Meet Slate School’s Collaborative Team
Unique Team
Our team is uniquely collaborative, and they are unparalleled in talent. They are thinkers, committed doers, and they truly care about our school and every child. Each student’s journey is guided by our faculty who are creative thinkers who transcend typical rote approaches to teaching.
Julie Mountcastle
Head of School & Chief Innovator
Julie Mountcastle is Slate School's Head of School and Chief Innovator. She is an experienced educator who joined Slate School's team as Head of School early during its founding. Throughout the course of a more than 20-year career as an educator, she has taught at nearly every elementary grade level, in both traditional and project-based classrooms in public schools and at Slate School. She developed and leads Slate School's innovative curiosity-driven curriculum that is both developmentally appropriate and academically rigorous. She designed a school which trusts each child in their learning, and which responds to each child’s wonderings and creativity. She leads Slate School’s ability to dive deep into recognizing and maximizing opportunities for discovery toward realizing a student's potential, and she creates a framework that allows for authentic assessment in all aspects of the classroom. Julie also builds, mentors, and supports the exceptional talent of Slate School's faculty. At Slate School, in addition to being Founding Head of School, Julie has taught Grades K/1, 1/2, 2/3, and Grade 5.
Slate School is a unique model for exceptional education that has drawn local, national, and international interest and recognition. Slate School is working to change the landscape of education, and Julie mentors other schools and educators through workshops, expert panels, and other educational forums. She frequently gives presentations at large conferences, including at TEDx, as well as at smaller events and in courses. She speaks about a variety of topics, including curiosity-driven education, being a founding Head of School of a unique K-12 school, the art of listening, the career journey, leadership, finding your passion and purpose, and collaboration. Her work has been profiled in Wendy Ostroff's book Empowering Young Children: How to Nourish Deep, Transformative Learning for Social Justice. Additionally, Julie has had 1-hour in-depth conversations with more than 120 respected experts and thought leaders in 40 Education Idea Labs, and these recordings have been viewed more than 160,000 times across the world.
Before becoming a teacher, Julie was a professional actress and appeared in plays and musicals on Broadway, on London’s West End, and in regional theatre across the country. She has also produced and directed many original theatre works with student performers ranging from elementary school to high school. She continues to sing and perform locally, while also integrating the arts throughout every day at Slate School.
Julie believes that trusting the natural curiosity of the child to drive learning leads to the most joyful and meaningful discoveries for the student, the teacher and, ultimately, our beautiful world. Julie received her BFA from Florida Atlantic University and a Teaching Certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is also an alumna of Columbia Teacher’s College Summer Institute.
Jennifer Staple-Clark
Founder & Executive Director
For nearly 25 years, Jennifer Staple-Clark has been a leader in nonprofit innovation, and she currently leads two nonprofit organizations: Unite For Sight and Slate School. In 2000, Jennifer, who was then a sophomore at Yale University, founded Unite For Sight in her dorm room. Unite For Sight is now a leader both in global health education and in providing cost-effective care to the world's poorest people. She has been featured twice in Nicholas D. Kristof's columns in The New York Times, and cited in A Path Appears by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Jennifer was also featured weekly on CNN International in 2007 and 2008.
A cum laude graduate of Yale University, Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Anthropology as well as in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Early in her career, Jennifer taught high school chemistry and environmental science, where she brought project-based learning to the independent school where she was teaching. She received a national educator award for her work from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the College Board. After dedicating herself to being a high school educator, Jennifer completed two years of medical school at Stanford University School of Medicine before shifting to pursue her passionate interest in global health and eliminating patient barriers to care through building Unite For Sight into an organizational leader in the field. After more than a decade dedicated solely to Unite For Sight, in 2017, Jennifer founded Slate School, an innovative 501(c)3 nonprofit K-12 curiosity-driven and nature-based school in Connecticut. Slate School is unique in many ways, including eliminating barriers to exceptional curiosity-driven education for its students. Slate School is the only independent K-12 school in the country that does not look at a student's ability to pay before accepting a child, and also meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student. 89% of Slate School's students receive significant financial aid, with 50% paying less than 25% of tuition.
