Founder

As the founder of Westport Day School, it has been an honor to watch it grow into the supportive and successful school community that it is. My career spans almost 30 years as a teacher, administrator, coach, and leader in the special education community. I enjoy supporting the administrative team at Westport Day, writing curriculum for my new initiative, The Executive Function Project, and collaborating with parents and professionals in support of our amazing and talented students. In my free time, I cherish spending time on the coast of Maine, writing fiction, reading anything I can get my hands on, and spending quality time with my family and friends.  

Director of Operations

Todd holds his Associates Degree in Computer Network Operations. Todd began his career IT developing CRM software for a well-known international hotel chain. In 2013 he joined Westport Day School, a therapeutic day school serving students in grades sixth through twelfth, as the Director of Operations and still holds that position today.   
 
Fun Fact about Todd: If he could choose one superpower, it would be telekinesis/ telepathy, like Jean Grey from X-Men. He’s a huge comic book nerd! 

Executive Director & Chief Administrator​

Samantha has been in the education field for over 12 years. She holds her bachelors in psychology from Southern CT State University, a Masters in Education from Sacred Heart University, and a Masters in Special Education from Quinnipiac University. In addition, she holds a certification in Educational Administration. 
 
Along with her role here at WCP, Samantha is also currently the Educational Director and Chief Administrator of the Westport Day School. 
 
Her philosophy is that the best educators are those who are lifelong learners and will be starting her Doctorate degree in the Fall. Sam started her career in education at the elementary level, where she taught for 10+ years in kindergarten and 4th grade. 

Director of Admissions & Student Affairs

Sara has been with Westport Day School since 2014. As Director of Admissions and Student Affairs, Sara is responsible for the organization and management of the admissions process, acts as registrar, and attends to other responsibilities under the student affairs umbrella.  In her years at WDS, she has been able to watch the program grow and evolve, and she is a proud member of the WDS team. Outside of work, Sara lives with her partner and son, is a voracious reader and lover of books, and enjoys baking, hiking, and yoga.

Operations Manager

I come from a background of 9+ years in the Special education field, working as a paraprofessional in the public schools and privately with families in need. I have my bachelor’s degree in psychology and plan to continue my education by pursuing my master's degree in Social Work. I started at WDS 4 years ago and have loved working with our students and building relationships with them and their families. When I am not working, I love going to concerts, being out on the water, and have recently taken up gardening.

Vice Principal

This is Patty's 5th year at WDS and she is the Lead Teacher.  She is a graduate from UCONN with a BS in Human Development, Sacred Heart with a MA in Teaching, Quinnipiac with a MS in Special Education and she will finish her MA in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Social Emotional Learning this Fall. Patty's passion is meeting students where they are so that each student has the confidence to be successful.  "Everyone can learn they just need to learn differently".  She is the proud mom of 3 adult daughters and her dog Dasher. She is an avid UCONN Basketball fan.    

This is my second year as a Physical Education and Health teacher here at WDS. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Health and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Kinesiology. While this is my fourth-year teaching, my journey in health and wellness spans over a decade. Outside the classroom, I also serve as a varsity basketball coach. My wife is also a teacher, and I am a proud dad to our 3-year-old daughter, and 1-year-old son. I am passionate about using my background in health and movement to help students build healthy habits, confidence, and teamwork skills that will serve them for life. 

I have been at WDS for three years now, entering my fourth year as a Special Education teacher. Prior to my time at WDS, I was a middle school History teacher in the NYC DOE Public School system for three years. I earned a Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Hofstra University in History and Social Studies Education. Following the start of my teaching career, I earned a 2nd Master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, specializing in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism for Adolescents. 

I became a teacher due to the inspiration of a college professor I had during my freshman year of undergraduate studies. This professor showed the impact educators make on the students in their classrooms and suggested that I should consider pursuing a career in education. Once beginning coursework in the study of Education, I knew it was the right path and have been a teacher since. In the future, I aspire to earn a doctorate degree in the field of Education and to further my teaching career into higher education as a college professor. 

