Head of School
Chad B. Small
Interim Head of School
508-228-0427 | csmall@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
After heading an independent day school in Rumson, NJ for 25 years, Chad and his wife Susan “retired” to Orleans, MA, where Susan has spent every summer her entire life. They traveled a great deal that first year; however, Chad started to miss school life. So, he first became the Interim Head of School at Children’s School on the Upper West Side in NYC. The following year he was the Interim at Beacon Hill Nursery School in Boston, MA. Finally, Chad ran Cape Cod Academy for a year and a half. Chad is excited to be at Nantucket Lighthouse School and looks forward to moving forward during the 2022-2023 school year.
Lead Teachers
Shannon Bell
Student Success Coordinator
508-228-0427 | sbell@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Alana Cullen
Small School Teacher
508-228-0427 | acullen@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.A. English Communications and Anthropology, Salve Regina University, Newport RI
Relevant Experience:
Responsive Classroom Training
Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Training
Sunbridge Institute Intensive
Alana Cullen graduated from Salve Regina University with a B.A. in English Communications and Anthropology. She has worked with children for over 20 years. Becoming a Nantucket Lighthouse School parent in 2013, Alana fell in love with the Lighthouse school community and philosophy of educating the whole child, while weaving arts and nature into everyday life and learning. Alana immensely enjoys teaching Small School, and you'll often hear her proclaim, "They're the most important years!" She aims to "do small things with great love." Alana and her husband, Marcus, enjoy biking and swimming with their two sons. In her free time, Alana enjoys yoga, gardening, and reading.
Maggie Christakos
2nd Grade Teacher
508.228.0427 | mchristakos@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Maggie graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Education in Human Development & Psychology. Before returning to Nantucket, Maggie worked at the CREST Lab / Renee Crown Wellness Institute with a research focus on mental health among women, children, and families at the University of Colorado Boulder. On Nantucket, Maggie has enjoyed being a substitution teacher at the Nantucket New School and Nantucket Lighthouse School. She’s taught yoga and meditation and facilitated energy work. She is overjoyed to be part of the NLS community.
Allison Gayo
Small School Teacher
508-228-0427 | agayo@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.A. Psychology, Vassar College
Relevant Experience:
Responsive Classroom Training
Sunbridge Foundations of Waldorf Education
Teaching Assistant & Extended Day Teacher at NLS
Maria Mitchell Environmental Education Camp
Allison grew up in Northern New Jersey and studied at Vassar College, in the lush Hudson Valley of New York, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. At Vassar, Allison found her passion for the natural world while working at a local farm dedicated to community, education, and food justice.
After graduating in 2014, Allison traveled to Nantucket for the first time, to teach environmental education at the Maria Mitchell Association and quickly fell in love with the magic of the island community! She actually learned about the Lighthouse School through several of my campers singing the Morning Poem! As Allison learned more, she became enamored with the integrated curriculum and “head, heart, hand” philosophy.
Allison balances her passions for creative education, teaching at the Lighthouse School, and caring for plants at Surfing Hydrangea nursery in the summer. In her free time, Allison loves being outside- running and exploring the island’s endless beauty; or at home- reading, cooking, and creating art with friends.
Jessica Grant
Small School Teacher
508-228-0427 | jgrant@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, Keene State College in New Hampshire
Master's in Special Education, Keene State College in New Hampshire
CJ Stephens
3rd Grade Teacher
508.228.0427 | cjstephens@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
CJ has a deep history as an art teacher and is looking forward to integrating art and her skills as an artist into her new classroom. CJ has spent many years in the NY public school system teaching a variety of learners from various backgrounds. She has most recently been at a Montessori school and is looking forward to heading her own classroom.
Amanda Torchia
1st Grade Teacher
508-228-0427 | atorchia@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Early Childhood Education Certificate Amanda moved to Nantucket in 2007 and immediately fell in love with its natural beauty, unique sense of community, and peaceful atmosphere. These are some of the same attributes that have drawn her to NLS. During her time on Nantucket, Amanda has cared for many children and has taught in a variety of school settings, from Preschool through Kindergarten. She comes to us with over ten years of teaching experience, her Early Childhood Education Certificate, and Montessori Training. She loves to share her passions for art and music with children. In her free time, Amanda particularly enjoys embroidery, making music with friends, and going on bike rides with her daughter.
Montessori Training
Caitlin Tyler
4th/5th Grade Teacher
508-228-0427 | ctyler@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.A. East Asian History & Buddhist Studies, Lewis & Clark College Caitlin is a writer, teacher and mother. A native Nantucketer, she discovered her love for travel and cross-cultural connections early on and has lived and worked in Oregon, Italy, Kenya, Greece, Vietnam and Japan. She taught young children while in Kenya and college-aged students while in Vietnam. When she moved back to the island with her future husband in 2013, she was thrilled to take a job teaching 5th/6th grade at NLS. The school’s commitment to fostering empathy, emotional growth, and reverence for the innate wisdom of the child struck a deep chord. After taking time to have and raise her own children, Caitlin is honored to be returning to Lighthouse as the Upper Primary teacher. She loves to read, write, cook, and swim.
