Academic Program Coordinators

Marc J. D'Amico has been in public education for nearly three decades.  He started his career with the Shelton Public Schools teaching 4th - 6th grade and serving in a liaison role as a technology champion.  Marc joined the Greenwich Public Schools in January of 2003 as the assistant principal of Julian Curtiss School where he co-led the efforts on developing the world language magnet theme.  In the fall of 2005, Marc assumed the principalship of Glenville School and remained there until 2020.  In July of 2020, Marc was appointed Director of Curriculum and Leadership K-8 for the Greenwich Public Schools.  Marc has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Science from Pace University, a Master's Degree in Education from Sacred Heart University, a sixth-year degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University and is recognized as a PIMMS Fellow in Math and Science.   

Email Marc: marc_d'amico@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Kim Paladino joins GPS as our ELA program coordinator for the 2022-2023 School Year. Kim brings a wealth of experience as an educator, most recently as a literacy specialist at GPS’ New Lebanon School since August 2021, where she planned, delivered, and monitored progress of Tier 2 and Tier 3 remedial reading interventions and collaborated with administration, classroom teachers, and specialists on all literacy-related topics. From 2017 through 2021, Mrs. Paladino worked at Stamford Public Schools, first as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Compliance Support Teacher and then as Scientifically Research Based Interventions (SRBI) Support Teacher. She was a teacher at Darien Public Schools for almost nine years and started with New Canaan Public Schools in 2007.

Mrs. Paladino holds a bachelor’s in Education from the University of Delaware and earned a master’s in Teaching, with a concentration in Reading, from Sacred Heart University. She holds certifications in Initial Intermediate Administrator and Supervisor (092), Professional Remedial Reading & Language Arts (102), and Professional Elementary (013) and Special Education (165).

Email Kim: kimberly_paladino@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Mike Reid has been with GPS for 15 years, beginning his career with the District as an Elementary Teacher serving North Mianus School, the International School at Dundee, and Hamilton Avenue School. Over the course of his career with GPS, he has served as an Assistant Principal at North Street School and Cos Cob School, responsible for managing and conducting Planning and Placement Team meetings; supporting professional development for school staff; preparing class schedules, master schedules, and extracurricular activities; and partnering to develop and lead school programs in connection with school and district goals and objectives.

Prior to this role, he also served as an Instructional Coach, serving all of the District's schools, and was responsible for: coaching new and veteran teachers in the implementation of research-based best practices in Mathematics and other subjects; collaborating with individuals and teams in planning instruction; providing professional development to staff members; integrating digital learning; and demonstrating and modeling instructional strategies, among many other responsibilities.

Reid holds a bachelor of arts degree from Connecticut College, a master of arts in teaching in elementary education from Sacred Heart University, a sixth-year certification with a concentration in differentiated learning from the University of La Verne, and holds a Connecticut 092 administration certification from Sacred Heart University.

Email Mike: mike_reid@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Tara Fogel joined GPS in 2021 from the Meriden Public Schools District where she served as a Science Department Leader for Washington Middle School, and Systems and Operations Committee Chair for the District's Leadership Team. In these roles she was responsible for reconstructing curricular materials, scope, sequence and pacing to support teachers; supporting staff in continued evaluation of best practices through research-based NGSS teaching strategies; collaborating to oversee vertical and horizontal alignment of K-12 science standards; and collaborating with fellow District Leadership Team Chairs to create and implement the three-year District Improvement Plan, in addition to numerous other responsibilities. 

Additionally, Tara Fogel is currently an Adjunct Professor at Quinnipiac University teaching a course in Elementary Science Methods.

She holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Connecticut in integrated geological sciences, a master of science in secondary science education from the University of New Haven, and a master of arts and sixth-year certification in educational leadership and administration from Quinnipiac.

Email Tara: tara_fogel@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Laura Newell joined Greenwich Public Schools as the K-12 Arts Coordinator in 2016. She is responsible for overseeing the visual, music and theater arts programs for the district. Previous to her current role, Laura was the K-12 Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts for the East Hartford Public Schools in East Hartford, CT.

An arts educator for fourteen years before transitioning to leadership, Newell began as a private instructor for clarinet and piano in 2002 and in 2003 became the band director for East Hartford High School. From 2003 to 2009, she taught AP Music Theory and Band (Marching Band and Wind Ensemble), acted as the department’s data team leader, and was co-chair for the school’s NEASC committee. In 2009, Ms. Newell became the K-12 Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts for the East Hartford Public Schools, overseeing the music and visual arts departments. In addition to her role and responsibilities as coach to and supervisor of the arts staff, Ms. Newell was part of a team that developed a theme-based school for Fine and Performing Arts and World Languages, developing arts-integrated lessons within the core content areas.

Laura received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education in 2002 and a Masters of Music Education and Educational Technology in 2003 from the University of Hartford, Bloomfield, CT; she received a Sixth Year Certificate of advanced studies in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT in 2010. In addition, Laura is currently pursuing a doctorate focused in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University. 

Email Laura: laura_newell@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Mr. Schenker is responsible for designing, developing, and evaluating the English Language/World Language instructional program, in addition to facilitating and driving the District’s teaching and learning system for all students, including the District’s core curriculum, common assessments, universal instructional practices, data teams, and professional development.

Mr. Schenker brings an impressive amount of experience as an educator to GPS, most recently as a Spanish teacher at Pelham (NY) Public Schools for the past year. For the previous seven years, he worked at New York City’s Dwight School, first as a Spanish teacher, and then as the head of World Languages, PreK-12, from 2017 through 2021. While at Dwight, he also served as a World Language consultant of Dwight Global School and Dwight School Dubai (2017-2021) as well as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme advisor (2016-2017). 

Mr. Schenker holds a bachelor’s in Spanish, minoring in Political Science, from York College of Pennsylvania and earned master degrees in Teaching with a concentration in Spanish Education from Manhattanville College and in School Building Leadership from Mercy College. He holds certifications in Connecticut State Initial Teaching (Spanish), New York State Professional Teaching (Spanish), Initial School Building Leadership, and Qualified Teacher Status. In addition, Mr. Schenker participated in coursework in the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Salamanca and Seville.

Email Geoffrey: geoffrey_schenker@greenwich.k12.ct.us