Faculty and Staff

As a teacher, Bill believes in progressive education that emphasizes a student-centered, constructivist approach to active learning that stresses teacher facilitation, cooperative problem solving, and individual reflection. He is convinced by Carol Dweck’s research that classroom environment and teacher attitudes toward intelligence and learning influence the classroom experience and learning outcomes, and subscribes to Gardner’s theories about multiple intelligences and the need to adapt teaching approaches to support individual learning styles. Bill believes that good teaching begins with personal connection, understanding, and care, and that an understanding of the cognitive and developmental sciences, as well as current best practices, provides the tools necessary for a growth-minded approach to education.

Bill has taught theatre, public speaking, and creative writing at Brimmer for over 20 years. He is also a cooperating practitioner with Emerson College and an adjunct professor in Lesley University’s Creative Arts and Learning program. Bill grew up in Italy and Venezuela and worked in New York City as a professional actor for several years before moving to Boston to work as a theatre artist and educator in Boston and Provincetown. His plays have been produced by the Speakeasy Theatre Company, Stage One of Providence, Harwich Junior Theatre, and Emerson College, and he has received numerous grants to write plays collaboratively with students in area schools, among others. For the last few summers, Bill has worked for Johns Hopkins University as a site director for the Centers for Talented Youth program in Monterrey, Mexico, Great Barrington, Mass., and Princeton University. He has enjoyed associations with Joe Papp’s Public Theatre, Soho Rep, the Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Delaware Rep, among others. He has toured nationally with Los Titeres de Chaciporra, a Lorca farce, and internationally with the Royal Theatre of Spain’s production of Life Is a Dream, and was a founding member of the street theatre group, Commedia 'del I.R.T.

 

 

As a visual arts teacher, Kathryn aims to promote creative problem solving and foster creative confidence in her students. She works to create an environment where students are not afraid to take risks and are able to create things they never thought imaginable.

Before joining the Brimmer team in 2010, Kathryn served as an art faculty member at St. George’s School in Newport, R.I., and Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn., focusing primarily on photography, drawing, and jewelry making. Kathryn also spent several summers serving as art director for the American School in Switzerland’s Summer Language Program.

Kathryn is passionate about the fine arts and loves nothing more than sharing her enthusiasm with her students and challenging them to instill creativity in their lives, both in the classroom and beyond. It gives Kathryn a tremendous sense of pride to encourage Brimmer students to see the world around them through a creative lens by using art history, cultural significance, and contemporary practices as inspiration.

Alex was born and raised in Florida. Their musical training began in middle school, when they joined the school band hoping to learn to play the music from their favorite video games. As nearly all of Alex’s role models were and are teachers, they wanted to be a teacher starting at an early age. Prior to joining Brimmer and May, Alex taught for the Music in General Studies department of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. 

Alex believes that a music education can enrich every student, no matter their goals beyond school. They seek to broaden the musical horizons of their students by exposing them to music old, new, and from around the globe. Alex fosters each student’s creation of a unique musical identity by learning what music they enjoy, enabling student exploration, and incorporating their interests into programming. 

Alex holds degrees in music theory, composition, and organ from Stetson University, the Eastman School of Music, and Indiana University. As a composer, they’ve won numerous awards, including the ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize. They use their composing and arranging skills to prepare unique music for the bands at Brimmer and May. 

Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with their partner, cooking, hiking, and composing. 

Ms. Williams-Krishnan is a freelance photographer, educator, and artist in the Boston area and has many years of experience both domestically and internationally with museum and gallery work. She holds a B.A. in English from Juniata College and an M.A. in Photographic Studies from University of Westminster, London U.K.