Introducing the Faculty Leaders of 2019-2020

Congratulations to the Faculty Leaders of 2019-2020 who demonstrate excellence and devotion in their service to our School. We have two faculty leaders, and one Penny Nicholson Staff Award recipient:

Rachel Annunziata
Middle School Math | Fifth Grade Team Leader | Faculty Leader

A graduate of American University, Rachel started at Greenhill in 2014 as a Carter Teaching Fellow, and the following year, continued her career in Middle School math.

“In my reflective moments, I think it was actually fate that brought me to Greenhill. But in reality at the time, it happened because it was the school that called me, flew me across the country, and offered me a job. I started in 2014 as a fourth grade fellow. That year pushed me out of my comfort zone, both personally and professionally, and afterwards, I was lucky enough to stay on in Middle School. So for me, the question isn’t why I teach at Greenhill – but why do I stay at Greenhill. The answer is simple. I stay because I believe in the mission and values of the school; I stay because I’m surrounded by people who are passionate about education, equity and inclusion, and social emotional learning, just like I am; I stay because my students are truly remarkable, in the risks they are willing to take and the ideas they are willing to pursue. The relationships I have with my students are unlike any I had with my teachers growing up. I stay because it is teacher heaven with constant professional development opportunities... but most importantly, I stay at Greenhill because it is my chosen family. I even met my fiancé here!”


Amy Kasten Bresie ’96, Ph.D.
Upper School History | Department Chair | Faculty Leader

Amy first “met” Greenhill in the summer of 1982 when her father, beloved Greenhill Legend and English teacher Dan Kasten, interviewed and began his prolific career at our School. That set in motion the events that shaped Amy’s entire educational life.

“I can unequivocally say that going to Greenhill changed the course of my life. Doors opened to me that I could not even have imagined. More importantly, I met teachers who believed in me so much that I began to believe in myself—Marilyn Stewart, Christine Eastus, Becky Daniels, Sue Roman to name a few… As I finished up my doctorate, I had to choose between life inside or outside academia. The decision was a no brainer—I wanted to work at an independent school where I could give to students what had been given to me. I wanted to spend my career at a school like Greenhill. And when my father called me to tell me about an open position at Greenhill, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else anywhere else.”


Mel Curtis
Preschool & Summer on the Hill Office Coordinator | Greenhill Legend | Penny Nicholson Award Recipient

Mel Curtis started at Greenhill in the early 1980s as an Upper School office assistant. A few years later, she transferred to Advancement to help break ground in the “new” field of data management, and just last year, transferred again to Preschool office coordination.

“Since it is Greenhill’s year of discovery, I want to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share an important thing I have discovered about myself. I confirmed very early on that I loved education, and that I knew how to put in a full day of meaningful work. What I discovered, over the years, is that I knew very little about service. A quote from Douglas Adams states, “To give real service you must add something that cannot be bought or measured with money, and that’s sincerity and integrity.” I knew how to volunteer, but I had a whole lot to learn about the true value and meaning of service. Penny Nicholson, for whom the award I won is named, knew a lot about dedicated service and it showed in all her daily interactions. I want to say thank you, and also remind you and myself that richly rewarding benefits come from learning experiences that abound here, and are for the taking for each of you, as well as your children.”
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