Chris

Community Service Coordinator
ENGLISH: Literature & Composition, Academic Writing, Fiction Into Film, Comprehensive Writing, Dystopian Fiction
B.A., English, Humboldt State University (California) & M.A., Literature, University of Maryland, College Park
Chris Conlon joined Nora in 1995

While Nora has changed in some ways during the quarter-century I’ve worked here, the school’s focus on the individual—the unique qualities and needs of each student—has remained constant. Originally from the central coast of California, I came to Nora after stints teaching in Botswana with the Peace Corps as well as in DC Public Schools. Under the name Christopher Conlon I’ve written several published books of fiction and poetry as well. Literature is my first love, and I try to communicate that passion to my students.

Scott

Senior Advisor, College Advisor, Athletic Director
SOCIAL STUDIES: American Studies, World History, U.S. History, Political Science, Street Law
B.A., Economics and History, University of Maine
M.A., Education, University of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Teacher’s Certificate in Special Education
Scott Madden Joined Nora in 1995

What I most enjoy about The Nora School are the close relationships that teachers can develop with their students. The Nora community provides a relaxed, friendly environment that challenges the students while looking out for their best interests and offering support for that extra step. Before joining The Nora School family in 1995, I taught at the Sheridan School, Washington, DC, and directed their Wilderness Experiential Education program in the Shenandoah Valley. Prior to that I taught in the public schools in Newport, Rhode Island, and worked as an Instructor for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School for seven years. For the past 20 years I have been enjoying the opportunity to teach, coach, and work with young people for nine months of each year. I live with my wife and our three boys in Washington, DC. I am an avid bicyclist and enjoy triathlons and road races.

Nisaa

MATH: Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Algebra II & Trigonometry and Financial Algebra
B.S., Accounting, Lincoln University (PA)
M.A.T., Special Education, Trinity University (DC)
Certification:  Non-Categorical Special Education/K-12
Nisaa Abdus-Sabur joined Nora in 2015

The Nora School is a very special and safe place.  The school community is made up of a diverse group of learners with a very supportive and caring staff that I am happy to be a part of.  Students always ask, “Why do we have to learn Algebra?” In order to effectively teach and make math more approachable you have to show its connection to every day life. Most importantly, before the teaching can even happen, you have to get to know and empathize with your students.   I attended undergrad at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and did my graduate studies at Trinity University in DC.  I have taught Math for more than ten years to high school students in public charter schools in DC. I am a mom of four teens and reside in Silver Spring, MD.

Eric

SCIENCE: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Organic Chemistry

Eric Scweiger joined Nora in 2024

Calder

History of US Interventionism, Environmental Science, Contemporary Studies, Ultimate Frisbee Coach, Administrative Assistant
Calder Sett joined Nora in 2023

Though I was born in DC, I moved around a lot as a kid before ending up in Colorado for high school. I went to Clark University in Massachusetts to study conservation ecology and, shortly after graduation, moved to Ha Noi, Viet Nam where I lived for six years. While living in Viet Nam, I got a job at a bilingual school and fell in love with education. I found my niche teaching history and academic literacy as well as volunteering for student clubs. I've just recently moved back to the States and am lucky enough to find myself at the Nora School. I try to view every lesson as a story with drama, mystery, and character development for each student. History, in particular, makes no sense to me as a series of dates with names attached, but becomes exciting when seen as a great story with questionably reliable narrators. Outside of teaching, I love to play music, ultimate frisbee, and dungeons and dragons.

Chrissy

ARTS: Art History Art, Studio Art, Illustration, Sculpture, Drama
B.A., Visual Arts – Animation & Interactive Media (Minor: Anthropology), University of Maryland Baltimore County
Chrissy Jarina joined Nora in 2016

I am a working artist with a broad range of interests. My early artistic influences as a child were 2-D cartoons and Michelangelo sculptures and paintings. Since then, I have studied drawing and painting, including acrylic painting techniques. I earned an animation degree at UMBC where I studied both 2-D and 3-D animation and where I helped produce a full length independent film with the film group Blue Duck Studios. My current interests are cartoon portraits for engagements and weddings, lyric writing, and further advancing my artistic craft in a number of genres.

