New Faculty Spotlight
Get to know the newest members of the Montrose team.
Montrose is pleased to welcome six new members to our school's talented team of faculty and staff. We conducted short interviews with these noteworthy women in order to get to know them better - beyond their impressive bios.
Maria Jose Abregu
Originally from Argentina, Mrs. Maria Jose Abregu has joined the Montrose Spanish department, teaching Spanish I H and Spanish III CP. Mrs. Abregu earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her BA magna cum laude from Mississippi State University and has experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of settings. Mrs. Abregu and her husband Rob have been blessed with a baby boy, Raymond, who is growing up to be bilingual!
Linda Galasso
Mrs. Linda Galasso is teaching 7th Grade Math, Ancient Civilizations and Earth Science. Mrs. Galasso earned her BS at Bowling Green State University and has completed additional coursework focusing on the teaching of middle school math at the Merrimack Education Consortium. She has extensive experience with middle school students, having taught math, geography, science and language arts in the Franklin and Sutton school systems, and she is a certified middle school math instructor. Mrs. Galasso has coached middle school track and is looking forward to becoming a member of the middle school team at Montrose.
Bridget Higgins
Ms. Bridget Higgins is teaching Middle and Upper School Technology, Physics CP, and Religion 8. She earned her BS from the University of Notre Dame, where she was named a Notre Dame Scholar with a dual major in Mathematics and Italian. She is also skilled in Spanish and Latin. Ms. Higgins served as Head Counselor at Camp Mattakeesett in 2009, and her many varied interests include theater, choral music, hiking, skiing, swimming and field hockey. For the last two years, she has worked in Arts Education in the New York City school system and is excited to be joining the faculty at Montrose. Says Ms. Higgins, "I've wanted to move to Boston since I was seventeen and spent time in the city for a summer program. Now I have somehow landed my dream job in my dream city!"
Rebecca Krier
Ms. Rebecca Krier graduated from Yale Divinity School, earning her MA in Religion with a concentration in Philosophical Theology. She received her BA summa cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross, where she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Honor Society. Ms. Krier has experience as a writing tutor and is a former Speech and Debate Team member as well as a cross-country runner. She and Ms. White are co-coaching the Montrose School Speech team this year, and she wants to encourage students to try out Lincoln-Douglas debating. Ms. Krier used to be a LD debater herself, and, as she says, “It was the single-most important element of my education that aided me in oral communication and logical, argumentative thinking. I highly encourage any interested girls to come see me!” Ms. Krier is also excited about the Montrose advising program and is teaching Modern European History H, Latin I and Theology 9. In addition, she loves the outdoors - especially bird watching. She used to work in a natural history museum, where she would sit with stuffed birds all day. The experience peaked her interest!
Mary Jo White
Ms. Mary Jo White is teaching Literature 6, Language Arts 7 and British Literature H. A proud alumna of the University of Dallas, she earned both her BA in Politics and her MA in English from that university. Ms. White taught English at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas before becoming the director of the Career and University Prep Program at the Rosedale Center for Girls in Bronx, NY. She is a talented musician, as well as a swim and boating instructor and downhill skiing instructor, and she is experienced with Speech and Debate at the high school and college level. Along with Ms. Rebecca Krier, Ms. White will be co-coaching the Montrose School Speech team this year. She is excited for the season to begin and would be glad to welcome new members to the team! In addition, Ms. White loves reading, exploring the outdoors, travelling, spending time with friends and family, crocheting, and figuring out new ways to do things.
Christina Williams
Mrs. Christina Williams has joined the Montrose Admissions Office as the new Assistant Director of Admissions. Mrs. Williams worked in Admissions and served as an advisor at The Willows Academy in Illinois before becoming Program Manager for Metro Achievement Center in Chicago. Mrs. Williams has an MBA with a certificate in Non-profit Management. Mrs. Williams loves to read and enjoys cooking, hoping that she will learn to cook extremely well one day!
Do you have a favorite book or author?
MJA: Paulo Coelho is my favorite author, and Mi planta de naranja lima by Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos is my favorite book.
LG: JK Rawlings because she got so many young people to love reading books
BH: Anne of the Island (LM Montgomery), Rose in Bloom (LM Alcott), Purgatorio (Dante), The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas), Jane Eyre (Bronte), Gone with the Wind (M Mitchell).
RK: My favorite novel is Silence by Shusaku Endo, a Japanese Catholic writer. It is about Jesuit missionaries who go to Japan in the 17th century, a time of extreme Christian persecution. An incredible read that changed my life!
MJW: I return over and over again to Bronte's Jane Eyre, Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Dickens' Our Mutual Friend and Lewis' The Last Battle. My favorite poets include Shakespeare, Auden, Hopkins, and Keats.
CW: Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen
Do you have a favorite film?
