Meet the NEW Kinsella Staff Members
Hilary Brady: 7th/8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Hilary Brady is the new 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher at
Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts. She received her Bachelor's
Degree from Central Connecticut State University in History Education.
Most recently, she received her Master's Degree from the University of
Saint Joseph in Educational Technology. Hilary loves learning about and
teaching history. She is the Vice President of her town's historical society
and participates in various activities throughout the year. Hilary also
works to incorporate technology into her classroom everyday. She is
looking forward to sharing her knowledge with the students of Kinsella!
Luke Bermingham: Dance Teacher
Luke was born and raised in East Granby, CT studying dance in his early
years under the direction of Brenda Barna in Southwick, MA. Upon
graduating magna cum laude from the Hartt School, his professional
credits include dancing for CT based company DancEnlight, The Muny's
production of the King & I, Antonio Brown Dance, Project 44, MadBoots
Dance Co., and Abarukas. Luke most recently danced for Yin Yue Dance
Company as well as Robert Mark Dance in New York City and abroad.
Caitlin Daly: High School English Teacher
Caitlin Daly is eagerly joining the Kinsella Magnet School of Performing
Arts High School as an 11th and 12th grade English teacher this fall.
Caitlin holds Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Hartford in
English Literature and in Secondary Education, and she holds a Masters
degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Saint Joseph.
Before joining the Kinsella family, Caitlin worked for the HPHS Nursing
Academy as an English and Capstone teacher. She's happy to live and
work in the Hartford community.
Eric Davidow: Film Teacher
Eric Davidow is thrilled to be joining Kinsella High School as a Film
Production Teacher. He is excited to start up the first ever TV production
department at Kinsella High School. Eric is a CT native who has been
involved in many film projects through out the state. He comes to Kinsella
with 6 years of production experience, and has a passion for TV media.
He has a love a traveling and has worked in many news stations
throughout the country including PBS, Fox 21, and Fox 61. He has a great
appreciation for the arts as he received his diploma from the Greater
Hartford Academy of the Arts. Before coming to Kinsella Eric worked as a
videographer for News 12 in Norwalk, CT.
Melinda Dix: 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Melinda Dix is the new seventh grade English Language Arts teacher at
Kinsella Magnet School of the Performing Arts. Melinda completed her
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English with a minor in Communication
Studies at Northeastern University. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters
of Science in Education at Johns Hopkins University. This is Melinda's
second year as both a Hartford Public Schools' English teacher and a
Connecticut Teach For America corps member. Throughout the summer,
Melinda worked with Hartford Performs to support classroom teachers and
teaching artists in Summer Arts Literacy. She is excited to be a part of the
Kinsella team and eager to integrate performing arts into her classroom.
Alan Garcia: Health Teacher
Alan Garcia is a new Physical Education and Health teacher at the
Kinsella High Magnet School of Performing Arts. He has a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Physical Education and Health from Central Connecticut State
University and a Masters Degree in Technology Education from American
Online Intercontinental University. He has coached basketball, soccer, and
tennis to Hartford students over his 21 years in the district. He is affiliated
with the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA in Hartford to promote health and
wellness as after school programs for our students. Alan is very excited to
be at Kinsella and brings his passion for giving your best effort everyday!
Ted Jones: College and Career Specialist
Ted has been working in the Hartford Public Schools for over 27 years. He
received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from
Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been assisting,
mentoring, and counseling students of diverse age, ethnicity, socio-economic
status, and educational ability on academics, social, curricular, and career issues.
He is a hardworking, self- motivated, team player with experience in education,
the “College Process”, management, recruitment, event coordination, and
business development. Ted continues to exhibit the energy and enthusiasm
necessary to prepare our youth for their future endeavors.
Stephanie Listner: 3rd Grade Teacher
Stephanie Listner will be teaching 3rd grade at Kinsella. She graduated
from the University of Hartford in May 2016 with a double major in
elementary and special education. During her time there, she was a
cheerleader and a member of Kappa Delta Pi, both of which taught her
how to work as a team to help herself and others succeed. Stephanie
spent the 2015-2016 school year at Kinsella as a student teacher and
intern. She’s originally from Stormville, New York where her parents and
younger sister still live. She is very excited to be returning to Kinsella to
have her own class this year!
Irasema Rivera-Medina: Middle School Counselor
Irasema received her MBA at the Inter –American University of Puerto
Rico, which was a branch of Columbia University-with a Degree in English
and English as a second language. She received her MS from Central
Connecticut State University with a degree in Administration and
Supervision. She completed her 6th year Planned Program at Central
Connecticut State University in Administration and Supervision with
certification in Intermediate Counseling. She has worked in Puerto Rico as
a counselor and teacher and has also taught English to children of
ambassadors in Malaga, Spain. She has worked have in Hartford for 35
years as a teacher and School Counselor. Additionally, she has worked at
Manchester Community College as an Academic Advisor and has worked
for Hartford Hospital teaching Medical Terminology and teaching
physicians how to speak Spanish. She has been the Vice President of
CSCA (Connecticut School Counselor Association). She enjoys her career
and is constantly involved in the Hartford Community helping in different
activities. She is a member of an international club called Altrusa. Again,
always doing altruism work. In her free time she enjoy riding with my
husband on their motorcycles, reading, dancing and/or making and
decorating cakes.
