Administration

Director, Co-Founder, and Counselor - M. Elisabeth Weiss co-founded The Weiss School with her husband, Dr. Martin Weiss. M. Elisabeth Weiss holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from New York University and did her postgraduate studies in Gifted Education at the University of Florida. Mrs. Weiss was Berlitz trained and taught Portuguese and English for eight years prior to opening The Weiss School in 1989.

Head of School - Dr. Rosemary Daniels received her BA in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics from Rhode Island College and her Masters and Doctorate degrees from Florida Atlantic University in Educational Leadership. Her expertise in gifted education keeps her much in demand as a keynote speaker and educational consultant. In addition, she was the president of FLAG (Florida Association for the Gifted) in 2001 and currently sits on the board for the Florida Kindergarten Council. Dr. Daniels was the recipient of the prestigious FAU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1993, the William T. Dwyer Award for Excellence in Education in 1992, and the Palm Beach County Gifted Teacher of the Year in 1992. She is also the recipient of the 2007 Hoagies Gifted Administrator of the Year Award. Dr. Daniels is an active member of the Palm Beach Gardens Kiwanis and the Northern Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. This is her 12th year with The Weiss School. In addition, she has been selected as a member of Leadership of Palm Beach County class of 2010.

Assistant Head of School - Dr. Denise Spirou received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, has her gifted endorsement in Florida and her Doctorate from Walden University in Teacher Leadership. Currently, Dr. Spirou is enrolled in Nova Southeastern University's Specialist Program for Educational Leadership. She taught in the Stroudsburg Area School District for four years. Dr. Spirou began teaching for the Palm Beach County School District in 1999 then joined Weiss in 2000 where she taught for six years, prior to her present position as the Assistant Head of School that she has held since 2006. Dr. Spirou is much in demand as an instructor for gifted coursework and workshops. Her inspirational speaking and motivational strategies make her truly a teacher's teacher. Dr. Spirou was the recipient of the North Palm Beach Teacher of the Year Award in 2004 for Excellence in the Field of Education. Dr. Spirou is an active member of the North Palm Beach Rotary.

Operations Team

Administrative Assistant - Kelly Varty's business studies at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire served as a gateway into the hospitality business. In Vermont, she owned and operated a country inn and restaurant for eleven years, later transferring her energy and interest to a sailboat in the tropics. Kelly has received her AAB at the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Varty's experience in the business world is valued at The Weiss School. She handles all communication between the school and the home.

Administrator for Student Services - Julie Regina graduated with a Master Degree in Learning Disabilities K-12 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA and has completed the coursework for her gifted endorsement. Since graduating in 1984, Mrs. Regina has taught elementary, middle, and high school in traditional and special education classrooms. She has attended multiple workshops and utilizes a variety of learning styles. She has also taken workshops on brain research and testing. Mrs. Regina joined Weiss in 2004 to teach fourth grade language arts and social studies. In 2007, she became the Administrator for Student Services at The Weiss School.

Business Manager - Maribeth Lenz Krueger worked for the Palm Beach County School District for thirteen years before coming to The Weiss School in 1999. In the public school system she worked as a director for the after-school program, data processor and administrative assistant for student services. She was the recipient of the Palm Beach County School Board Support Employee of the Year in 1993. She continues to be a data processing consultant for the county, working as a specialist in employee training and school operations. She has taken numerous hours of in-service workshops through the school board and has completed her Early Childhood certification at PBCC. Ms. Lenz Krueger was also trained in learning styles under Dr. Rita Dunn of St. John's University. She is an active member of the Palm Beach Gardens Kiwanis and the Northern Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Facilities Manager - Paul J. Poulos attended Pratt Institute and Technology in New York. He worked as an architect in Manhattan and later moved to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters: where he started his own business, building custom homes for the past twenty five years. In addition to his construction business, he designed 60 apartment units. Mr. Poulos puts to good use his expertise in the building business, joining The Weiss School as the Facilities Manager in 2006.

