Director, Co-Founder, and Counselor - M. Elisabeth Weiss co-founded The Weiss School with her husband, Dr. Martin Weiss. M. Elisabeth Weiss holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from New York University and did her postgraduate studies in Gifted Education at the University of Florida. Mrs. Weiss was Berlitz trained and taught Portuguese and English for eight years prior to opening The Weiss School in 1989.

Head of School - Dr. Rosemary Daniels received her BA in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics from Rhode Island College and her Masters and Doctorate degrees from Florida Atlantic University in Educational Leadership. Her expertise in gifted education keeps her much in demand as a keynote speaker and educational consultant. In addition, she was the president of FLAG (Florida Association for the Gifted) in 2001 and currently sits on the board for the Florida Kindergarten Council. Dr. Daniels was the recipient of the prestigious FAU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1993, the William T. Dwyer Award for Excellence in Education in 1992, and the Palm Beach County Gifted Teacher of the Year in 1992. She is also the recipient of the 2007 Hoagies’ Gifted Administrator of the Year Award. Dr. Daniels is an active member of the Palm Beach Gardens Kiwanis and the Northern Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. This is her 11th year with The Weiss School.

Assistant Head of School - Dr. Denise Spirou received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, has her gifted endorsement in Florida and her Doctorate from Walden University in Teacher Leadership. She taught in the Stroudsburg Area School District for four years. Dr. Spirou began teaching for the Palm Beach County School District in 1999 then joined Weiss in 2000 where she taught for six years, prior to her present position as the Assistant Head of School that she has held since 2006. Dr. Spirou is much in demand as an instructor for gifted coursework and workshops. Her inspirational speaking and motivational strategies make her truly a teacher’s teacher. Dr. Spirou was the recipient of the North Palm Beach Teacher of the Year Award in 2004 for Excellence in the Field of Education. Dr. Spirou is an active member of the North Palm Beach Rotary.

Operations Team

Administrative Assistant - Kelly Varty's business studies at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire served as an entrée into the hospitality business. In Vermont, she owned and operated a country inn and restaurant for eleven years, later transferring her energy and interest to a sailboat in the tropics. Mrs. Varty's experience in the business world is valued at The Weiss School. She handles all communication between the school and the home.

Business Manager - Maribeth Lenz worked for the Palm Beach County School District for thirteen years before coming to The Weiss School in 1999. In the public school system she worked as a director for the after-school program, data processor and administrative assistant for student services. She was the recipient of the Palm Beach County School Board Support Employee of the Year in 1993. She continues to be a data processing consultant for the county, working as a specialist in employee training and school operations. She has taken numerous hours of in-service workshops through the school board and has completed her Early Childhood certification at PBCC. Ms. Lenz was also trained in learning styles under Dr. Rita Dunn of St. John's University. She is an active member of the Palm Beach Gardens Kiwanis and the Northern Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Facilities Manager - Paul J. Poulos attended Pratt Institute and Technology in New York. He worked as an architect in Manhattan and later moved to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters: where he started his own business, building custom homes for the past twenty five years. In addition to his construction business, he designed 60 apartment units. Mr. Poulos puts to good use his expertise in the building business, joining The Weiss School as the Facilities Manager in 2006.

Student Services/Guidance and ESE Administrator - Julie Regina graduated with a Master Degree in Learning Disabilities K-12 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA and has completed the coursework for her gifted endorsement. Since graduating in 1984, Mrs. Regina has taught elementary, middle, and high school in traditional and special education classrooms. She has attended multiple workshops and utilizes a variety of learning styles. She has also taken workshops on brain research and testing. Mrs. Regina joined Weiss in 2004 to teach fourth grade language arts and social studies. In 2007, she became the Administrator for Student Services/Guidance and ESE (Exceptional Students) Coordinator at The Weiss School.

