My name is Jennifer Archer, and I am in my third year teaching special education at Steps Middle & High School.

My name is Alysha Armstrong, but our students call me Miss Alysha. This is my 6th school year at STEPS school. I am a certified school social worker as well as a licensed clinical social worker. My favorite part of the school day is building relationships with our students and seeing them be successful. At home, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my husband and 3 children and travel.

My name is Brian Frazee, and I teach English here at Steps.  My favorite part of our program is working with the same students year after year—being a part of their lives and watching them evolve from kids into young adults. I love teaching them, playing basketball or catch with them, hearing their stories, sharing my own stories, and eventually--after a lot of hard work on their part--sending them off into the world as graduates, as adults.   

My name is Felicia Hedgemond, and I am in my second year as a school counselor at Steps Middle & High School.

My name is Karissa Lederman, but our students call me Miss Karissa. I am a certified school social worker as well as a licensed master social worker. I love being a part of the SMHS family and helping our students achieve their goals. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family.

My name is Christine MacDonald, and I am a P.E., Health and Special Education Teacher. I have taught for over 10 years and am so excited to be workng at Steps Middle and High School. You can find me in the classroom that I share with Ms. Flores or downstairs in the gym! What I love most about working with our students is helping them explore what ways they enjoy staying active and providing them with the knowledge they need to lead healthy lifestyles. When I am not working at STEPS I enjoy spending time with my family, coaching soccer, practicing yoga and reading.

My name is Ana McKenna, and this is my first year as SMHS's science teacher. I earned my masters degree in Natural Sciences from CCSU and a sixth year certificate from UNE. Before joining the STEPS team, I taught science for another regional district for eight years. I am looking forward to a smaller school setting where I can give more direct attention to students and foster a curiosity for science! 

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family; my husband, 8 year old daughter and my son who was just born in July 2023, and my dog, Zero. I also enjoy reading, gaming and crafting in my free time.

My name is Michael Nazzaro, and I teach Social Studies and special education classes here at STEPS. I recently earned a master's degree in Special Education, and in my free time I enjoy reading about historical topics and visiting historical sites.  

My name is Donna Perreault, and I am a Special Education teacher. I have been in education for over 30 years in special education and administration. I always look forward to a new start each year and watching the growth our students make throughout the school year. When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, gardening, visiting my adult children and traveling with my husband.

My name is Jason Roberts, and this will be my second year teaching Social Studies at Steps Middle & High School. At Steps, I have been given an opportunity to teach subjects that I am interested in and passionate about. Steps is a unique place where, because of smaller class sizes, you are able to engage with students on  a more personal level. For me, Steps is about making connections, and I consider myself fortunate that I am afforded the opportunity to do that everyday. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with  my wife and two children.

My name is Ali Therrien and this is my first year as a school counselor at Steps Middle & High School. I have earned certification as a certified school counselor, certified teacher, and licensed professional counselor. The opportunity to witness the students' development and growth at SMHS is both rewarding and inspiring to me. In my free time, you can often find me with my family skiing during the winter or swimming in the summers. I look forward to conenecting with all students and helping them navigate the exciting journey of education and personal growth.

My name is Erica Washington.  I am a Senior Board Certified Behavior Analyst here at SMHS. I joined the staff here last school year after working in public schools, as a behavior therapist and then analyst, for the past 20 years.  My favorite part about working with our students is getting to know them and finding different things that motivate them to reach and realize their full potential.  When I am not working I love spending time with my family, friends, 3 rescue dogs and cat.