Stephen Staunton
Co-Director of Fairfield and Westchester Counties 

Stephen Staunton was educated at New Canaan Country School and The Lawrenceville School, then graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Economics. While working on Wall Street in the 1990s, he volunteered as a tutor at Family Dynamics, a not-for-profit organization, helping educate at-risk children in low-income housing on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Steve and his wife have also been involved with Student Sponsor Partners and the Fresh Air Fund, which is dedicated to sponsoring/mentoring disadvantaged children from greater New York City. As a private tutor, his areas of expertise include standardized test preparation-for the ACT, the SAT and the SSAT-high school math and AP Economics. A former top commodities trader and hedge fund manager, he currently substitute teaches at Greens Farms Academy, teaches Economics at Freudigman and Billings in Westport.

Carmen Melillo 

As a 2009 graduate of Wesleyan University, Carmen has twelve years of experience working in education in New York and Connecticut. He has extensive experience in tutoring students of all ages, diverse backgrounds, levels of ability, and socioeconomic status. For the past five years he has run test prep for the prestigious Summer Search NYC youth leadership program, overseeing score increases of up to 200 points for students with no prior test prep experience. His personal caseload of students had a 95% college acceptance rate. Well versed in academic test prep, Carmen has a particular love of language arts, and had edited and advised hundreds of college essays amd personal statements and has himself won three state-level writing competitions in CT.

In addition to his tutoring experience, he has worked as an Arts and Music teacher in the Brooklyn school system and is a trained Professional Mentor for youth development and counseling. Carmen has three years of experience working as a college advisor and editor for college applications. He is noted by former students for his relationship building skills as well as his teaching fluency with diverse learning styles.

When he is not in the classroom, Carmen can be found in the Greek bakeries of Astoria or enjoying the outdoors along the CT shoreline. A former student of The Learning Consultants, he is excited and proud to join our team in serving students.

Megan Monaghan 

Megan loves, loves, loves being a teacher, and feels so grateful to have found her passion in this profession. After graduating as an English major from Boston College, Megan worked in publishing, but tutored on the side and volunteered at a local elementary school. She quickly realized that she loved working with children and found her happy place in the classroom.

From there, Megan began her career teaching fourth grade in the Lower School at Rye Country Day. Here, she discovered a talent for reaching all kinds of learners through creative teaching strategies. While at Rye Country Day, Megan completed her Masters in Childhood Development from Columbia University. She moved to the Upper Division of St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s in Manhattan, and in this role, Megan taught fifth grade English, Math, and History. She delighted in opportunities to design hands-on fun, and stretches and supports each individual. While at St. Hilda’s, Megan became particularly interested in working with students with reading disabilities. With this in mind, she continued her education by earning a second Masters in Reading Disabilities from Columbia University.

After many years in Manhattan, Megan and her family returned to Megan’s hometown of Rye. She now teaches English in the middle school at Sacred Heart, Greenwich. She works hard to create individualized instruction for a diverse set of learners, matching every student with a great book, and teaching strategies in organization and study skills. When she isn’t working with students, Megan can be found reading, walking with her dog and daughters to the beach, or on her yoga mat.

Thomas Connor

Thomas Connor is a tutor, writer and college instructor in Fairfield County. He attended boarding school in New Hampshire and Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences where, as a Special Student in English Studies, he contributed to the Harvard Crimson and Harvard Magazine. He graduated from Fairfield University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. For the past ten years, he has been an adjunct professor of English Literature and Composition at Norwalk Community College, receiving from students one of the highest ratings of any instructor on “Rate My Professor.”

At the same time, he has written for numerous national and local publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Town&Country, House&Garden, Writer’s Digest and Connecticut Magazine, winning multiple awards. The author of half a dozen books, his The House to Ourselves: Reinventing Home Once the Kids Are Gone (The Taunton Press), was named Amazon’s number one home design book of 2006. Currently, he writes custom business articles and white papers for Fortune, Forbes and Bloomberg Businessweek.

As a tutor, he has worked with Fairfield County students for the past five years, specializing in test prep for all entrance examinations and levels—the SSAT, ISEE, ACT and the new SAT—in addition to writing skills, study and organizational skills, and help with test anxiety. Two years ago, he was part of a nationwide team of tutors and educators chosen to write the current version of one of the leading SSAT tests. He lives in Fairfield with his wife, Lisa. Their son, Jackson Connor, is a contributing writer for The Village Voice.

Joseph Giustozzi

A native of New York City and currently a long-term resident of New Canaan, Connecticut, Joseph graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Mathematics, both at New York University.

