Our Teachers

Director of Curriculum
8th Homeroom

7th-8th Reading
7th-8th Future Problem Solving
5th-8th Avid Readers Club
Mrs. Debelak's blog

Bio: As director of curriculum and co-founder of Birchwood School of Hawken, Helene Debelak worked with teachers to develop a curriculum in line with the school’s mission. She holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Valparaiso University and a Master of Education from Cleveland State University with a focus on the education of gifted students. She co-authored National History Standards K-4, published in Social Studies and the Young Learner, and authored “Literature for Building Character” (now a blog). Valparaiso awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2016. Service includes workshops for the Ohio Council for the Social Studies, Midwest Archives Conference, National History Day, and Ohio Future Problem Solving. She served on the state board of Future Problem Solving and the National History Standards project. Awards include The History Channel Teacher of the Year and Ohio History Day Teacher of the Year. She teaches reading to seventh and eighth grade students. Her students have earned state and national recognition, including Ohio Celebration of Poets Honor School recognition and Future Problem Solving team state finalists.

4th Homeroom
3rd-4th Language Arts
3rd-4th Reading
3rd-4th Creative Communication

Bio: Sarah Alicea holds a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from The Ohio State University and graduated magna cum laude with a Master in Education from John Carroll University. Mrs. Alicea started her teaching career at Birchwood School of Hawken in 2006 as a reading teacher for grades 3-5. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching at Birchwood and came to cherish the students, parents, and faculty. In 2009 after the birth of her son and a move to Columbus, she decided to leave the classroom in order to raise her family. Mrs. Alicea continued her passion as an educator and was a private reading and math tutor for students in the Columbus area. In 2017, Mrs. Alicea moved back to Cleveland and a year later had the opportunity to return to Birchwood as a kindergarten aide. She says that after returning to Birchwood nine years later, much had changed, yet the heart of Birchwood remains the same. Mrs. Alicea is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach language arts, reading, and creative communication, and to instill a love for learning within each student! Mrs. Alicea and her husband, Jose, have three children who attend Birchwood School of Hawken. 

K-8th Computer

5th-6th Math

Bio: Ana Basmajian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in developmental psychology from Emmanuel College and a Master of Education in educational technology from the University of Hartford. Her passion is finding the unique combination of work and fun that facilitates student growth and success and she loves seeing students build confidence and thrive in class. Mrs. Basmajian loves being a part of the Birchwood School of Hawken family.

5th Homeroom
5th-8th Science
4th-6th Science Olympiad
7th-8th District & State Science Days
7th-8th Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair 

Bio: Michelle Bogden graduated cum laude from Ohio University in December 2014 with a degree in integrated science education, grades 7-12. During her college years, she participated in the Ohio University National Science Teachers Association and a volunteer organization called Live Healthy Appalachia. She completed her student teaching at Lakewood High School and after graduation she taught at Whitney M. Young Gifted and Talented Leadership Academy in Cleveland. Mrs. Bogden joined Birchwood School of Hawken for the 2015-16 school year. She teaches grades 5-8 science, assists with coaching the Science Olympiad team which has placed first in the Elementary Division and enjoys leading the Character Committee to help drive our school mission. She received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Ohio University in May 2020 and enjoys incorporating her new set of knowledge and skills into her classroom. Mrs. Bogden has helped her students achieve success, including awards from the National Chemistry Week sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair, the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, District Science Days, Young Astronauts Day (NASA), Science Olympiad, and more.

2nd Homeroom
1st-4th Science
1st-4th Creative Problem Solving
4th-6th Science Olympiad 

Bio: Rana Bottino holds a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and Master of Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology. She worked as a scientist and project manager in environmental consulting before becoming an environmental educator at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Over the next six years, she taught and developed a variety of science and environmental curriculum designed to educate and inspire students in pre-kindergarten through grade 6. In 2015 she completed the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute through the Ohio Department of Education and received her certification in integrated science and earth science for grades K-12.

