A Therapeutic Day School in Cummington, Massachusetts
Meet Our Staff
(in alphabetical order)
Sal Cincotta (they/them)
Teacher
Sal holds a Bachelor's degree in Sustainable Food & Farming from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was most recently awarded with a Master of Education degree in Science Education from UMass Amherst's Secondary Teacher Education Program. Sal's recent positions have included Science Teacher with Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, and Environmental Educator with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. In their spare time, Sal likes to sew, mend, hike with Avery the dog, and check out pond water under their microscope. Quote: “As a transgender educator and an active member of our local queer community, I am deeply committed to supporting and mentoring LGBTQIA+ youth in their educational paths.
Allison Druin (she/her)
Head of School
Dr. Allison Druin, J.S. Bryant School co-founder and Head of School (Co-designer of Joy) has a lifetime of experience as an educator, innovator, and administrator. With an M.S. from MIT in Media Arts and Sciences and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of New Mexico, she was a professor in the Information School at the University of Maryland for 20 years. She recently stepped down after seven years as the Vice Provost of Research and Strategic Partnerships at Pratt Institute to become Head of the School. She has co-founded three high schools, including the new Design Works High School in Brooklyn, developed in collaboration between Pratt Institute and Bank Street College of Education.
Pepper Fournier-Scanlon (she/they)
Director of Farming
Pepper Fournier-Scanlon (she/they) is J.S. Bryant School's Director of Farming (Farm Heart) who is native to Cummington and loves nurturing life in all kinds of ways. An entrepreneur and farmer/homesteader since 2008, she has run an independent bookstore, market garden collaborative, permaculture design/build business, a raw milk CSA, and currently runs a certified organic maple business at their home farm, Two Mamas Farm. Pepper spent a good chunk of this decade as a foster parent and raising a family with three neurospicy forever kiddos. She is passionate about advocating for children in foster care, disability and environmental justice, and helping youth find their voice in moving toward a more equitable and inclusive world.
Izzy Peterson (she/they)
Community Engagement Lead
Izzy is a queer farm and arts loving community builder with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University. Recent positions include: Studio Manager/Production Coordinator at And/Or Studio in Brooklyn, Afterschool Spy Kids Preschool Teacher in Brooklyn, and Goat Milker/Wrangler in Cummington, MA. In their free time, Izzy likes learning about soil health, tending their garden, performing with her band, and making meatballs.
Annie Thompson (she/her)
Teacher
Annie has been a humanities/social studies teacher for 7 years in independent schools. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations, from Simmons College and she was awarded her Master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, at Emerson College. Annie's most recent positions included: English Teacher with Eaglebrook School, and Humanities Teacher with Vistamar School. Quote: “As an experienced queer educator in both high school and middle school, I feel a deep affinity for the space that is being created and a true belief that meeting students where they are is the best way forward in education.”
Alex Tinari (she/they)
Director of Admission
A member of the queer community, Alex (she/they) has advocated for LGBTQIA+ rights, championed alternative therapeutic communities, and mentored teens for three decades. Alex ran the first queer youth group in Berkshire County and was a team leader and residential advisor at Gould Farm. As a teacher and consultant, Alex cooperatively designed and implemented homeschool curricula and individualized instructional plans for those with learning differences and served as a liaison between families and schools throughout western MA.
Chels Trombly, MSW, LCSW
(they/them, he/him)
Therapist
Chels holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UMass Amherst and a Master's degree in Social Work from Smith College SSW. Chels comes to us from BHN, where they were a therapist with the Empowerment Project, providing gender and sexuality affirming mental healthcare to children, adolescents, and adults. They are passionate about using nontraditional therapies to meet each person’s unique needs, in addition to utilizing DBT interventions. They are trained in Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART Moves), and are a certified Therapeutic Tabletop Roleplaying Game Master (TTRPG).