YMCA and at the Windsor Athletic Club. We look forward to all Kristen will add to our Upper School culture.

B.A. Calvin College, M.Div. Westminster Theological California

Mr. Yonkman is the pastor of Grace OPC in Hamilton, NJ, where he has served as a pastor since 2010. As the parents of two Lower School children, Travis and his wife Kristen (our Middle and Upper School art teacher) have been a part of the Wilberforce community ever since they enrolled their two children in Explorers 1 beginning in 2015. Travis is a graduate of Calvin College (BA in Religion with minors in Ancient Greek and Philosophy, 2005). He is also a graduate of Westminster Seminary California (MDiv. 2008). After seminary, he received a full-time pastoral internship in the Washington D.C. area, where he lived for almost two years until being called to New Jersey. Travis has worked with youth groups, and he is passionate about working with our Middle and Upper School students.

B.A. Rowan University, M.Div. Biblical Theological Seminary, Th.M. Princeton Theological Seminary

Throughout his years at Wilberforce, Mr. Young has taught various subjects including theology and literature. Currently, Mr. Young teaches Middle School History and Upper School Humane Letters. As an Upper School Dean, Mr. Young is passionate about mentoring students and community building. In his free time, Mr. Young enjoys being outdoors with his family, playing sports, as well as painting historical miniatures. Mr. Young and his wife have been actively serving at a local church since 2008.

B.A. Dushanbe State Pedagogical University

Anna Zaynidinova has been a part of the Wilberforce parent community since 2015 and joined the faculty in 2022. Her two oldest children have graduated from Wilberforce, and two more are currently in the Lower and Middle school. Having worked in education and communication with people of different ages and cultural backgrounds for many years, she’s excited to share the joy of learning in the Lord with Explorers Two.