Meet Our Teachers!
We are incredibly lucky to have such skilled and compassionate educators at Ward After-School. They bring so much to our program and help make it a second home for students and teachers alike!
See below for our returning staff and stay tuned to meet the new folks joining our program this year!
Program Director
Donna Marohn
Donna has been a part of After-School for 35 wonderful years! At After-School she loves reading to the kids, celebrating birthdays with the birthday box, and Friday station days. She is also an avid tennis player and reader, and loves watching Jeopardy.
Assistant Director & Head 4-5 Teacher
Lindsey Hopper
This is Lindsey's 8th year at Ward After-School. She loves planning field trips and special event days, community time, and Tuesday clubs. Outside of After-School, she teaches yoga, tends to her many houseplants, and is always learning about outer space.
Head K-1 Teacher
Lacey Mickler
This is Lacey's 4th year as an After-School teacher and crochet extraordinaire! You can usually find her tangled up in a yarn skein and teaching kids how to finger knit. Both in After-School and out, Lacey teaches dance and talks a lot about cats!
Head 2-3 Teacher
James Marohn
This is James's 33rd year at After-School. He loves playing all the classic gym games: ultimate ball, coneball, kickball, floor hockey, and more! Outside of After-School, you can find him hosting trivia events and playing pickup basketball games.
After-School Teacher
Camila Branstner
Camila is in her 3rd year of After-School, and is also in school to earn her Master's Degree in Social Work. When she's not studying or spending summers at Camp Wildwood, you can find her quizzing the kids with trivia questions or on the tennis court, teaching the kids new skills!
After-School Teacher
Bryce Harrisberger
Bryce is in his 7th year at After-School. He loves dominating in elimo and showing off his dunking skills at recess! He also enjoys nature-based activities and playing games with his K-1 buddies. When he's not at After-School, Bryce spends time with his dog Evie and plays basketball.
After-School Teacher
Liz Hartford
Liz has been part of the After-School team for 13 wonderful years! Here, you can find her working on our 2 yearly plays or playing theater games. She's also an avid traveler (this summer she hiked to Machu Piccu in Peru!), talented actress, and skilled circus arts performer.
After-School Teacher
Hillary Irvine
Despite wanting to be a mermaid as a child, Hillary has instead humbly found her way to her 11th year of teaching at Ward After-School. She's often found reading to the kids and making creations out of wood, clay, mosaics and other recyclable materials. Hillary is also the Ward School Art Teacher!
After-School Teacher
Katarina Izakovic
Katarina is in her 4th year of After-School and is our resident expert sewer! She loves teaching the kids to sew their own pillows or stuffed animals during activity time, and playing card games during free time.
After-School Teacher
Britney Noah
Britney is in her 2nd year at After-School, and has already become known for her sewing projects and clay creations! When she's not at After-School, you can find her rescuing pigeons (okay, it happened just the one time), skateboarding, and loving on her pets!
After-School Teacher
Jessica Spohn
Though this is only Jessica's 2nd year as an After-School teacher, she knows the program well since her two daughters attended Ward After-School! Here, you'll find her curating studious vibes in the homework room and doing delicate paper and nature crafts.
After-School Teacher
Jet Striar
This is Jet's 3rd year at After-School, where he loves sharing his passion for film, sports, and podcasting with the kids! You can find him playing JeopWARDy or elimo and cracking jokes about practically anything.
After-School Teacher
Lyann Striar
Lyann is in her 7th year of teaching at After-School. She loves drawing and making comics with the kids, and having jam sessions with our student musicians! When she's not at After-School, Lyann spends her time watching movies, working out, and hanging with Baby Leia!
After-School Teacher
Anna Wyler
Anna (a Newton native!) is back at Ward After-School - this time as a 2nd year teacher instead of a student! She loves all things nature, like plants, animals, and bugs, and enjoys sharing that passion with the kids. Anna also spends time on Cape Cod, where she can explore the marshes!