2nd Homeroom

Bio: Todd Boyer graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and holds a reading endorsement (K-12). Mr. Boyer is a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, National Council for History Education, Ohio History Connection, and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Mr. Boyer takes part in Teaching Cleveland Institute professional development workshops, volunteers for the Cleveland Restoration Society, has served as a regional judge for National History Day, and participated in the National Geographic Educator Certification Program. He enjoys sharing the culmination of stories of those who have come before us, guiding students towards reflection in their own lives, and helping children craft their own historic tales.    

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Bio: Ester Chen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian studies from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Education in early childhood from John Carroll University. She taught English at Kuei Shan School in Taipei, Taiwan and was integral in developing their bilingual program through enriching the reading, language arts, math, and science curriculum. She also developed and taught an engaging Mandarin Chinese curriculum to pre-kindergarten students at Hathaway Brown as well as their after school Chinese club. Mrs. Chen was honored to begin teaching kindergarten at Birchwood School of Hawken in 2012 and is a proud parent of a Birchwood alumna, eighth grader, sixth grader, and a kindergarten student. Her hope is to instill in her students a lifelong love of learning, discovery, and a passion about what they are doing. When students possess these skills, they are able to do anything they set their minds to; they are able to do the impossible. They are on their pathway of becoming. 

1st-5th General Music

5th-8th Choir
6th-8th Ensemble

Music Director

Bio: Esther Chu’s teaching career has spanned 30 years and extends from teaching preschool through college-age students. At the age of five she began formal training and by nine years old she was winning piano competitions. Three years later she was winning vocal competitions. After graduating from the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, she came to the U.S. to study and received her Master of Arts in piano pedagogy from California State University, Los Angeles. Additionally, she has studied music education at California State University and Cleveland State University. She also studies computer music at Cleveland State University and Oberlin College and Conservatory. Beginning in 2016 she has worked with a composer guild, coaching her students to perform originally composed music. Some of her students have been winners in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition and have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2006-2021. Under her guidance a Birchwood School of Hawken quartet won best Bach & Brahms performance and classical and modern performance at the Great Composers Competition in 2017-20, and she worked with students who received first and second place honors in Cleveland’s The Stars of Summer International Vocal and Piano Competition in 2021.

4th Homeroom

3rd-4th Language Arts
3rd-4th Reading

Bio: Vanessa Coppa graduated cum laude from Boston College with degrees in education and communications. After student teaching, she combined her degrees and began a career in children's book publishing, working for Scholastic Inc. and HarperCollins Publishers. During this time, she received her Master of Science in publishing from New York University. After almost 15 years in the publishing field, Mrs. Coppa returned to the classroom to pursue her passion for teaching and help children develop a love of literature.

Lunch & Recess Coordinator
After School Care Aide

Bio: Sharon Dippel has been at Birchwood School of Hawken since 2014. She started on the maintenance team and in 2018 joined the lunch and recess team as an aide. This year she has become the lunch and recess coordinator while also working as an After School Care aide. She loves working with all the students at Birchwood School. 

2nd-4th Math
2nd-4th Continental Mathematics League
2nd-4th Noetic Learning Math Contest 

Bio: Nermin Elsady holds a medical degree from Kasr Al Aini, Cairo University, Egypt, and a Master of Education from Cleveland State University. Dr. Elsady started her career as a medical doctor. She worked as a clinical researcher in the pediatric gastroenterology and dehydration field under the supervision of the World Health Organization in Egypt. Dr. Elsady is a Birchwood parent alum. While her two children attended Birchwood, she discovered her love and passion for teaching, and decided to enter the field of education. She completed her Master of Education and began teaching at Birchwood as a substitute teacher. Later she served as an assistant teacher for math and science. Dr. Elsady believes in the school’s mission and is very happy to be part of Birchwood School of Hawken.

Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Bio: Christine Gibbons graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies.  After graduating she worked in the advertising field and was busy raising her three daughters in Rocky River. When her youngest daughter was in fourth grade, Mrs. Gibbons began her career in early childhood as a preschool assistant in Rocky River. She then became a lead pre-k teacher in Bay Village for five years and then made a career move to The Music Settlement in University Circle in 2013. In 2018 The Music Settlement expanded to Ohio City and Mrs. Gibbons was part of the teachers and administration responsible for getting the new Music Settlement off the ground. She is honored to be a part of the Birchwood School of Hawken family and is passionate to bring her experience and enthusiasm for early childhood to each individual student.  

