Each brings a wealth of experience and talent to the community
Cheshire Academy welcomed 11 new faculty and staff members for the 2025-26 academic year, including two CA alums. The cohort includes new faces in the classrooms, as well as the Roxbury Academic Support program, athletic training, and the health and counseling departments.
“We are thrilled to welcome this very talented and experienced group to Cheshire Academy,” said Head of School Tom Woelper. “We know they will each add new perspectives and energy to our vibrant campus community.”
Ashleigh Bass earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Southern Connecticut State University and her MSW from Quinnipiac University. She holds an LMSW and has worked at the therapeutic/behavioral day school ACES Whitney North and Shepherd Glen Elementary School in Hamden. No stranger to CA, she has lived on campus with her mother, English teacher Allison Bass-Riccio, and her stepdad Doug Riccio.
English teacher Matthew Bender has more than two decades of experience in classroom instruction and academic leadership. Former dean of students at Forman School, he holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Post University and an MA in English from the University of New Hampshire. He will be assistant coach for both Fourths Boys Basketball and Track & Field and his son, Liam, will join the Class of 2027.
Katlyn Coss is the new part-time school nurse. She earned her BS in Nursing from the University of Connecticut and also holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern Connecticut State University. She served as a pediatric nurse at ProHealth Physicians and as a NICU nurse at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.
Ellie Kinne is an instructor in the Roxbury Academic Support program. Formerly director of tutorial at Hillside School, she was named Teacher of the Year there in 2023. Kinne holds an M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities from Lesley University. She will serve as assistant coach for Varsity Volleyball and Track & Field.
Jack Kreiger ’14 is a new Roxbury instructor, having worked as a clinical and school-based therapist for the last four years. He holds an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and has been working one-on-one with students in a writing center and math capacity. He will be the head coach of JV Boys Baseball and will assist in the School Counseling and Wellness office on-call rotation.
Math teacher Gabe Lozado Rodriguez comes to CA from Suffield Academy, where he taught AP precalculus and calculus and coached various sports. He also has experience at New London Public Schools and is an accomplished fencer who will be assistant Co-Ed Fencing coach. He holds a BS in Pure Mathematics from the University of Connecticut.
Ashley “Ash” Nadeau ’19 brings a background in illustration and art education to her position as visual arts teacher. A former CA Art Major who participated in the International Baccalaureate program, she holds a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design and is a master’s candidate at Adelphi University. Nadeau will also be Varsity Girls Basketball assistant coach.
Nelly Quino is a Spanish teacher with experience in middle school education and bilingual instruction. She holds an MS in Special Education: Emotional Behavioral Disorders and a dual bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She will be an assistant volleyball coach, as well as assistant coach for Girls Tennis.
English teacher Andrew Stephens brings 13 years of teaching experience from elementary through college levels to CA, teaching English, business communications, creative writing, film and literature, SAT preparation, and physical education. He is the new Varsity Girls Basketball head coach, and has more than 33 seasons coaching at both the college and secondary levels, including as interim acting head coach at Central Connecticut State University.
Lily Traum joins us as campus life coordinator on the Community Life team. A former YMCA camper for many years, she has held several roles, including assistant camp director, at YMCA Camp Gorham in upstate New York. She has also been a lead program facilitator for Mountain Workshop in Fairfield, leading day and overnight adventure-based programs. She will be head coach of the Varsity Volleyball and JV Girls Basketball teams.
Athletic Trainer Brooke Venkitachalam holds her athletic training degree from Quinnipiac and is a former CA athletic training intern. She has experience supporting athletes in a variety of sports, including soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, cross country, and softball. She was most recently assistant athletic trainer at the University of Bridgeport and is certified in dry needling, CPR, and concussion management.
Welcome to Cheshire Academy!
