Ms. Becca Iskric (K1) has been teaching since 2001. She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from The George Washington University and her Master’s degree from Lesley University. She is also an Adjunct Professor with Lesley University’s School of Education where she teaches graduate students in the Early Childhood Program. She has been with Conservatory Lab since 2009 and has taught in the K-1 and K-2 classrooms. Outside of school, Becca spends her time with her husband Brian and their greyhound Ciannaith going on long walks. Becca also loves playing board games, watching films, going to concerts, cooking, and solving sudoku puzzles.
Theresa Holland, K1 Teacher Assistant, received her BA with a major in Theatre and a minor in Education from University of Southern Connecticut and is currently working on a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. She is looking forward to sharing her love for theatre, art, and music with the K1 class as both a teaching assistant and El Sistema assistant at Conservatory Lab this year.
Ms. Jean Corbo-Hudak is a K2 teacher at Conservatory Lab. She graduated Hobart and William Smith’s undergraduate program with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Media & Society. In 2009, Jean received her masters in Early Childhood Education with the Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University. She believes teaching through music and the arts engages all types of learners and supports social, emotional, and academic growth in all children. Jean challenges students to build off prior knowledge and learn through fun, exploratory lessons. Jean listens to an eclectic mix of music. While she has experience playing the piano and drums, Jean can most often be found singing with K1 children or accompanying her car stereo. Being immersed in Conservatory Lab’s community of student and adult musicians has been a wonderful growing opportunity for her as she learns something new about music everyday. Having been born and raised in Boston, Jean is excited to be teaching children of the city she grew up in. With many relatives in the area, Jean spends most of her free time crowding around a table of food with family and friends. No mater what time of day it is, she feels fortunate to always be in good company.
This is K2 teacher Ms. Mary Randolph’s second year at the Conservatory Lab School, and her third year as a classroom teacher. She earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Lesley University in 2009. Before that she worked with many different age groups in both public and private institutions, and she also worked as a nanny for many years. In the end, she found her place in pre-kindergarten. The creativity, the sense of wonder, and the energy that exists at this age is so captivating to Mary. The mission at the Conservatory Lab- that music is a means for social change- as well as our Expeditionary Learning, have enabled her to strengthen her practice in remarkable ways. Nurturing the children as they blossom into deep thinkers and talented performers has been an incredible experience for Mary. She sees such a sense of accomplishment and pride that has an impact not only on their creative selves, but in their relationships and academics. When Mary is not teaching, she is often spending time with my family in Maine, lost in a great book, or trying to cook without over-seasoning anything.
Jovanne Buckmire, first grade, received her BA from Wheelock College in Human Development, and has been teaching elementary school for six years. Her favorite part of teaching first grade is watching young learners grow as scholars, musicians, and friends. When she is not in the classroom she enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially at the beach!
Katie Biro is the assistant teacher in the first grade classroom. She completed her student teaching in the first grade last year and is excited to begin her first full year of teaching along side of Jovanne Buckmire. Katie has always had a passion for teaching and truly enjoys working with children to build strong social relationships within themselves and with peers. Katie is in the process of finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Wheelock College and is scheduled to graduate in December of this year. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, visiting her family in central Massachusetts and reading.
Ms. Jenna Gampel received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern University, and her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Literacy from Lesley in 2010. This is Jenna’s third year at Conservatory Lab, and she has enjoyed the benefits of staying with the same group of children in her 1-2 loop. Jenna enjoys bringing her musical theater and dance experience to the classroom. She has been excited to start implementing expeditionary learning, seeing the deep learning and quality work students are able to produce. In her free time, Jenna enjoys visiting her family, walking her dog Bentley and snowboarding.
Ivy Delaney has been teaching for 19 years. This will be her fourth year at Conservatory Lab. Ivy has taught grades one to five, Reading Recovery, Special Education and English Language Learners. As a volunteer in Kiribati, South Pacific, Ivy worked with teachers to lift the quality and delivery of their English language instruction. When she returned to the United States, Ivy moved to Manchester, England where she taught English as a Second/Foreign Language to adult learners. Ivy is a graduate of Bank Street College of Education. She received her Reading Recovery training at New York University. When not in the classroom, Ivy enjoys spending time with her family, taking yoga classes, reading and watching movies. (with a big tub of popcorn!)
Ms. Rachel Cates is a fourth grade teacher and has been teaching at Conservatory Lab since 2009. She has lived in Boston since 2003 and prior to that she grew up in a small town about an hour south of Boston. Rachel received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Boston University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Framingham State College. Rachel has always had a passion to work with children! Developing positive relationships with her students, seeing their lights go off when they are learning, having rich and valuable discussions about life in and out of the classroom, and simply being a part of a strong, caring community is why Rachel loves coming to work here every day. Rachel enjoys being a part of this Conservatory Lab because it is a unique school community where the students not only learn through hands-on, collaborative work with their classmates but also through the listening, analyzing, developing, and performing qualities of music. Although it’s been awhile since she’s taken lessons, Rachel can play the piano and loves to sing. When not at school, Rachel enjoys spending time with friends and taking frequent trips back home to visit her parents, her sister, and her nephew. She also loves engaging herself with new books for pleasure as well as books that will enhance her teaching career.
Bry Gapp is the fifth and sixth grade humanities teacher, and this is his first year at Conservatory Lab. It is also his first year in the city of Boston. For the past three years he taught sixth grade at the Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists in New York City. During that time he earned his Masters Degree in Special Education at Hunter College, CUNY. Prior to that, he earned his Masters Degree in History at San Francisco State University and his Bachelor’s Degree in History at the University of California Santa Cruz. Bry is a strong proponent of a project-based approach to teaching, and is excited to begin implementing expeditionary learning. Outside of school, Bry spends his time with his wife, trying new restaurants and exploring Boston. He also enjoys riding his bike, watching baseball, and reading.
Kate Funderburk is the 5th and 6th grade math and science teacher at Conservatory Lab. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and is currently completing her masters’ degree in secondary mathematics education from Simmons College. This is her first year at Conservatory Lab. Prior to this year, she taught at the high school level at City on a Hill Charter Public School in Roxbury. When she is not in the classroom, Kate is probably partaking in one of her two favorite activities: dancing or napping. Musically she enjoys singing in the shower and playing flute.