The faculty and staff at Westbury Friends School take pride in being a model group of professionals. All staff members are certified in their area of expertise. However, Westbury Friends School selects teachers not only for their academic competence but for their concern for children and their concern for promoting in children a sense of self worth and of the worth of others. The staff is also involved in modeling for children behaviors that promote nonviolent ways to resolve conflict as well as those behaviors that promote critical thinking skills and important decision-making skills.  

Director
Ida Edelman has been the director of Westbury Friends School since 1986. During that time the school has expanded with the addition of a library and technology center, a performing arts room, a room dedicated to the visual arts, and four classrooms for the teaching of core subjects. Her focus on the cognitive growth of children combined with individualized attention has been the hallmark of her tenure here. She has been an active member of Friends Council on Education, the umbrella organization of Friends' schools, and New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the accrediting body for Westbury Friends School.

Ida started her position at Westbury Friends School with over 25 years' experience in education. She began her career by teaching 4 th grade in the New York City Public System. After two years there she took a five-year hiatus to raise her family but returned to teaching as a reading specialist at Wordsworth Academy in Pennsylvania . When she moved to Princeton , New Jersey , she continued her work as a reading specialist at the Chapin School in Princeton . Ida received a B.A. in English Literature from University of Rochester and her M.Ed. degree and Educational Specialist degree from Trenton State University.  

Administrative Assistant
Donna Matthews has been the administrative assistant for fourteen years, having taken on that role during the time when her children were attending Westbury Friends School .

Business Manager
Maureen Lake has been the business manager since 1989, having worked previously as a bookkeeper and business manager in other companies.

Maintenance
Chris Stackhouse has been the school's custodian since 2002. His son has been in Westbury Friends School for five years and is presently in the second grade.

Nursery
Linda Wilmot has taught the Nursery students since 1996. Linda received her B.A. in English and Elementary Education from Hunter College and her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from University of Michigan . She has taken additional courses from Bank Street College and the Learning Centers of the Bureau pf Education and Research. Before coming to Westbury Friends School she taught in South Bronx and was the Educational Director of a Head Start Program.  

Ioanis Arias has been the assistant teacher in the Nursery Program since 2001, along with being the Spanish teacher. She received her Degree in Education from WIT Community College in Sioux City , Iowa.

PreKindergarten J
Marc Jensen has been teaching the younger children at Westbury Friends School since 1996. Having received a B. A. in General Sciences and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Columbia, he then received his M.S. in Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education, from Bank Street College. His Graduate Field Work was at Bank Street School for Children and at Bridges, an alternative public school in New York City . Marc has served as president of the Board of Northport Nursery School and consulted with Children's Circle Nursery School in Los Angeles .

Patricia (Pep) Stein came to Westbury Friends School in 2007. Prior to assisting in our PreKindergarten, Pep taught grades K through 4 in Bucks County , Pennsylvania , and was a kindergarten teacher at the East Woods School in Oyster Bay for 12 years. She received her B.A. in Sociology from SUNY Albany and her M.A. in sociology from Teachers College, Columbia University.

PreKindergarten Z
Barbara Zaccaria has taught in the Early Childhood Program since 1998. She received her A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education from Nassau Community College , and her B.S. from Queens College , having been a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. Her achievements include Project Wild Certification and Head Start Certification. She has neared completion of her Master's.

Pam Wells, the assistant teacher in the class since 2004, has an Associate of Science degree from Nassau Community College

Kinderarten H  
Barbara Hershman is the senior faculty member at Westbury Friends School, having taught Kindergarten here since 1986. She currently is the pre-school coordinator, supervising the Nursery through Kindergarten program. Her other responsibilities include the evaluation of teachers and assistants, planning Parent Education Programs, and interviewing and evaluating students for admission. Previous to her teaching here, she taught in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District and at the Montessori School in Hempstead . Barbara received her B.A. in Psychology and Education from Adelphi University, having graduated with Honors.  