I’m Joan Van Geldern, and I’ve been a science teacher for 21 years, the last six of those being here at WDS. I’ve always loved trying to understand how things work and why things are the way that they are, and I guess that naturally led me into a lifelong study of environmental science, biology, chemistry, and physics.  Over the past six years, in addition to teaching at WDS, my husband and I have been restoring a 300-year-old farm, the chickens of which have hatched at WDS! I have loved my time teaching at WDS, and I feel enormously grateful for the opportunity to work with such wonderful colleagues and such an incredible group of students.

Hello, my name is Lauren Carlson. This is my 3rd year teaching at WDS. I started as the Next Steps Teacher and worked with graduates who needed to build Executive Function skills and prepare for college. Last year, the EF curriculum was introduced to all the students at WDS.  I took the opportunity to teach Executive Function Skills to a larger student body.  I have been teaching for 12 years and have taught several subjects over the course of my career.  I enjoyed teaching Global History, Psychology, and Study Skills.  I became a teacher because I love learning, sharing ideas, and helping others. Being a teacher is the best way to support students who need to feel seen and supported during adolescence. WDS provides the opportunity to use interpersonal skills to get to know students and support them in a small environment.

My name is Catherine Feliu, and I graduated from university in 2025. I have been with WDS for nearly a year and have truly valued my experience so far. I chose to pursue a career in education because, as a student, I faced a number of challenges that I was only able to overcome with the support and guidance of my teachers. Their impact inspired me to follow a similar path, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of my own students. My time at WDS has been an incredibly rewarding opportunity. I am grateful not only to teach such a wonderful group of students, but also to collaborate with and learn from a dedicated and inspiring community of educators. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time in coffee shops, studying for my master's, and being with my friends and family!

I'm Nick Targonski, and I've been a special educator at the Westport Day School for 9 years. While I've been a teacher for those 9 years, I've instructed a variety of social studies courses, such as US History, Civics, Sociology, and World History, but more recently, I've been involved in supporting students in their IEPs, goals, and skill development. I knew I wanted to become an educator when many of my high school teachers served as role models for me. They were pivotal in developing my academic skills, but also my work ethic, my social awareness, and so much more. I knew I wanted to provide the same support I received for others, which led me to become an educator. Besides education, I have a passion for anything creative. Whether it's getting into art, writing stories, play tabletop RPGs with friends, I love engaging in and seeing all forms of creative expression.

This will be my second year at WDS. I have been a teacher for three years and have been tutoring for over 15 years.   I am an educator because I love teaching students useful skills and watching them accomplish things that they thought they never could. I also think I have a generally good demeanor for teaching. I am married, and my wife and I have three girls, and probably will have four by the time this is published. I spend most of my free time with my family, but I do play golf occasionally. I recently picked up a 3D printer, and it has quickly become a new hobby of mine. It’s a really cool practical application of mathematics, among other things.

I have been a Social Studies teacher at WDS for two years, after spending more than a decade teaching at traditional public and alternative high schools in Fairfield County. Throughout my tenure, I instructed students of various abilities from honors to remedial. My background has given me a toolkit to help students at every ability level and the experience to tailor lessons to meet individual student needs. I enjoy working in a small school community that fosters critical thinking, confidence, and historical knowledge to produce informed young adults. When not at school, I enjoy taking my two children to used bookstores, museums, and walks in Irwin Park.   

My passion for art started at a young age when I would draw with chalk on my neighbor's house and paint my mom's antiques in the basement. Next thing you know, I was working at places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Aegean Center for the Fine Arts in Greece and Italy, as well as galleries at Yale University.  After graduating with my Master's Degree, I traveled across the country and started an art program at a classical school in Colorado as well as a Christian school in Georgia.  I love warm rain, lemon tea, laughing, and fuzzy socks.  

My path to education has been shaped by many experiences, including a background in journalism, years of creative work in writing and photography and a lifelong love for working with children. After earning my Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and PreK–12 Special Education from UConn, I spent several years working in public schools before landing at WDS, a setting that truly feels like home. I am passionate about creating supportive, relationship-centered spaces where students feel safe to learn, grow and be themselves. I believe every child has unique strengths, and I feel grateful to be part of their journey each day. When I’m not at school, you can usually find me curled up with a book and an iced latte, spending time with my husband and daughter, laughing at something ridiculous, or hunting down good food! 

