Meet Our Staff

Director

Lauren joined the THS Staff in 2017 as the 4th Director in the school’s history. She is a former Tower Hill School parent and active member of Tower Hill Church. Lauren holds a MEd. in Education from Rutgers University where she also played lacrosse for the Scarlet Knights. She also obtained a MEd. in Educational Administration & Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. Lauren is certified in elementary education as well as middle school subject matter certified in English and History. After teaching in New Jersey and Indiana for years, Mrs. Fisher is excited to put her learning experience and expertise into practice at a school she loves. When she isn’t carpooling her girls to and from sports practice, she enjoys watching Monmouth lacrosse games where her husband is the men’s coach. She enjoys reading, going to the beach and spending time with her family. She has two daughters, Finley and Josie, both Tower Hill School alumni who are now entering their teenage years.

Registrar & Human Resources Coordinator

Jen Bruno has worked at Tower Hill School for the past 11 years as the school Registrar and Human Resources Coordinator. She was a parent at Tower Hill for 12 years and served as Board President for 3 of those years. She holds a B.A. in Business and Communications from Trenton State College. Mrs. Bruno loves introducing new families to Tower Hill School which provided such a loving and strong foundation for her own children. Jen loves the sense of community found at Tower Hill and finds the teachers to be warm and loving individuals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising and spending time at the beach with her family. She has 2 children, Olivia and Matthew, who both attended Tower Hill.

Financial Administrator

Susan Rawlins joined the Tower Hill staff in the spring on 2019 as the school Financial Administrator. She is a Tower Hill graduate as well as a former Tower Hill School mom who loves having the chance to come back to a place that is so near and dear to her heart. Her two children, PJ and Ryan, attended Tower Hill School from 2007-2012. Susan loves to go to the beach, ride bikes and hike with her family in the summer as well as ski in the winter.

Administrative Assistant

Kelly Russo began working part time at THS in 2019 then transitioned to Administrative Assistant when the position opened up. As her own children are growing older, she truly loves being part of our preschool and interacting with the kids every day. She lives nearby with her husband, three children, their black lab (the 4th child) and her mother in law. When she’s not enjoying LBI with her family and extended family, she enjoys attempting to read books or watching a few minutes of a good show. In her free time, she enjoys doing copious amounts of laundry, driving her kids around, cooking dinner that not everyone will enjoy, babysitting locally, face painting and questioning her sanity. The opportunity to work with great staff and parents in a wonderful preschool makes going to work each day enjoyable.

Student Enhancement Coordinator & Specials Teacher

Ashley joined the THS Staff in the Spring of 2019 serving as a substitute teacher before becoming a classroom assistant. This school year Ms. Ashley will serve as Student Enhancement Coordinator helping plan and implement all aspects of school programming that enhance the experience of our Tower Hill School students. She will also be teaching our older students in their specials classes, Bears Care and Physical Education. Ashley is the mom to Tower Hill School alumni Chiara & Hayden as well as big sister Arianna. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach and crafting.

Office Assistant & Floating Teacher

Mrs. Steelman joined the Tower Hill School staff during the Spring of 2021 initially serving as a substitute teacher but quickly joined the ranks as an Assistant Teacher. Allison is mom to Kiley & Mikayla, both Tower Hill graduates, who love to visit her at work to see their old school and teachers. In her free time, Allison loves trying out new recipes and spending time with her toes in the sand. This year Allison will be working in both the office and in classrooms based on where the school needs her.

Miss Jackie has been a teacher at Tower Hill for 13 years. She holds a BA in Education & English from Kean University. She was a 4th grade teacher and High School cheerleading coach in Bergen County before she became a stay-at-home mom. All three of Miss Jackie’s children attended Tower Hill and are currently in high school and college. Jackie believes teaching is a calling and has always wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl when her father first nicknamed her “Miss Jackie.” She loves coming to Tower Hill School each day and seeing her students learn, grow and love. She loves shopping, baking, reading, walking and taking classes at Pure Barre. Miss Jackie believes Tower Hill is the best place to work and she is thankful every day she gets to be a part of this school. 

Debbie Chen has been on the Tower Hill staff for 16 years serving as one of our talented Preschool Teachers. A former THS parent, she holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Maryland. Mrs. Chen feels that teaching is what she was called to do and finds great joy in seeing the children in her class grow throughout their time with her. She loves the THS community and how, as both a parent and staff member, if she were ever in need of some help, that there was always someone there to help out just like family would. In her free time, she loves traveling to experience new things, crocheting, planting and watching Survivor. She has two children, both THS alumni, Lillian and Harrison.

Melissa Kelly has worked at Tower Hill since 2013 serving as a Preschool Teacher. Mrs. Kelly has been in the education field for over 35 years and truly loves everything about teaching young children. She believes she has found a wonderful “home” at Tower Hill School and feels lucky to work with the Tower Hill teachers and families every day. In her free time Mrs. Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband Phil and their four children, AJ, Abigail, Tim and Molly.