Systems Administrator - Sheryl Grimaldi began her career as a Technology Systems Administrator at Rancho Buena Vista High School in 1987. This International Baccalaureate, blue ribbon school was one of the largest in San Diego County with a school population of 3,500. In 2000, she moved to New York and worked for the North American Headquarters of International Baccalaureate and then for the Rye Neck School District in IT support. This is Mrs. Grimaldi's third year at The Weiss School.

Faculty

Michelle Abrishami has a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Abrishami previously taught second grade at Sacred Heart School and began her teaching profession at The Benjamin School. Ms. Abrishami will be teaching third, fourth, and fifth grade language arts at The Weiss School.

Maria Aitken received her BS in Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude, at Florida Atlantic University in 2005 and received her Master's Degree in Mathematics from Nova University in 2008. She taught Algebra I and Algebra II at Palm Beach Gardens High School. Mrs. Aitken received her ESOL Endorsement, Mathematics 6-12 Endorsement, and is currently working on her Gifted Endorsement as well as being a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at Nova University. Mrs. Aitken's joined Weiss in 2007; she teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.

Corina Beck attended Iowa Wesleyan College where she earned a BA in Sociology and Psychology. She comes to Weiss with experience as a teacher assistant in the Head Start Program in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Miss Beck is a teacher for the four-year olds in the Early Childhood Center. Miss Beck has been at Weiss since 2005.

Jessica Burns did her studies in education at the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal in Lima, Peru. She completed an English Language Course for Language Teachers and received a certificate from the University of Cambridge. She also has a BA from Florida Atlantic University and has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. Mrs. Burns taught English and Spanish at different language schools in Lima for over 15 years. Mrs. Burns has repeatedly received nominations for the Teacher of the Year Disney Award. In 2007, she was the recipient of The North Palm Beach Teacher of The Year Award. That year also she was chosen among a vast number of teachers to be a speaker at the Florida Council of Independents Schools Convention with the workshop Spanish Goes Techno where Mrs. Burns shared her experience using technology to enhance the teaching of Spanish. She has published several articles related to teaching English as a Foreign Language. Mrs. Burns has been certified as a SMART Exemplary Educator. This is Mrs. Burns eighth year teaching Spanish to students in grades 1st-8th.

Shannon Dolan has had a long and extensive career with young children. She owned her own preschool center in Jupiter for ten years and opened the first Playful Parenting franchise in Florida. The arts are her passion. She owned a performing arts school for over three decades and presently directs a fine arts program for the towns of Tequesta and Jupiter and is the director of a summer stock theatre camp in New York each summer. Ms. Shannon is active with the Florida Storytellers and many area theatres. She is currently working on a series of exercise videos for children and is the artistic director of Serendipity Players. Mrs. Dolan received her bachelor's degree in elementary education and theatre from FAU, has completed her gifted endorsement coursework and is currently working towards her Master's Degree. This is Mrs. Dolan's sixth year at Weiss. She is a Kindergarten teacher.

Dorothy Flores received her teaching degree at the Normal School of Teachers Manuel Belgrano in Argentina. Ms. Flores had taught grades 1-7 for many years before coming to the United States. She comes to us from PGA Montessori, where she has taught early childhood education for seven years. This is Ms. Flores' fifth year at Weiss; teaches four year olds in the Early Childhood Center and Spanish to kindergarten students.

Nancy Gall has a BS in Elementary Education from Florida Southern College, with a minor in music, math and Early Childhood Education. She has taught music for thirteen years and elementary education for sixteen years. She also served as a children's choir leader for seventeen years, and privately instructs students in piano, guitar and woodwind. Mrs. Gall has been certified as a SMART Exemplary Educator. Mrs. Gall obtained her endorsement in gifted education from Saint Leo University and teaches music, kindergarten through 8th grade in her sixteenth year at Weiss.