Systems Administrator - Sheryl Grimaldi began her career as a Technology Systems Administrator at Rancho Buena Vista High School in 1987. This International Baccalaureate, blue ribbon school was one of the largest in San Diego County with a school population of 3,500. In 2000, she moved to New York and worked for the North American Headquarters of International Baccalaureate and then for the Rye Neck School District in IT support. She comes to The Weiss School this year from Rybovich as our Network Administrator.

Faculty

Michelle Abrishami has a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Abrishami previously taught second grade at Sacred Heart School and began her teaching profession at The Benjamin School. Ms. Abrishami will be teaching third, fourth, and fifth grade language arts at The Weiss School.

Maria Aitken received her BS in Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude, at Florida Atlantic University in 2005 and received her Master's Degree in Mathematics from Nova University in 2008. She taught Algebra I and Algebra II at Palm Beach Gardens High School. Mrs. Aitken received her ESOL Endorsement and is currently working on her Gifted Endorsement. Mrs. Aitken's joined Weiss in 2007; she teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.

Corina Beck attended Iowa Wesleyan College where she earned a BA in Sociology and Psychology. She comes to Weiss with experience as a teacher assistant in the Head Start Program in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Miss Beck is a teacher for the four-year olds in the Early Childhood Center.

Jessica Burns did her studies in education at the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal in Lima Perú. She completed an English Language Course for Language Teachers and received a certificate from the University of Cambridge. She also has a BA from Florida Atlantic University. Mrs. Burns taught English and Spanish at different language schools in Lima for over 15 years. Mrs. Burns has repeatedly received nominations for the Teacher of the Year Disney Award. In 2007, she was the recipient of The North Palm Beach Teacher of The Year Award. That year also she was chosen among a vast number of teachers to be a speaker at the Florida Council of Independents Schools Convention with the workshop Spanish Goes Techno where Mrs. Burns shared her experience using technology to enhance the teaching of Spanish. She has published several articles related to teaching English as a Foreign Language. This is Mrs. Burns eighth year teaching Spanish to students in grades 1st-8th.

Shannon Dolan has had a long and extensive career with young children. She owned her own preschool center in Jupiter for ten years and opened the first Playful Parenting franchise in Florida. The arts are her passion. She owned a performing arts school for over three decades and presently directs a fine arts program for the towns of Tequesta and Jupiter and is the director of a summer stock theatre camp in New York each summer. Ms. Shannon is active with the Florida Storytellers and many area theatres. She is currently working on a series of exercise videos for children and is the artistic director of Serendipity Players. Mrs. Dolan received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and theatre from FAU, has completed her gifted endorsement coursework and is currently working towards her Master’s Degree. This is Mrs. Dolan's fifth year at Weiss. She currently teaches the three-year olds in the Early Childhood Center.

Dorothy Flores received her teaching degree at the Normal School of Teachers Manuel Belgrano in Argentina. Ms. Flores had taught grades 1-7 for many years before coming to the United States. She comes to us from PGA Montessori, where she has taught early childhood education for seven years. This is Ms. Flores' fifth year at Weiss; teaches four year olds in the Early Childhood Center and Spanish to kindergarten students.

Nancy Gall has a BS in Elementary Education from Florida Southern College, with a minor in music, math and Early Childhood Education. She has taught music for thirteen years and elementary education for sixteen years. She also served as a children's choir leader for seventeen years, and privately instructs students in piano, guitar and woodwind. Mrs. Gall obtained her endorsement in gifted education from Saint Leo University and teaches music, kindergarten through 8th grade in her fourteenth year at Weiss.

Terry Gitler graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She taught at Flagler Montessori School for five years and then in the Palm Beach County Schools for fourteen years. Ms. Gitler was the founding principal of Glades Academy, an elementary charter school in Pahokee, Florida from 2001-2005. She is currently pursuing an endorsement in reading from the state of Florida. This is Ms. Gitler's third year teaching first grade at The Weiss School.

