A Message from Julia Calantone and Susan Abramson 
D-E Lower School Interim Co-Principals
 
August 16, 2024 
 
Dear Lower School Families,
 
We are thrilled to share exciting life events on behalf of our faculty, as well as provide staffing updates:
  • Joining us in Preschool 4 is Ms. Kim Situ. Ms. Kim has taught preschool at independent schools in New York City. We are so pleased she’ll be joining the Preschool 4 team and working as a lead teacher alongside Ms. Nicole Taranto. 
  • Ms. Meghna Mathur joins our kindergarten team, working as a lead teacher alongside Ms. Cali. Ms. Mathur has extensive kindergarten experience and a love of art and music, which will surely be seen in the classroom.
  • Ms. Kate Augustus welcomed her first child at the end of this last school year. During Ms. Augustus’s family leave, Ms. Candace Ho, who has served our community in various roles over the past two years, will be joining us. Ms. Candace has been on campus all summer as part of the DE 360 summer program, and her teaching experience makes her a natural fit for this position.
  • Fourth-grade teacher Ms. Holly Goldberg is expecting her second child at the end of September. She will begin her family leave in mid-September, and students will be in the capable hands of Ms. Natalia Arbelaez, who has extensive experience in NYC schools and a background in math and science. We are thrilled to have her begin in August to ensure a smooth transition.
  • Second-grade assistant teacher Mr. Mannie Daughtry transitioned to the Communications Department. You might see him around campus, camera in hand, and will perhaps read his byline in Dwight-Englewood communications. Congratulations to Mr. Mannie! And welcome Ms. Annie Yoo, who joins the second-grade team as an assistant teacher with Ms. Dijkstra. Ms. Annie, a familiar substitute teacher, is joining us on a more permanent basis. 
  • First-grade assistant, Mr. Ryan Vettoso, has moved to the Athletics Department. Lucky for us, he will continue greeting and supervising early morning students at 7:30. Congratulations to Mr. Ryan on this new role! Joining Ms. Madison Farrar as an assistant teacher in first grade will be Ms. Bree Lambratu, another impressive substitute teacher who will be a permanent member of our team. 
We are so happy for our faculty and their growing families, as well as our faculty who are taking on new roles at Dwight-Englewood School! Please join us in welcoming new faculty and be on the lookout for a communique from the School providing a bit more biographical information about all the new D-E faculty and staff. 
 
Until then, enjoy the last few, fleeting days of summer. 
 
Susan and Julia