Faculty
Nicole Gebo, Early Learners (Pre-Kindergarten)
Interim Head of School
Director of Enrollment and Operations
Nicole Gebo comes to Academy Hill from the Arbors in East Longmeadow, where she served as Director of the Early Childhood (Infant – PreKindergarten) Program from 2011 – 2020. Nicole earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Elms College in Springfield.
Alison Gauthier, Adventurers (Kindergarten)
Director of Development
Prior to her arrival at Academy Hill, Alison had been with Trinity Nursery School and Kindergarten in Springfield for four years. During the summer, Alison continues to work with young children as the Director of the Pine Knoll Summer Camp in East Longmeadow. Alison possesses both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from American International College. She also holds a Massachusetts Early Childhood Education Certification as a Lead Teacher.
Gwen McNierney, Meerkats (Grades 1 & 2)
Gwen received her B.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies from SUNY Cortland and has her teaching certification from Westfield State University. She has been teaching since 1988 and has worked with children from preschool to grade 6. Gwen has been at Academy Hill since 2005.
Jennifer Grenier, Explorers (Grade 3)
Director of Academics and Students – Lower School
Jennifer received her B.A. in education from Roger Williams University and her M. Ed. from Lesley University. She is also a proud graduate of the class of 2001 at Academy Hill!
Chris Garrity, Trailblazers (Grade 4)
Chris Garrity has extensive experience working with students and families through the May Institute and she taught for several years after earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Westfield State University.
Sharon Desjarlais, Scholars (Grade 5)
Director of Academics and Students – Upper School
Sharon Desjarlais received her B.A. in social and rehabilitation services with a concentration in elementary education from Assumption College and her Master’s degree in elementary education from Westfield State College. She spent four years in the Springfield public schools before being lucky enough to find a position at Academy Hill in 2001. Since then, Sharon has taught grades three through six. She currently teaches grade three.
As a teenager, Sharon had an interest in space and even attended Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. As an adult, Sharon pursued an interest in martial arts and studied Kung Fu for several years. In her spare time now, Sharon enjoys spending time with her children, reading, and gardening.
Joseph Bock, Spanish and Middle School History
Joe Bock received his BA from the University of Connecticut in English and a Master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. He lived 6 years in Bilbao, Spain studying and learning Spanish as well as teaching English as a foreign language to students of all ages. He also organizes home stays for teenagers from Spain for the month of July. He has three children, who are being raised to be bilingual.
Selina Kell, Classics/Latin
Selina Kell has been teaching Latin and the Classical cultures for over 20 years. She received her B.A. in Classics from Barnard College of Columbia University and her Masters in Latin and Classical Humanities with a minor in Greek from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Selina has volunteered with 13 university-sponsored summer archaeological excavations in Italy, Greece, Great Britain and the Middle East.
Selina enjoys the study of new languages and cultures, especially Italian. In her free time, she likes to garden and sing with the Hampshire Choral Society.
Michael Prattico, Physical Education
Michael Prattico grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Keene State College, where he also played Division III college baseball. After graduating in 2016, he began his career in education, gaining experience working with students across a variety of grade levels while also pursuing his passion for coaching basketball and baseball. In 2019, he was named MIAA Coach of the Year after leading his girls’ basketball team to a Western Massachusetts championship and a State Finalist appearance. Outside of education and coaching, Michael enjoys playing golf, staying active, spending time with family, and being around animals—especially dogs, cats, and his favorite, hippopotamuses
Benjamin Rutherford, Music/Chorus
Benjamin graduated from UConn in 2023. He has taught music classes for many years prior to starting here at Academy Hill. His primary instruments are voice and guitar. Outside of school, Ben enjoys playing basketball and collecting sneakers.
Laurie Andruss, Visual Arts
Laurie’s experience includes working at both public and charter schools (special education teacher assistant), private tutoring, and instructing a variety of art classes ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grade. She enjoys teaching drawing, watercolor, sculpture, sequential art, and cartooning. Laurie’s art career began after an apprenticeship with a syndicated cartoonist. Since then, she has worked as a freelance illustrator, with a particular focus on children’s books, comics, and creating visuals for educators.
Alexandra Leonard, After School
