7th Grade Staff

Mr. Yan joined the McAuliffe staff in 2020. Being a teacher fills Mr. Yan with inspirations that extend beyond the classroom walls. The opportunity to ignite the flame of curiosity in young minds, to guide them toward discovering their passions, and to empower them with knowledge is a privilege like no other. Every day, he has the chance to shape the next generation, to instill values of empathy, resilience, and lifelong learning. As a teacher, Mr. Yan become a beacon of guidance, a source of encouragement, and a catalyst for positive change in the lives of my students. The inspiration lies in knowing that my dedication today will have a lasting impact on the leaders, thinkers, and contributors of tomorrow.

Mr. Heinlein joined the McAuliffe team in 2021. Mr. Heinlein joined the McAuliffe community from a legal background with the ambition to help students find success through middle school and beyond. He is inspired by the growth that McAuliffe students exhibit throughout the year, reflecting how much they’re learning both academically and socially.

Dr. Nygaard joined the McAuliffe staff in 2025. Dr. Nygaard (NIGH-guard) has taught students of all ages and is excited to be back teaching middle school science. After a 10-year hiatus in higher education (both as a student and an educator), Dr. Nygaard is finally feeling at home again. In addition to getting students excited about science, Dr. Nygaard is passionate about helping students create meaning along their educational journeys. Dr. Nygaard was happy to find a place like McAuliffe that valued the whole student and looks forward to contributing to such a neat community!

Mr. Andonian joined the McAuliffe team on 2025. Mr. Andonian believes that every student deserves a classroom environment that is patient, purposeful, and engaging. He aims to promote curiosity, build critical thinking skills, and foster a welcoming space where all learners feel empowered to grow academically and personally. Mr. Andonian holds himself responsible for both your child’s academic growth but also day to day enjoyment, creating lasting tools/skills but also fun memories.

Ms. Underwood joined the McAuliffe Staff in 2024. Ms. Underwood was drawn to McAuliffe because of its project based learning. She loves being a part of a school community that works to develop responsible and reflective learners.

Mr. Zangwill joined the McAuliffe staff in 2026McAuliffe's focus on providing students with an equitable high quality education is what attracted Mr. Zangwill to teach at the school. He is an advocate of having a growth mindset and believes in a student first mentality. His #1 priorities are making sure students have a safe and positive learning environment followed by providing them with rigorous and meaningful instruction. Mr. Zangwill really enjoys teaching at McAuliffe, and values the emphasis they put meeting and exceeding the needs of our students.

Ms. Piraino joined the McAuliffe team in 2026. Ms. Piraino is excited to be part of the McAuliffe community and to inspire students to see science as something they can explore, question, and understand. She believes students learn best when they are actively involved in investigating real questions and using evidence to make sense of what they observe. She enjoys creating hands-on experiences that encourage students to be curious, think critically, and work together. Ms. Piraino is dedicated to helping students become confident learners who are willing to ask questions and persevere when something is challenging. She especially values the McAuliffe community's commitment to collaboration, student voice, and learning through experience.

Mrs. Gera joined the McAuliffe Community in 2026. Mrs. Gera 's philosophy of education aligns with McAuliffe's mission and that's what brought her here. She believes in fostering curiosity and the love for learning in her classroom. She encourages her students to develop problem-solving and logical reasoning skills by asking questions and sharing ideas during class discussions. In her classroom, mistakes are respected, reviewed, and corrected. Students are valued for who they are and what they can contribute to our learning community.

Ms. Havens joined the McAuliffe Team in 2026. Ms. Havens is thrilled to be back at McAuliffe after spending the past five years teaching in a Montessori school. She very much believes that scholars should be "leaders of their own learning", and that all people can learn given support and opportunity. Ms. Havens is honored to be part of a school community that is so invested in helping its scholars be the very best people they can be in the classroom and beyond.

Mrs. Bekheet joined the McAuliffe team in 2022. Mrs. Bekheet likes working in McAuliffe because she sees how much effort that teachers and administrators put in to help the students to grow . The staff are so helpful and kind to each other. She really love and appreciates working in this school.

Be joined our fabulous team in 2020. Be has been a long time subscriber to hands on learning and loves to support those opportunities for students during enrichment. She has enjoyed being a part of the McAuliffe community as a parent, all 3 of her children have graduated from McAuliffe, and now loves it more as a staff member.

Mrs. Rish joined the McAuliffe team in 2017. Mrs. Rish first came to McAuliffe as a parent; two of her four children are McAuliffe alumni. When the opportunity was available, Mrs. Rish joined the staff as the ELE (English Learner Education) coordinator and teacher. She is passionate about the English language, writing, and helping students live up to their full potential. Mrs. Rish believes that the HOWLs and building a kind and empathetic community are the keys to student success.

Mrs. Bogue joined the McAuliffe team in 2010. In 2004, Mrs. Bogue set out to find the best middle school in Framingham for her four children. When she toured McAuliffe, she knew she had found it. The students AND the teachers she met were excited about learning. They were honest about what was challenging. They were also confident that their “crew” would support them. They spoke about their values as much as they did about the work they were doing. Nearly twenty years later, Mrs. Bogue is still in love with the crew, the learning, and the values that are McAuliffe.