Darrell

Music, Academic Coach, IT Support
B.A., Music – Jazz Performance, Towson University
M.A., Music – Jazz Performance, University of Maryland
Darrell Reddix joined Nora in 2021

I am a lifelong musician dedicating the remainder of my life to a pursuit of self-expression and enlightenment through listening to, performing, and teaching music. As a child growing up I found confidence in my own individual personality through learning how to accept my unique approach to my instruments. Through music and performance, I have traveled to different states, out of the country, and have played venues such as Blues Alley, as well as done tours like Vans Warped tour. At the Nora School, I hope to impact the students through these experiences and help them to develop and further understand their own unique personalities through a musical lens.

Jeff

Director of Organizational Systems
Social Studies: Civic Engagement & Elections
B.S., Systems Engineering, University of Virginia
M.S. Energy & Environmental Technical Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeff Goldman joined Nora in 2024

I have wide experience directing non-profit organizations, extensive work experiences in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, teaching Social Studies, and leading experiential learning experiences. After growing up in Baltimore County, I tend to be a health nut. My main life partners are my spouse, and 2 kids born 2008 and 2011. I’m often found hiking in wilderness areas, playing tennis and phoning friends.

Leslie

Junior Class Advisor, Assistant Rock Climbing Coach
MATH: Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Algebra II, Cryptography, Logic
BA: Mathematics and Chemistry, Bryn Mawr College
Leslie Reiffen joined Nora in 2022

I grew up in Silver Spring; my older brother attended the Nora School, so I’ve long been aware of the values and methodologies of Nora. I was fairly apathetic about math for the majority of middle and high school, but taking Calculus changed that. It was the first math class I took that put a greater emphasis on thinking and problem solving than memorization. It was the first math class that felt fun. Like a lot of Nora’s students, I have ADHD, so I teach with pedagogical tools that helped me learn: I keep memorization to a minimum, incorporate real world applications of the material, include the historical context, and gamify whenever possible.

Pixie

Certified Medication Technician
ART: Digital Design, Sculpture, Painting, Mural, Book Arts
B.S., Art History & Urban Studies, Hunter College
M.S., Urban Planning, Columbia University and M.A., Fine Arts, American University
Pixie Alexander joined Nora in 2021

Before moving to DC, I worked with “at risk” New York City teens for a decade at YMCA- Camp Vacamas doing Outward Bound and other environmental education programs. I also ran a multi-disciplinary studio doing freelance work in photography, film, and book arts for many years before coming to Nora.

Roberto

Director of Operations
Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Spanish Culture and Conversation, Latin American Films
B.A., Spanish, University of the District Of Columbia
M.A., Teaching Spanish as a Second Language, University of Granada, Spain
Roberto Ungaro Joined Nora in 2020

I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I taught Spanish as a second language in the DMV area from 2006 until 2016. In 2016, I moved to Mexico City to teach Spanish to U.S. Foreign Service Diplomats and have recently returned to D.C. What I love the most about teaching, after many years of doing so, is to learn alongside my students.  Apart from the passion I have to share my language and culture, music is also one of my favorite pastimes and since I believe it is another great way of communication I like to incorporate it into my classroom.

Terah

Literature and Composition, College Writing, Global Literature, World History
B.A.,Towson University, Education
Terah Richardson joined Nora in Spring 2022

Finding Nora School has been an act of fate for me. While growing up in Silver Spring, MD, I remember passing Nora School everyday to go to my elementary school down the street. I never noticed it then but now as an adult, I am happy to say I SEE Nora School and I am excited to start my first, full year of teaching here. I’m a graduate of Towson University, where I majored in Middle School Education concentrating in English and History, and currently I’m a graduate student at Loyola University Maryland. I’m studying Educational Technology and have plans to graduate in December 2022. Until then, you can find me teaching ninth and 10th grade English and Social Studies, coordinating a school-wide test, or helping out with admission! This will be my fourth year teaching and third year in the classroom. When I’m not in school, I enjoy coaching my high school dance team, cooking, or watching movies with my family.