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 enjoys cooking and scuba diving. His wife instructs writing at URI and he has two children and three grandchildren. Allen started at Compass in 2006.  

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 25 years. About 25 years ago Marilyn began teaching children from preschool through high school, and freshmen college students, in an anti-bullying and personal safety educational program which was partially funded by the RIDOE as part of a state mandated health curriculum. She worked for six 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. During her early teaching career at the URI CDC, Marilyn also taught an introductory course in child development at the University's College of Continuing Education in Providence. 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 also developed and presented several workshops for parents on positive discipline and developmental issues in early childhood. Marilyn finds her career at The Compass School 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. Nurturing and mentoring young children brings Karen great joy. Karen feels fortunate to teach at a school that values people's connections to each other and to the land and strives to bring these values to the forefront of education. She is proud to learn and grow with the Compass community. Karen joined The Compass School in 2005.

Explorer Teacher Assistants

Todd Allegretto Explorer Teacher Assistant, Todd graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies and is certified in early childhood education. He has been a teacher's assistant with the Explorers at the Compass School for two years and is on his ninth year as a private guitar instructor at the Knapp School of Music in the Neighborhood Guild, Peace Dale. During the summer months he helps operate summer camps at the Nursery Garden, a Waldorf inspired preschool in West Kingstown. Todd has been practicing and promoting peace and environmental responsibility by maintaining a vegan diet and lifestyle for the past nineteen years. He lives in Narragansett with his teenage son and when not playing guitar, enjoys cooking in his spare time.

Karen Benton, Teacher Assistant Karen graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1983 with a BS. She works for the Nordic Lodge restaurant in Charlestown and has worked with Ms. Marilyn and the Explorer step at the Compass School since 2009. In her free time, Karen loves to garden, read and spend time with her family and friends, including her two grown children, Holly and Corey. 

Adventurers (2)

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. While at The Compass School, Polly has had the opportunity to teach at several different step-levels. Her experiences include; a multi-age classroom of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students, a stand alone fourth grade classroom, and is happy to be currently teaching second grade. She is thrilled to be experiencing a little bit of everything! 

Adventurers Teacher Assistants

Holly Benton,Teacher Assistant - Holly graduated from Salve Regina University in 2008 with her Bachelors in English Communications and a minor in English Literature. She has worked at the Compass School since then as a sub/TA and began working full time this year with Miss. Polly and the Adventurer step. She also works as a reporter for The Jamestown Press. In her free time, Holly enjoys spending time at the beach and with her family and friends.

Discoverer Teachers (3-4)

Heidi Vasquez - Heidi Judge-Vazquez has a Master of Science degree in School Counseling from the University of Hartford. While in graduate school, she worked in residential life and completed internships in middle and high schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Sociology from Stonehill College. She completed teaching practices and studied abroad in England in 1995. Heidi taught at the Charles River School, an independent school in Massachusetts from 1999-2004. Heidi joined The Compass School in 2004. Since 1999, Heidi has been a classroom teacher for grades K-4. She has worked with children and students from ages 3 to undergraduates through community organizations, summer camps, and afterschool programs. Heidi has led programs for children in dance, choreography, yoga, drama, and cooperative games.

Drew Virbila- Drew has been part of The Compass School since 2005. He graduated from Wheelock College with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education with a focus on math and science. During his undergraduate studies, Drew had the opportunity to research wind farms in Prince Edward Island and witness the impact of logging on the native tribes of British Columbia, Canada. Drew has also been employed as an afterschool teacher and tutor in the greater Boston area. He currently resides in Wakefield with his wife, Sarah, and his daughter, Kaia. Drew is very honored to be a part The Compass School community and loves the teaching and learning philosophy that is embedded in it.

Discoverer Teacher Assistants

Mark Clifford, Teacher Assistant -Mark Clifford came to the Compass school in 2007 via the Mentoring Tutoring Internship, offered through the University of Rhode Island. He graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Since then he has been working with the Discoverer Step as a Teacher assistant. Mark has previously worked with children for the Department of Recreation for the City of Warwick as a camp supervisor and assistant Camp Director. Mark embodies the Compass School Charter and says "it is very rewarding to succeed in the further development of his students' education." Mark's hobbies include carpentry, gardening, running and playing the drums.

Mark Robidoux, Teacher Assistant - (See Art Teacher.)

Investigator Teachers (5-6)

Erica Smith - Erica Smith has continuously worked with children since high school. After graduation, while working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education, she worked at several different daycares in Jamestown. She continued her education at the University of Rhode Island, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She worked in several community schools before joining the Compass community in 2006. Erica lives in Jamestown with her husband and young son.