Jennifer is the author of journal articles and book chapters about social entrepreneurship, global health, and community eye health. Among her published writing, she wrote a foreword for the book Transforming Ethnographic Knowledge, published by University of Wisconsin Press. Jennifer has conducted and published research in public health and medical anthropology, and she also mentored more than one hundred undergraduate and graduate students in public health research that they pursued in developing countries through Unite For Sight. Many of those studies have contributed to important global health knowledge through publication in leading science journals. Additionally, she has served as a judge in social entrepreneurship competitions, including the Yale InnovateHealth Competition and the Canadian Government's Grand Challenges in Health.
As part of her work as Executive Director of Slate School, Jennifer draws on her science, medical, anthropology, and public health backgrounds to integrate curiosity-driven chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics into the Upper Elementary classrooms. She is also closely involved in the Upper School interdisciplinary curriculum development.
Jennifer is the recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, presented by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government to "an individual whose contributions in the realm of community service, advocacy or grassroots activism have elevated the debate or changed the landscape with respect to a public issue or issues." Middlebury College's Center for Social Entrepreneurship presented Jennifer with the Vision Award "to recognize leadership and vision in the world of social entrepreneurship." She is also the recipient of the Yale School of Public Health's Centennial Leadership Innovation Award as well as the Praxis Award in Professional Ethics from Villanova University. Jennifer also received the American Institute of Public Service's National Jefferson Award For Public Service, which is regarded as the "Nobel Prize" for public service. She was also awarded a BRICK Award, which honors and funds change-makers who identify problems and work to change the world.
Jennifer was a member of the Yale University President's Council on International Activities, and was on the Operating Board of the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute. Jennifer has given many presentations and keynote addresses about social entrepreneurship, responsible innovation, and global health.
Grace Kenney
Environmentalist
After graduating from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geology, Grace Kenney served as a teacher-naturalist with the Connecticut Audubon Society in Glastonbury. There, she taught and developed inquiry-based outdoor science and conservation programs that highlight the ecosystems along the Connecticut River. Additionally, Grace has spent over three years working with Swords Into Plowshares, a commercial beekeeping business in New Haven County that tends to hundreds of honey-bee colonies for pollination and honey production. Grace joined Slate School’s faculty as Environmentalist and Educator in Fall 2018. She most recently was the Head Grade 3/4 Teacher, after serving as the Assistant Teacher in Grades 1/2 for several years. Starting in Fall 2022, Grace dedicated her full-time work to serving as Slate School’s Environmentalist, working with students in all of the grades.
Katy Kessler-Rinck
Curator
Katy Kessler-Rinck studied Spanish Literature at Barnard College in New York City, allowing her to combine two of her passions: the Spanish language and books. She earned her Master’s in Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education, where she could fully explore her enthusiasm for child-centered, progressive education. She taught in mixed-age classrooms for nearly a decade and facilitated emergent curricula based on students’ interests and principles of child development. Katy joined Slate School’s faculty in Fall 2018 and has cultivated Slate School’s book collection, artifacts, and children’s curiosities from the start.
Brittany Collard
Grade 5/6 Teacher
Brittany Collard taught special education at Ridge Road Elementary School in North Haven for seven years. During that time, she was also the Head Coach of the North Haven High School girls' soccer team. She attended Albertus Magnus College where she played collegiate soccer and graduated with a degree in Art. Brittany went on to earn a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. She joined Slate School's team in Fall 2022, and she has been excited to ignite students’ natural curiosities. In addition to her role as educator in Grade 5/6, Brittany brings her experience and passion for art and for soccer to all of our students.