Terry Gitler graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She taught at Flagler Montessori School for five years and then in the Palm Beach County Schools for fourteen years. Ms. Gitler was the founding principal of Glades Academy, an elementary charter school in Pahokee, Florida from 2001-2005. She is currently pursuing an endorsement in reading from the state of Florida. She has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. This is Ms. Gitler's fifth year teaching first grade at The Weiss School.

Esther Gordon majored in Fine Arts at Florida Atlantic University and has been painting in oils and acrylics for the past 15 years. She has appeared in Discover Art in the Palm Beach Post's Residencies section several times. Her artwork appears in both private and public collections throughout the U.S. Her artwork was also selected by Palm Beach County Art in Public Places to be exhibited at Palm Beach International Airport. Additional paintings were selected by the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties to be exhibited in the Florida Everglades Exhibition. Mrs. Gordon joined Weiss in 2007.

Greta Jones received her BA in History and Elementary Education from Salem College in Winston-Salem NC. She received her gifted training at NC State University. She has presented at several national Koality Kid conferences for her school’s exemplary use of quality tools in the classroom. Mrs. Jones has also served as an Odyssey of the Mind coach and judge taking a third place at the state level in North Carolina. Mrs. Jones teaches intermediate social studies and joined the Weiss family in 2009.

Robyn Kovner received her BA in Marketing and Management from Lynn University and her Masters degree in Elementary Education and Educational Technology and Research from Florida Atlantic University. During that time, she worked twelve years as a children's librarian for the Palm Beach County Library System and then taught first grade for two years at Northmore Elementary. She has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. Mrs. Kovner has been at the Weiss School since 2006 and is the Media Specialist.

Susan Lemieux came to the Weiss School from Massachusetts. She received her Master's Degrees in Gifted Education from USF and her undergraduate degree from Wheelock College. Ms. Lemieux holds multiple areas of certification including Early Childhood, Elementary education and Gifted K-12. Ms. Lemieux is the director of the Weiss Community Outreach Program and is the Executive Director of the High School. Her latest community project can be seen at www.gorenflomakeover.com

Joan Levit, a born and bred New Yorker, graduated from Long Island University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and a minor in French. She earned her M.Ed at Lynn University in Varying Exceptionalities. Ms. Levit has her gifted endorsement. After 15 years of teaching, she joined the faculty at The Weiss School in 2007. Ms. Levit teaches middle school English and 4th grade Math.

Suzanne Otero earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Iona College in New York and a M.S. in Learning Technology from Mercy College. Ms. Otero is currently working on her gifted endorsement. Prior experience includes working as a Technology Staff Developer and as an elementary school teacher for 9 years in NYC and worked in the Palm Beach County School District for three years prior to joining Weiss in 2004. She is currently beginning her coursework towards a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Otero is the Media Specialist at The Weiss School.

Dayna Perry earned her BA in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  She then went on to earn a MA in English from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  Mrs. Perry holds a dual certification in English and Social Studies.  She was a high school teacher in Connecticut for five years before taking time off to raise her two children.  Mrs. Perry is Florida State certified and is currently working toward her gifted endorsement.  This is her third year as a member of the Weiss School faculty.

Sara Phelps received a BS in Elementary Education at Indiana University and participated in the Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice (DDSJ) Elementary Education program. After completing her degree, Sara traveled to Cudgen, Australia on a teaching exchange. While teaching in the Cultural Immersions Program, Sara introduced an incentive behavior program for the students and shared Four Block reading instructional techniques with her Australian colleagues. Upon returning to the United States, Sara taught first grade in Indiana and two years at Northmore Elementary School in the Palm Beach County School District. Mrs. Phelps has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. She also was selected to speak at the 2007 Florida Council of Independent Schools Conference to present the incorporation of SMART Boards into classrooms through an exciting hands-on presentation. In the Spring of 2008, Mrs. Phelps was chosen as the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year for The Weiss School. Mrs. Phelps is an enthusiastic member of the Weiss family, teaching first grade since 2006.