Nikki Gardner - Nikki Gardner began her career as a teacher at The Compass School. This is her sixth year as a teacher with the Investigator Step. She attended the University of Rhode Island where she received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and English. She also spent a semester studying at University of California, Hayward. She has attended educational trainings such as Fountas and PInnell's Reading and Writing Workshop, Responsive Classroom and Differentiation in Mathematics. Nikki lives in Perryville where she spends most of her time keeping up with and chasing after her one year old son.

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. Shannon has 2 boys that attend The Compass School. Shannon enjoys going to the beach with her family, painting, reading and cooking.

Navigator Teachers (7-8)

Harlyn Benetti -Harlyn has been the Navigator English, civics, and history teacher since 2005. She is an outdoor enthusiast, who studied philosophy, English, and history 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 has an M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College, with middle school endorsements in science and math. She also holds a B.S. in Geology from the University of Rhode Island, and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, also from URI. After working as an environmental engineer and geohydrologist for 13 years, Hilary returned to school to pursue a career in education. She has developed and taught after school programs in earth science, environmental science, French, and robotics. Hilary has participated in Save the Bay's Project Narragansett, and in the summer of 2008 she was a Rhode Island Teacher-at-Sea on URI's scientific research vessel, Endeavor. Hilary is a member of the National Science Teachers Association, the Geological Society of America, and several national and local environmental organizations. 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 graduated from Rhode Island College in 2001 with a Sociology degree and is currently pursuing her math teaching certification for middle school and high school. She has previous experience in the human services field working with juveniles on probation or under DCYF custody and she has previous experience in the education field working in a behavioral/mental health school. Heather has been The Compass School since 2008. Heather is married and has a beautiful daughter. She enjoys swimming, volleyball, hiking, and spending time with family.

Specials Teachers

Art

 Mark Robidoux - Mark Robidoux graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in Fine Arts and completed his Masters in Special Education at Lesley University in 2008. Mark joined the staff of The Compass School in 2003 dividing his teaching time between Art and assisting the teachers in the Discoverer Step . 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

Joel Beauchemin- Mr.Joel  graduated with a Backelor of Arts in Music Composition from The College of Wooster in 2001. For the past ten years he has been teaching general and instrumental music in private schools and music studios throughout the state of RI. He is a professional violinist and trumpeter and has performed with local artists and groups such as Occidental Gypsy, Miss Wensday and The Cotillions, Caloroso String Quartet, Kelly Walsh, and Spogga. Mr. Joel resides in N. Kingstown with his wife, twin daughters, and two rambunctious hound dogs. He is thrilled to be the newest addition to the faculty of The Compass School.

Spanish

Kristen Kardos - Kristen has spent time living in various locations throughout the world including Boston, San Diego, New York City, Spain, and Switzerland. She has been teaching Spanish (and ESL) since 1996. She received her BA in Spanish & Education from Boston College and her Masters Degree in Education Administration from NYU. After 6 years of teaching in a charter school in New York, Kristen joined the The Compass School in in 2005. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and having adventures with her family.

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. Over the past 15 years, she has worked with children from Early Intervention through the Elementary/Middle School grades with experience and further training in the following areas: articulation/oral motor skills, fluency, social skills (in play and conversation), supporting reading development, and oral and written expression.

Special Resource Teachers

Michelle Clifford - Michelle Clifford 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.

Dr.Cathy Fusco - Dr.Cathy Fusco worked for the Providence School System in the capacities of elementary teacher, Diagnostic Prescriptive teacher, and Secondary Special Education Supervisor for all special education middle and high school students. She then became the Special Education Director in Pawtucket for seven years and later the Assistant Superintendent of Special Services in South Kingstown. Cathy has received a B.S from Rhode Island College, two Masters degrees from Providence College (Special Education and Secondary Administration), and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from NSU.

Jennifer Mello - Jennifer Mello has joined the Compass School this year. She has been a Special Education teacher for the past two years in Rhode Island. Jennifer graduated from Rhode Island College in 2008, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She is also a Dance Instructor at Danceworks School of Dance in Bristol where she has taught there for the past 8 years. She enjoys all forms of dance, shopping, and outdoor activities.

Nurse

Diane Barzaghi,R.N.,CSNT- Diane is a R.I. Certified School Nurse Teacher & has been with us since 2007. She 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 12 years as a Public Health Nurse in New York included case management for the state's Early Intervention program. She held specialty certification in Maternal Newborn Nursing and Prepared Childbirth Education for 15 years.