After earning a degree in English Literature from Bates College, Jake taught at The Chestnut Hill School here in Massachusetts before spending the past 6 years teaching middle school English and humanities at the Bentley School in Oakland, California. Jake has also spent summers as a teacher and administrator at The Summer Boarding School in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.
A graduate of Harvard University, where Josh earned a degree in Statistics, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Josh has taught middle school math at the Excel Academy Charter School and Boston Preparatory Charter School, as well as the Community Charter School of Cambridge. Most recently, Josh spent the spring in a long-term sub role at the Belmont Day School. He is looking forward to bringing his love of real world applications to the 7th and 8th graders at CRS.
Cindy Welch is the 6th Grade math and science teacher. Prior to coming to CRS, Cindy was most recently a science teacher and advisor at Dana Hall School, where she taught chemistry and biology and served as Assistant Director of the Upper School. Before teaching at Dana Hall, Cindy taught science and led after-school help in both math and science at Western High School in Baltimore, MD.
Cindy holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from St. Michael’s College, a M.S. in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master’s in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.
Charles River School honors the pursuit of academic excellence and the joy of childhood. We nurture each child by igniting curiosity, encouraging creativity, and cultivating intellectual engagement. Our graduates know themselves, understand others, and shape the future of our diverse world with confidence and compassion.
The interdisciplinary focus at CRS is especially meaningful for students to engage deeply and have agency in their learning.
Before joining the CRS in the spring of 2022, Sarah was a first-grade lead teacher at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley, where she developed curriculum in math, science, reading, writing, and phonics. She previously worked as the middle school pilot program intern at Open Circle where she conducted research on the SEL needs of middle school students. Outside of CRS, Sarah works as a dance instructor for both kids and adults. She loves to incorporate physical movement and creativity into traditional classroom settings. Sarah earned a BA in Geosciences and a Teacher Certification Program for Elementary Education from Wellesley College. She recently completed the Learning and Teaching Master’s Program at Harvard Graduate School of Education, earning her master’s in May 2022.
I love and appreciate the flexibility to design my own curriculum and the supportive, exciting community. It is truly awesome to witness the pride and confidence our students display when they graduate from CRS in the eighth grade.
Julie joined Charles River School in 2006, and has been teaching French since 1992. At CRS, she enjoys sharing her passion for the language, culture, and cuisine of the Francophone world with her elementary and middle school students. Prior to CRS, Julie taught at Kimball Union Academy, a secondary school in New Hampshire, where she chaired the world languages department and coached field hockey. She began her teaching career at the Wyndcroft School in Pennsylvania and was eager to return to a middle school classroom when she joined the middle school team at CRS. Julie earned her bachelor’s degree from Bates College, spending a year abroad studying at the Université de Strasbourg, and her master’s degree from the École française at Middlebury College.
I love the autonomy each teacher has in developing curriculum, though it’s scaffolded with cross-curricular, project-based activities at every grade. The joy of childhood is present in and outside of the classroom.
Tessa is finishing a master’s degree at Harvard Divinity School, where she was involved with the Religious Literacy Project. Before returning to school for her master’s degree, she was a middle school history teacher at Falmouth Academy. In that role, Tessa taught and designed student-centered, discussion-based eighth-grade history and ninth-grade English courses. She emphasized core skills in reading, analyzing, and writing with clear mechanics and coherent argumentation, as well as advised students with weekly meetings. Tessa previously worked in the admission office at Boston University Academy and as a writing instructor for the FaySummer English Immersion program. In addition to her M.A., she also has her bachelor’s from Boston University.
I love the sense of community and family that is CRS. I feel at home here. CRS is a school in which every member of faculty and staff will have an impact on the development of your child throughout their time here. It takes a village to raise a child, and CRS does it right.
Paul joined Charles River School in 2016, coming to CRS from Shady Hill School in Cambridge where he worked as the Assistant Director of Athletics. Paul has a deep love for athletics and believes that participation helps students develop both socially and academically, and forges character; he also views athletics as a tool for reinforcing school values. Paul earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and physical education and his master’s in education in exercise physiology from the University of Maine, where received the Presidential Academic Achievement Award. He is also a four-time America East Scholar-Athlete.
A day-in-the-life of CRS for me is building and fostering relationships with students. Without meaningful and positive relationships, I believe that our time together in the classroom wouldn’t be as productive. One of the parts of my job that brings me joy is being an advisor to seventh and eighth graders. Over the course of two years, I get to help students navigate what can be a challenging time in their life.
Kent joined CRS in 1998, as a middle school Spanish teacher and Grades 7 & 8 advisor, and has also coached soccer and lacrosse. Prior to joining CRS, Kent taught at the Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, and at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. He enjoys promoting a positive student learning experience, sparking student enthusiasm for learning Spanish, and providing a strong language foundation for future language study. Kent earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Italian, and his master’s in secondary education from the University of New Hampshire. He also spent a year at the Universidad de Granada in southern Spain, and three summers studying Spanish literature at the Universidad de Salamanca.
Charles River School is amazing for a music teacher because the arts are valued, and thoroughly integrated into the curriculum. We are all a team teaching the students together, and I have the time, support, resources, and excitement to do incredible projects with all of my classes. I am so lucky to work here!
Mica joined CRS in 2006, and is the Head of Performing Arts. In this role, she teaches general music, electives, and Multi-Arts classes, directs the fourth- through eighth-grade CRS Chorus, and runs the Assemblies program. Prior to CRS, Mica worked as a musical director at Artbarn Community Theater in Brookline for 17 years and taught private piano lessons. She was also a performing singer/songwriter of folk and rock music in and around New England, and produced two CDs before deciding to teach children to be rock stars instead! Mica earned her bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in jazz piano performance.