Aside from several years as a full time mathematics instructor at the university level, teaching courses in calculus and pre-calculus, Joseph has spent most of his career in the development of avionic software on numerous fighter aircraft programs such as the F-14 and F-16.  More recently, he has accepted a position as an adjunct faculty member in the Mathematics Department of Fairfield University.

Joseph has over ten years of experience tutoring hundreds of local high school students in Fairfield County in algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus. He has also helped many middle and high school students prepare for standardized tests such as the AP, SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, and ISEE.  Joseph enjoys helping struggling students turn frustrating, even frightening, math experiences into success stories.  He enjoys encouraging and challenging them to overcome fear and despair and watching them replace negative attitudes with new-found confidence.  Joseph also finds great satisfaction in helping talented students do even better.

Lindsey Furnary

Lindsey Furnary adheres firmly to the belief that great minds do not think alike and cherishes the opportunity to create a portrait of her students’ needs by studying their learning preferences, personality, temperament and interests. A graduate of St. Lawrence University and native Vermonter, Lindsey identified her passion for facilitating the “a-ha moment” for her students a very early age when she would teach her stuffed animals to read and write. Many years later, Lindsey studied Childhood General Education at Bank Street College of Education, where she developed a deep understanding of child development and cultivated her proficiency with instructional strategies that meet the needs of diverse learners. Lindsey began her work in the classroom at Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT and then until recently, was a homeroom teacher in the Lower and Middle divisions at the Allen-Stevenson School in Manhattan. Lindsey has honed her practice by pursuing numerous professional development opportunities at the Windward Teacher Training Institute, Dana Hall Summer Math Institute and Writer’s Workshop at Columbia University.

Lindsey works with students during the elementary and middle years to help them gain mastery of foundational skills across all academic disciplines. Lindsey especially loves to create individualized instruction in the areas of reading and writing, and also specializes in supporting her students in developing organizational habits that enable them to feel confident and self-reliant.

Having taught at boys’ schools, Lindsey relates quite well to students who prefer to be in constant motion. When she is not playing with her baby daughter, Charlotte, Lindsey can be found training for marathons or on her yoga mat.

Brett Martell

Brett is the Lower School Science Coordinator at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He oversees and implements the science curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten through Fourth Grade students. He has attended the annual National Science Teachers Association Conference three times.  Additionally, Brett serves as the Student Council Faculty Advisor at Brunswick.

Prior to teaching science, Brett taught first grade, fourth grade, and self-contained third through fifth-grade students. As an undergraduate, Brett majored in American Studies and Elementary Education at Manhattanville College. He earned his Mater’s of Professional Studies from Manhattanville in Special Education and Literacy. He is a New York State certified teacher for grades 1-6. Brett is also a member of the Brunswick Trust Character and Leadership Program. He completed training at the Garden Carney Leadership Institute, where he earned a certificate from The Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania.

Brett coaches the Freshmen basketball team, as well as the Junior Varsity baseball team. He works with students of all ages in a variety of academic and study skills. Finally, he enjoys the opportunity to work one-on-one with students to prepare them for academic success in the classroom.

Margaret DiBernardino 

Margaret’s background includes attending a technical high school where she participated in a three year engineering program. Through this program, Margaret found that she enjoyed helping her classmates with the advanced math they were learning. After graduating high school, she attended H.H, Lehman College where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Currently, Margaret is is furthering her education by working towards a Masters in Mathematics.

For twenty-five years, Margaret has been teaching fourth grade level math to pre-calculus level and has been successfully tutoring upper level mathematics since 2002 with the Greenwich Education Group, Prodigy Learning Center, and Achievement Learning Center. She has a history working with the NYCDOE and is currently working for the Archdiocese of New York. Margaret especially enjoys tutoring SSAT/SAT/SAT II Math and ACT Math and Science, as well as elementary and high school math and test prep.

Whether your child needs in-depth help or a quick review of content, Margaret is eager to help. She prides herself on her ability to help students achieve their academic goals.

Timothy Swensen 

A member of the 2016 Dartmouth College graduating class, Timothy has over a decade of mentoring and tutoring experience throughout New England.  He has worked with a range of students, both in age and in ability.  Over the past five years Timothy created educational curriculum for numerous charities.  While at Dartmouth he aided in the establishment of a special needs focused community center and created an academic program open to all ages and ability.  Post-graduation, he consulted and taught at the First Tee of Metropolitan New York.  Timothy’s addition of an environmental curriculum to the First Tee’s after-school sessions intensified the program’s rigor and heightened the student’s achievement.  His academic strengths center around the subjects of English, Mathematics, and Environmental Science while also excelling at test prep.  He aided numerous students with their college preparations.  The students finished with elevated standardized test scores and comprehensive college essays.  Parents and students laud Timothy’s enthusiasm for learning and his enjoyment of camaraderie and teamwork.  He can work with students in many areas, including math, writing, executive functioning and organization, test prep and many of the sciences. Timothy’s youth enables him to relate to students.  Timothy utilized the Learning Consultants to achieve admission into Dartmouth College.  Timothy understands the application process for student-athletes because he underwent the recruiting process for collegiate golf.  In his spare time, he competes in golf tournaments and enjoys hiking and fishing with his dog.

