New Hires
FlexSchool, the first global network in gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) education, announces two additions to the school’s leadership team. These two exceptional educators bring a wealth of experience and a record of demonstrated excellence in school leadership.
Donna Ruggiero, Berkeley Heights Head of School
Donna, who has been consulting with FlexSchool since February and was instrumental in the campus reopening process during the Covid-19 pandemic, brings three decades of experience in education, including ten years of leadership in independent schools. She has experience in a wide range of academic settings. Donna was a teacher of special education in a public school in Somerville, Massachusetts, chaired the religion and philosophy departments at The Pennington School and Stuart Country Day School in the Princeton area, was Dean of Students at Miss Hall’s School, Assistant Head for Student Life at Purnell School, and most recently Associate Head of School at The Albany Academies. She also worked as an Assistant Director at Princeton Center for Leadership Training and is a National Association of Independent School Aspiring Heads Fellow. Donna has a Master of Theological Study at Harvard Divinity School, and a Master’s degree in Counseling Services from Rider University. She will begin her new role as Berkeley Heights Head of School in July of 2021.
Donna, who has been consulting with FlexSchool since February and was instrumental in the campus reopening process during the Covid-19 pandemic, brings three decades of experience in education, including ten years of leadership in independent schools. She has experience in a wide range of academic settings. Donna was a teacher of special education in a public school in Somerville, Massachusetts, chaired the religion and philosophy departments at The Pennington School and Stuart Country Day School in the Princeton area, was Dean of Students at Miss Hall’s School, Assistant Head for Student Life at Purnell School, and most recently Associate Head of School at The Albany Academies. She also worked as an Assistant Director at Princeton Center for Leadership Training and is a National Association of Independent School Aspiring Heads Fellow. Donna has a Master of Theological Study at Harvard Divinity School, and a Master’s degree in Counseling Services from Rider University. She will begin her new role as Berkeley Heights Head of School in July of 2021.“The progressive thought, the positive energy, the joy, and the absolute commitment to putting the students first and ‘meeting them where they are’ has made me fall in love with FlexSchool, and I am thrilled to be taking on this new position with this amazing team,” Donna says.
Donna Andeskie, Assistant Head of School
Donna has taught at Purnell School for the past 15 years and in that time she has served as the Dean of Students, Director of Off-Campus Curriculum, and Studio Art Department Chair, among other roles. She is an Orton-Gillingham practitioner and has low and high ropes certification. Prior to her Purnell experience, she worked as an Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College, Middlesex County TeenArts High and Middle Schools, and DuCret School of Art. She has an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and a BFA from Syracuse University.
Donna has taught at Purnell School for the past 15 years and in that time she has served as the Dean of Students, Director of Off-Campus Curriculum, and Studio Art Department Chair, among other roles. She is an Orton-Gillingham practitioner and has low and high ropes certification. Prior to her Purnell experience, she worked as an Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College, Middlesex County TeenArts High and Middle Schools, and DuCret School of Art. She has an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and a BFA from Syracuse University.
In her Teaching Philosophy, Donna notes, “Not every student fits a standard mold, and not every path is a straight line. The joy of discovering what lies around the bend provides incentive for a lifelong love for learning and creative exploration.”
Jacqui Byrne, Founder of FlexSchool says,”We are so honored to have these amazing educators join the FlexSchool leadership team.”
