Student Services Team

Ms. Saravara joined the McAuliffe staff in 2025. Ms. Saravara believes that all students excel when learning experiences are authentic, engaging and experiential. She is pleased to be part of a team that is truly collaborative and one which encourages all learners to be reflective and responsible. The McAuliffe Charter School Community empowers all scholars to apply their learning by asking deep questions that enrich themselves and the community. Ms. Saravara is proud to be part of the McAuliffe team that keeps the bar high for all learners and that keeps experiential learning at the cornerstone for success!

Dr. Flieger joined the McAuliffe staff in 2022. Connie Flieger, Ph.D. joined McAuliffe in 2022. Her role as the first onsite school psychologist has allowed for additional and consistent social emotional support for the scholars of McAuliffe. As the school psychologist, Dr. Flieger provides counseling, crisis intervention, consultation/collaboration, and evaluation services to scholars. With over 25 years of experience, she believes that scholars are best served when they are provided with a safe, consistent, structured, inclusive, and connected environment to develop their identity, strengths, relationships, and emotional stamina. The improved mental health of McAuliffe students is essential not only for emotional wellbeing, but also necessary for navigating the social and academic realms. EL education provides unique opportunities for social and emotional growth in the McAuliffe community and beyond.

Mrs. Wheeler joined the McAuliffe team in 2023. She taught high school Biology, Chemistry and Physics for ten years before taking some time to raise her three children. With all three of her children attending McAuliffe, Mrs. Wheeler is drawn to the sense of community and collaboration the school practices in all areas. She has seen first hand how powerful the EL education system is to develop into creative, open-minded, and collaborative human beings and is excited to be a part of it.

Ms. Babcock joined the McAuliffe team in 2022. Ms. Babcock loves working with a great team to help all learners be successful. She loves how McAuliffe students are great scholars, but also exceptional community members. Students learn leadership skills while becoming an agent for their own learning. Seeing the growth in students as they journey through McAuliffe is awesome.

Ms. Lewi joined the McAuliffe staff in 2019. Ms. Lewi is a highly qualified and dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist committed to serving Middle School students with a variety of Communication disorders (Articulation/Speech Sound; Auditory/Language Processing; Executive Functioning; Fluency; Hearing; Receptive/Expressive Language & Vocabulary; Social/Pragmatic Skills; and Voice. Believes in a comprehensive assessment process, the development and implementation of high-quality Individualized Education Plans, and thorough documentation of progress. She enjoys collaborating with families and working as part of an interdisciplinary team to promote generalization of skills throughout the day. When not at school, Ms. Lewi enjoys tending to her plants, cooking, reading, and going to the beach to see the sunrise.

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.

Ms. Varela joined the McAuliffe community in 2026. Ms. Varela feels excited about working in EL education and counseling! She knows the importance of acknowledging students’ diverse needs and helping students become the best version of themselves. She believes counseling can provide a supportive space to empower students to develop emotional capacity, self-awareness, and self-management skills, build social awareness, and communication skills. My goal is to make a positive impact in students’ lives by helping them become empathetic, resilient, and confident individuals. I hope to provide students with the skills they need to manage challenges, build meaningful relationships, and move forward with purpose.

Weena Buffardi joined the McAuliffe staff in 2024. Mrs. Buffardi is inspired by her co-immigrants. She likes meeting people from all around the world, learning about their culture and having the feeling of making a difference in somebody’s life. She loves advocating for other MLLs and making sure that they have access to opportunities.

Angella de la Vega Castellares joined the McAuliffe staff in 2025. Angella’s is impressed with McAuliffe’s commitment to EL Education and the belief that students learn best through meaningful, hands-on experiences. The focus on character, community, and student-led learning is what inspired me to come work here. I’m drawn to the way McAuliffe values the whole child ,nurturing not just academic growth, but also kindness, responsibility, and curiosity. The culture of collaboration and support among staff, students, and families makes this a place where both learners and educators can grow.

Mr. C joined the McAuliffe staff in 2023. Mr. C is thrilled to work with the McAuliffe community. His philosophy of education includes being a firm believer in children of the younger generations maturing with knowledge of their true heritage, their cultural background and embracing it. Mr. C’s students, hopefully, will be provided the opportunity to explore different cultures, visit historical sights and retrace their ancestry.Understanding the true depth of their culture, Mr. C hopes will elicit curiosity to further educate themselves, and display leadership qualities by showing respect and compassion to others in need. Children with this breadth of knowledge tend to feel more confident in their identity and finding their purpose in life. A life driven by purpose, is best suited for those whom have had the development of great character.

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.

Ms. Lili joined the McAuliffe team in 2022. Ms. Lili has a genuine passion for helping young minds navigate the complexities of life and education. Ms. Lili’s background includes working with youth in the foster care system and from her experience working in child welfare she understands the profound impact a supportive adult can have on a scholar’s development. As the school adjustment counselor, Ms. Lili is dedicated to empowering students to achieve their goals and overcome challenges, fostering a positive and inclusive school environment.