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

Jennifer Bencivengo is the proud principal of Old Greenwich School. She has spent 25+ years serving the students and families of the Greenwich Public Schools as a teacher and building administrator. Her passion for education began at an early age and was fostered in the Boston College School of Education. Her current experience in the Sacred Heart University SEAL doctoral program has reignited her passion for her practice and has supported her professional experience as a building principal. Above all, her greatest accomplishment is the raising of her daughter Adeline.

Adding to her role as 6-8 Physical Education Coordinator, Ms. Bencivengo will oversee the design, development, and implementation of the GPS middle school Physical Education and Health curriculums as well as the and state assessments in PE. 

Ms. Bencivengo earned a Bachelor of Arts in  Elementary Education, Secondary Education and English from Boston College and a Master of Arts with a Liberal Studies Humanities Concentration from Wesleyan University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study Ed Leadership from the University of Connecticut

Email Jen: jennifer_bencivengo@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Mr. Cerruto joing Greenwich Public Schools when he was named assistant principal at Parkway School on August 8, 2022 and has assisted Principal Mary Grandville in organizing and fostering a positive, safe environment that is conducive to best meet the needs of all students, staff, and parents at Parkway. This includes such responsibilities as leading, directing, and supervising a variety of personnel and programs; creating effective parent, teacher, and child communications; supporting, encouraging, mentoring, and evaluating staff; and fostering teamwork between teachers and among staff and parents.

Mr. Cerruto has been an educator with Stamford Public Schools since 2005, most recently as a teacher leader for student support at Julia A. Stark Elementary School. His responsibilities included giving administrative support to the school community, protocol compliance, behavioral support, a crisis team member, and afterschool programming coordinator. In addition to being a physical education and health teacher at Stark, the Rogers International School, and Springdale Elementary School, he held a special assignment as administrative intern at Stark for six years, where his duties and responsibilities were comparable to an assistant principal.

Adding to his role as K-5 Physical Education Coordinator, Mr. Cerruto will oversee the design, development, and implementation of the GPS elementary physical education curriculum and state assessments in PE. 

Mr. Cerruto holds a bachelor’s in Physical Education from Keene State College, a master’s in Educational Leadership and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Bridgeport. 

Email Matt: matthew_cerruto@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

In addition to his role as 6-8 Social Studies Coordinator, Tom Healy is currently the principal of Central Middle School, a position he has held since August of 2016. He is also a proud alumnus of the Greenwich Public School system (GHS ‘96). Upon completing his undergraduate degree (where he majored in Anthropology) at James Madison University (2000), Mr. Healy began a career with the Greenwich Public Schools at Greenwich High School as a paraeducator in a special education classroom. From 2000 - 2013, Mr. Healy served as a social studies teacher, an athletic coach, and an assistant dean of student life at GHS. His move into school administration began in 2013 when he was named assistant principal at Western Middle School. 

Mr. Healy holds a masters degree in secondary education from Sacred Heart University and earned his educational administration certificate (092) from UCONN’s NEAG Graduate School of Education in 2010. In 2020, Mr. Healy completed UCONN’s Executive Leadership Program with his CT school superintendent certification (093). In April of 2021, Tom Healy was recognized as the CT Parent Teacher Association Outstanding Administrator - Middle School Principal.

Email Tom: thomas_healy@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

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

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 

After five years in the private sector as a litigation attorney, Ms. Arecco began teaching social studies at Greenwich High School in 2004. In 2017, she was named the Bella House Administrator and Social Studies Program Administrator, after serving for a year in an interim capacity. She is responsible for overseeing the academic, social, and emotional needs of more than 550 students in Bella House and the program and curricula needs of Greenwich High School’s Social Studies Department.

Ms. Arecco is a Greenwich High School alumnus herself (GHS ‘91), graduating as the salutatorian of her class. She received a bachelor of arts degree in history from Yale University, graduating cum laude with distinction in her major, and a juris doctor in law from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Ms. Arecco was an Articles Editor for the Connecticut Law Review. In 1998 she was admitted to the New York and Connecticut bars. She received her secondary school teaching certification in social studies in 2004 and administration certification in 2011 from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT.

