THE JOHN DEWEY ACADEMY

Faculty and Staff

Academics plays a central role at John Dewey, and most of our faculty have doctorates and college teaching experience. They are passionate about their mission and they transmit this passion, along with their maturity and stability, to their students. They also bring into their classes varied life experiences that ground their academic focus in real-world challenges. Members of the clinical and administrative staff frequently teach classes in their particular areas of interest and expertise. When necessary, we hire part-time adjunct faculty, and on occasion, qualified parents act as guest lecturers.

Thomas Bratter Founder and Owner, Head of School Emeritus. B.A., Columbia College. M.A. Columbia University. Ed.M., Ed.D. (Counseling Psychology), Teachers College, Columbia University. Previous experience: private practice of psychotherapy, adjunct faculty at Columbia University for twenty years, founder/director of six community-based programs, author of more than 150 articles and four books on the treatment and education of bright, oppositional, self-destructive, and often drug-dependent adolescents. Since 1985.		Kenneth Steiner Head of School, Primary Clinician, Faculty in Philosophy. B.A., University of Wisconsin. M.A., Graduate Faculty New School for Social Research; Ph.D. in Philosophy, Binghamton University. M.S.W., Rockefeller College, SUNY Albany. Previous experience: Austen Riggs Psychiatric Center; Unit Coordinator, Berkshire Farm Center for Youth; Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University; adjunct faculty, SUNY Albany (social work field supervisor) and Berkshire Community College (philosophy). Previously served as Dean of Studies, Dean of School, and Acting Head of School at the John Dewey Academy. Since 1989.
Andrea Esperat Dean of Students, Primary Clinician, Faculty in Psychology, House Parent. B.S., Old Dominion University. M.Ed. (Educational Psychology of the Gifted), University of Virginia. Ph.D. in progress (Clinical & School Psychology), University of Virginia. Internship at the Behavioral Health Center of Carolinas Medical Center. Previous experience: psychotherapy and psychological assessment, research at the National Research Center for the Gifted and Talented, graduate-level teaching in gifted education and psychology (UVA), teaching at Enrichment Programs for gifted and talented children and adolescents. Since 2007.		Lisa Sinsheimer Parent Liaison, Admissions, Clinical Consultant. A.B., Princeton University. M.D. University of Texas Medical Branch. Internship and Residency, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Fellowship and Chief Fellowship in Psychiatric Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Certificate in Psychoanalysis, Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Previous experience: private practice in psychiatry and psychoanalysis in NYC, adjunct faculty at Cornell University Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Numerous publications and presentations. Parent of JDA alumnus, Class of 2005. Since 2005.

Faculty

Robert Andenmatten

Faculty in Math and Physics.
B.A., Queens College. M.Ed., Lesley College. Previous experience: CEO and consultant in petroleum transport and storage industry, math and science teacher at Monument Mountain High School and Valleyhead School. Since 1999.

Edgar Chamorro

Faculty in Spanish, Greek, Latin,
and Latin American History.
Licentiate Humanities, Catholic University of Quito, Ecuador. M.Ed. (Counseling) at Marquette University. Specialized study program at Harvard University. International teachers program at Harvard Business School. Previous experience: faculty at Central American High School and University, University of Western Florida, and Simon's Rock of Bard College; Dean and Secretary General of Catholic University of Central America; Senior Fellow of the Commission on United States-Latin American Relations at the International Center for Development Policy in Washington, D.C.; Special Ambassador to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Since 2005.

Nancy Coiner

Dean of Academics and Chair,
Humanities and English Departments.
B.A., St. John's College Annapolis. M.Phil. Oxford University. Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Stanford University. Rhodes Scholar. Previous experience: teacher at Choate Rosemary Hall (Connecticut), faculty at Stanford University and Middlebury, Smith, and Mt. Holyoke Colleges. Since 1999.

Christian Holland

Faculty in French and Italian Language and Literature.
B.A. Saint John’s College, Annapolis. S.T.B. Gregorian University, Rome. S.S.L. Biblical Institute, Rome. Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Emory University. Previous experience: faculty at Monastery of Chevetogne, Belgium, Emory University, St. John’s College. Since 2009.

Sherry Steiner

Faculty in Fine Arts and Studio Arts.
B.A., School of Visual Arts. Previous experience: gallery owner, publisher of an arts newsletter, art teacher, practicing artist. Since 1989. www.sherrysteiner.com.

Lisa Buttrey-Thomas

Since 2001. Chair, Math and Science Departments.
B.S. & Ph.D., S.U.N.Y. Buffalo. Previous experience: faculty at University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Numerous presentations and publications in professional chemistry journals. Since 2001.

Business Office

Carole Bratter

Vice-president and Business Manager.
B.A., Newcomb College, Tulane University (Phi Beta Kappa). M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University. Previous experience: internship in guidance and counseling, substitute teacher, travel agent, Vice President, Westchester Region of Hadassah. Since 1985.

Judy Oates

Assistant Business Manager.
BA journalism and public relations, University of Southern California, MA education, Sunbridge College/Waldorf Institute. Harvard credits for ecology and international relations field work in Nepal, Europe and the Middle East. Previous experience: legal secretary, teacher of bank account reconciliation at College Internship Program, Riverbrook Residence fire and medical emergency house parent and mental health clinician. First aid and CPR certification. Since 2006.

Staff

Jill Leda Brown

House Parent.
B.S. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 2004. Currently working toward Masters in Education (2011) at MCLA. Assistant Aquatics Director, Bard College @ Simon's Rock, Head Coach of the Snapper Swim Team since 2005. Monument Mountain Regional High School Head Varsity Swim Coach since 2005. First Aid, CPR, Lifeguarding Certified & Certified Instructor. Since 2009.

John Schneyer

Director of Building and Grounds.
Previous experience: Maintenance Manager & Project Manager for large yoga facility, H.V.A.C. service technician, Maintenance Mechanic for paper equipment manufacture, Lenox Dept of Public Works, hardware store business, greens keeper on a golf course, volunteer Fire Department. CPR certification. Since 2007.