Kathleen has her BA in Special Education and K-8 Education and started her career as a special needs teacher in Florida, concentrating on emotional and learning differences. She has her MA in Administration and Supervision, and principal’s certification in NY. Kathleen is a recent graduate fellow of The Klingenstein Heads of School at Columbia University.
Kathleen moved to Europe and taught in a small international school in Genoa, Italy- 3⁄4 grade, and at The University of Genoa. She moved to Germany and sold educational texts for Macmillan McGraw Hill worldwide for 7 years- traveling the world and visiting international schools, colleges, and Department of Defense schools.
Next, she moved back to the USA and worked at United Nations International School that has the IB and languages, some public schools in NJ, and an early childhood center, before moving into admissions at Far brook School in Short Hills.
She moved to CA to Silicon Valley and continued as Admissions Director, before moving to DC as the Enrollment Director at Washington International School that had both the IB and immersion in Spanish, French and Dutch. She has led in two of the biggest international schools in the USA and been in senior leadership for over 20 years.
Seven years ago, Kathleen joined The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, once of the most diverse schools in the country. She moved to Hoboken, where both of her parents were born and grew up, so has a heartfelt connection to this city.
Kathleen’s daughter Kate has her BA in Econ and Mandarin and MPA from NYU and is a Chief of Staff in the Comptrollers office.
Kathleen is delighted to find a bilingual IB school right here in Hoboken and is honored to be joining the Tessa family. Her strengths include strategic planning, helping parents with concerns about learning styles, building enrollment and community partnerships, structures and programs, diversity and inclusion, and communication. She often presents national and international workshops on creative outreach.

Lea was born and raised in France, in a little town of Loire Valley, located between farms and vineyards. She has a Masters degree in humanitarian and social work with a focus in communication from Ircom, in Angers.

Lea has always wanted to serve different communities since a very young age. She was involved many years with the Girl Scouts. She spent months volunteering at an orphanage in India, and she is the co-founder of non-profit organization in France which helps people by organizing social and cultural events. Since she arrived in the States a few years ago, she has volunteered in several non-profit organizations, including America Scores, which provides afterschool programs in soccer, poetry and service learning. From these experiences and thanks to her mother who has been a dedicated teacher for 35 years, she learnt that education is the key to development in all communities.

She has been Head of Auxiliary Programs at Tessa for 3 years, running a wonderful Summer Camp every summer.

She believes that school instills confidence, knowledge and an open mind to our future generation to be tomorrow’s leaders. She is proud to be part of Tessa, which represents an education of excellence through bilingualism!

Sarah, a North Carolina native, has lived an international life for nearly a decade. Growing up in Asheville, she nurtured a love for exploration, hiking, and the region’s diverse food culture. She pursued her academic passion at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, earning both a BA and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching English as a Second Language.

Her academic journey led her to a transformative teaching experience in Kuwait, marking the onset of her dedication to international education. Following this, she expanded her teaching horizons in Hangzhou, China. In the realm of IB PYP, Sarah deeply recognized the boundless potential of immersive experiential learning and inquiry-based education. She has played pivotal roles in her teams and departments, fostering environments that pique students’ curiosity and encourage a love for lifelong learning.

As she joins Tessa International School, Sarah is excited to infuse her global experiences into the school’s unique curriculum framework. Beyond her professional pursuits, she has visited over 40 countries, reflecting her unwavering zest for exploration. She is an enthusiast of cycling, whether it’s the serenity of nature or the energy of a spinning class. Sarah is eager to immerse herself in the Hoboken community, building connections and enriching her new local environment. 

Summer was born and raised in New Jersey. She has a Bachelor of Arts, degree in Public Relations and Business from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY on the Hudson River. She was a four year Division 1 Women’s Rowing team member.

Summer has placed roots here in Hoboken with her husband and two children. She has been a part of the Hoboken community for 15 years. Summer  has spent the last seven years as the General Manager for a local business, overseeing events and outreach. She is excited to use her local connections and passion for building relationships to add to the continued success of Tessa.

In her free time Summer loves running along the Riverfront, spending time with her family and playing catch with her dog!