M.F.A. Poetry, Washington University, St. Louis
Allison Johnson
Reading Specialist
508-228-0427 | ajohnson@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.A. Psychology, Chapman University, CA
M.A. Teaching, K-12, Chapman University, CA
Orton-Gillingham Reading Specialist
Allison Johnson graduated from Chapman University with a Masters of Arts in Teaching, K-12. After spending eight years in California as a Director of Teddy Bear Treehouse preschool, she moved to Nantucket to be closer to her family and her hometown of Yarmouth, MA. On island, Allison has taught kindergarten, first grade, and third grade. When her daughter attended the Lighthouse School for second grade, Allison discovered that she wanted to know more about the school. She saw first-hand the magic of LHS as her daughter became a more confident person and developed a love of learning through the caring and guidance of exceptional teachers.
Allison has always loved the remarkable growth that happens when children learn to read. Her own children’s learning challenges inspired her to further her education, acquiring the skills needed to teach dyslexic children. After completing training in Orton Gillingham, she was compelled to reach all students that needed a more specialized approach to learning how to read. In her spare time Allison enjoys being a lifelong learner, reading, traveling, as well as being in nature and walking through the State Forest with her three children, Curren, Avalon, and Bodie.
“It is my great pleasure to work with such talented teachers at Nantucket Lighthouse School as the Reading Specialist.”
Camp Director & P.E. Teacher
T.J. Grant
Spanish & P.E. Teacher
508-228-0427 | tgrant@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
TJ grew up on Nantucket and has spent the past 15 years working with children of all ages. TJ spent 10 years at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club as Program Director before moving on to Nantucket New School and Strong Wings, where he spent the past 5 years as P.E. Teacher, Director of After-School Programming, and Director of Nantucket New Camp. TJ draws his inspiration for teaching and empowering our island's youth from mentors he had growing up on island and most of all, his mother. TJ found his passion for teaching P.E. and Spanish from the time he spent volunteering abroad in Lima, Perú. In his free time, TJ enjoys any adventure he can find and share with his children.
Music
Nigel Goss
Music Teacher
508-228-0427 | ngoss@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.A. Music, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
Relevant Experience:
Faculty
Nantucket Community Music Center
Nantucket Lighthouse School
Music Director
Unitarian Universalist Church Nantucket
Nigel Goss has been enjoying a career as a musician and teacher on Nantucket Island since 2011. He has performed with local, national, and international musicians, led community ensembles, taught students of all ages, and is privileged to have the opportunity to share his love and experience of music and learning with students at Nantucket lighthouse school. He also enjoys sailing, swimming, poetry, carpentry projects, and spending time with his daughter Cecilia.
Horticulture
Russell Morash
Russell Morash Chair in Childhood Horticulture
As creator, director and executive producer, Russell Morash is credited with introducing the “how-to” concept to public television through his many award-winning series including “The Victory Garden,” “The French Chef with Julia Child” and “This Old House,” among others. Russ serves as the Chair of our horticulture studies and as an advisor to our Director of Horticulture.
Russ and his wife Marian, author and founding chef of Nantucket’s Straight Wharf Restaurant, spend summers at their home in Shawkemo. There “he” grows and “she” cooks from a vast vegetable garden. Morash occasionally contributes columns in the Inquirer and Mirror on gardening as well as monthly items for the magazine “Nantucket Today.”
Caren Oberg
Director of Horticulture
508-228-0427 | coberg@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Syracuse University, Bachelor of Arts in Religion, June 1995
Experienced gardener with a strong connection and appreciation of nature and all living beings complimented by a wonderful kind and open relationship with teaching children.
Extended Day
Meg Glidden
Math Teacher & Extended Day Coordinator
508-228-0427 | mglidden@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
B.S. Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
E.M.T. Certification University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Relevant Experience:
Certified Childbirth Educator, Lamaze Method
Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids
Bootstrap Workshop: Using Python to teach Algebra via coding
Responsive Classroom Seminar
A.A.N. Pottery courses; Kiln available to fire student work.
CreateCodeLoad—creative coding via scratch.mit.edu
Sunbridge Foundations of Waldorf Education webinar
Sunbridge Institute
After college Meg moved to Nantucket and worked as an EMT, lab tech and Childbirth Educator. She taught Science at Nantucket Christian Academy. She homeschooled her six children in all subjects for over 20 years. She has an enormous garden and a passion for music, playing both guitar and flute. She loves teaching her students to write computer programs. Meg is thrilled to be working with your kids to discover the wonders of mathematics and the beauty of science. Her current favorite number, also a favorite of the ancient Chaldeans, is 360.
Carol Pillion
Extended Day Teacher
508-228-0427 | cpillion@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Degree in Business Administration, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI
Teacher's Certification | Cape Cod Community College, MA
With a degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, Carol worked for Pacific Bank and Nantucket Bank for twenty years. It was not until 2015, when she received her Teacher Certification from Cape Cod Community College in 2015, that she started working for Nantucket Public Schools, and most recently, Small Friends of Nantucket. In August of 2020, Carol joined Nantucket Lighthouse School as Extended Day Teacher.
Carol has two children and has lived on Nantucket for 32 years. She is active in the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce and Petticoat Row Women in Business on Nantucket.
Administration
Barbara Zachary
Admissions Director & Event Manager
508-228-0427 | bzachary@nantucketlighthouseschool.org
Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH) in Hospitality Management, IUBH University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, Northern Arizona University
After graduating from the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef –Bonn (Germany), Barbara completed a F&B Management Trainee Program at The Ritz Carlton Berlin. She then continued her career in Group & Event Management at The Regent Berlin before moving to Nantucket in 2010. Together with her husband Kyle and their daughter Claire they made Nantucket their home.
Barbara started working for Nantucket Lighthouse School in January of 2014 and has since then enjoyed being part of the school community in various capacities.
In her leisure time, Barbara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and pursues her joy for photography.
