About Compass

Faculty and Staff

Director

Allen Zipke has been a school director in Dover, DE and Pembroke, NH. Prior to becoming an administrator he taught in Connecticut and Arlington, Mass. Allen received his BA from Amherst College, his MA from Central Connecticut State College, and his CAGS degree from Boston University. Allen has presented workshops and papers at many conferences, including the National Middle School conference, the New England League of Middle schools conference, the National Charter School Conference, and the William Glasser regional and international conferences. Allen is also certified as a basic practicum instructor for the William Glasser Institute. Allen believes that the philosophy of The Compass School, focusing on social responsibility and a constructivist teaching approach, promotes learning and also fosters an enjoyment of learning for children.  

Explorer Teachers (K-1)

Marilyn King-Jorgensen Marilyn King-Jorgensen joined The Compass School in August 2004 as a teacher in the Explorer Classroom. She received both her undergraduate and master's degrees in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from The University of Rhode Island. Marilyn has been working with children in educational settings for over 20 years. About 20 years ago Marilyn began teaching children from preschool through high school in an educational program partially funded by the RIDOE as part of a state mandated health curriculum. She worked for five years in this program in public and private schools throughout Rhode Island. The thirteen years immediately prior to joining The Compass School, Marilyn taught at the University of Rhode Island's Child Development Center (URI CDC), a preschool through kindergarten program serving community children and families as well as providing a practical and research setting for University students. For most of Marilyn's career at the URI CDC, she was the Kindergarten teacher for groups of 14 children while simultaneously mentoring and supervising 10 to 15 University students per semester in the developmentally appropriate approach to working with and teaching young children. Marilyn also taught an introductory course in child development at the University’s College of Continuing Education during her early teaching career at the URI CDC. Marilyn has presented workshops to fellow educators at dozens of professional conferences throughout New England, primarily doing workshops addressing developmentally appropriate and creative curriculum including the project approach, the cooperative small group approach and peace education in the early childhood classroom. She has also developed and presented several workshops for parents on positive discipline and developmental issues in early childhood. Marilyn has found her career at The Compass School so far to be both challenging and rewarding. Her favorite part of teaching is interacting with both children and their families. In her spare time Marilyn enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, listening to music, swimming, going for long walks in the woods, shopping at tag sales and antique shops and gathering with her friends and extended family.

Karen O’Malley - - Karen earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and holds a Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Karen joined The Compass School in 2005.

Explorer Teacher Assistants

Todd Allegretto Explorer Teacher Assistant, Todd Allegretto graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island in 2005 and is certified in early childhood education. He has worked the past two years as a substitute teacher in the South Kingstown public schools and is on his eighth year as a private guitar instructor at the Neighborhood Guild in Peace Dale. During the summer months he helps operate summer camps at the Nursery Garden, a Waldorf inspired preschool in West Kingstown. He lives in Narragansett with his teenage son and if not playing guitar, enjoys cooking vegetarian food in his spare time.

Ellen McKee-Lindenberg, Teacher Assistant

Discoverer Teachers (2-3)

Heidi Vasquez – Heidi Judge-Vazquez has a Master of Science degree in School Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Sociology and studied abroad at Charlotte Mason College in Ambleside, England. Following an internship in middle school counseling, Heidi had taught at the Charles River School in Dover, MA, as both a first and second grade science teacher and as a fourth grade team teacher of all subjects. Heidi has led summer and after school enrichment programs in American Sign Language, Dance, Problem Solving, Art, Drama, Athletics, and Choreography. Heidi joined The Compass School in 2004.

Drew Virbila- Drew Virbila graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Wheelock College in December 2002 after studying Environmental Studies at Northeastern University for the previous two years. After graduation, Drew relocated to Asheville, North Carolina where he was the after-school teacher at the Rainbow Mountain Children’s School for one year. From there, Drew then relocated back to Boston to tutor students from the Boston suburbs prior to moving to Rhode Island. This is his first year with The Compass School.

Discoverer Teacher Assistants

Lindsey Richmond, Teacher Assistant - Lindsey graduated from Champlain College in 2008 with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Over the course of the last four years, she has had the opportunity to work with students at a variety of schools and grade levels. Before coming to The Compass School, she worked for two years as a preschool teacher in South Burlington, VT.  

Erica Smith, Teacher Assistant - Erica graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. She also holds an Associates degree from the Community College of Rhode Island in Early Childhood Education. After graduating in 2006, Erica worked in several local, public schools, including two long-term substitute positions at Aquidneck Elementary in Middletown, Rhode Island.  

Investigator Teachers (4-6)

Polly Cuddy - Polly graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an Early Childhood Education certification. Prior to joining The Compass School in 2006, Polly worked and volunteered in a variety of educational settings including: South Shore Mental Health Center where she worked as a therapeutic support staff member and teacher for children with behavioral needs.

Christie Fish - Investigator Teacher, Christie Fish earned her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology at Providence College in 1997. She has been working with children in various fields for the past 12 years. Upon graduation, Christie worked at The Lorraine Thomas Crisis Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She continued her career at The Providence Center School in Providence, RI as a special educator for children with emotional and behavioral needs and later worked there as a Family Outreach Counselor. During this time she pursued a Masters in Teaching at The University of Rhode Island where she received her Elementary Education Certification. Christie joined The Compass School in 2005.

