April Nielsen, first-grade teacher (pictured above), is stepping away from teaching after 24 years at Rowland Hall to spend more time with her grandchildren. April is a deeply knowledgeable, dedicated educator who works tirelessly to support students’ academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth. She’s long been a champion of strong literacy instruction, both in her classroom and during her time as the Lower School’s reading specialist. April’s deep love of literature shines through her teaching and her commitment to helping children become joyful, confident readers. She’s also been a trusted mentor to colleagues and an important contributor to the admission process and broader school community. A lifelong learner who consistently sought out professional development to strengthen her practice, April’s passion for teaching and literacy will leave a lasting mark on our Lower School community. We wish her all the best in this next chapter.

Karen Howell, Upper School learning specialist, retired in March after 11 years at Rowland Hall. Karen has always been a passionate advocate for students, deeply committed to ensuring that every child is seen, heard, and understood, especially when navigating learning challenges. As one colleague shared, “She makes sure students know that learning differences are, in fact, differences—sometimes superpowers—and not shortcomings.” Karen’s impact extends far beyond her work with students. She’s been an extraordinary mentor, collaborator, friend, and trusted partner in lesson planning, student problem-solving, and professional growth. Karen is kind, smart, and empathetic. On difficult days, colleagues knew they could find her for a moment of wit, laughter, careful listening, and perfectly timed insight that brought clarity and perspective. While we miss Karen’s wisdom, warmth, and humor, we are thrilled for her and wish her the best in retirement.

Brickell Nielson, teacher aid volunteer, is embarking on new adventures after nearly 11 years of dedicated service at Rowland Hall. Throughout her time here, Brickell has been a valued member of our community, known for her steady smile, kindness, and willingness to help wherever needed. Students and colleagues alike will miss her warm presence and her contributions to the library. We are thankful for the time we shared and send her the warmest wishes for a bright future.

Jen Schones, seventh-grade math teacher, will be leaving Rowland Hall at the end of the school year after 11 years of service. During her tenure, Jen was deeply committed to helping students build confidence in their abilities and see themselves as capable mathematicians. Beyond the classroom, she made a variety of contributions to the Middle School community, including developing a personal finance elective, running math summer camps, coaching volleyball, and leading MATHCOUNTS. We are grateful for her years of dedication to our students and wish her well in her next chapter.

Anne Wolfer, visual art and Upper School yearbook teacher, is leaving Rowland Hall after 11 years as a crossover faculty member. Anne taught a wide range of courses across the middle and upper schools, including Arts & Ensemble, Studio Art, Bookmaking, Public Art, Fundamentals of Drawing and Painting, Advanced Drawing and Painting, and Publications. Anne is excited to pursue new creative opportunities, including an art residency in Northern Italy and an invitation to teach a painting course in Croatia in September. We appreciate Anne’s dedication and impact on our arts program and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Kirsten White, 4PreK lead teacher, is leaving Rowland Hall after eight years to take a teaching position closer to home. Kirsten has worked with children in 3PreK and 4PreK and offered her extraordinary compassion, generosity, and patience as a teacher and colleague. Her warmth and commitment to supporting young children in all the ways they show up to school will be missed. We wish Kirsten all the best in her new role and thank her for the meaningful contributions she has made to our community.

Caitlin Kennedy, middle and upper school registrar, left Rowland Hall in April to pursue other career opportunities. Over five years, Caitlin served in the Middle School and Upper School with care and commitment to her advisees and our students. We are grateful for all she gave to our students and community.

Emily Khan, director of student support on the McCarthey Campus, will be returning to the Bay Area with her family this summer. During her five years at Rowland Hall, Emily has supported students, teachers, and families across both divisions, leaving a lasting imprint on our community. She led and contributed to significant improvements in schoolwide programs, systems, and routines, including a move to a PreK–12 learning specialist model, updates to curricular review and selection processes (Lower School), more robust documentation practices for student support work, and enhanced collaboration with external providers. Emily also played a central role in building a culture of alignment and partnership among our learning support professionals. In addition to programmatic leadership, she was a steadfast contributor to DEI efforts, generously sharing her expertise and experience at multiple all-school events. She’s an uncommonly insightful, articulate, earnest, and kind collaborator who consistently keeps children at the center of her work and decision-making.