8th Homeroom

5th-8th Reading
5th-8th Creative Communication

7th-8th Future Problem Solving

Bio: Rebecca Graham graduated magna cum laude from Hiram College with a Bachelor of Arts in French. She also holds a Master of Arts in French literature from the University of Virginia. Ms. Graham has taught English as a second language in Anglet, France as well as classes in American civilization at the Université Lumière in Lyon, France. At the University of Virginia, she taught many French language courses, oversaw American students studying in Lyon, France, and led cultural excursions to discover French cities. Her most recent teaching experience was at Hathaway Brown where she taught beginning level language to advanced level French and francophone literature classes in both the middle and upper schools. A love of reading and the discovery of new cultures is a common thread throughout her studies and teaching career. Ms. Graham is excited to embark upon new reading adventures in Birchwood’s grades 5-8 reading classes.

Bio: Catherine Haskins holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian from Harvard, a Master of Social Work from Boston University, and a doctoral degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts. Once her daughter enrolled at Birchwood, Dr. Haskins became progressively more involved with the school over the years, first as a 5th-8th math aide, then as a Latin teacher, filling in here and there as needed. Two years ago she was thrilled to put her love of explaining math and coaching students into action on the 5th-8th math team. Dr. Haskins believes in the power of consistent and focused efforts toward success and is delighted to be part of such a robust and growing community of learners!

1st Homeroom
1st-2nd Language Arts
1st-2nd Reading
Before School Care Supervisor

Bio: Sally Ann Higginbotham graduated cum laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and a master’s in education focused on reading and literacy instruction. A teacher since 2006, Ms. Higginbotham has taught Head Start, pre-K, kindergarten, and first, second, and third grade.

4th Homeroom
3rd-4th Language Arts
3rd-4th Reading
3rd-4th Creative Communication

1st Homeroom

1st-2nd Language Arts

1st-2nd Reading
1st-2nd Spider & Cricket Magazine Contests

Bio: Laura Mamone graduated cum laude from Bowling Green State University with a double major in history and sociology. After raising her children, she earned her teaching license and Master of Education, along with a K-12 reading endorsement, from Baldwin Wallace University. From 2010-14, Ms. Mamone taught at Madison Community Elementary School, working with kindergarten through third grade students as a math and reading Title I teacher. She enjoys being a member of the Birchwood family as a teacher and a parent alum.

6th Homeroom

5th-8th Social Studies

6th-8th National History Day

Bio: Connie Miller joined the Birchwood community in 1993 when her oldest son entered the first grade. Her first year teaching seventh and eighth grade social studies marked her first year of taking students to the national level of the National History Day competition. Every year since 1999, Birchwood students have qualified for the national competition, totaling 250 students, many of whom earned place finishes and special recognition. For her work she has received the Ohio Historical Society’s Ohio History Day Teacher of Merit award, the David Van Tassel Award for outstanding contributions in mentoring students in history, and the Ohio Humanities Council District 3 Teacher of Merit award. Mrs. Miller is fully committed to teaching students the historical method and introducing them to the excitement of studying history, having seen the impact on students of undertaking such a rigorous, yet rich curriculum. Mrs. Miller is currently a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, the National Council for History Education, and the Western Reserve Historical Society.

2nd Homeroom
1st-4th Science
4th-6th Science Olympiad 

Bio: Lauren Miller graduated cum laude from The College of Wooster with a degree in biology. After graduating, she worked as a field technician, netting and banding grassland birds and performing population surveys. Mrs. Miller became an environmental educator, most recently at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for five years and in 2018, she joined Birchwood’s team, teaching science to 1st through 4th grade students. In 2020, Mrs. Miller was awarded the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award given by the Garden Club of America for the work she and Mrs. Bottino did in helping students design and plant a pollinator garden at Birchwood and present testimony at the Ohio Statehouse in support of a bill to designate April as Ohio Native Plant Month. Mrs. Miller is also a part of the Educator Advisory Council at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and took part in a year-long ProtectCLE Professional Learning Community through the museum. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to help students discover their own passion for experiential science in the classroom each day at Birchwood School of Hawken.