Nikki Gardner - Nikki graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. in Elementary Education and English. She worked at various schools while studying at the university such as Narragansett Elementary School, Agnes Little Elementary School and Wakefield Elementary School. She spent a semester studying at California State University, Hayward. Nikki started at The Compass School in 2004.

Robin Plaziak - In 1999, Robin earned her BA in History from Smith College. After working in the hospitality industry for several years, she decided to change her career to education. After studying at both Rhode Island College and San Francisco State University, she attained certification in Elementary Education, with a focus on cultural, linguistic, and academic diversity. Prior to joining The Compass School staff in 2005, she lived and taught in both the San Francisco Bay Area and in Sydney, Australia. She loves teaching all subjects but especially reading and vocabulary. She and her husband love to travel, explore new things, and meet new people! Robin also is the Membership Director of the Rhode Island chapter of the International Reading Association.

Investigator Teacher Assistant

Shannon Alves , Teacher Assistant - Shannon Alves earned her BS in Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from Rhode Island College. While at Rhode Island College, Shannon earned student teaching honors. Shannon joined The Compass School in 2007. Prior to joining The Compass School, she was a Pre-School and Kindergarten Teacher at Friends’ House Pre-School and Kindergarten in Warwick, RI.

Navigator Teachers (6-8)

Harlyn Benetti -Harlyn is the Navigator English and Social Studies teacher. She is an outdoor enthusiast, who studied philosophy and English at the University of Rhode Island as well as at The University of Reading in England. After teaching a year-long after school program in the community of Newport, she attended Providence College as a member of their “middle school and secondary education program”.

Hilary Downes-Fortune - Hilary has been the Navigators' science and math teacher since 2005. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Rhode Island, which included a year of geology coursework at the Universite d'Orleans in France, and a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, also from the University of Rhode Island. After working as an environmental engineer and geohydrologist for 13 years, Hilary developed and taught after school programs in earth science, environmental science, and French. She has also taught science programs based on Project WET, Project Wild, and the JASON Project, and currently oversees The Compass School's robotics club. In 2007 Hilary participated in Save the Bay's Project Narragansett, and in the summer of 2008 she spent two weeks at sea on URI's scientific research vessel Endeavor as a Rhode Island Teacher-at-Sea. Hilary is a member of the RI Environmental Educators Association and the National Science Teachers Association, as well as several environmental organizations in Rhode Island. She and her husband and daughter live on a 94-acre Tree Farm in Foster along with their dogs, cats, chickens, and assorted wildlife.

Navigator Teacher Assistant

Heather Chatterley , Teacher Assistant - Heather attended Rhode Island College and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Before joining the Compass School staff, she worked in a behavioral/mental health school as a Teacher Assistant.

Specials Teachers

Art

 Mark Robidoux - Mark Robidoux is a graduate of Connecticut College. Mark taught art to kindergartners at the Red Brick School in Barrington prior to joining The Compass School in the 2003. The Compass School is in the ongoing process of integrating the Arts more completely. In addition to Art class, students are exposed to the creative disciplines in the regular education classrooms. In this way, the diversity of all learners is addressed.

PE and Health

Kat Lyons Schafer - PE/Health Teacher, Kat Schafer started her career here at The Compass School in 2002. Kat graduated from URI in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She is certified to teach PE/Health for grades k-12 and also is Adapted certified. Philosophically Kat believes that educating the body plays an important role in educating the mind. She believes that students who are active perform better academically and socially and that a quality PE program can benefit a student’s physical, mental, and emotional development. She also feels that positive experiences in activity settings will greatly increase the likelihood that a child will remain active throughout adulthood.

Music

Matt Neibels - Matthew Niebels graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education and Performance from the University of Rhode Island, Matt has been enthusiastically teaching music for eight years. In addition to his part-time schedule at Compass he directs music education at Kingston Hill Academy in Kingston, RI. Matt is a drummer/percussionist who performs actively with music groups in the Rhode Island area, has served on the faculty of the RI Philharmonic, and is an active member of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and offers sought after music camps throughout the summer. He is an enthusiast of jazz and world music and hopes to enliven the environmentally responsible musicality of his students through the unique creation of a Recycled Orchestra. Matt joined The Compass School in 2005.

Spanish

Kristen Kardos - Kristen has taught Spanish for over ten years. She received her Master at Boston College and her Masters Degree in Education at NYU. Kristen joined t The Compass School in in 2005.

Speech and Language Pathologist

Heidi Gurnon – Heidi Gurnon joined The Compass School in 2007. She earned a Bachelors degree in Communicative Disorders with a focus in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of RI. She also has a Masters degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in Boston. She has worked with children as a speech therapist for 13 years.

Special Resource Teachers

Michelle Estrela – Michelle Estrela joined The Compass School in 2007. She earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education from the Rhode Island College.

Sue Griffis –Sue Griffis joined The Compass School in 2007 as a part-time special educator. Sue has a Masters degree in Special Education from the University of Maine. She worked in the Maine public schools for fifteen years servicing students with a wide-range of disabilities before moving to Rhode Island with her family. Sue and her family enjoy many outdoor activities including biking, skiing, and the beach.

Nurse

Diane Barzaghi, R.N.C.- Diane Barzaghi, R.N.C. Diane has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston University. Prior to Compass she was a substitute school nurse for various public schools in southern Rhode Island. Her 25 years as a nurse include 12 as a Public Health Nurse in New York, which involved case management for the state’s Early Intervention program. She holds specialty certification in Maternal Newborn Nursing and Prepared Childbirth Education. Diane joined The Compass School in 2007./p>