Kelly Mayhew has been a staff member at Tower hill School for 15 years and is currently a teacher in our Pre-Kindergarten Class. A former Tower Hill parent, she holds a BA in Special Education and is a NJ certified Teacher of the Handicapped and Elementary School teacher. Mrs. Mayhew loves seeing children grow in their social, emotional and academic abilities and loves how Tower Hill is accepting of all students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending hockey games and concerts. Kelly has two children in college, Katie and Michael, both are Tower Hill School alumni.

Kelly Rigby has taught at Tower Hill School for the past 15 years and currently teaches one of our Pre-Kindergarten classes. She graduated from Fairfield University as a certified teacher with a B.A. in Education and History. Mrs. Rigby loves how every day in her classroom is an adventure and enjoys seeing the world through her students’ curious eyes. She appreciates the nurturing community of Tower Hill and loves seeing all of the “big kids” when they come back to visit their younger siblings and their Tower Hill family. In her free time, Mrs. Rigby enjoys sports, gardening, cooking, and time at the beach with her husband and sons, Matt and Nick, both Tower Hill School alumni.

Kate Jemella joined the staff in the fall of 2018 as a Preschool Assistant Teacher working in Mrs. Kelly’s class before becoming a head teacher in 2019. She’s a former Tower Hill mom to Hannah and Kevin, and holds a degree in education with a NJ Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education and Special Education. In her free time Kate loves to read, watch the Yankees and coach softball.

Vanessa joined the Tower Hill School staff during the summer of 2017 and serves as an assistant teacher in the Preschool 2.5’s and Preschool 3’s classrooms. She recently finished her degree in Education and Special Education at Brookdale. Mrs. Briggs loves working with kids and seeing their excitement for their learning. She loves the teachers, parents and children at Tower Hill and thinks that everyone is incredibly nice and friendly. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys reading, going for walks, spending time on the beach, and being with friends and family. Mrs. Briggs has 4 children, Breanna, Anthony, Tyler & Samantha.

Trina Donley is a former Tower Hill School parent who joined our staff in the fall of 2022. She served as an assistant teacher in our Preschool 3’s classroom for two years and is currently working in a Preschool 2.5’s class. Trina lives in Middletown with her husband and two sons. She worked in the Long Branch school system for sixteen years as a preschool teacher and then a curriculum facilitator until she had her second son. Trina is so happy to be back in the classroom setting again and loves preschoolers’ curiosity and excitement for learning.

Meghan Donnelly joined the Tower Hill staff in 2020. She is a mom of two teenagers and a former elementary school reading specialist. Meghan is happy to be back in the classroom as a teacher assistant and enjoys working with the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes.

Kristin joined the Tower Hill Staff after her middle daughter graduated in 2023. Her youngest is currently a student in our 2.5’s Program so she’s doing double duty as a staff member and school parent. Mrs. Gorski graduated from Monmouth University with a double major in Elementary Education and History going on to teach at the Preschool and Pre-K level. She also worked in both preschool and middle school disabled classrooms prior to having her children. She is excited to be part of the Tower Hill family and watch as the children and families grow and learn here. In her spare time Kristin enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her three daughters, cooking and entertaining friends and family.

Tara Heal is a member of Tower Hill Church who volunteered in Preschool Vacation Bible School this year catching the attention of our Director who promptly offered her a job after seeing how wonderful she is with the children. She is thrilled to be on the school staff this year assisting with the precious children in the Pre-K. Mrs. Heal has many fond memories of co-oping at Tower Hill during her 2 daughters school years here. She enjoys hiking, yoga, playing rummikub, and meals at home together with her entire family filled with laughter.

Mrs. Kenny joined out staff at Tower Hill in the Winter of 2022. A former THS parent of son Jackson, Mrs. Kenny loved THS so much she decided to come back and join us on staff. Mrs. Kenny lives in Fair Haven with her husband and 2 sons, ages 10 and 14. She enjoys traveling, baking and reading and you can find her outside watching her boys’ sports when she is not at Tower Hill. She loves getting to know all the children here and getting to be a part of their preschool life.

Jessica joined our staff in the Fall of 2021 when the youngest of her three children, ages 13, 12 and 8, headed off to full time school. A former elementary school teacher, Ms. Matthews enjoys going for a daily walk, doing puzzles, and spending time outside with her family. She loves working with the students and being a par of the Tower Hill Family.

Crystal Mitton enters her 23rd year as a staff member at Tower Hill School and has worked nearly every job at Tower Hill during her time on staff. She studied at Brookdale Community College. Ms. Crystal enjoys working with children and seeing them grown and learn. She loves Tower Hill School because of the wonderful staff and the co-oping aspect of the school which makes it feel like a family. In her free time Ms. Crystal enjoys reading, going to the beach and spending time with her family. She has one son, Toby, who is a Tower Hill graduate who she loves playing wiffleball with. She loves animals and has a cat named Zeus.

Cait joined the THS Staff in the Fall of 2024 working primarily in our Sibling Care and Enrichment classes. Her two children, Charlie and Jack, are current Tower Hill students, and she loves having the opportunity to work at the amazing school she chose for her own children. She enjoys getting to know all the students at Tower Hill and being a part of the fun every day.