New Art Teacher at Farmingville and Scotland Elementary Schools, New Principal at ERMS

Ridgefield Public Schools District's New Faces and New Roles

Megan Kounnas

Ridgefield Public Schools welcomed many new teachers and staff members this year, adding strength and expertise to our fabulous faculty. One of these new faces is Megan Kounnas (image #1), who joins RPS as the art teacher at Farmingville and Scotland Elementary Schools.

Ms. Kounnas is originally from Michigan, but lived in Argentina in middle school and spent high school summers in Switzerland with her father. She most recently taught art at Wilton High School and previously worked at a therapy center in New York City after five years teaching art at the International School in the Cayman Islands.

She has illustrated two children's books by an author from the Cayman Islands, which show iconic spots on the island of Grand Cayman and also discuss self-esteem and resilience. In response to the question of who is her favorite artist, she wrote: “This is a hard one! I love Vincent Van Gogh because of his expressive colors and brushstrokes. I love Ai Weiwei because of his activism and immersive installations. I love Kara Walker because her artwork is simplistic, but tells important stories about American History that kids can understand just by her imagery.” Welcome to RPS, Megan!

Jennifer Phostole

RPS also tapped some of our most promising leaders to fill important roles in the district. We announced in July that Jennifer Phostole (image #2) is the new East Ridge Middle School Principal.

A beloved Ridgefield High School Assistant Principal, Phostole received glowing recommendations from all who worked with her. Ms. Phostole’s reflection on empathy reveals her perspective: “Based on my own personal and professional growth, I have come to realize that having empathy is the single most important characteristic of being an excellent administrator and an overall well-rounded human being. Empathy is the foundation needed to be a good listener, form strong relationships with all educational stakeholders, and the key to productive and compassionate decision-making.” We look forward to sharing more about our new and treasured RPS veteran staff throughout the year.