Empowering Families: Meet Our Student Success Team

At The Elisabeth Morrow School, we believe in nurturing the whole child. Our Student Success Team is dedicated to providing a comprehensive approach to learning, empowering every student to reach their full potential. By uniting dedicated teachers, learning specialists, service providers, counselors, nurses, psychologists, division heads, and families, we create a collaborative environment that fosters academic growth, emotional well-being, and social development.

Whether it’s academic challenges, social-emotional difficulties, or simply working with a learning specialist to determine how to more easily access particular content material, our team is here to help. “Support from our team means meeting kids where they are when there is a challenge as well as understanding when there is a need to provide enrichment or acceleration,” says Director of Student Success Services Sybille Bruun Moss, Ph.D.

“It’s an ongoing, interactive process between the school and families and students,” adds Bruun Moss. “I hope all children will come across my desk while they’re EMS. Our team makes sure that we understand who your child is and their learning journey.”

For instance, if a teacher notices a student’s increasing lack of regulation and focus in the classroom, the Student Success Team will meet with the child. Then, Bruun Moss would speak to the family to share what has been observed and might suggest some feedback from outside service providers. “I think my job is to make sure that no family ever says, I had no idea. You didn’t tell us. We never heard,” she says. After a few more observations, the Student Success Team may meet with the family to determine the best next steps and support families in finding providers outside of school, if necessary.

“It’s a lot of communication with different people across the campus to figure out often what’s going on,” says Bruun Moss. “You’re seeing a problem and working to figure out what’s causing it and how to address it together.”

Bruun Moss spends a significant time talking with colleagues, students, and families, but it wasn’t until she lost her voice that she realized how much of her role involves such conversations. “I thought I would come to work, and it would be fine. Then I got here, and I thought I was ineffective because so much of my job is conversing with faculty and staff and checking in on teachers about students.”

Bruun Moss’s experience underscores the importance of open communication, particularly when seeking help can sometimes be stigmatized. The Student Success Team aims to dispel these misconceptions and create a supportive space where families feel comfortable engaging with team members.

“Everyone’s journey to success is unique,” says Bruun Moss. “We’re committed to partnering with families to provide the tailored support each student needs to thrive in every stage of their education.”

Meet the Team

Director of Student Success Services Sybille Bruun Moss, Ph.D., oversees the implementation of Student Success Services and leads the Student Success Team in all three divisions.

Brunn Moss is assisted by the nursing team, led by Desere Diaz, in each division.

Chilton House (2s–kindergarten)

Head of Early Learning Lauren Mactas

Early Learning & Lower School Psychologist Alana Resnick, Ph.D.

Speech and Language Therapist Jill Sendik

Occupational Therapist Ilana Kanovsky

Little School (Grades 1–4)

Associate Head of School and Director of the Arts Amelia Gold

Assistant Head of Lower School Natasha Pronga

Early Learning & Lower School Psychologist Alana Resnick, Ph.D.

Lower School Learning Specialist Jennifer Dare

Language & Learning Specialist Elizabeth Harriman

Morrow House (Grades 5–8)

Head of Middle School Jed Silverstein, Ph.D.

Assistant Head of School Gerard Allen

Middle School Learning Specialist Krisztina Jarratt

Middle School Learning Specialist Poonkothai N-Ma

Middle School Counselor Rebecca Rosario