MJA: The House of the Spirits
LG: The Sound of Music
BH: Jeremiah Johnson, True Grit, Out of Africa
RK: This summer I got into Ingmar Bergman films. My new favorite is Persona.
MJW: I really enjoy Return to Me, The War of the Buttons, most Alfred Hitchcock movies (especially Charade), the old Star Wars movies, Monsters, Inc, and The Chorus.
CW: The Wizard of Oz is a favorite.
What did you do over the summer?
MJA: I worked at a general practice law firm and enjoyed the beach and pool with my family.
LG: I traveled to Columbus, OH to spend time with my mother and traveled to Nova Scotia for a short vacation with my husband where we drove around the Cabot Trail.
BH: I went to Spain for World Youth Day!
RK: I worked full time as a nanny to two children and also worked at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
MJW: I ran the Rosedale Summer Achievement Program in the Bronx. Our volunteer teachers (high school and college students) taught academic classes and led field trips with groups of girls in elementary, middle, and high school. Then I moved to the Boston area!
CW: I moved from Chicago to Boston!
What is one thing that you have done of which you are particularly proud?
MJA: I helped raise awareness and understanding of Hispanic culture in the south.
LG: Raising two wonderful children.
BH: Started to learn how to play the harmonica.
RK: I've stayed in very close touch with my high school, Cheverus High School, a Jesuit school in Portland, ME. I've volunteered with the debating team, have been involved with the development office, and delivered their 2009 commencement address. My time at Cheverus was profoundly formative; I am very dedicated to the school. And Cheverus inspires me to help provide the best possible Catholic education at Montrose! Catholic schools change lives!
MJW: Organized a trip through Hungary, Austria, Germany and France for thirty-five people.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
MJA: The feeling of being proud of my students when they excel!
LG: Working with children
RK: I look forward to spreading my passion for the liberal arts, and to build relationships with my students. I feel very privileged for this opportunity to be a part of the girls' lives.
MJW: When a student suggests a new and better way of seeing something that never occurred to me before; when students make connections between what we're learning in English and what's going on in other classes or their lives outside of school; helping students to read, write, and think more clearly.
What are you looking forward to at Montrose?
MJA: Getting to know my students and encouraging them to build great character.
LG: Working with a wonderful group of girls and staff.
BH: Haunted Hallways...
RK: The students!
MJW: I look forward to getting to know the faculty, staff, students, and Montrose families and to experiencing the Montrose traditions, including CHRs, Pizza Wednesdays and Junior Joshing.
Back
Maria Jose Abregu
Originally from Argentina, Mrs. Maria Jose Abregu has joined the Montrose Spanish department, teaching Spanish I H and Spanish III CP. Mrs. Abregu earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her BA magna cum laude from Mississippi State University and has experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of settings. Mrs. Abregu and her husband Rob have been blessed with a baby boy, Raymond, who is growing up to be bilingual!
Linda Galasso
Mrs. Linda Galasso is teaching 7th Grade Math, Ancient Civilizations and Earth Science. Mrs. Galasso earned her BS at Bowling Green State University and has completed additional coursework focusing on the teaching of middle school math at the Merrimack Education Consortium. She has extensive experience with middle school students, having taught math, geography, science and language arts in the Franklin and Sutton school systems, and she is a certified middle school math instructor. Mrs. Galasso has coached middle school track and is looking forward to becoming a member of the middle school team at Montrose.
Bridget Higgins
Ms. Bridget Higgins is teaching Middle and Upper School Technology, Physics CP, and Religion 8. She earned her BS from the University of Notre Dame, where she was named a Notre Dame Scholar with a dual major in Mathematics and Italian. She is also skilled in Spanish and Latin. Ms. Higgins served as Head Counselor at Camp Mattakeesett in 2009, and her many varied interests include theater, choral music, hiking, skiing, swimming and field hockey. For the last two years, she has worked in Arts Education in the New York City school system and is excited to be joining the faculty at Montrose. Says Ms. Higgins, "I've wanted to move to Boston since I was seventeen and spent time in the city for a summer program. Now I have somehow landed my dream job in my dream city!"
Rebecca Krier
Ms. Rebecca Krier graduated from Yale Divinity School, earning her MA in Religion with a concentration in Philosophical Theology. She received her BA summa cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross, where she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Honor Society. Ms. Krier has experience as a writing tutor and is a former Speech and Debate Team member as well as a cross-country runner. She and Ms. White are co-coaching the Montrose School Speech team this year, and she wants to encourage students to try out Lincoln-Douglas debating. Ms. Krier used to be a LD debater herself, and, as she says, “It was the single-most important element of my education that aided me in oral communication and logical, argumentative thinking. I highly encourage any interested girls to come see me!” Ms. Krier is also excited about the Montrose advising program and is teaching Modern European History H, Latin I and Theology 9. In addition, she loves the outdoors - especially bird watching. She used to work in a natural history museum, where she would sit with stuffed birds all day. The experience peaked her interest!
