MIDDLE SCHOOL

Faculty

The majority of Ross faculty hold advanced degrees in their specialty areas. They hail from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, thereby adding to the rich tapestry of a Ross education.

Teachers develop close relationships with students, providing a caring and supportive environment where academic excellence, social skills, self-esteem, and respect for others are fostered through cooperative learning and personal development. Small class sizes ensure that each student benefits from mentor relationships with their teachers.

Middle School Faculty

For a complete list of Ross faculty, staff, and leadership, visit our Employees page.

  • Jennifer received her B.S. with a double major in mathematics and adolescence education from Plattsburgh State University, NY. She completed her student teaching requirements in NYC and spent her first three years teaching math at Tito Puente Education Complex, in Manhattan.

    Jennifer earned her M.A. in education with a concentration in leadership of educational organizations from American International University, and she has taken additional graduate coursework through Bank Street College and Stony Brook University. She joined Ross School in 2008, where, in addition to teaching math in Grades 5–12, she has served as a house parent, Field Academy leader, basketball coach, assistant supervisor for the SATs, advisor, and mediation teacher.

    Jennifer serves as faculty tech support on the online learning committee, was named 2020 Teacher of the Year, and is a Tech Savvy Math Teacher for Grades 5–PG. She is a mother to two beautiful boys, grew up in East Hampton, NY, and now loves living in Sag Harbor.

  • Diana Chong is a Wellness teacher for Ross Middle and High School as well as the Assistant Coach for the Varsity Volleyball team and Coach for Middle School volleyball. Diana received her Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts from Suffolk Community College, her B.S. in Physical Education from Coastal Carolina University, and her M.A. in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.

    Prior to Ross, Diana worked at Longwood Middle School as a teaching assistant and volleyball coach, where she led her team to become the 2022 Co-League Champions and received Coach of the Year awards at both the JV and Varsity levels.

    Her goal as a wellness teacher is to inspire and educate her students so that they are motivated and equipped to live an active and healthy lifestyle. During her spare time, Diana likes spending time with her children, traveling, and playing beach volleyball. She also coaches beach volleyball for Suffolk County SWAT Beach Volleyball.

  • Grace Dow is a Literature Teacher within the ESOL department. She has been teaching at Ross School since 2022, working with students in Grades 8–12 at Ross Upper School in East Hampton.

    Grace received two degrees from Kutztown University—a bachelor’s in the science of education with a concentration

    in English and a master’s in education with a focus on literacy. While studying, Grace was a member of the Kutztown University field hockey team, and she remains involved in the sport by coaching for a local club team.

    Prior to Ross, Grace worked at Reading Central Middle School in Reading, PA, as a reading specialist for Grades 5–8.

    In her spare time, Grace enjoys reading, fishing, swimming, and practicing yoga.

  • Mark returned to Ross in 2022, after having served as the Dean of Student Activities and the AP English Literature Teacher at BASIS International School Shenzhen for four years. In his twenty years at Ross, Mark has held roles as the Co-Director of Curriculum and Professional Development, the Dean of English and World Languages, and the Ninth Grade Team Leader. Mark is a native of Virginia and holds a Masters Degree in English Education from Teachers College-Columbia University.

  • Nancy earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and History from Boston College and her M.S. in Reading from Long Island University at Southampton. Nancy has taught elementary grades in a variety of private and public schools. In addition to teaching, she is also an ADHD coach, supporting students and families dealing with executive function issues and ADHD. Nancy works with students and parents privately and has presented several workshops for both parent groups and teachers on the subject. Building and supporting the community has always been an important value to Nancy. While raising her four daughters, she has served her local community on various boards and youth-related activities to model the importance of community responsibility. Nancy currently teaches Grade 5 Math, Cultural History, and World Languages and Literature at Ross School.

  • Adam Judd started his career at Otterbein College, where he received his B.F.A. in musical theater in 1998, followed by his master's of music in choral conducting at Ohio State University, graduating from both schools with an average GPA of 3.96. He was guest conductor of the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and has taught general music, choir, band, and orchestra in Grades 1–12. Adam is also active as a composer, arranger, and vocalist.

  • Hailey is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about sustainable nutrition and has worked in the field of education and childhood nutrition for over 16 years. She earned her master's degree in nutrition science from Syracuse University, and her postgraduate work was completed at Keene State in New Hampshire.

    Having served as the Wellness Coordinator, Nutrition Specialist, and Domain Chair at Ross from 2001–2008, Hailey returned to Ross in 2013 after serving as Wellness Educator at the Ramaz School in New York City from 2008–2013. Hailey runs Nutrition Dragon, a holistic nutrition consulting practice and event catering business. Hailey is a contributing author and childhood nutrition expert for Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children, with world-renowned school lunch expert Ann Cooper. Hailey has received awards from the NY State Assembly for bridging the gap between schools and farms and for excellence in nutrition education, and her work has been featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

  • Ria Meng has been teaching Mandarin at Ross School since 2017. She currently instructs classes at the Upper School for Grades 5–12.

