Our Staff

Caitlin Palm

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2020
Position: Level 1 Teacher
Education: J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
Fun facts:

Cait started teaching straight out of college, then left for the legal world for a few years, then returned to teaching (her true love!).
Podcasts and cooking are some of Cait's favorite ways to relax.
Before teaching at NS, Cait taught fellow-teacher Tracy's son Ezra in pre-school!

Drew Curtis

Pronouns: he/him/his
At NS since: 1999
Position: Support Teacher; Covid and Technology Coordinator
Education: B.A. (anthropology), Washington University
Fun facts:

Drew’s background in writing and editing is the impetus for wonderful writing projects in Level 4.
No parking? No problem! Proud parent of NS alums Max and Jesse, Drew lives within walking distance of NS.

Haeli Warren

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2021
Position: Level 4 Teacher
Education: B.A. (Education Studies, Elementary Education Teaching Program) Wellesley College
Fun facts:

Haeli started teaching in outdoor education on a farm and then in the mountains. While teaching, she has hiked and backpacked over 23 of the Adirondack Mountains in New York.
With education and teaching, Haeli is interested in research. She is especially excited about how students and the community can do research about and in their own communities.
Dance, biking, being outside, playing clarinet, and baking are some of Haeli’s favorite activities!

Johnny Blazes

Pronouns: they/them/theirs
At NS since: 2007
Position: Drama and Dance Teacher since 2007, Music and Rap Around Teacher since 2015
Education: B.A. (Theater & Dance performance), Oberlin College
Fun facts:

Johnny was one of NS’s first students, joining Level 1 in January of 1988.
Johnny has been teaching or assisting at Neighborhood School almost continuously since graduating in 1994 (with a short hiatus to do some traveling and studying), including several years of circus and drama camp counseling as a pre-teen and teen!
Johnny is also an instructor and administrator at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, and sings with two different soul bands, including one co-run with Johnny’s dad, J. Johnson.

Jordan Bates

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2022
Position: Level 2 Teacher
Education: B.A. (Africana Studies and Education Studies) Wellesley College
Fun facts:

I have a love for painting and getting into new crafts (currently I am learning to crochet)
As a new resident of Jamaica Plain I'm enjoying venturing out and exploring the neighborhood (especially finding good restaurants to eat at!)

Joyce Mallory

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: the beginning
Position: Learning Accommodations Coordinator; Academic Services
Education: M.Ed. (special education), UMass Boston. Joyce helps us to keep track of learning differences and specific methods of instruction and assessment to meet individual needs.
Fun facts:

In 1986, with her late husband, John, Joyce brought her pre-school through middle school teaching experience to the formation of NS. Joyce is also mother to two adult sons, Jared and Jon Marc, and grandmother to Lila Rae and Dylan!
Children associate Joyce with music, frogs, cats, and coffee.

Lisa Nam

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2016
Position: Level 4 Teacher; L4 Counseling Services
Education: Ed.M. (Prevention Science and Practice), Harvard Graduate School of Education
Fun facts:

Lisa lightly dabbles in arts and crafts and studied photography, painting, figure drawing, ceramics, and poetry in Korea, Greece, and Italy.
Lisa loves being part of the L4 Racial Justice Club every year and learns so much from the students about youth development through social justice.
Even after a decade of living in Boston, Lisa still feels her California roots and is afraid of winter.

Malena Castilla

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2021
Position: Level 3 Teacher
Education: B.A. (Economics, Teacher Scholars Program) Wellesley College.
Fun facts:

Malena has traveled over a 10,000 mile range north to south from Montreal, Canada to the Glacier National Park of Argentina.
Malena speaks English and Spanish —half of my family is in Argentina— and a little bit of Italian.
Malena loves winter so long as there's plenty of snow! With snowy days come skiing, hot chocolate, and curling up with a book.

Malika Walker

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2020
Position: Support Teacher; Afterschool Coordinator
Education: B.A. (Environmental Studies), Framingham State University
Fun facts:

Malika has been working with children for over 10 years.
Malika owns over 14 houseplants!

Priscilla Saul

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2017
Position: Administrative Assistant
Education: MSM, Emmanuel College
Fun facts:

Priscilla has a love for the arts, and enjoys visiting museums.
Priscilla loves to exercise. She was a sprinter on the Regis College Track and Field team.
Priscilla is a Netflix junkie (if she could, she would watch documentaries all day every day).

Rachel Shapp

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2019
Position: Level 2 Teacher
Education: MAEd in Early Childhood Ed from Boston University
Fun facts:

Rachel has lived on three different continents.
Rachel once donned crampons and hiked a snow-covered volcano.
Rachel loves to eat and cook, and is always looking for new recipes and good restaurants to try!

Samantha Rose Hale

Pronouns: they/them/theirs
At NS since: 2018
Position: Music Teacher
Education: MEd (Prevention Science and Practice), Harvard Graduate School of Education
Fun facts:

Samantha (they/them) is a music therapist, performing artist (they have toured the US and Europe!), educator in primary through higher education, and independent consultant in group facilitation and equity-centered leadership frameworks.
Samantha has collaborated with youth and adult activists and performing artists throughout Boston to deconstruct harmful narratives and amplify the voices of those who have been historically and systemically silenced.
Samantha believes that everyone has creative ability and that arts tap into the deeper parts of our humanity and helps foster the inherent quality of empathy.

Scott Morrow

Pronouns: he/him/his
At NS since: 1995, when he and Tricia began sharing administrative duties along with home care of their children.
Position: Afterschool and PE Teacher; Finance; Maintenance
Education: M.Div., Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Fun facts:

Basketball, the trumpet, and fatherhood are among Scott’s passions.
Get the scoop: Scott’s freezer is usually well-stocked with ice cream of various flavors.

Tracy Pimentel

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: 2014
Position: Level 1 Teacher
Education: M.Ed. (early childhood education), Lesley University
Fun facts:

Tracy completed a practicum at Neighborhood School with Level 2 back in 2005 during her undergraduate days at Lesley University.
She lives in Stoughton with husband Angel, and sons Ezra and Koji.
Level 1 students will have fun discovering which four languages Tracy can speak!

Tricia Morrow

Pronouns: she/her/hers
At NS since: the beginning
Position: Director
Education: B.A. (elementary & special education), Knox College; graduate work in educational management and parenting studies
Fun facts:

Tricia’s teaching experience and lots of elbow grease proved helpful as she joined Joyce and John Mallory in the formation of Neighborhood School.
Tricia and her husband Scott are proud parents of NS alums Anna, Michaela, and Nick.
From her rural upbringing, Tricia brings a pig collection and a sense of small-town connectedness to our school.

Faculty photos by 3rd Eye Photo.