New Employees Join the Hilltop
Hackley is excited to welcome our new Hornets to the Hilltop for the 2025-2026 academic year!
STAFF
Elsa Mujic joins Hackley as Infirmary administrative assistant. Known for her strong organizational skills and attention to detail, she is committed to creating a welcoming and efficient environment for students and staff. Elsa’s ability to balance precision with warmth makes her a valued addition to the community, and she looks forward to supporting student health and working closely with Nurse Shannon Smith.
Evan Pitler Goldman joins Hackley as alumni engagement associate. With a background in marketing communications, educational technology and community engagement, Evan has a proven ability to manage complex projects while strengthening relationships. She is conversational in Spanish and American Sign Language. Evan looks forward to connecting with Hackley alumni and fostering meaningful engagement across the community.
Kathy Andrade is Hackley’s new director of Human Resources. She is an experienced HR strategist with prior leadership roles at The Windward School, Rudolf Steiner School and Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Kathy brings expertise in benefits, compliance and organizational development, along with a deep commitment to equity and employee wellness. She holds an executive master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and a bachelor’s in Human Resources and Business Law from Lehman College.
Noah Cornman joins us as Hackley’s new senior advancement officer. Noah brings more than 20 years of leadership and fundraising experience, most recently serving as executive director of SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young, where he tripled the organization’s annual budget and built national partnerships. Noah combines deep community ties with proven expertise in donor engagement and strategic growth, making him an outstanding addition to our advancement team.
LOWER SCHOOL
Jennifer Gomez joins Hackley as an associate teacher. She brings experience supporting students in both academic and athletic settings. Most recently, she worked at Edgewood Elementary School in Scarsdale as a teacher aide, providing one-on-one student support. Jennifer has also coached youth soccer for nearly a decade. She is passionate about fostering teamwork and confidence in young people and looks forward to contributing her energy and care to the Hackley community.
Sarah Green Shooman continues her work at Hackley this year as a Lower School associate teacher. She has supported classrooms in reading, math and social-emotional learning while fostering a safe and engaging environment for students. With a background in education and wellness, Sarah holds certifications in children’s yoga, mindfulness and meditation. She is also the founder of Bette Green, a mission-driven skincare brand, and she brings warmth, creativity and holistic care to her work with students.
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS
Aidan Wolff-King joins Hackley as an English teacher. A graduate of Carleton College with a bachelor’s in Philosophy and a minor in English and Creative Writing, Aidan most recently taught at Choate Rosemary Hall and completed a fellowship at Phillips Exeter Academy. With experience teaching global literature, poetry and speculative fiction, Aidan brings a passion for inclusive, equity-informed pedagogy and a commitment to building dynamic classroom communities.
Beatriz (Ximena) Valencia Quecan comes to Hackley as an accomplished Spanish educator with rich international teaching and research experience. A native Spanish and Portuguese speaker, Beatriz has taught language learners of all ages in Colombia, Brazil and the United States, most recently serving as a Spanish instructor at the University of Missouri, where she is completing a master’s in Language Teaching.
Benjamin Driver joins Hackley as a Classics teacher. With more than a decade of experience teaching Latin, Greek and French at the secondary and university levels, Benjamin most recently taught at Brown University while completing his doctorate in Classics. He has led cultural trips abroad, coached athletics and advised student groups, and he looks forward to sharing his love of languages and ancient literature with Hackley students.
Brittany Hooper joins Hackley as a Spanish teacher. She brings more than five years of experience at Wooster School, where she served as world language department chair and assistant director of teacher learning & curriculum. Brittany holds a master’s in Spanish Linguistics from Middlebury College and a bachelor’s in Spanish and International Studies from Ramapo College. Having lived and studied in Chile, Costa Rica and Spain, she brings near-native fluency and a passion for language and culture to the classroom.
ADMISSIONS & COLLEGE COUNSELING
Amanda Medalla brings more than two decades of experience in admissions, counseling, marketing and strategic planning to the Hilltop as our new Admissions Coordinator. Most recently, she worked at the University of Connecticut Stamford, advising prospective students and supporting admissions operations. Amanda holds a master’s in Marketing and Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s in Finance from Villanova University. She is passionate about mentoring first-generation students and has published an award-winning book to benefit youth programs.
Danielle Taitt joins Hackley as associate director of College Counseling. Most recently senior assistant director at Yale University, Danielle has also worked in admissions at MIT and Bucknell University. Her career reflects a dedication to equity and inclusion in the admissions process, and she is a frequent presenter at national conferences. Outside of work, Danielle contributes her expertise to scholarship review committees and educational nonprofits.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Morgan Pile joins Hackley as a learning specialist. She has extensive experience supporting students with diverse academic needs, particularly in executive functioning, writing and study skills. Morgan is the founder of Generation Prep, which provides tutoring, test prep and college counseling for high school students, including first-generation college applicants. She previously taught at The Dalton School and has also held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. A graduate of Bowdoin College and The New School, Morgan brings warmth, expertise and enthusiasm to Hackley.
ATHLETICS
Joseph Pugliese joins Hackley as an athletic trainer with a strong background in sports performance, rehabilitation and student-athlete care. A graduate of Marist College with a bachelor's in Athletic Training and Mount Saint Mary College with a degree in Business and Sports Management, Joseph has worked with athletes across all levels, from high school to Division I sports. He has served as head athletic trainer at Mamaroneck High School and most recently supported athletic programs at Purchase College and Manhattan College.
Whitney Vail comes to Hackley as an athletic trainer for the 2025–2026 academic year. Whitney brings strong expertise in student-athlete health, wellness and injury prevention, and she will play an important role in supporting our athletic programs. We look forward to the energy and dedication she will bring to the Hilltop.Hackley School
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