K-8th Physical Education

5th-8th Science

Bio: Sam Miller graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with bachelor’s degrees in geography and history, and broad field science. He holds an Ohio Teaching License for Integrated Science, grades 7-12. Since moving to Ohio in 2013, Mr. Miller has taught various science classes for middle school and high school students at Newbury Jr.-Sr. High School and West Geauga High School. While at Newbury, he coached seventh grade volleyball for six years, and was an assistant baseball coach for a season. He enjoys teaching at Birchwood as well as being a parent in the Birchwood School of Hawken community.

Kindergarten Aide

Bio: Lee Mincer graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She spent 19 years working and managing in retail. In 2013, Ms. Mincer took time off from her career to raise her family. During this time she volunteered with several children’s groups and found that she enjoyed working with children of all ages. Ms. Mincer is delighted to serve as a kindergarten aide at Birchwood School of Hawken where her son is currently a student. 

Preschool Lead Teacher

Bio: Maggie Mulloy joined Birchwood School of Hawken in 2017 as an aide for the After School Care, lunch, and recess programs in grades 1-8. Over the next few years, she rediscovered her passion for working with preschool aged children when, under the guidance of the Early Childhood teachers, she began caring for 3-5 year olds in preschool After School Care, and as an on call substitute during the school day. Mrs. Mulloy is happiest when she is working with young children. It was this passion which led her to study under Monica Bassett, a leading expert in education for professional nannies, at Nannies of Cleveland. Upon graduating at the top of her class, Mrs. Mulloy continued her studies at Cuyahoga Community College, where she was also inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. For nearly 15 years, Mrs. Mulloy worked with young children in their homes, helping them discover their world through learning and play. Mrs. Mulloy enjoys being a part of Birchwood’s Early Childhood team, and working, collaborating, and sharing with them as they prepare children for their academic journey at Birchwood.

5th-6th Social Studies

7th Homeroom

8th Homeroom

5th-8th Reading
5th-8th Creative Communication
7th-8th Future Problem Solving

7th-8th Leadership

6th Homeroom

5th-8th Social Studies
6th-8th National History Day

Bio: A Birchwood alum, Joe Parrino graduated summa cum laude from Case Western Reserve University with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and Asian studies. Fascination with Eastern societies led him to a school in Taiwan where he started a bilingual program. During those years, he served as the program’s head teacher while also writing curriculum for reading, language arts, math, and science. When the time came to repatriate, Mr. Parrino attended the University of Illinois where he completed a Master of Science degree in journalism. He wrote for several newspapers and then decided the teaching profession offered more opportunities. He earned a Master in Teaching from Austin Peay State University. From there, he taught history and geography for five years at a public high school in Kentucky. Finally, he moved his family back to the Cleveland area and joined the Birchwood School of Hawken faculty. Mr. Parrino is a National Geographic certified educator and a member of both the National Council for the Social Studies and National Council for History Education. 

K-8th Spanish

7th-8th National Spanish Exam

After School Enrichment Coordinator 

Bio: Noemi Rodriguez began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Argentina and quickly gained the attention of the administration with her innovative approach to early childhood education, synthesizing the methods of Maria Montessori and the theory of Jean Piaget. She was asked to develop kindergarten curriculum for the Buenos Aires public school system. When she moved to the U.S. she trained with the Berlitz School of Languages and began tutoring children and adults in Spanish. In 2002 she started teaching Spanish at Birchwood. After several years she was asked to organize the school's kindergarten program before returning her full-time focus to Spanish as well as serving as the coordinator of Birchwood's After School Enrichment program.

After School Care Coordinator

Lunch & Recess Aide

Bio: Tamara Runyon comes to Birchwood School ready to share her 23 years of experience in leading, organizing, and coordinating child care programs. Two programs she has organized and led are Cub Scout Day Camps and the before and after school program at Berea City School District’s Grindstone Elementary School. During her work with these organizations she was responsible for planning continued learning opportunities through crafts, homework, sports, and projects that enhanced traditional classroom lessons. Tamara has completed training in child and adult CPR with AED, first aid, communicable disease recognition, child abuse prevention, advanced leadership, and staff management training as well as holding a license as a paraprofessional. 