    Ria received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and her master’s degree in Learning Sciences and Technologies from the University of Pennsylvania. Having moved from China to the United States, she brings a diverse background in translation, curriculum design, and language education to her role. She also is a passionate advocate for international students and families. In addition to teaching, Ria enjoys meditation, traveling, and winter sports.

  • Deborah earned her degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She spent many years teaching elementary grades in rural New Hampshire prior to joining Ross. Deborah has presented at numerous conferences on the topic of Early Literacy. She currently teaches both Cultural History and World Languages & Literature at Ross School.

  • Jon received his BFA and MAT/MFA in painting and education from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) then worked as a sculptor, painter, and professor in Baltimore and Manhattan. In 2011, Jon moved his studio to Bridgehampton, NY, and joined Ross School as a Visual Arts teacher, where he has developed new programs in figurative sculpture, woodworking, and metalworking.

    Jon is a self-proclaimed art addict, and his passion for working knows no limits. He has always had a drive and attraction to the arts, and as a child often tried to make art out of anything. Looking back, he loved Legos, model making, painting, Van Gogh, swimming, playing in the woods, working with his hands, James John Audubon, street art, and taking apart yard sale finds to figure out how they were assembled. Mulhern's most recent group show included works by Jackson Pollock and Ellen De Kooning. His work has also been exhibited at many galleries including the Peter Marcelle Project, Sara Nightingale Gallery, Art Southampton, Guild Hall, Southampton Art Center, and George Billis Gallery.

  • Tamara Salkin joins Ross as the Performing Arts Theatre Teacher for Grades 1 through 12, spending time on both campuses. Tamara obtained her master’s degree in Theatre Education from the City College of New York, where she graduated magna cum laude. She has taught in schools and theatre organizations throughout New York City and the East End. In 2017, she co-founded South Fork Performing Arts (SFPA), a non-profit children’s performing arts education organization on the East End. As SFPA’s theatre education director, Tamara produces and directs plays and musicals and teaches theatre workshops throughout the year. She is committed to guiding all students in finding and owning their creativity and encouraging them to use the skills gained in theatre to be kind, conscious, critical thinkers across all their academic subjects and lives. In her free time, Tamara enjoys spending time with her children, Ben (Grade 3) and Abe (K), reading, writing, and traveling.

    “Anyone can do theater, even actors. And, theater can be done everywhere, even in a theater.”–Augusto Boal

  • Samantha Smith is an Upper School Spanish teacher at Ross. She uses her outgoing personality to create lessons that inspire her students to learn the Spanish language. Samantha began her language career teaching corporate English and Italian in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while studying to perfect her Spanish. She went on to pursue a Doctor of Modern Languages in Italian and Spanish through Middlebury College. Her Doctoral Dissertation, La Rivoluzione Futurista: Emancipazione Del Rumore, Esaltazione Jazz Band, explores the influence of American Jazz Music on Italian Futurist Music from 1908–1934. She defended her dissertation in both Italian and Spanish.

    Samantha hopes to help her students genuinely fall in love with the Spanish language and the multitude of Spanish-speaking cultures. In her spare time, she enjoys studying the bible, speaking Italian and Spanish, studying French, and enjoying the Hamptons and NYC with family and friends. She also returns to her other passion, vocal and violin performance, whenever she can.

  • studentsupport@ross.org

    Mark earned his B.A. in Psychology at Wheaton College and his M.Ed. in special education from Vanderbilt University (1999). While at Vanderbilt, he worked in the Reading Clinic and was published for work on the Peer Buddy project. He has also taught at Hunters Bend Elementary School in Franklin, TN, where he worked as Lead Teacher of the Special Education Department and coordinated services with specialists and therapists for students with special needs.

  • Anna received her B.S. in environmental science from Wheaton College, IL, and her M.A. in French literature from San Francisco State University. Prior to coming to Ross, Anna taught for several years in Paris and the French West Indies, and led wilderness adventure expeditions for middle school and high school students throughout the southwestern United States. Anna has also worked in the nonprofit sector, helping to manage sustainable agriculture and HIV education programs in Tanzania.

  • Mark earned his BA from Williams College and his M.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. Mark began teaching at a Quaker school in Philadelphia after graduating from Williams College, with the idea that he would teach for a year and then move on to a “real” career. That was 30 years ago. Mark is blessed with a talent for motivating middle school students and respecting them as thinkers and writers. He returned to his roots on the East End in 2000.

  • Cathy joined Ross School in 2014 as Dean of Wellness. Her interest in wellness education is shaped by her curiosity regarding the role of contemplative and reflective practices in helping to develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physiological resilience in young people.

    Cathy grew up in South Korea, Iran, and Malawi. She studied English literature at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and received her MA in Education in Intercultural Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Ross School, Cathy worked at Walnut Hill School for the Arts as Director of International Programs and at Northfield Mount Hermon School as Director of Multicultural Community Development.

    As a yoga and mindfulness teacher, Cathy hopes to create the space and avenues for young people in the increasingly complex world to understand their strengths and abilities through self-awareness and insight. Cathy is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and trained to teach mindfulness in schools. She also enjoys and values strength and movement training, as well as listening to audio books, cooking, and traveling with her family.