I have been with WDS for a little over a year and have been working as a Social Worker for three years. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University in 2022 and have since obtained my clinical social work license. I chose to pursue a career in social work because of my deep commitment to supporting others and making a meaningful impact in their lives. I have a particular passion for working with adolescents, helping them overcome challenges and reach their full academic potential. I find great fulfillment in advocating for individuals and families and providing the guidance they need to thrive. Additionally, I prioritize maintaining an active lifestyle and am dedicated to my overall personal wellness. Outside of work, I enjoy going on walks with my dog, spending quality time with friends and family, and traveling.

I have been at WDS for one year and have worked in the field of social work for the past five years.  My decision to become a social worker was driven by a deep passion for helping others, especially students, overcome challenges and reach their full potential. I believe in the importance of creating a supportive and empowering environment where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, traveling to new places, and discovering unique and exciting foods along the way.

I earned my undergraduate degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and went on to complete a master’s degree at Adelphi University. Throughout my career as a social worker, I’ve had the opportunity to support unaccompanied minors, provide preventive services, assist students with special education needs, and work with children in foster care. I serve as an outpatient therapist, helping individuals manage mental health challenges and navigate personal growth and development. I’ve also been part of the Westport Day School community for the past year, where I support students and families in a collaborative, student-centered environment.

My name is Kristen Tibbetts, and this will be my third year at WDS.  I have been a speech-language pathologist for 17 years.  I became a teacher because I have always liked being around children, starting with my first job as a swimming instructor.  Over the years, I have realized that my favorite population to work with is middle schoolers and high schoolers.  In my free time, I love doing just about anything active: running, rock climbing, hiking, and running around with my two kids and dog.

This will be my third year at WDS. I am in the building 1 morning/week. I have been working in the school system as an Occupational Therapist for over 25 years. I have always enjoyed working with children of all ages, and I felt I could really make a difference in their lives, hence I chose the Occupational Therapy profession.   I enjoy spending time with my adult children whenever I can.  I hike daily in the woods with my dog Rosie, and I also love reading, live music, and travel.

I am the front desk person here at Westport Day School.  After working for over 25 years in public school administration, I arrived at WDS in the late fall of 2024. My family is the cornerstone of my world, but I love working as well. My favorite part of my workday has to be interacting with the students.  Watching them grow and evolve over the course of the school year is not only joyful but deepens my resolve that WDS is such a special place, filled with loving and caring adults helping our students through their school journey and preparing them for life beyond High School.  When I am not at WDS, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family. 

My name is Jennifer Boyle, and I've worked at WDS for 4 years. I have been an educator since 2003. I became a teacher because I always loved school myself and was always able to connect with children of all ages and abilities. I'm married with 2 children and 1 dog. I like gardening and arts and crafts!

My name is Nato, and I have been working at WDS since April 1st, 2024, and have been an educator for the past seven years. I began my career in early childhood education with the goal of incorporating my background in philosophy (contemporary continental philosophy and phenomenology) and psychology (narrative identity) into my classroom instruction. As a lifelong learner, I shifted from working with younger students to a middle- and high-school setting when I came to WDS. I am able to apply my background in social-emotional, interdisciplinary, and project-based learning and delve deeper into critical thinking and problem-solving through advanced coursework, which I really enjoy. I am currently enrolled in a graduate program in special education, which brings together my interests in psychology and education, and underscores the importance of supporting the needs of all learners. My wife is also an educator, and we love to travel, visit museums, spend time in nature, and enjoy good food. We have a Western Hermann’s tortoise named Doug. Some of my interests include cars, strategy games, growing bonsai, metal and classical music, anime and manga, and building models. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself to learn to play the piano and the game Go, and researching Western Hermann’s tortoises so I can continue to provide an interesting and stimulating habitat for Doug (even if his favorite hobbies are eating, sleeping, and looking grumpy).