Coleen Ilano is an experienced educator who is committed to students’ growth across all dimensions. With dual degrees in Psychology and English Literature from Boston University, she has worked with students of all backgrounds and ages, from first grade to college, accumulating and applying knowledge of child development to her roles as a teacher, advisor, residential faculty member, and more. Most recently, she served as a Humanities Teacher, 9th Grade Advisor, and House Parent at New England Innovation Academy (NEIA). For the last five years, Coleen has also lent her skills to Phillips Exeter Academy’s Summer Program, teaching Psychology classes, and working in residential life, as well as in the Student Activities department as Assistant Director. Having worked with hundreds of students from around the world, Coleen loves to learn and to foster that joy by shaping spaces where students can be curious and also be challenged to grow.

Aubrey Stagner is joining us from most recently living in Colorado where she has just completed a Master’s chemistry program with a focus on Chemistry Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Her research emphasized different chemical representations used in organic chemistry classes. Aubrey holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Spanish from Middle Tennessee State University and has taught chemistry in various capacities since 2020. She is passionate about making chemistry accessible and engaging. In addition to teaching, Aubrey is active in outreach, student leadership, and research, and is a talented clarinet player, performing with community ensembles. Aubrey will be a Dorm Parent in Cottage.

Marco Tagliani is a mathematics teacher and software engineer with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics from Texas State University. Recognized as Best Undergraduate Speaker by the Mathematics Department while at Texas State, Marco is passionate about making math accessible to all students. Marco has been working as a software engineer at Multi Media LLC in Texas, and is eager to return to the classroom. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese and conversational in French, Marco has lived in five countries, and has coached youth basketball and soccer teams. In addition to teaching Math, Marco will be a Dorm Parent in the Lowers.

John McCormack will be joining us from Alaska, where he was serving as the Summer Academy Program Manager for the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), coordinating programming for a residential summer academy of high school students taking college-level courses, and supervising a residential dorm. He holds a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia. John has taught in the Introductory Biology Laboratory at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and worked as a Summer Naturalist with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. In addition to teaching the ASP Math and Science courses, John will be joining us as a Dorm Parent in the Lowers.

Nicole Taucare joins our academic leadership team in the newly created Director of Studies position, where she will oversee academic scheduling, AP and PSAT administration, standardized testing, and many of the operational aspects of the School’s academic program. She joins The Storm King School from Tennessee, where she spent the past nine years in leadership roles at The Webb School, a grades 6–12 boarding and day school, most recently serving as Assistant Head of School for Academics and Arts. Prior to Webb, Nicole served for seven years as Upper School Director at Sage Ridge School in Reno, Nevada, and earlier in her career taught Spanish full-time. She is especially looking forward to getting to know students, faculty, and families as a member of The Storm King School community. Nicole holds an M.A. in Education from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Spanish from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Nicole, her husband, Mauricio, and their three children, Amelie, Mikaela, and Luka, will be living on campus in Riverview House.

Serena Ayers brings nearly two decades of experience teaching science in public, private, and international school settings. She has taught a wide range of courses, including Biology, Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Environmental Science, and IB Chemistry, and is passionate about engaging students through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. For the past nine years, she has taught Chemistry at High Point Regional High School in NJ. Before entering education through Teach For America, Serena worked as a research biologist in Uganda and Central America, experiences she continues to incorporate into her classroom. Throughout her career, she has developed innovative STEM curricula, mentored teachers, led interdisciplinary programs, and created meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students. Serena holds an M.S. in Science Education from Montana State University, and a B.S. and B.A. in Biology and the Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College. Serena’s son, Kai, will also be joining the Storm King community as an incoming new student.

Chieh de Jong began her joyful journey as an educator as a NYC Teaching Fellow in 2006. She earned her Master of Science degree in Teaching at Pace University with an Exemplary Scholarly Achievement award. Chieh has been teaching students of an array of ages in public and private schools for over twenty years. For many of those years, she has been a music teacher in private schools. Chieh also teaches private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, and violin. She has experience performing as a musician in downtown New York City and Brooklyn, and her bands have opened for artists such as Beck and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. Chieh has studied music at the Juilliard School.