Ms. Sodl joined the McAuliffe team in 2025. Ms. Sodl enjoys the spirit of collaboration and community at McAuliffe. She is inspired by the sense of belonging that both students and teachers create in the building, as well as the student-centered approach. Ms. Sodl believes that students should have an active role in their education, and experiential learning facilitates this in such a positive, efficient way.

Mr. Pierre joined the McAuliffe staff in 2025. Mr. Pierre was motivated and inspired to being an addition to help students learn and achieve at Christa McAuliffe Charter School. McAuliffe not only thrives for young scholars to aim for academic excellence but builds an environment for community, growth, and family. From the minute you walk through the door, you are loved, embraced, and respected.

Miss. Smith joined the McAuliffe team in 2019. Miss Smith believes that McAuliffe is a place that is dedicated to helping all students become thoughtful and innovative citizens. Expeditionary Learning is designed to help students think deeply about complex topics and push themselves to do more than they thought possible. Miss Smith loves working with McAuliffe students and especially enjoys being able to teach all three grades every year. She really enjoys teaching technology, but also helping teachers to integrate technology in their classrooms.

Ms. Hood joined Christa McAuliffe School in 2026. Ms Hood has 16 years of educational experience as a teacher, counselor, and licensed administrator. Ms. Hood is inspired by the habits of character that McAuliffe instills in each scholar every day.

Mr. Snyder joined the McAuliffe team in 2017. Mr. Snyder applied to McAuliffe six years ago because he wanted to join a student and community centered school. He continues to come back every year, in a variety of roles, because the McAuliffe community; students, co-workers and families are amazing! He hopes to retire here and teach McAuliffe scholars for years to come!

Ms. Nehme joined the McAuliffe Staff in 2024. Ms. Nehme loves being part of the McAuliffe community because it’s a place where both students and teachers can really shine. The hands-on, active learning approach here makes learning exciting and meaningful, and seeing students take charge of their education is truly inspiring. The supportive, creative environment at McAuliffe is what makes it so special—everyone is encouraged to be themselves while working together. That mix of independence and teamwork is what keeps me excited to be here every day!

Sr. Cortez joined the McAuliffe Team in 2026. Sr. Cortez comes from the same community many of his scholars hail from and in fact is a former McAuliffe graduate. He sees himself in all of his scholars and truly feels inspired by the curiosity instilled by the problem-solving found in fieldwork and the character growth that is driven by those academic challenges. This way of teaching and learning is a big part of the reason that for his return to McAuliffe.

Mr. Taylor joined the McAuliffe team in 2026. As soon as he joined the McAuliffe crew, Mr.Taylor was exhilarated by the community that the school fosters between all members of the school. Everyone supports each other and strives for improvement. This aligns perfectly with his own teaching philosophy- that community culture is essential to the growth of young minds. He also believes that every student deserves to succeed, and will offer as many supports as he can to help scholars grow and thrive.

Mr. Feldman joined the McAuliffe team in 2023. Mr. Feldman is a passionate and energetic teacher who enjoys staying active through all kinds of outdoor activities. He believes that Experiential Learning is makes a key difference in the development of young students, and that the educational should be an adventure.

Mr. Bailey joined the McAuliffe staff in 2024. At Christa McAuliffe Charter School, the community thrives on collaboration, inclusivity, and a dedication to fostering growth in every student. Mr. Bailey’s teaching philosophy aligns with these values by helping students become physically literate individuals who understand and appreciate the importance of lifelong physical fitness. By embracing the supportive and dynamic environment of the school, he encourages students to strengthen their personal well-being and contribute positively to the community.

Mr. Gillies joined the McAuliffe Team in 2026. Mr. Gillis is excited to be part of the McAuliffe community, where he gets to combine his love of sports, education, and working with students every day. He has loved playing sports since he was a kid and has always believed that athletics can teach important lessons about teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and confidence. As a 7th Grade Adventure teacher and 8th Grade Wellness teacher, Mr. Gillis enjoys helping students build healthy habits and make positive choices that can benefit them both in and outside of school. He is passionate about creating an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to be their best selves. What inspires Mr. Gillis most is seeing students grow, discover new interests, and develop skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives. He is grateful to be a part of the McAuliffe community and looks forward to building strong relationships with students and families.

Mrs. Kapoor joined the McAuliffe Team in 2026. Mrs. Kapoor enjoys doing and teaching math. She loves to help students one on one to help them feel confident about math and see all the math around them.Being bilingual, she connects with students with a diverse background which helps her put in her best at McAuliffe.

Mr. Smith joined the McAuliffe Team in 2026. Mr. Smith was brought to McAuliffe for the opportunity to design, build and implement a STEAM curriculum that taught students about the possible careers that exist within STEAM and that will exist within the near future. I enjoy working with a community of educators that encourage students to be their best self. It is the goal of education to not only teach academics, but to nurture the whole student.