Lisa Yates is the Executive Director of Our Sisters' School. Prior to joining Our Sisters' School, Lisa spent five years at the New Bedford Global Learning Charter Public School as a consultant for curriculum, assessment and professional development, and as a 6^th and 8^th grade classroom teacher. Before moving to New Bedford, Lisa worked at educational nonprofits in the Boston area, including the Education Development Center and Playing for Keeps. Lisa received a B.A. in Humanities and Massachusetts teaching licensure at Wheelock College. She completed her Master's degree in Education at Lesley University and the Leading for Learning Principal's Licensure program at UMass Dartmouth. Lisa is also a Board member and Officer of the New Bedford Historical Society.

Abigail Keene is the Director of Development at Our Sisters’ School. She graduated with a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Women’s Studies from Gettysburg College. Abby began her career in the Admissions Office at SEA Semester and from there moved on to the Alumni & Development Office at Tabor Academy. After six years at Tabor working with alumni, parents, current students, and faculty, Abby is excited to share her fundraising experience, local knowledge, and passion with Our Sisters’ School. Abby has spent her entire life on the South Coast and looks forward to being involved with the greater New Bedford community

Jill Howard is originally from Easton, MA and attended UMass Dartmouth, where she majored in political science and was the captain on her lacrosse team. Jill joined OSS in 2008 and spent two years as an AmeriCorps Volunteer Classroom Teacher, teaching fifth grade math and science. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, Jill became the Secondary Schools Coordinator where she supports the graduating class in their high school application process and selection. She also keeps close contact with our Alumnae and their families, following each graduate on their next new voyage beyond OSS. Jill will also take on another new role this year as the Instructional Coach for our eight volunteer AmeriCorps classroom teachers.

Hillary Parker is the part-time Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for Our Sisters’ School. In addition to her work with Our Sisters’ School, Hillary is a company member at 2^nd Story Theatre in Warren, RI as well as The Toe Jam Puppet Band – a children’s interactive music group that performs all over New England.  She has also been a part-time teacher in theatre arts for children ages  4-12 at the All Children’s Theatre in Pawtucket ,RI. She has a BFA in Performing Arts from Emerson College. She has experience in office administration from her work as the Office Manager for Wild Planet Toys Inc., in San Francisco, CA as well as the Executive Assistant to the President of PGR Media in Providence, RI.

Lead Teachers

Priscilla Kennedy is from Philadelphia, PA. She attended Springside School there, and later graduated from Vassar College, an all-girls college in Poughkeepsie, NY. She received her master’s degree in education from the State University of New York at New Paltz.  Her teaching career spanned 27 years in elementary education, sports and athletics. She is interested in literacy for adult women and children, fly fishing, daylilies, and sports for girls and women. 

June M. Pina is a native New Bedford resident who has been educated by the New Bedford School System. She attended college at Southeastern Massachusetts University in Dartmouth, MA, majoring in English and Elementary Education. June retired in June 2007 after having a fulfilling career as a grade 1 teacher for 35 years at Carney Academy.  June is very pleased to be affiliated with OSS as a lead teacher and a Big Sister to all our girls.

Gale Schultz is a retired Special Education teacher in 2007 from New Bedford Public Schools. Her undergraduate work was completed at UMassD, her M.Ed in Moderate Special Needs at Bridgewater College.  Gale lives in Dartmouth where she raised 3 children and is now enjoying being a grandparent of 7.  She is also interested in being a part of the Dartmouth Youth Commission, the Bristol County Commission on the Status of Women, and Church Women United. Gale is happy and privileged to work as a substitute lead teacher, mentor, and tutor at OSS.

Elizabeth White graduated from Vassar College and received a M.Ed. and a CAGS in Reading from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Elizabeth trained at MA General to become a certified member of Orton Gillingham. She has taught for over 20 years and feels very strongly about education, especially math and English literacy. Her other interests include sailing, gardening and swimming

Visual and Performing Arts Teachers

In 1991, saxophonist Marcus Monteiro began his quest by experimenting and improvising. This led him to spend four years studying performance and composition at UMass Dartmouth. Since then, he has played professionally with various groups all along the east coast, mid-west, and the southern United States. In 2006, Marcus Monteiro’s debut album with his quartet was titled Mm4. Marcus now teaches individual lessons as well as music together classes.

Diana Puccio is the Drama Teacher for Our Sisters’ School. Diana is from Mansfield, MA and graduated from Salve Regina University in 2009 with a degree in Theatre Education. After an internship in the Education Department at Trinity Repertory Company (where she first met the current 8^th grade class!), she is now a freelance theatre teacher for a variety of organizations in the MA/RI area. She enjoys acting and directing when her schedule allows, and has performed most recently with The Barker Playhouse and Triboro Musical Theatre.

Mary Wayss is our Visual Arts teacher. She received a Master’s degree in Art Education, Creative Arts and Learning from Lesley University. Mary earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, with a major concentration in photography. She resides in Rhode Island and is certified to teach in both RI and MA. Mary was an Operations Director for six years at a large arts consulting firm in Boston. She was looking for an opportunity to instruct students in many different types of media, technologies and materials at a school – like Our Sisters’ School – where the arts are central to the curriculum and considered to be an integral part of a child’s overall education.

Adjunct Teaching Faculty

David Ehrens has served as OSS volunteer Computer Technology teacher for the last two years. Although he studied Comparative Literature, he worked in the computer industry for 40 years in positions ranging from building computer networks to developing Web-based search applications. He has a M.Sc. in Computer Science from UMass Dartmouth and, before working with OSS students, taught high school and college students. He enjoys theater, writing, travel, and politics.

Jim McNamee has been a resident of New Bedford for 38 years. As a local member of the community, Jim is honored to be teaching Latin at Our Sisters’ School. Jim was the Academic Principal at Bishop Stang High School for 21 years, Superintendent of Schools at Diocese of Fall River for 10 years, Principal at Bishop Connelly High School in Fall River for years and has taught Latin for 31 years! In his spare time, Jim volunteers at the Casey Food Pantry, serves on the Curriculum Advisory Council for Nativity Prep and enjoys being a volunteer Latin teach there as well.

145 Brownell Avenue,  New Bedford, MA 02740   Phone: 508.994.1255   Fax: 508.994.1355    info@oursistersschool.org