Email Lucy: lucy_arecco@greenwich.k12.ct.us 

Ms. Barry has been an educator for over three decades, much of it in Greenwich. Currently, as a House and Program Administrator, she is responsible for overseeing the academic, social, and emotional needs of more than 532 students in Sheldon House, and the program and curricula needs of Greenwich High School’s English, Theater, and Reading departments,

Prior to her administrative positions, Ms. Barry taught English in various capacities, including in middle school, in a wide variety of courses at GHS, and early-on at the College of New Rochelle where she served as an Adjunct Professor of Composition and director of the Writing Skills Center.

Ms. Barry earned a BA English/Psychology (double major), and an MAT English from Colgate University, and sixth-year certification in educational leadership and administration from UNE.

Email Brigid: brigid_barry@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Mr. Byrne joined the Greenwich Public Schools as the Folsom House Administrator and Mathematics & Computer Science Program Administrator in 2020. He is responsible for overseeing the academic, social, and emotional needs of more than 550 students in Folsom House and the program and curricula needs of Greenwich High School’s Mathematics and Computer Science Department.

Prior to his tenure at GHS, Mr. Byrne served in a variety of roles in public and independent schools during his more than 25 years in education. Roles included: mathematics and science teacher, chair of the mathematics and science department, academic dean, dean of faculty, assistant principal, interim principal, and chief human resources officer. He has also presented at numerous regional and national conferences.

Mr. Byrne received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bates College in mathematics and biology. In addition, he completed a Master’s in Education from UMass Boston, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Fordham University. He has also been recognized as a Klingenstein and a E.E. Ford fellow.

Email Andrew: andrew_byrne@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Mr. Hoyt joined GPS in 2016 from Tolland Public Schools District, where he served as a science teacher, instructing biology and anatomy and physiology. Mr. Hoyt taught biology and chemistry at Greenwich High School for six years. During that time, he also served as the science department Learning Facilitator for two years and instructional coach for one year.

In 2022, Mr. Hoyt became the GHS Interim Science Program Administrator, and in 2023 became the GHS Science Program Administrator. Mr. Hoyt is responsible for designing, developing, and evaluating the science program at Greenwich High School, ensuring alignment with Connecticut and Next Generation Science Standards. In addition, he works with, supervises, and evaluates high school science teachers and collaborates with District and school leadership.

Mr. Hoyt holds a bachelor's in Sports Biology from Springfield College, a master of science in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, and an Educational Leadership Intermediate 092 Certification from Sacred Heart University.

Email Shawn: shawn_hoyt@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Ms. Shaw has served as an educator for twenty-seven years, twenty-two of which have been with the Greenwich Public Schools.

Ms. Shaw began her career in education in 1996 as a social studies teacher at the Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY. She then taught social studies for two years at West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC before coming to the Greenwich Public Schools in 2001.

In addition to teaching social studies at GHS, Ms. Shaw has served as the Coordinator for the Stand-By-Me program for Sheldon House (2006-2011), the Sheldon House Social Studies Learning Facilitator (2009-2011), and the Sheldon House Assistant Dean (2011-2017). She was also part of the research and development team that designed the high school’s Innovation Lab, and is currently serving as the Cantor House Administrator and World Language administrator at the high school.

Ms. Shaw received a bachelor of arts degree in History from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA in 1995; a master of arts degree in Social Studies Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, New York, NY in 1996; and a master of science degree in Educational Leadership from Mercy College, NY in 2016.

Email Christina: christina_shaw@greenwich.k12.ct.us 

Mr. Walko is the current Clark House Administrator at Greenwich High School.  With over thirty years in public education, he brings leadership and accountability to his role while ensuring that all GHS students, more specifically Clark House students, receive a quality education that meets their academic, social and emotional needs. This involves working closely with students, parents and teachers to successfully meet these milestones.

Mr. Walko's responsibilities also include the design, development and evaluation of the PE/Health and CTE programs at GHS to ensure alignment with state standards. Mr. Walko is responsible for fostering a positive and cohesive house team as well as supervising and evaluating high school teachers across all disciplines.  He also oversees the development and implementation of the Perkins Grant.  A product of Greenwich Public Schools, Mr. Walko proudly serves in the district he graduated from.

Mr. Walko holds a Bachelor’s in Physical Education and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Norwich University and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision from University of Connecticut’s NEAG Graduate School of Education.

Email David: david_walko@greenwich.k12.ct.us