Shuja Khan, director of enrollment management, is leaving Rowland Hall to become the director of enrollment management at Head-Royce School in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since joining our community in 2021, Shuja has led Rowland Hall’s enrollment efforts with a clear focus on strategy, access, and connection. Over the past five years, he helped refine our admission process, strengthen our data-informed approach, and support families through one of the most important decisions they make: where their children will learn and grow. Shuja has been a thoughtful colleague and a steady partner across the school, and we’re grateful for his contributions.

Sam Duffy, Middle School physical education/wellness teacher and Upper School weight room instructor, left Rowland Hall in December to pursue a new professional opportunity. Sam served on the PE team for just over four years. In addition to his teacher and instructor roles, he supported athletic programs, including coaching Middle School basketball and volleyball and contributing to the Upper School girls varsity soccer program.

Sophia Cutrubus ’18, dance teacher, is leaving Rowland Hall to pursue graduate studies in education outside of Utah. During her four years at the school, Sophia proved to be an exceptionally grounded and talented educator, recognized for her ability to support individual student needs through thoughtfully designed learning experiences. Her professional contributions and perspective have significantly benefited both her students and her colleagues. While Sophia will be missed, we wish her the best as she advances her career and thank her for her dedicated service to the school community.

Brenna Thomas, Upper School math teacher, is moving on to new adventures after the school year. Brenna joined Rowland Hall in 2022 after working in both corporate settings and public schools, bringing a broad perspective to her work. During her time here, Brenna was a dedicated advocate for her advisees and students. She is a caring, thoughtful, and clear communicator, especially when supporting students who need extra help in mathematics, and consistently keeps families and colleagues well informed. As her department chair shared, “We’ll miss her energy, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to her students. She’s always up for an adventure: fly-fishing, hiking, frisbee golf, and coaching track. She’s committed to her values and leads by example.” We wish Brenna all the best as she begins this next chapter, traveling the country with her partner, cruising, backpacking, and camping under wide, beautiful skies.

Dan Trockman, sixth-grade science teacher, will be retiring from teaching after four years at Rowland Hall and 29 years in education. An engaging science educator, Dan has been a valued member of the sixth-grade team and his passion for delivering lively, hands-on science learning has impacted countless incoming middle schoolers. It’s not uncommon to find him in his classroom, closely surrounded by a gaggle of 11- and 12-year-olds eager to check out something awesome and new. In retirement, Dan is most looking forward to skiing, hiking, and travel, as well as caring for aging parents around the country. We are grateful for everything Dan has brought to Rowland Hall and wish him all the best in this next chapter.

Jimena Carlin, Rowmark Ski Academy FIS coach, will be leaving Rowmark to pursue new coaching opportunities. Over the past three seasons, Jimena has made an impact on our athletes through her energy, dedication, and passion for skiing. She worked closely with athletes to support their growth, both on and off the hill, while fostering a love for the mountains, adventure, and the outdoors. We are grateful for all that Jimena has contributed to the program and the positive influence she has had on our athletes and community. We wish her continued success and happiness in her next adventure.

Samantha Mims, fifth-grade teacher, will be stepping away from teaching at the end of the year to focus on her family. During her three years at Rowland Hall, Sam led the fifth-grade team through several important transitions and spent two years serving as our Lower School equity coordinator, where she was an incredible resource to colleagues. She has been a thoughtful and valued collaborator across the fifth-grade team as well as a trusted sounding board for teammates and families alike. Sam has brought meaningful new content to the fifth-grade program and has a remarkable ability to connect with students, creating a classroom culture where they feel confident, enthusiastic, and appropriately challenged to think outside the box and rise to new opportunities. A skilled and dedicated educator, she will be deeply missed by students and colleagues alike.

Grace Riter ’18, Middle School and Upper School dance teacher, will be leaving Rowland Hall at the end of the school year to focus on her graduate studies. Grace has been a valued member of the arts department for the past three years and has made meaningful contributions to the dance program, including updates to the hip-hop curriculum that reflect student interests and support the school’s priorities. She’s built strong relationships with students and fostered a positive, inclusive classroom environment. We are grateful for her contributions and wish her well.

