Maggie Wollner

Head of School

Maggie joined AEON School as Head of School in 2022. Previously, she served as director of curriculum on the R&D team of Avenues The World School, where she launched their first Studio campus in East Hampton, Long Island in 2020. She first joined Avenues The World School in 2012 as a founding member of the middle school science faculty and leadership team at Avenues New York, going on to lead an interdisciplinary STEAM cohort and teach advanced biology in the upper grades. Between 2016 and 2019, she served as an associate head of the Upper Division.

Maggie holds a B.A. from Harvard University in History & Science with a secondary field in Classics, as well as an M.A. from the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership at Columbia University Teachers College. A native New Yorker, Maggie lives in New York City with her husband and young son. She is passionate about educational research and innovation, and committed to creating school experiences that challenge, delight, and inspire students.

Rachel Brill-Meckler

Student Learning & Wellbeing

Rachel is AEON School’s director of student learning and wellbeing, where she coordinates personalized academic and socio-emotional support for all students. Prior to joining AEON, Rachel worked at Avenues São Paulo as an associate division head for student success, and as an 8th grade English teacher and 7th grade futures literacy teacher. Rachel has also worked in Title I public schools in New York City and Denver, where she began her career as a Teach for America Corps member.

Rachel was born and raised in South Florida, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida in interdisciplinary studies and her Master’s degree from the Teacher’s College of Columbia in education leadership. She loves to be active, read, listen to podcasts, and spend time with her family and her adopted dog from Brazil.

Joe D’Annibale

Admissions

Joe joined AEON School as director of admissions and enrollment management in 2022 after successfully leading Avenues’ first Studio campus in East Hampton, Long Island. He was a founding faculty member at Avenues The World School in New York where he started out as a 2nd grade Spanish immersion teacher. He later served for three years as associate head of school in the Lower Division. Joe began his career teaching middle and high school Spanish in New Jersey. He also lived and worked with English language learners in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Madrid, Spain, before joining AEON.

Joe earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from Cedar Crest College. He has also completed graduate coursework at Rutgers University and Teachers College, Columbia University. Outside the world of education, Joe is a writer, reader and avid theater-goer.

Dina Hamaoui

Family Experience

Dina Hamaoui joined Avenues in 2020, bringing 18 years of experience working in early childhood and progressive education. She initially served as program lead for the Lower Division and subsequently transitioned to head of wellbeing and student services in 2021. Now the director of family experience, Dina supports families to leverage the unique opportunities and resources available to them at AEON School, helping to optimize their school experience. Prior to joining Avenues, Dina was a founding teacher and curriculum coach at AltSchool/Guidepost Montessori in San Francisco.

Dina holds a master’s degree in art therapy and creative development. She spends her personal time in the clay studio and in the company of her dog and family.

Scott Klepesch

Faculty Experience

Scott joined AEON School in 2021 as director of faculty experience and supports the wellbeing and professional growth of our global faculty. Prior to joining AEON, Scott was an associate division head and director of studies in the Upper Division at Avenues New York. He also served as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for a school district in New Jersey. In his free time, Scott enjoys running, swimming, skiing and serving as bullpen catcher for his daughter.

Heather Marks

College Counseling

Heather joined AEON School in 2021 as the director of college counseling and architect of our college guidance program. She takes pride in empowering families and inspiring confidence in students, helping them to gracefully manage the application process and make the decision that fits them best. More broadly, Heather is committed to reframing the college admissions process as transformational rather than transactional, and as an opportunity to connect students to their values as they prepare for the future. Prior to joining AEON, Heather served as the university and school counselor at International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile, and earlier spent 15 years in K-12 education in Jackson Hole, WY.

A scientist by training, Heather earned her B.A. from Stanford University and her M.S. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In her free time, Heather can be found exploring the outdoors with her husband, son and dog.

Robyn Chapel

Head, Silicon Valley

An experienced global educator, Robyn Chapel began her career over thirty years ago as a bilingual social studies teacher in California before moving abroad and serving as a high school principal, a secondary division head, and a Director of Teaching and Learning in Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom, respectively. She is a graduate of the PTC Essential Skills Program and holds a master’s degree in education from Stanford University. Robyn is committed to fostering empathy and agency in students through engaging, authentic learning experiences and is passionate about fostering adult learning that results in creating the schools children need and deserve. Most recently, Robyn was the founding upper division head of Avenues Silicon Valley and is currently the head of AEON School in Silicon Valley.

Sarah Markhovsky

Associate Head, Silicon Valley

Sarah joined Avenues Silicon Valley (now AEON School) from the Dallas-based Greenhill School, where she served as director of admissions since 2014. During her tenure at Greenhill, she was elected president of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Dallas and was selected for the Leadership Council of the Enrollment Management Association. Prior to her time at Greenhill, Sarah was director of college counseling and an academic advisor at the Severn School outside of Washington D.C. She began her career in admissions at her alma mater, the University of Chicago, where she served as assistant director of college admissions. Sarah brings strong leadership skills and commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive community to AEON School.

A native of the Washington D.C. area, Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and her master’s degree from the University of Chicago. Before starting her career in education, Sarah was a professional actress and singer working with film and theater companies in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York.