Esther Gordon majored in Fine Arts at Florida Atlantic University and has been painting in oils and acrylics for the past 15 years. She has appeared in “Discover Art’ in the Palm Beach Post’s “Residencies” section several times. Her artwork appears in both private and public collections throughout the U.S. Her artwork was also selected by Palm Beach County Art in Public Places to be exhibited at Palm Beach International Airport. Additional paintings were selected by the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties to be exhibited in the Florida Everglades Exhibition. Mrs. Gordon joined Weiss in 2007.

Lissette Gutierrez has recently moved to Jupiter from Ardmore, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and is currently working on her gifted endorsement. She has worked with a bilingual after school program at a school in Philadelphia and taught fourth grade at Abington Friends, a private Quaker school. . She also spends time volunteering in the AWANA children’s program at her local church. Mrs. Gutierrez teaches third grade mathematics and science.

Barbara Houghtaling began her college studies in 1997 as an education major and later changed her degree to business with a focus on computer technology. Working in the business world, she realized that her initial decision to be an educator was her true aspiration, but found her technological expertise to be a valuable asset as a teacher. She returned to Florida Atlantic University and enrolled in its Master Degree program in education. Mrs. Houghtaling will soon receive her M. Ed., Curriculum and Instruction. At that time she will be able to add to her Florida teaching certificate administration and supervision. Mrs. Houghtaling is no stranger to The Weiss School, where she has substitute taught and worked with Mrs. Spirou to develop third grade classroom activities in social studies. She also has assisted Mrs. Gutierrez in the elementary science lab working with the third grade class. It is an added plus that she is familiar with all the students and already understands the day to day operations of the school.

Robyn Kovner received her BA in Marketing and Management from Lynn University and her Masters degree in Elementary Education and Educational Technology and Research from Florida Atlantic University. During that time, she worked twelve years as a children’s librarian for the Palm Beach County Library System and then taught first grade for two years at Northmore Elementary. She is currently working on her gifted endorsement. This is Mrs. Kovner's third year teaching grade at The Weiss School.

Susan Lemieux is from Massachusetts where she earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. Mrs. Lemieux continued her education at Laboure College while working in administration at Norwood Hospital and also completed her endorsement in gifted education. After having her two children, Mrs. Lemieux returned to education, teaching in public school in Holbrook, Massachusetts. Mrs. Lemieux has been a fourth grade teacher at The Weiss School for six years.

Joan Levit, a born and bred New Yorker, graduated from Long Island University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and a minor in French. She earned her M.Ed at Lynn University in Varying Exceptionalities. She is has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. After 15 years of teaching, she joined the faculty at The Weiss School teaching Language Arts in the middle school in 2007.

Suzanne Otero earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Iona College in New York and a M.S. in Learning Technology from Mercy College. Ms. Otero is currently working on her gifted endorsement. Prior experience includes working as a Technology Staff Developer and as an elementary school teacher for 9 years in NYC and worked in the Palm Beach County School District for three years prior to joining Weiss in 2004. She is currently beginning her coursework towards a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Otero is the Media Specialist at The Weiss School.

Sara Phelps received a BS in Elementary Education at Indiana University and participated in the Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice (DDSJ) Elementary Education program. After completing her degree, Sara traveled to Cudgen, Australia on a teaching exchange. While teaching in the Cultural Immersions Program, Sara introduced an incentive behavior program for the students and shared Four Block reading instructional techniques with her Australian colleagues. Upon returning to the United States, Sara taught first grade in Indiana and two years at Northmore Elementary School in the Palm Beach County School District. Mrs. Phelps has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. She also was selected to speak at the 2007 Florida Council of Independent Schools Conference to present the incorporation of SMART Boards into classrooms through an exciting hands-on presentation. In the Spring of 2008, Mrs. Phelps was chosen as the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year for The Weiss School. Mrs. Phelps is an enthusiastic member of the Weiss family, teaching first grade since 2006.

