Welcoming New Employees for 2026-2027 | News

August 27th 2026

We are pleased to welcome the following new members of the Park community!

Tyler L. Cundiff, Executive Assistant to Senior Leadership Team

Tyler Cundiff brings a decade of experience in management consulting and education administration to his role of Executive Assistant to School Leadership at Park. Having earned a BA in Political Science and Communication from the University of Southern California, Tyler pursued graduate studies in international affairs in Geneva, Switzerland, while simultaneously playing professional volleyball and working at the United Nations. More recent roles with senior leaders at George Washington University and Tufts University solidified his passion for strategic and operational alignment in support of teaching and learning, work that he is grateful to continue at Park. A native of Hawai'i, Tyler is most excited about Park’s commitment to living pono—centering stewardship of the school’s environment, its community, and itself in its work.

Nilu Dadgar, Grade 1 Grade Level Assistant

Nilu Dadgar joins The Park School as a First Grade Assistant Teacher. She recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Public Policy and a minor in Business. Nilu has worked with children in a variety of educational settings, including as a Substitute Teacher in the Public Schools of Brookline and at Summer at Park for six summers, most recently as a Program Director. She is passionate about creating a welcoming, engaging environment where students can learn and grow. Outside of school, Nilu enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.

Samantha Estrada, Permanent Sub in the Lower Division

Samantha Estrada grew up in Arlington, MA, and will join The Park School as a Lower Division Permanent Substitute. She is a licensed Massachusetts educator and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology & Education and in Spanish. Samantha has worked at a variety of educational institutions, including Carroll School, Lesley Ellis School, and Greenwich Academy. She is also pursuing an MAT in Mathematics through Mount Holyoke College. In her free time, Samantha enjoys puzzles, arts and crafts, exploring the outdoors, and playing card or board games. Samantha is excited to build relationships with students and share her passion for learning this year!

Liam Gloster, Permanent Sub in the Lower Division

Liam Gloster is joining Park as a Lower Division Permanent Substitute. He has taught fifth graders and worked as an Extended Day teacher at The Chestnut Hill School, and previously led a second-grade classroom in North Carolina. Liam earned his B.A. at The New School in New York City and his M.A. from Boston College, both in History. His teaching experience intersects with his academic interest in the history of education, with a particular focus on the rise of progressive schools in the 19th century. He is looking forward to working with students across the Lower Division and becoming a part of Park’s community.

Jordy Hertzberg, Grade 3 Teacher

A Midwesterner at heart, Jordy Hertzberg grew up in a suburb outside Chicago and spent summers at overnight camp in Wisconsin – getting his first taste of leadership, connection, and the positive impact he could have on children's lives as a camp counselor. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied abroad on Semester at Sea – expanding his worldview by circumnavigating the globe and engaging in hands-on, experiential learning. He then lived abroad in Madrid, Spain for three years as an English teacher before moving to Boston. Here, Jordy earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Lesley University and established his career in independent schools – teaching in Grades 1, 2, and 4. Jordy is very excited to begin his next chapter here at Park – working alongside and collaborating with his colleagues in the Grade 3!

Catherine (Katie) Hurwitz, Permanent Sub in the Upper and Lower Division

Katie Hurwitz is a new School-Wide Permanent Substitute at Park School, following two years of teaching elementary English in Greece, the first as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. She graduated from the University of Rochester in 2023 with BA degrees in Music (Music in World Cultures) and a self-designed major in Creative Writing & World Literature. In 2025, she earned an Ed.M. in Teaching and Teacher Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education, along with Massachusetts ESL certification for PreK through 6th grade. Outside school, Katie plays cello, swing dances, and collects multilingual children's books. She's excited to connect with students of all ages and, as a result, learn more about child development.

Zakia Jarrett, Upper Division English Teacher

Zakia Jarrett is excited to join the Upper Division as the Grade 7 English teacher. She hails from Boston (Dorchester specifically) and currently resides in Milton. Zakia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Lafayette College and a Master of Education in Middle School Humanities from Lesley University. She has taught in a variety of places (including Houston, Boston, Washington, DC, and Milton), and has taught both elementary and middle school. However, Zakia is most passionate about middle school literacy instruction with a focus on analysis of text, critical thinking skills, and self-expression through writing. When she is not teaching, Zakia enjoys cooking with her daughter, Qamar, reading, and spending time with her dog, Twizzler, and her rabbit, Midnight.