Jocelyne Argüelles
Grade 5/6 Associate Teacher
Jocelyne Argüelles studied Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and Education Studies at Yale University. She grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she participated in numerous children and youth programs throughout her K-12 education. When she began taking Education Studies courses and studying alternative pedagogies and educational models, she realized that her experiences in those programs were some of the most impactful in her life. These programs inspired her to pursue teaching after receiving her undergraduate degree. Jocelyne is excited to join Slate School’s community in Fall 2023 and looks forward to learning and growing alongside Slate’s learners.
Erica Carola
Grade 3/4 Teacher
Erica is an educator with nearly 20 years of elementary school teaching experience in both her home state of Ohio and here in Connecticut. Her interest in the importance of supporting individual student needs led Erica to obtain her certification in elementary education, special education, and certification as a reading specialist from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She later received a Master’s in TESOL from Fairfield University. Erica joined Slate School’s faculty in March 2022, and she is passionate about the connection between learning and interacting with the natural world. She is committed to pursuing nature-based learning experiences with her students.
Erica Haddad
Grade 1/2 Teacher
Erica Haddad is an experienced teacher. She graduated with a degree in English from Connecticut College, and completed her teaching certification from Southern Connecticut State University. She joined Slate School’s faculty in April 2021 and contributes expertise in a wide range of areas, including being a Certified Wilson Reading Instructor, an environmental educator, and a Scouts BSA trained leader. At Slate School, she has taught Grades 3/4 and 1/2.
Ellie Mountcastle
Grade 1/2 Associate Teacher
Ellie Mountcastle is Slate School's Grade 1/2 Associate Teacher. She graduated from Desales University with a double major in Catholic Theology, and Marriage and Family Studies, along with a minor in Philosophy. She has extensive experience in music and musical theater, which led her to volunteer at Slate School in the 2021 Summer Enrichment Program and in the Spring 2022 Afterschool Enrichment Program, before joining the faculty in Fall 2022 as Kindergarten Associate Teacher. Ellie is a passionate lifelong learner and has a profound respect for the child’s extraordinary way of seeing the world.
Haley Roy
Kindergarten Teacher
Haley’s role as an educator began in her home state of Maine, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine. Her passion for early childhood education blossomed over the next six years as she immersed herself in teaching preschool and kindergarten. An avid lover of the outdoors, Haley is also enthusiastic about nature-based learning, and has seen first-hand the multitude of possibilities that being outside with children has to offer. Haley has been a valued colleague and collaborator since joining the team in 2019, and since that time has been the beloved educator of our youngest students.
Sarah Smith
Kindergarten Associate Teacher
Sarah Smith taught Kindergarten for several years in public schools before staying at home with her young children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master's in Elementary Education, and Connecticut Certification in Elementary Education. She joined Slate School’s faculty in Fall 2021, and has been Associate Teacher both in the Kindergarten and in the Grade 1/2 classroom. She also contributes her experience and passion for dance, yoga, and writing.
Kelly Campanelli
Narrator
Kelly Campanelli shares her passion for relationships and storytelling to spread the word about Slate School. After graduating from Villanova University with a degree in English and Communication Arts, she spent over thirty years in sales roles from McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, where she educated professors about textbooks for their students, to Shire Pharmaceuticals, where she partnered with healthcare providers looking for a new therapy for a patient. While raising her family, Kelly spent over ten years as the Membership Director of the Hamden Chamber of Commerce. She joined Slate School’s team in Fall 2021, and she shares the Slate School story with area businesses, community organizations, and people everywhere to facilitate mutually beneficial collaborations.
Rana Bates
Horticulturalist and Facilities Manager
Rana has a degree in Horticulture and a Certificate in Organic Land Care, and she is passionate about landscape design, plants, beneficial insect species, and soil types and properties. She brings a wide range of management and technical expertise to Slate School, including guiding our campus landscape design, contributing her horticulturalist expertise to our classrooms, and coordinating all campus-wide maintenance, upkeep, and development. She maintains Slate School as one of the most environmentally friendly schools in the country. She also leads Nature Conservancy Tours and campus volunteer work for our families, neighbors, and community. She builds materials and furniture from bamboo and wood for our school, too!