The Team
Ariel is the director of the Mysa Vermont campus. Ariel has been teaching at Mysa since the school began in 2016. Ariel has twelve years of experience both teaching and leading in independent schools. She has an MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and teaches the Connect class and Literature. To her, Mysa is an oasis for kids who need both the freedom to be an individual as well as the support of a school family. Ariel can be found exploring the trails of Vermont’s landscape with her black Lab, Tavi, in her free time.
Jessie Bunting
Jessie teaches the Munchkins (elementary students) at our DC campus. Jessie is a recent graduate from Wake Forest University and has an elementary education certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education. When Jessie is not in the classroom, she can be found walking around the city exploring museums and restaurants. Jessie also loves to read, paint, and bake!
Dawn Clemens
Dawn teaches Mysa middle school science and math. She has a BA in US Government from Pomona College, an MA in Education from the Claremont Graduate School and an MS in Education Administration from California State Fullerton. She taught High School Social Studies for 6 years and was Bonita Unified School District Teacher of the Year. She has been an Administrator for 26 years. Dawn spent four years at the Singapore American School on the Board of Trustees and has worked in Private, Parochial, Charter and Public Schools at all three levels. The past six years she worked for DC Public Schools as the Principal of three schools in the heart of Washington DC. Her last school, Stuart-Hobson, was featured in a four part series by Catherine Gerwetz, in Education Week Magazine entitled, “Common Core: A Steep Climb.”
Siri Fiske
Siri is the founder and Head of Mysa School. Siri is passionate about education reform and creating learning environments that focus on the learner. A strong advocate for experiential learning, Siri has traveled the world with groups of students experiencing with them first hand the lives of others. She has taught science and math. She has designed, launched, and nourished many programs in public schools, including arts and music programs that currently reach thousands of students in the Los Angeles area. Her most recent job before moving to Washington, DC was helping to design and launch a K-12 school in South Korea. Siri holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, a MA in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a MAT (masters in teaching with a focus on technology) from the University of Southern California.
Gabriel Guzman
Gabriel teaches Spanish & music to students in both VT & DC. Gabriel’s music career spans over thirty years of professional experience between Mexico and the United States. As an educator, he has taught in public and private institutions in both countries at practically all levels implementing IB and Montessori educational strategies with which he fosters students’ musical and Spanish development. In 2021, Del lirio Editorial in Mexico City published his first book: “De un Fandango -sones, juegos y cantos para el salón de clase”, a collection of Mexican games and songs to be performed by children and promote music education in schools. Gabriel lives in Washington D.C with his wife and twin children and also is a current professor at the National University of Mexico (the biggest public university in Latin America).
Kathy Haskell
Kathy joins the Vermont Mysa team with a background in teaching language arts, academic intervention, and alpine ski coaching. She brings a contagious passion for education, learning, and fitness. Graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a BA in Humanities, Kathy holds a K-6 Vermont teaching license and certification as an Orton-Gillingham Educator. She discovered her teaching passion as a dorm parent, ski coach, and 8th-grade teacher at Burke Mountain Academy. Her love of skiing and teaching landed her in Telluride, where Kathy was instrumental in launching the Telluride Mountain School and taught 2nd-6th grade language arts. Returning East, Kathy and her husband Steve started a family in the Mad River Valley. Her three children, Tela, Sadie, and Zach, along with their dog, Ozzy, can be found hiking and skiing the slopes of Mad River (where she’s coached) every chance they get, especially on powder days. When the snow melts, Kathy enjoys visiting Lake Winnipesaukee, reading, mountain biking, and spending time with her family.
Alexandra Henning
Alex is the Science Teacher at Mysa School in DC. She received a BS in Biology from Gettysburg College and a MS in Experimental Psychology from Villanova University. Alex’s work experience includes teaching science and psychology classes for middle and high school students. She also recently worked as a cognitive trainer and helped to develop professional development programs about the science of learning. Alex specializes in cognitive science and is excited to apply this to pedagogy and improve student learning outcomes.
Mary Ishibashi
Mary is delighted to join Mysa to teach her all-time favorite subject: math. Mary has been tutoring math and working with local families for over 15 years, teaching everything from kindergarten to calculus. She began teaching high school math as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. In 2006, she returned to the US to teach elementary level math and gradually expanded to teach students of all ages. When not in the classroom, Mary enjoys an assortment of hobbies including cooking, capoeira, hiking, pottery, and writing
Bb Ntsakey
Bb Ntsakey is Mysa school’s director of teaching, learning and curriculum. Bb is a school systems and learning leader supporting organizations and communities toward strong, equitable results in teaching, learning, and leader development. Bennison brings 15 years of experience leading, guiding, and advising organizational senior leaders to improve learning opportunities through equity initiatives, highlighted most recently through EquityByDesign, a comprehensive approach of using user-centered, agile school design to coach school teams across the country with a framework for continuous improvement.
Bb Ntsakey was the founding Senior Director of academics at Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools, a network of public schools and led school turnaround as the principal of Community Charter School of Paterson. Bennison also served as an instructional leader at Uncommon Schools for several years and was the school director and manager of teacher leadership for Teach For America for the three years prior. He began his career in education as a special educator and humanities coach for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Bb a master’s degree in education (public school building leadership and organization) from Columbia University Teachers College; a master’s in education (education and social change) from the University of Miami Graduate School of Education with clinical educator certification; and a BA in English, philosophy, and African American studies from Syracuse University.
Savanna Poole
Savanna teaches math at our Vermont campus. Savanna has spent the past four years in Southern Vermont at a small boarding school where she wore many hats including teaching math, working in the communications department, coaching soccer and hockey, and as a dorm parent. It was at Vermont Academy where she found a passion for teaching and helping students overcome their struggles in math. In the summer of 2021 she completed a master’s in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University. Prior to her time in Southern Vermont she attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire where she earned a degree in business and communications, and was a member of the women’s ice hockey team. Savanna is a Newcastle, Maine, native but loves living in Vermont. She and her partner, Meredith reside in Burlington with their dog and two cats. In their spare time they enjoy exploring Vermont, drinking good coffee, and spending time with friends and family.
Whitney Retzer
Whitney returns to Mysa to support marketing, communications, and admissions remotely from Cyprus, after working previously with Mysa while living in the DC area. She missed the pioneering spirit of the School as a longtime supporter of inclusive, experiential education with a global background from working in education in eight countries. She migrated from being a teacher to an administrator and consultant and enjoys the dynamic evolution within education. She has a BBA from the University of Minnesota and a MEd from the American College of Education. She loves to spend time with her family, swim in the Mediterranean, and read, write and travel as much as possible.
Additional Instructors
We also have several part-time single subject specialists and PE teachers.