Harriet Matthews, PreK Associate Teacher

Harriet Matthews joins Park as a PreK Associate Teacher. Harriet spent the last three years in Providence, Rhode Island, where she enjoyed building strong connections within the community and teaching. In Providence, Harriet completed an AmeriCorps program, serving as a student success coach at a local elementary school, where she taught and jumped at every opportunity to organize school community events. Passionate about language and improving her eight years of French study, she then worked at the French American School of Rhode Island where she worked with PreK-8 students in the classroom as well as with administration to support the development team. She is happy to be back in the state of Massachusetts, where she graduated from Wheaton College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film & New Media and a minor in International Relations. In her free time, Harriet loves the outdoors, baking, and working on creative projects.

Andrew Murdock, Theater Tech Coordinator

Andrew Murdock has been teaching in the arts for over 10 years. He worked as a teaching artist in NYC public schools before working as the studio arts teacher at the North Country School in Lake Placid, NY. He holds a BFA dual major in Film/Animation/Video (FAV) and Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College, with a focus on collaborative theater making. He is also an adjunct faculty member at RISD, teaching a puppetry course during their Wintersession. Growing up in southeastern Virginia, he has a deep affection for marshlands and the ocean. He is very excited to join the team at The Park School and to work with students to create beautiful worlds for the theater program.

Jasmine Samulonis, Grade 2 Grade Level Assistant

Jasmine Samulonis is a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Sociology and Film/Media Studies. She will be joining the Grade 2 team as a Teaching Assistant. Jasmine brings over four years of experience in early childhood education as an Assistant Teacher at Qi School, a Mandarin language immersion preschool in Franklin, Massachusetts. She is passionate about diversity and the importance of social emotional learning in early education, and strives to create a vibrant and safe classroom. She is also interested in film and media studies in educational settings. Jasmine is excited to join the Park community this fall!

We are pleased to share that the following colleagues will be serving in new roles:

Candace Alexander will be transitioning from her role as Grade 3 Teacher to join the Grade 2 team as a Grade 2 Teacher. Candace brings experience, care, and dedication to her new role.

Stella Billek will be transitioning from her role as a PreK Associate Teacher to the PreK Teacher position. While covering the PreK Teacher role, Stella demonstrated her ability to lead the classroom and support our youngest learners.

Tiffany Binger will transition into the role of West Building Receptionist. Tiffany has served in this role throughout the past academic year through a temporary agency and has demonstrated her warmth, reliability, and dedication to the Park community. We are delighted that Tiffany will continue with us in this role.

Eleanor Finn will be the Grade 4 Grade Level Assistant. While covering a leave of absence in Grade 4, Eleanor demonstrated her ability to support students with consistency, care, and compassion.

Lily Kollmorgen will be transitioning from her role as a Permanent Substitute to the Grade 3 Grade Level Assistant position. Throughout her time as a Permanent Substitute, Lily demonstrated her enthusiasm, flexibility, and dedication to supporting students and colleagues.

Karen McCarthy will be transitioning from her role as Grade 3 Teacher to join the Grade 1 team as a Grade 1 Teacher. Karen brings experience, skills, and dedication to her new role.

Lily Mittnight will be transitioning from her role as a Lower Division Support Staff to the Upper Division Permanent Substitute role. Throughout her time in the Lower Division, Lily demonstrated her flexibility, reliability, and commitment to supporting students and faculty.

Elizabeth Reed Nguyen will be serving as a Grade 1 Teacher while covering a leave during the upcoming school year. As our Lower Division Permanent Substitute, Elizabeth has already stepped into lead teaching responsibilities and will continue to bring her care, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching to the Grade 1 classroom.

Manny Duarte Perlovsky will be the Upper Division Science Teacher. While covering a leave of absence in the Upper Division, Manny demonstrated his ability to engage and inspire students in the classroom.

Courtney Stanley will be transitioning from her role as a Grade 1 Grade Level Assistant to a Grade 1 Teacher. While covering a leave of absence, Courtney demonstrated her ability to build a supportive and engaging classroom where students can thrive.

Claire Wolf will step into the Grade 3 Teacher role. After covering Grade 3 last year, Claire demonstrated her ability to take on the Lead Teacher role while fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.

Grace Woodruff will be the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher & After-School Instructor, covering a one-year leave of absence. As an After-School Instructor, Grace demonstrated her care, enthusiasm, and commitment to supporting students.