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235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

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List of 10 news stories.

Welcoming New Faculty

Ranney School Head of School Dr. John Griffith announced an impressive group of new faculty who will be joining the dedicated and passionate Ranney faculty for the 2024-25 school year.  As the school has grown, and especially in areas like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), Ranney has had the opportunity to expand its faculty, finding educators who share their expertise with passion and enthusiasm.

Upper School
Mr. AJ Mezoff joins the Upper School English department. Mr. Mezoff joins Ranney from teaching stints at Ravenscroft School and Hathaway Brown School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University and his Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.  

Mr. Garrett Thompson, who earned both his Bachelor’s in Pure and Applied Mathematics as well as his Master’s Degree in Mathematics, with a Discrete Mathematics and Cryptography Concentration, from Stevens Institute of Technology, joins the Upper School Math Department. Mr. Thompson has experience at Stevens as both a Math Olympiad Problem Designer and Graduate Teaching Assistant. 

Mrs. Jennifer Pallister-Iannizzotto, a teacher with 14 years of experience, will teach in the Upper School Science Department. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, with a minor in Forensic Science, from LaSalle University and her Master’s of Science, Microbiology from Wagner College. 

Mr. Gaspard Mingot will be a great addition to the Upper School World Language Department, bringing over 20 years of comprehensive expertise in French language instruction. Mr. Mingot has worked for the United Nations for the last 16 years. Prior to that, he was a professor at Quisqueya University in his native Haiti. He earned his Master’s in Education Sciences from the Université Lumiere Lyon in France.

Mr. Felipe Esteban Luque is also joining the Upper School World Language Department. A native of Spain, he earned his Masters in Teaching Philosophy from the University of Barcelona before leading educational programming for a Roman archaeological site on the island of Menorca. He then came to the US and taught Spanish at Uncommon Preparatory Charter High School in Brooklyn. 

Additionally, History Department faculty member Mr. Mark DiGiovanni has taken over the role of Dean of Student Life, from Ms. Leslie Patient, while Mr. Chris Buckley will move into an Upper School teaching role. 

Middle School
Upper and Middle School Choral Director Mr. Justin Ryan will serve as our new choral director. Mr. Ryan brings with him many years of music teaching experience. Most recently he worked in the Middletown school district, and prior to that he taught at Oak Hill Academy, Matawan High School, and Home Away from Home Academy. He has also done extensive work in musical theater, serving as the musical director for Spotlight Players since 2003. He has an impressive background in sound design and set construction, which he has put to use in several theater programs throughout the area and holds a Master’s Degree in music education.

Former Head of Middle School Mr. David Ketcham will be teaching sixth grade history; Ms. Marisa Mendez took over as Head of Middle School on July 1. Read more about Marisa here.

There are two new faculty members in the Middle School Math Department - Ms. Jennifer Rose and Ms. Emily Russo. Ms. Rose brings 26 years of teaching experience from independent schools like Wardlaw+Hartridge, Morristown-Beard, Far Hills Country Day School and The Peck School.

Ms. Russo earned her Bachelor of Arts from Rider University, with a dual major in Secondary Education and Mathematics. She most recently served as Supplemental Instructor for Academic Success Center At Rider. 

Joining the Middle School English Department is Ms. Christine DiBiase, who taught for the last six years at Monroe Township Middle School. Ms. DiBiase earned both her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and English as well as her Masters in English Literature from Monmouth University. 

Ms. Nayri Gueyikian will be joining us as a new eighth grade science teacher. Most recently, Ms. Gueyikian worked at Hazlet Middle School as a student teacher of seventh grade mathematics. Since 2015, she has been running her own tutoring company, focusing on physics, chemistry, and standardized test preparation. Ms. Gueyikian holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in teaching Middle School Mathematics. 

Lower School 
Ms. Michelle Rucci, an experienced New Jersey science teacher with 15 years of expertise, will be taking over as Lower School Science teacher. “We are excited about her vision for the Lower School science program,” said Head of Lower School Dr. Pam Long.

Ms. Janice Amato will be joining the Lower School faculty as a Kindergarten teacher. Janice brings 16 years of teaching experience and has most recently served as the Head Kindergarten teacher at the Buckley School in New York City.

Mrs. Jamie McGuire will resume her role as lead teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom, and Mrs. Peggy Winther will be joining the 4th-grade team, a grade level dear to Peggy’s heart. 

Administration
After the retirement of Mrs. Karen Klim, who served as Assistant to the Head of School for 28 years, Ms. Nicole McKane joins Dr. Griffith’s office as Administrative Assistant. Ms. McKane worked most recently at College Achieve Charter School in Neptune and Asbury Park. 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.