Lyn Nagel: Musical Theater Teacher
Lyn Nagel, the musical theatre teacher PreK-12th grade at Kinsella
Magnet School for the Performing Arts, has been professionally
performing since the age of 10. Ms. Nagel has appeared on Broadway,
the silver screen, and television, and her voice can be heard advertising
nationally on the radio for various products such as Skittles and Starburst.
Ms. Nagel made her Broadway Debut at the age of 10 in the 1994 Revival
of CAROUSEL at the Lincoln Center Theatre. Since then, she has
performed in many other stage productions including: ANNIE GET YOUR
GUN (Annie Oakley), THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS
(Miss Mona Stangley), THE SECRET GARDEN (Mary Lennox), JEKYLL &
HYDE (Lucy), I MARRIED WYATT EARP (Hattie Earp – World Premiere
Production), SCROOGE THE MUSICAL (Mrs. Cratchit), ASSASSINS
(Housewife), THE KING AND I (Lady Thiang), EVITA (Aristocrat / Featured
Dancer), and RAGTIME (Bridgette / Featured Ensemble), just to name a
few. Ms. Nagel received her BFA in musical theatre performance from The
Hartt School, graduating magna cum laude, then later received her Music
Teaching Certification from the CT State Department of Education for PreK
thru 12th grade, and has been teaching in the public and private school
settings for the past 11 years.
Lorraine Nicolas-Ulitsch: Physical Education Teacher
Lorraine is a new Physical Education teacher at Kinsella Magnet School
Performing Arts High School. She has her Bachelor's degree from Miami
University Ohio and a Masters of Science from Central Connecticut State
University. Ms. Nicholas is a veteran teacher of Hartford Public Schools
that performed various activities ,such as, coaching cross country,
gymnastics, and track and field. She was also involved in school
activities, such as, grant writing, intramural sports, safety patrol, yearbook
adviser, and class adviser. Ms. Nicholas is looking forward to being part of
the Kinsella family.
Sally O'Brien Middle School Special Education Teacher
Sally has taught for over 40 years and brings unique skills sets to RJ
Kinsella School for the Performing Arts. She received her Bachelor
of Science in Special Education from Southern CT State College and her
Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of
Hartford. She has taught special education in various settings from private
and public schools, self contained classes, resource rooms and inclusive
programming in the regular education classroom. Sally has been with the
Hartford Public School System since 1999 and was voted Inclusion
Teacher of the Year in 2006. She takes a holistic approach working with
children and families assisting the development of the child beyond the
school setting. Fun facts about Sally: she likes to garden, and she makes
jams, jellies, and pickles. In 2006 she recorded a cd, "Passion", when her
sons were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pearl: Special Police Officer
Officer Pearl has been with the Hartford Board of Education since 2015.
Last year he was assigned to SMSA. Prior to that he was a Hartford police
officer for 25 years, and retired April 1 2015. He had worked as a
university police officer prior to Hartford Police Department and as
corrections officer prior to that. He is a US Army Veteran with 3 years of
active duty time. He has been a high school football coach for 37 years
including 2 times as a head football coach. Currently he is the defensive
coordinator at Granby high school.
Courtney Petrucci: English Teacher
Courtney Petrucci is a new English teacher at Kinsella Magnet School of
Performing Arts High School. She graduated Cum Laude from Salve
Regina University with her degree in Secondary Education English and a
minor in Dance. She was a substitute teacher in surrounding districts and
held positions as Permanent Building Substitute and Long Term Substitute
at Suffield Middle and High Schools. Courtney teaches English at the
Suffield Academy Summer Program and teaches dance at Nutmeg’s
Dance and Theater Company. She is humbled to work with such amazing
educators at Kinsella and is excited to continue learning alongside her
students.
Davy Valez: Special Police Officer
Davy Vélez was born and raised in Hartford, CT. He attended the Hartford
Public Schools, and is a proud Class of 1993 graduate of Hartford Public
High school. He began working as a Hartford Public School Special Police
Officer in 1994. During his Tenure, he has worked at multiple locations
including Betance, Quirk Middle School, Hartford High and the District
Office, He is now thrilled to be a part of Kinsella Magnet School of
Performing Arts.
Mark Winiarski: Middle School Science Teacher
Mark Winiarski comes to Kinsella after teaching science at Naylor
Academy in 2016. He taught science at Benhaven Academy for 6 years
prior specializing in reaching special populations. Mark graduated from
Auburn University where, among other design projects, he worked with a
team to design a natural science museum, the Weeks Bay Estuary
Reserve Interactive Center. He has designed graphics, created products,
and built exhibits in his short time as an industrial designer. Mr Winiarski
has also studied exercise science at the University of Louisiana at Monroe
where he coached track and field for 4 years. Over a 16 year coaching
career, Coach Winiarski's athletes have varied from middle
school beginners to Olympic hopefuls. In 2009, Mark was invited to train
with other top coaches for the summer at the Olympic Training Center in
CA. Mark prides himself on the personal connections he's made with all of
his athletes and students. He brings a kinesthetic and artistic awareness
from his past along with his knowledge of science into the
classroom. Mark is very excited to work with young performing and visual
artists at Kinsella while exploring science.