Meet the Teachers

Science - Sara McCullough

Hi everyone! My name is Sara (O’Neal) McCullough (she/her). I just got married this summer, so I am in the long process of changing my name 😊. I am excited to be your child’s seventh-grade science teacher this year. I am originally from Connecticut and went to the University of Connecticut where I earned my bachelor’s degree in both Biological Sciences and Secondary Education, along with my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. This is my second year at Glenbrook Middle School and prior to coming to Glenbrook, I lived in Boston and taught middle school science in Acton-Boxborough for eight years. I am thrilled to be a part of the Longmeadow School District. Last school year, everyone was so welcoming and it has been a true pleasure to work with such amazing staff and wonderful students. When I am not teaching, I love exploring western Massachusetts and traveling to Cape Cod with my husband and my 8-month-old black lab named Winnie. I look forward to working with you this year so that your child has a successful and enjoyable school year. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I am enthusiastic about a terrific year ahead!

Social Studies - John Wills

Hello, I am Mr. Wills. I teach social studies, and this is my 17th year at Glenbrook. I love working with students and exploring places and people from around the world, both from the past and today. I enjoy playing board and card games, taking hikes, and traveling with my family to baseball parks in cities across the country. I hope to get to all thirty-two at some point.

English Language Arts (ELA) - Cara Crandall

Hello! I am Cara (she/her), and I am happy to welcome you and your child to grade 7 English language arts. I am originally from Boston, but moved to western Massachusetts to get my doctorate at UMass. I am starting my thirteenth year as a teacher at Glenbrook, but I have been teaching for thirty years at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate level. In addition to teaching at Glenbrook, I have taught courses in the teacher training programs at Westfield State, Springfield College, and UMass. Reading and writing are two of the great joys of my life, and I hope to use my passion for the literary arts to help my students develop as readers, writers, and critical thinkers. When I am not reading a good book or working on a piece of writing, my favorite places to be are the beach (especially Crane Beach, north of Boston), or a long hike near where I live in Amherst along with my son, who is 34 and is my hiking buddy. Hiking is a lot like what happens in classrooms: you have a map and know where you are headed, but the path might lead you to unexpected adventures and wonders.

Math - Kerry Gallagher

My name is Ms. Kerry Gallagher. My pronouns are she/her/hers. This is my fifth year teaching Grade 7 Math and Accelerated Grade 7 Math at Glenbrook Middle School and my fourth year as the Middle School Math Curriculum Coordinator. I have been teaching in the classroom since 2010 and working with students since 2000. I have had the opportunity to teach a variety of courses including Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and Spanish 1! When I am not working with students, you can find me enjoying one of my many hobbies including hiking, running, road biking, mountain biking, volleyball, or paddle boarding. Often I will have my rescue dog, Sweetie with me! I enjoy reading all different kinds of books, but my favorite books are those set in places I have traveled to like Iceland and Italy. I have two kids of my own, a sophomore in college and an ASU graduate who has transitioned to a working adult! Although I am a teacher by profession, I am a lifelong student and learner. I am constantly learning from what I read and mistakes that I make. I hope to spark a curiosity for learning in all of my students and nurture the ability to treat mistakes as learning opportunities.

Special Education - Krista Scott

7th grade is awesome, and I am so excited to join the Glenbrook 7th graders for my 22nd year in teaching! I am the resource room teacher and am also a math teacher. I live with my husband Bill, who is Dean of Students at Putnam Academy. He is also a football and lacrosse coach. Our son William is 31, lives in South Carolina, and works in the healthcare technology field. Our son Patrick is 29, lives in Maine, and is a geologist. We are very proud of our sons, but wish they lived closer to us! We love animals and have two dogs, Winnie (Treeing Walker Hound) and Goose (Beagle). In my free time, I enjoy walking, traveling, and reading. My favorite place to be is the beach, any beach!

Spanish - Jen Grader

¡Hola!

My name is Señora Grader (she/her), and I have been part of the Longmeadow Public Schools since 2003. I am very excited to be working with you and your student in Spanish 7. My love for the Spanish language began in high school when I had the opportunity to travel to Spain for the first time. That experience changed me forever! After years of learning Spanish in school, I went on to further my understanding at Elms College where I majored in Spanish. I also attended UMass Amherst and Westfield University to obtain my teaching certification and Master's degree in Educational Administration. When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my family, friends, and dog. I love exploring new places, reading, cooking, and the beach (especially in Maine).

I look forward to the school year! I love to help others learn Spanish so that they can communicate and learn from others in their communities and in the world.

Spanish - Liz Wray

¡Hola! My name is Señora Wray, and I teach 7th and 8th grade Spanish. I have taught Spanish for a total of 24 years. I started in the Springfield school system, where I taught K-5 for two years. I then moved to California where I taught K-8 at The Hollywood Little Red School House for a year. Although I loved the warm weather of California and the excitement of living in Los Angeles, my heart belongs to New England. When I returned to the Springfield area in 2001, I started my journey here at Glenbrook and quickly knew this is where I wanted to be! When I'm not teaching, I enjoy reading, cheering for my two children at their respective sports, spending time at the beach, especially at the Cape, and taking walks with my dog, Kobe. I am very excited to start the 2022-2023 school year! I look forward to sharing my love of Spanish with your students and supporting them in their new language learning adventure!

French - Kathy Simolaris

Bonjour!

My name is Madame Simolaris (she/her), and I began teaching in Longmeadow in October of last year. I am very excited to be working with you and your student in French 7. I took Spanish in high school, but wanted to try something different in college, so at B.U. I decided to take French. Eventually I received my B.A. and M.A. in French Literature, both at B.U. I spent my junior year in Paris, an experience that changed and broadened my life and perspective in more ways than I could count. I began teaching in 1983 (!) and have been teaching in some capacity ever since. At this point, I have taught every level of French from toddlers to adults, except 6th grade! When I am not teaching, I spend time with family and friends. We relocated back to Massachusetts last year from Tucson, Arizona, and Western Mass. is still very new to us, so my husband and I are enjoying exploring and learning about the region. I am looking forward to getting to know and work with your student, and to watching their French abilities develop and grow.