Samantha Gerstein, Lower School associate teacher, will be leaving Rowland Hall at the end of the school year to pursue new opportunities. During her two years at Rowland Hall, Sammie has built meaningful relationships with students across multiple classrooms and has contributed to a positive, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. We are grateful for the care, flexibility, and dedication she has brought to our community and wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Alexis Hollister, Rowmark Ski Academy FIS boys assistant coach, will be leaving Rowmark to pursue a new coaching opportunity closer to home on the East Coast. During her two years with the program, Alexis contributed greatly through her dedication, professionalism, and passion for athlete development. Drawing on her experience within ski academy programs, she brought valuable coaching knowledge and a strong commitment to helping student-athletes grow, both on and off the hill. Alexis was a valued member of the Rowmark community, known for the energy, care, and authenticity she brought to the program each day. Her dedication to her athletes, colleagues, and the overall culture of Rowmark will be greatly missed. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

Kaleb Nielsen, equity and inclusion coordinator, left Rowland Hall in January for new opportunities. During Kaleb’s nearly two years at the school, they coordinated Middle School Student Council and Middle School and Upper School assemblies, and supported student life initiatives on the Lincoln Street Campuss. We wish Kaleb well.

Jeni Conover, Rowmark Junior Program coach, will be leaving Rowmark to return home to Maine at the conclusion of the season. During her season with the program, Jeni made a meaningful impact on our athletes through her experience, positive attitude, and genuine ability to connect with students. She brought enthusiasm, encouragement, and a strong commitment to supporting both individual growth and team success. We are grateful for all that Jeni has contributed to the program and wish her the very best as she returns closer to family and begins this next chapter.

Lauren Domagas, Upper School receptionist, has decided not to return to Rowland Hall for the 2026–2027 school year. While we are saddened to see Lauren leave, we are grateful for the many contributions she made during her time with us. Lauren quickly became known for her attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and warm, welcoming presence. She helped create a front office environment where students, families, and colleagues felt supported and cared for. Lauren also did an exceptional job coordinating Senior Week and graduation. Her thoughtful planning and calm approach helped ensure these milestone events ran smoothly, even when inclement weather required us to move graduation indoors. We are grateful for Lauren’s service to our community and wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Shannon Foy, Upper School learning specialist, accepted an opportunity to step into a leadership role outside of Rowland Hall, where she’ll help build, design, and support a team in new ways. We are grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and care Shannon brought to academic support during her time at Rowland Hall. While she was with us for only a year, her impact reached far beyond the students on her caseload. Shannon was a tireless champion for students, regularly showing up to athletic events, performances, and more to celebrate and support them. She was equally committed to supporting her colleagues, generously sharing strategies for academic support while deepening our collective understanding of neurodivergence, culture, and inclusive practices. We thank Shannon for her contributions to our community and wish her success as she begins this exciting new chapter in California.

Taylor Ouzts, part-time Middle School and Upper School choir teacher, is leaving Rowland Hall for a full-time teaching position with the Salt Lake City School District. During his year with us, Taylor brought enthusiasm, musicianship, and a genuine commitment to choir students, sharing his love of music while helping students build their skills and confidence as performers. We are grateful for the care and dedication he brought to our music program and community. As Taylor shared with us, he is thankful for the opportunities and experiences he gained at Rowland Hall and looks forward to applying those lessons in this next chapter of his career. We are grateful to Taylor for his contributions over the past year and wish him success as he begins his new role.

Paul Rechberger, Rowmark Ski Academy team manager, will be stepping away at the end of the year to pursue a new professional direction. During his year at the school, Paul guided the Academy through pivotal transitions that have positioned the program for long-term growth and enhanced performance. A valued collaborator and mentor, he introduced innovative ideas and fostered a culture where student-athletes feel confident and appropriately challenged. His dedication and ability to connect with the community have left a lasting impact on Rowmark and Rowland Hall. We wish him the best in his next endeavor.