Marika Powell holds a 6th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She received Master Instructor certificates from both the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Academy, Korea, and the United States Taekwondo Union. She is also a Certified US Class-A Referee, Level II Coach, Poomsae Instructor, and the author of the Academic Taekwondo text book. Master Powell was the vice president of AAT (Advancement of American Taekwondo) for eleven years (1994-2006), served as the sports director of Taekwondo for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission for nine years(1995-2004), and currently sits on the board of directors for the Florida Sport & Olympic Taekwondo Organization. She was awarded Citations for the Development of Taekwondo from the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) in 1991, and from the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters in 2007. In 2009, she was the recipient of The North Palm Beach Teacher of The Year Award. Specializing in children's training, Master Powell has taught the art in the Palm Beach County School District since 1988. Master Powell has been the Taekwondo instructor at The Weiss School for nineteen years.

Beth Quartell has her B.A. in Secondary Education from State University of New York. She graduated from S.U.N.Y in 1992. A few years later, she enrolled at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, where she earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic. Dr. Quartell is currently working on her gifted endorsement. She had been in private practice in Palm Beach Gardens. She decided to take a leave from her chiropractic practice to pursue a career in teaching. This is Dr. Quartell's fifth year teaching middle school science at The Weiss School.

Kimberly Rac received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She taught in the Palm Beach County School District prior to coming to The Weiss School. Mrs. Rac has her ESOL endorsement and has completed her gifted endorsement. This is Mrs. Rac's eighth year teaching kindergarten at The Weiss School.

Colleen Sipple graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, Master Degree in Reading and two endorsements in Science/Social Science (6-8) and Early Childhood Education. Ms. Sipple has taught fourth grade in the Palm Beach County School District and five years in Michigan both at the elementary and middle school level. She is has completed her gifted endorsement coursework and has taught second grade at The Weiss School since 2006.

Luis Skeberis is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He attended Dr. Placido Marin College in Buenos Aires, where he received his teaching degree in elementary education. Mr. Skeberis has been teaching and coaching sports for over sixteen years, including soccer, basketball, and football. He has also worked in athletics for the City of Greenacres, planning and organizing sports leagues for youths and adults. Mr. Skeberis is currently working on his gifted endorsement. At The Weiss School, Mr. Skeberis teaches physical education and after school sports.

Pauleen Walsh Pauleen Walsh graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. In addition, Ms. Walsh holds a second degree Kukkiwon Black Belt. Ms. Walsh has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. She also was chosen to speak at the 2007 Florida Council of Independent Schools conference to present the incorporation of SMART Boards into classrooms through an exciting hands-on presentation. Mrs. Walsh has been certified as a SMART Exemplary Educator. She uses her expertise in both areas at The Weiss School teaching Taekwondo and Kindergarten since 2005.

Nancy Williams is a graduate from the University of Trois-Riviere in Quebec, Canada where she received her Bachelor Degree in special education in 1996. She worked for seven years in the Montreal area as a special education teacher in both the high school and elementary school setting. She moved to Florida three years ago with her husband and her daughter and began to work at The Weiss School as a substitute teacher in 2004. Mrs. Williams has completed her gifted endorsement coursework. Mrs. Williams teaches in the three year olds Early Childhood Center.

Classroom Assistants

Maria Cristina Brooks has a BS in Business Administration from the Universidad De Los Andes in Columbia and then continued her education in English studies at the Institute Columbo Americana in Bogata. Ms. Brooks is a classroom assistant in the Early Childhood Center and has completed her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Ms. Brooks has been an assistant in the four year old classroom for five years.

Daphne L'Nette Heastie attended Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida majoring in Child Psychology. Her plan is complete the two courses necessary to receive her BS degree in the near future. Ms. Heastie has been employed for many years in the field of Child Development at centers in Daytona Beach, Pensacola, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs. She has been a volunteer of The American Red Cross, Health & Safety Department for years. Ms. Heastie is the 3 year old Assistant Teacher.