 

Jennifer Seward

7th Homeroom
5th-6th Language Arts
8th Language Arts
6th Future Problem Solving
8th Power of the Pen 
8th Scholastic Writing Awards

3rd Homeroom

1st-4th Math
2nd-4th Continental Mathematics League
2nd-4th Noetic Learning Math Contest 
Mr. Sprau’s website

Bio: Michael Sprau is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. He and his wife, Birchwood teacher Rhonda Sprau, are the parents of two Birchwood alumni. He began teaching at Birchwood in 2003 after four years experience in public and private schools. He piloted the primary mathematics classroom, in which he is a full-time math teacher for students in grades 1-4. His dedication and hard work have made the program a success. His students regularly earn top distinctions in national math competitions, such as the Noetic Learning and Continental Mathematics League contests. He also holds weekly after school math clubs for students who wish to improve their problem solving skills and prepare for math competitions. Although he acknowledges that math can be hard work, he believes that when given the appropriate tools all students can succeed.   

5th-8th Math 

Bio: Melissa Stalnaker grew up in Boulder, Colorado where she received her undergraduate degree in mathematics. She worked in Boulder as a commercial property manager until she and her husband moved to Oberlin, Ohio. Melissa decided she wanted to work in a school environment when her youngest child started kindergarten. After several years as a substitute teacher in Oberlin, she decided to go back to school herself. She received a Master of Library and Information Science as well as a master's in educational technology from Kent State University. After working as a school librarian for a year she joined the Birchwood family as a grades 5-8 math subject specialist. Ms. Stalnaker is delighted to be at Birchwood teaching extraordinary students and working with a phenomenal staff.

7th Homeroom
6th-8th Language Arts
6th Future Problem Solving
7th-8th Power of the Pen

7th-8th Scholastic Writing Awards

Bio: Lorraine Tzeng began teaching when Birchwood opened its doors in 1984. After a stint off to raise her four children, all of whom are Birchwood alumni, she returned in 2004 to continue to develop Birchwood’s writing program. She has incorporated the pedagogy of early writing pioneers and continues to evolve as she learns from other professionals and her students, many of whom have distinguished themselves in local, state, and national writing levels. Birchwood students consistently place as award winners in Power of the Pen, the Scholastic Writing Awards, and Future Problem Solving Scenario Writing, and other programs. The Future Problem Solving Junior Team she co-teaches has represented Ohio in the international competition numerous times. Mrs. Tzeng earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Case Western Reserve University and is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. She is also a veteran judge for all levels of Power of the Pen and the Ohio Future Problem Solving program. 

Bio: Marianne Uechi graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In the process of finishing the engineering program at Cleveland State, Mrs. Uechi realized that her passion was actually for math. She has helped teach fifth and sixth grade math at Birchwood School of Hawken and is thrilled to be working with the first through fourth grade math team.

2nd Homeroom 
1st-4th Social Studies 
1st-4th Creative Problem Solving

Bio: Megan Vlach grew up in Aurora, Ohio before attending Bowling Green State University. In 2020 she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in inclusive early childhood education. She takes pride in being an alumna of the Falcon Marching Band during her four years at Bowling Green as well as being a returning member at her high school’s band camp to help teach during the summers. After graduating, she went back to her hometown to begin substituting at all grade levels. For the majority of the 2020-21 school year, she filled in for the elementary music teacher. She was dedicated to creating lessons and activities for the students to grow as musicians; despite her only background in music being in marching band. After that, she filled in for various teachers at the elementary level and was repeatedly requested by many teachers across the district to substitute based on her professionalism. This past summer, Miss Vlach took classes online to obtain her fourth and fifth grade endorsement in all subject levels. She is growing a love for photography and crafting; loves baking, reading, exploring new places, and being with her family. She hopes to help guide her students in understanding the work of those who have come before, and how to shape a story of their own for the future.