Faculty & Staff

Bethany Barton, 3rd Grade Teacher (bbarton@windhamcentral.org)

I graduated from the University of Vermont with my teaching degree and was fortunate to land a classroom position right out of college at Castleton Elementary School. After working there for 2 years, I took a teaching position at Townshend Elementary School. I have been teaching for 25 years and am currently the 3rd grade teacher. I love my job and am happy to go to work each morning because I enjoy my students' enthusiasm for learning. It's a pleasure to work with these children because I learn something new every day.

Beth Beattie, Special Ed Para (bbeattie@windhamcentral.org)

Deidre Beattie, Special Ed Para (dbeattie@windhamcentral.org)

Brynn Casamassa, Kindergarten Teacher (bcasamassa@windhamcentral.org)

I have taught Kindergarten, among other grades, for 7 years.  I currently have Early Childhood and Elementary Certifications.  I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in Kindergarten.  I love helping students learn something new and watching their eyes light up when they get it!  I also love that every kid I have taught, has also taught me and how they help me see things in different ways.  

William Cummings, Custodian (wcummings@windhamcentral.org)

Kathy Gatto-Gurney, Pre-K Teacher (kgattogurney@windhamcentral.org)

I am an educator, a mother, wife, dancer, and sculptor.  My education is diverse with a BA in Speech Communications (College of NJ), MA in Dance and Dance Ed. (NYU), and an Early Childhood Ed. Endorsement (UVM). Watching children grow and guiding them along the way, brings me great joy. I love being with preschoolers because they are so pure in spirit.

Samantha Hackett, Pre-K Paraeducator (shackett@windhamcentral.org)

Katie Hazelton, Pre-K Paraeducator (khazelton@windhamcentral.org)

I live in Jamaica with my husband and three children. Both my husband and I, as well as our kids have gone to elementary schools in our district and to Leland & Gray. I ran a home childcare for 10 years and then started at TES in 2019 in the PreK-4 room. I love hanging with this amazing age-group every day! When I’m not at school I enjoy camping with my family in our motor home.

Leanne Inderieden, Paraeducator (linderieden@windhamcentral.org)

Kris Jerz, 5th Grade Teacher (kjerz@windhamcentral.org)

From a young age I always knew that teaching would be my career path. I attended Elms College in Ma. where I received my Bachelors in Science degree with a minor in math and continued my education at Antioch in Keene, NH  in order to receive my Masters in Education degree.  It has been my pleasure to work at Townshend Elementary School for the past 19 years, the last five with the AMAZING FIFTH grade!

Rebecca Kerr, Music (rkerr@windhamcentral.org)

Abbey Larson, Nurse (alarson@windhamcentral.org)

I began working for WCSU 3 years ago. I now work at Townshend and Jamaica Village School. I have been a pediatric nurse for almost 13 years. I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse and specialize in pediatrics.  I love what I do! I grew up in Vermont, I am married and have a 10 year old son. We love sports, being outdoors and weekend adventures. 

Bre Madison, Home-School Liaison (bgunnmadison@windhamcentral.org)

Kimberley McCormack, Speech (kmccormack@windhamcentral.org)

Anna Mefford, Occupational Therapist (amefford@windhamcentral.org)

Renee Merluzzi, Principal (rmerluzzi@windhamcentral.org)

I am the Principal at Townshend. I started at Townshend as an AST teacher in which I taught small groups of students that need interventions in math and literacy in various grade levels. The 2022-23 school year will be my first year in this leadership role at Townshend. I enjoy teaching all kinds of students and get true joy out of seeing them make growth in their academic and social lives. 

Jess Mowrey, Food Services (jmowrey@windhamcentral.org)

Liz O'Neill, Pre-K Teacher (loneill@windhamcentral.org)

I graduated from UVM and have been a teacher of various grades for five years now, in both New Jersey and Vermont. I have a special education degree along with an early childhood education degree. I believe all students should receive an equal opportunity in an inclusive and welcoming environment, which will allow each child to grow and develop into the best person they can be. Townshend is such a welcoming and caring community and I feel very lucky to be a part of the teaching staff. Watching young children learn and grow brings me joy daily. 

Edna Ortiz, 1st Grade Teacher (eortiz@windhamcentral.org)

Hello lovely Townshend families!  My name is Edna Ortiz, Ms. Edna, to the students, and I am one of the newest members of the TES community.  I moved to West Townshend around this time last year and could not be happier.  I lived in Brattleboro before this and before that I lived in central Mass. for most of my life.  Many people ask me why I moved to Vermont, even not knowing anyone in the state, and I just smile and tell them it was my destiny.  I came up for a visit many years ago and told myself that I would one day move up here and never look back...and that is what happened.  I was extremely fortunate to have landed a couple of great jobs in the education field up here in VT and am currently enrolled in the Elementary Education Masters program at Western Governors University.  I truly love my job as a 1st grade teacher and am crossing my fingers to be here for many years to come!  

Sheila Overman, Academic Support Teacher (soverman@windhamcentral.org)