Peter Biscegla 

A lifelong native of Rye, Peter graduated from Rye High School in 2000. After receiving a football scholarship, he attended Marist College and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. He would then go on to earn his Master of Arts in Childhood Special Education from the College of New Rochelle in 2006. Upon graduating, Peter went to work as a sixth grade teacher at Port Chester Middle School in Port Chester, NY where he teaches today as a sixth grade team leader overseeing 8 teachers and 200 students. During his time at Marist, Peter student-taught at the Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, NY. It was during this time that Peter knew that he was setting out to do exactly what he was meant to do- to help children, no matter what their background or circumstances were, to excel academically and to believe in themselves and their abilities despite the odds against them. A natural coach, Peter takes his enthusiasm, and applies it to his coaching style as well. For several years he has coached the Port Chester Middle School modified boys soccer team and basketball team.

A natural tutor and encourager, Peter teaches students that together, they will identify and conquer any obstacles standing in that student’s way of achieving academic success. Seeing his students make progress in navigating any challenge that faces them is what makes Peter the proudest. “There simply is no better reward than a high five from a beaming, smiling kid you know worked so hard to get where he or she is. That’s what it’s all about.”

Tricia Burns

Tricia Burns is a 25-year veteran teacher who has devoted her career to meeting the needs of all students. Tricia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Pace University. She went on to complete her Master’s Program in Special Education at the College of New Rochelle. Tricia knew from a young age that her calling was teaching. She has always been able to make connections with her students and use a variety of strategies to make things “click” for them.

Over the course of her career, Tricia has worked with children in the Mamaroneck School District, Children’s Village in Dobb’s Ferry, and a private speech and language pathology center. She just began her 20th year working for the Port Chester School District. She is currently working at the Port Chester Middle School, co-teaching in a 6th grade class. There she works with adolescents with a variety of needs and learning styles. She has been successful in honing into the learning style that best suites each student. She has created individualized education plans and formed a successful working relationship with parents, related service providers and other teachers.

In her free time, Tricia enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage daughters and two dogs at their home in Connecticut. She also loves to read, travel and relax on the beach.

Sara Martell

Sara Martell is a Pre and Lower School Learning Specialist at Ridgefield Academy, where she works closely with students, teachers, and parents. With a Master of Science in Education in Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College of Education, Sara is well-versed in supporting students with a variety of learning profiles. Sara is particularly passionate about teaching early literacy skills and working with struggling readers. She has been trained in Orton-Gillingham, Preventing Academic Failure, and Wilson Foundations. She has successfully implemented multisensory instruction in whole class, small group, and one-on-one settings. She is also trained in Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshops. Sara has six years of teaching experience at a variety of independent schools including Ridgefield Academy, Collegiate School, and Brunswick School. She is adept at forming strong relationships with students and their families, identifying students’ strengths and goals, and designing instruction that meets students where they are and pushes them to the next level.

Richard Santucci 

After graduating at Mercy College, he turned golf professional. He worked in this career as a Class A PGA Golf Professional for 23 years and for the last 12 years as the teaching professional at Rye Golf Club. After 23 years he decided it was time to head in a new direction and serve a community in need of positive role models. Richard went back to Graduate School at Mercy College’s accelerated teaching program and earned his Masters in Science of Adolescence Education. He holds two licenses, the first in Social Studies Grades 7 – 12, and the second in Students with Disabilities 7 – 12.

Richard has been employed by Mott Hall V School in the Bronx, NY, where he started 12 years ago. This school is a Title 1 school, meaning it has a large population of students that have many obstacles to overcome on a daily basis and are in need of a good education, and supportive and positive feedback. He thoroughly enjoys the challenge of working in this kind of environment and the feedback from the students is always encouraging and inspiring.

Richard works with students to prepare them for the state test in ELA. He prepares them by working on skills such as breaking down words and identifying a prefix, root and suffix, as well as using context clues to identify the central idea of an article. He and his students also work on their ability to carefully read the questions being asked in order to select the best answer. Richard feels as though he has the experience and skills to support students in all areas of Language Arts and English. The areas of critical reading and writing are not always taught thoroughly in schools and they are skills that are needed in all areas of life.