Barbara Caccamo is the assistant teacher in Kindergarten H, where she has been since 1996, along with being the Early Morning Coordinator. She has received training from the Bureau of Education and Research programs in early childhood education.

Grade 1
Carrie Salz taught 5 th grade in the Reading, New Jersey, School District for two years, before coming to Westbury Friends School in 2007. She received from C. W. Post College the degrees of B.S. in Elementary Education and M.S. in Literacy.

Grade 2
Nancy Aranda has taught at Westbury Friends School from 1990 to 1998, and 2003 to the present. Complementing her time here, she has taught at Hi-Hello Child Care Day Center , Hempstead Nursery, and Bellmore School District , all in New York . In the mid-1990s, Nancy founded and directed Holy Trinity Nursery School in Valley Stream.  

In addition to her teaching role in grade 2, Nancy is the supervisor of instruction. Her job in that capacity includes observing and evaluating faculty, leading divisional faculty meetings and supporting professional development. She received her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell and her M.S. in Elementary Education from Dowling College . Her administrative training includes being a participant in the Institute for Engaging Leadership in Friends Schools sponsored by Friends Council on Education, and the School Leadership Institute sponsored by National Association of Independent Schools.

Grade 3
Nancy Staab has been at Westbury Friends School since 1996 and has taught in the Elementary Program since then. She received her B.A. degree from Mount St. Mary's College in Social Sciences/Education and her Master's degree in Special Education from C. W. Post College.

Grade 4
Nancy Preisler, the 4th grade teacher, has been at Westbury Friends School since 2001. She previously taught Kindergarten at a private school and then 5 th grade at Greenport Elementary School and 4 th grade at Hewlett School in East Islip . Nancy received her B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY New Paltz and her M.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Stony Brook.

Grades 5-6, Upper F
Michael Flanagan has taught the Upper Program since 2004. His previous experience included teaching at Charles E. Schwarting Elementary School in Massapequa and at Wisdom Lane Middle School in Levittown . Michael received his B.S. degree from Binghamton University and his M.S. degree in Elementary Education from Dowling College, where he was a member of the Delta Pi Honor Society.

Library
Mara Rachlin has been the Librarian at Westbury Friends School since 1992. Her experience has also included teaching classes in early childhood at Green Vale School and the Child Development Center of the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Hunter College and her M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College . In addition, she has taken post-graduate courses in Special Education at Fordham University.

Performing Arts
Victoria Iannacchino has been teaching Performing Arts at Westbury Friends School since 1997. She brings with her a mastery of the guitar, violin, and piano. Her previous experience since 1991 has included being a General Music Teacher at The North Side School , Union Elementary Schools , Lee Avenue School in Hicksville , and Oceanside Public Schools , all in New York . Tori's B.S. in Music Education was from Hofstra University , and she has received special training in Orff methodology with a Kindermusik license.

Physical Education
Nicholas Belle has been at Westbury Friends School since 1999 and has taught physical education since 2001. He has been a coach and teacher since 1981 in the Long Island area including Robbins Lane Elementary School , Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, Oyster Bay High School , and Locust Valley High School . Nick received his B.S. in Physical Education (Cum Laude) and his M.S. in Elementary Education at C. W. Post College.

Spanish
Ioanis Arias, the Spanish teacher, teaches part-time in the World Language Program. She received her B.A. in Spanish-Literature Teaching from the University of Havana and has her Certificate of Interpreter from University of Northern Iowa . Previous to her teaching at Westbury Friends School , she was an ESL tutor in McKinley Elementary School.

Visual Arts
Lynn Ryan, the Art teacher, has been at Westbury Friends School since 2003. Her previous experience includes art instruction at Lawrence School District 's Early Childhood Center . Having attended Long Island University and Hofstra University, Lynn received a B.A. in Fine Arts with a major in Painting, and an M.S. Degree in Art Education, with Distinction. With a New York Certificate in Art Education, Lynn is a member of New York State Art Teachers Association and National Art Education Association.