Mary Jo White
Ms. Mary Jo White is teaching Literature 6, Language Arts 7 and British Literature H. A proud alumna of the University of Dallas, she earned both her BA in Politics and her MA in English from that university. Ms. White taught English at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas before becoming the director of the Career and University Prep Program at the Rosedale Center for Girls in Bronx, NY. She is a talented musician, as well as a swim and boating instructor and downhill skiing instructor, and she is experienced with Speech and Debate at the high school and college level. Along with Ms. Rebecca Krier, Ms. White will be co-coaching the Montrose School Speech team this year. She is excited for the season to begin and would be glad to welcome new members to the team! In addition, Ms. White loves reading, exploring the outdoors, travelling, spending time with friends and family, crocheting, and figuring out new ways to do things.
Christina Williams
Mrs. Christina Williams has joined the Montrose Admissions Office as the new Assistant Director of Admissions. Mrs. Williams worked in Admissions and served as an advisor at The Willows Academy in Illinois before becoming Program Manager for Metro Achievement Center in Chicago. Mrs. Williams has an MBA with a certificate in Non-profit Management. Mrs. Williams loves to read and enjoys cooking, hoping that she will learn to cook extremely well one day!
Do you have a favorite book or author?
MJA: Paulo Coelho is my favorite author, and Mi planta de naranja lima by Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos is my favorite book.
LG: JK Rawlings because she got so many young people to love reading books
BH: Anne of the Island (LM Montgomery), Rose in Bloom (LM Alcott), Purgatorio (Dante), The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas), Jane Eyre (Bronte), Gone with the Wind (M Mitchell).
RK: My favorite novel is Silence by Shusaku Endo, a Japanese Catholic writer. It is about Jesuit missionaries who go to Japan in the 17th century, a time of extreme Christian persecution. An incredible read that changed my life!
MJW: I return over and over again to Bronte's Jane Eyre, Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Dickens' Our Mutual Friend and Lewis' The Last Battle. My favorite poets include Shakespeare, Auden, Hopkins, and Keats.
CW: Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen
Do you have a favorite film?
MJA: The House of the Spirits
LG: The Sound of Music
BH: Jeremiah Johnson, True Grit, Out of Africa
RK: This summer I got into Ingmar Bergman films. My new favorite is Persona.
MJW: I really enjoy Return to Me, The War of the Buttons, most Alfred Hitchcock movies (especially Charade), the old Star Wars movies, Monsters, Inc, and The Chorus.
CW: The Wizard of Oz is a favorite.
What did you do over the summer?
MJA: I worked at a general practice law firm and enjoyed the beach and pool with my family.
LG: I traveled to Columbus, OH to spend time with my mother and traveled to Nova Scotia for a short vacation with my husband where we drove around the Cabot Trail.
BH: I went to Spain for World Youth Day!
RK: I worked full time as a nanny to two children and also worked at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
MJW: I ran the Rosedale Summer Achievement Program in the Bronx. Our volunteer teachers (high school and college students) taught academic classes and led field trips with groups of girls in elementary, middle, and high school. Then I moved to the Boston area!
CW: I moved from Chicago to Boston!
What is one thing that you have done of which you are particularly proud?
MJA: I helped raise awareness and understanding of Hispanic culture in the south.
LG: Raising two wonderful children.
BH: Started to learn how to play the harmonica.
RK: I've stayed in very close touch with my high school, Cheverus High School, a Jesuit school in Portland, ME. I've volunteered with the debating team, have been involved with the development office, and delivered their 2009 commencement address. My time at Cheverus was profoundly formative; I am very dedicated to the school. And Cheverus inspires me to help provide the best possible Catholic education at Montrose! Catholic schools change lives!
MJW: Organized a trip through Hungary, Austria, Germany and France for thirty-five people.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
MJA: The feeling of being proud of my students when they excel!
LG: Working with children
RK: I look forward to spreading my passion for the liberal arts, and to build relationships with my students. I feel very privileged for this opportunity to be a part of the girls' lives.
MJW: When a student suggests a new and better way of seeing something that never occurred to me before; when students make connections between what we're learning in English and what's going on in other classes or their lives outside of school; helping students to read, write, and think more clearly.
What are you looking forward to at Montrose?
MJA: Getting to know my students and encouraging them to build great character.
LG: Working with a wonderful group of girls and staff.
BH: Haunted Hallways...
RK: The students!
MJW: I look forward to getting to know the faculty, staff, students, and Montrose families and to experiencing the Montrose traditions, including CHRs, Pizza Wednesdays and Junior Joshing.
An independent school for girls in grades 6-12
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