Marika Powell is a 6th degree Black Belt. She received her Master Instructor certifications and licenses from the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Academy, Korea, and the United States Taekwondo Union. She is also a Certified US Class-A Referee, Level II Coach, and the author of the “Academic Taekwondo” text book. In 1991 the World Taekwondo Federation awarded her a Citation for the Development of Taekwondo. Specializing in children's training, Master Powell has taught the art in the Palm Beach County School District since 1988. Master Powell has been a Taekwondo instructor at The Weiss School for eighteen years.

Beth Quartell has her B.A. in Secondary Education from State University of New York. She graduated from S.U.N.Y in 1992. A few years later, she enrolled at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, where she earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic. Dr. Quartell is currently working on her gifted endorsement. She had been in private practice in Palm Beach Gardens. She decided to take a leave from her chiropractic practice to pursue a career in teaching. This is Dr. Quartell's third year teaching middle school science at The Weiss School.

Kimberly Rac received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She taught in the Palm Beach County School District prior to coming to The Weiss School. Mrs. Rac has her ESOL endorsement and has completed her gifted endorsement. This is Mrs. Rac's seventh year teaching kindergarten at The Weiss School.

Colleen Sipple graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, Master Degree in Reading and two endorsements in Science/Social Science (6-8) and Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Sipple has taught fourth grade in the Palm Beach County School District and five years in Michigan both at the elementary and middle school level. She is has completed her gifted endorsement coursework and has taught second grade at The Weiss School since 2006.

Luis Skeberis is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He attended Dr. Placido Marin College in Buenos Aires, where he received his teaching degree in elementary education. Mr. Skeberis has been teaching and coaching sports for over sixteen years, including soccer, basketball, and football. He has also worked in athletics for the City of Greenacres, planning and organizing sports leagues for youths and adults. Mr. Skeberis is currently working on his gifted endorsement. At The Weiss School, Mr. Skeberis teaches physical education and after school sports.

Pauleen Walsh Pauleen Walsh graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In addition, Ms. Walsh holds a second degree Kukkiwon Black Belt. Ms. Walsh has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. She also was chosen to speak at the 2007 Florida Council of Independent Schools conference to present the incorporation of SMART Boards into classrooms through an exciting hands-on presentation.She uses her expertise in both areas at The Weiss School teaching Taekwondo and Kindergarten since 2005.

Nancy Williams is a graduate from the University of Trois-Riviere in Quebec, Canada where she received her Bachelor Degree in special education in 1996. She worked for seven years in the Montreal area as a special education teacher in both the high school and elementary school setting. She moved to Florida three years ago with her husband and her daughter and began to work at The Weiss School as a substitute teacher in 2004. Mrs. Williams has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. Mrs. Williams teaches in the three year olds Early Childhood Center.

Classroom Assistants

Maria Cristina Brooks has a BS in Business Administration from the Universidad De Los Andes in Columbia and then continued her education in English studies at the Institute Columbo Americana in Bogata. Ms. Brooks is a classroom assistant in the Early Childhood Center and has completed her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Ms. Brooks has been an assistant in the four year old classroom for five years.

Daphne L'Nette Heastie attended Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida majoring in Child Psychology. Her plan is complete the two courses necessary to receive her BS degree in the near future. Ms. Heastie has been employed for many years in the field of Child Development at centers in Daytona Beach, Pensacola, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs. She has been a volunteer of The American Red Cross, Health & Safety Department for years. Ms. Heastie works with the kindergarten children.

Andrea Hibbert is originally from Jamaica, where she attended Excelsior Community College. She also attended the National Academy School of Nursing in Jamaica to pursue a Practical Nursing degree. This motivated her to become Director of her own child daycare, caring for children between the ages of birth to 3 years of age for six years. While in business, she obtained an Early Childhood Certificate (Level 1). In 2004, she moved to the United States where she attended Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale. There she obtained her 40 hour qualification to work with Early Childhood aged children. Ms. Hibbert is a classroom assistant in the four year Early Childhood classroom.

Teachers of academic subjects have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and hold a State of Florida certificate or qualify as candidates for a Florida certificate.