Staff Bios
We are so excited for you to meet our staff.
Please call (732)747-1393 or email us at thschool@towerhillchurch.org
to arrange a tour where you can meet our wonderful staff in person!
Lauren Fisher - Director
Lauren Fisher joined the Tower Hill School staff in 2017 as only the 4th Director in Tower Hill School history. A former Tower Hill parent and active member of Tower Hill Church, she holds an MEd. in Education from Rutgers University where she also played lacrosse for the Scarlet Knights, and an MEd. in Educational Administration & Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. After teaching in New Jersey and Indiana for years, Mrs. Fisher is excited to put her learning and expertise into practice at a school she loves. She feels that the cooperative preschool setting at Tower Hill provides the perfect opportunity for students to grow and families to come together in support of each other. 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, reading, going to the beach and spending time with her family. She has two daughters, Finley and Josie, both Tower Hill School alumni.
Jen Bruno - Registrar & Human Resources Coordinator
Jen Bruno has worked at Tower Hill for the past 12 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 BA 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. She 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 School.
Susan Rawlins - Financial Administrator
Susan Rawlins joined the Tower Hill staff in the Spring of 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’s so near and dear to her heart. She holds a degree in Economics from Boston College and has spent the last few years volunteering throughout the local community.
Kelly Russo - Administrative Assistant
Kelly Russo began working at Tower Hill School in the Spring of 2019 and transitioned to the role of Administrative Assistant this past summer. She lives in Oceanport with her husband and 3 children; Michael, Madison and Max. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her family. Kelly loves the opportunity to work at a great school and to get a chance to spend time with all the children and their families.
Ashley D’Eusanio - Student Enhancement Coordinator
Ashley D’Eusanio joined the THS Staff in the Spring of 2019 serving as a substitute teacher before becoming a classroom assistant. For the upcoming school year she 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. Ms. Ashley will also be teaching our older students in their Specials classes, Physical Education, Music and It’s OK To Be Different. She is the mom to Tower Hill alumni Chiara and Hayden as well as big sister Arianna. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach and crafting.
Allison Steelman - Enrichment Coordinator
Mrs. Steelman joined the Tower Hill School Staff during the Spring of 2021 initially serving as a substitute teacher but quickly joining the ranks as an Assistant Teacher in our Kindergarten Program. She is mom to Kiley, a Tower Hill graduate, and Mikayla who is a student in our Pre-K Program. In her free time she loves trying out new recipes and spending time with her toes in the sand. This year she’ll be working primarily behind the scenes on our robust after school enrichment program.
Jackie Regina Colleran - Toddler Time Teacher & Young 2’s Teacher
Jackie Regina Colleran has been a member of the Tower Hill staff for 12 years teaching our mommy-and-me Toddler Time class. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and English from Kean University. Ms. Jackie loves coming to work every day and fully enjoys every moment she gets to spend with toddlers and their parents. She thinks Tower Hill is a loving and cozy place filled with amazing memories for both her family and the other families who come through our doors. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family watching them play sports, reading, going to the beach, shopping, cooking and doing yoga. She has three children, Logan, Bryce and Mia, who are Tower Hill School alumni.
Debbie Chen - Preschool 2.5’s & Preschool 3’s Teacher
Debbie Chen has been on the Tower Hill staff for 15 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 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 a family would. In her free time, she loves traveling to experience new things, leading her daughter's Girl Scout troop, camping and watching Survivor. She has two children, both THS alumni, Lillian and Harrison.
Melissa Kelly - Preschool 2.5’s & Preschool 3’s Teacher
Melissa Kelly has worked at Tower Hill for the past 12 years serving as a Preschool Teacher. She previously served as Librarian for Tower Hill School and studied education and psychology at Monmouth University. Mrs. Kelly has been in the education field for over 30 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 families every day. In her free time Mrs. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family attending all their sporting events. She has four children, AJ, Abigail, Tim and Molly.
Kelly Mayhew - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Kelly Mayhew has been a staff member at Tower Hill School for 14 years and is currently a teacher in our Pre-Kindergarten Classes. A former Tower Hill parent, she holds a BA in Special Education and is a certified Teacher of the Handicapped and Elementary teacher. Mrs. Mayhew loves seeing children grow in their social, emotional and academic abilities. She loves how Tower Hill is accepting of all students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending softball and hockey games, and going to concerts. She has two children, Katie and Michael, who attended Tower Hill School.
Kelly Rigby - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Kelly Rigby, a former THS parent, has worked at Tower Hill School for the past 16 years in various roles and currently teaches one of our Pre-Kindergarten sections. She graduated from Fairfield University with a B.A. in Education and is a certified public school teacher in both New Jersey and Connecticut. Mrs. Rigby loves how every day in her classroom is an adventure and enjoys seeing the world through her students curious eyes. She believes Tower Hill is a nurturing community and loves seeing all the "big kids" when they come back to visit their Tower Hill family. In her free time Mrs. Rigby enjoys reading, sports, cooking and spending time at the beach with her family. She has two sons, Matthew and Nick, both THS alumni.
Kate Jemella - Developmental Kindergarten Teacher
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 of Hannah and Kevin, and holds a degree in education with a NJ Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education and Special Education. In her free time she loves playing sports with her kids, especially teaching daughter Hannah field hockey which is her favorite sport, and heading the beach to put her toes in the sand.
Mary Preiser - Kindergarten Teacher
Mary joined our teaching staff in the Spring of 2019 as an assistant in our Pre-K class serving as an assistant in our Preschool 2.5’s and Preschool 3’s program during the 2020-2021 school year. She is a certified School Social Worker who studied child development while in school and will be working in our Kindergarten program for the upcoming school year. She’s the mother of two Tower Hill graduates Charlie and James who keep her busy exploring the great outdoors and playing America’s pastime, baseball.
Kristen Kenny - Preschool 2.5’s & Preschool 3’s Assistant
Mrs. Kenny joined our staff at Tower Hill in the Winter of 2022. A former THS parent of son Jackson we are so excited to have the Kenny family back at Tower Hill.
Jessica Matthews - Preschool 2.5’s & Preschool 3’s Assistant
Jessica joined our staff in the Fall of 2021 when the youngest of her three children, ages 10, 8 and 5, headed off to full time school. A former elementary school teacher Mrs. Matthews loves spending time at the beach with her family and doing puzzles. She’s excited to get to know our students and join the Tower Hill family.
Trina Donley - Preschool 3’s Assistant
Trina is a former Tower Hill School parent who joined our staff in the winter of 2022. She serves as an assistant teacher in our Preschool 3’s classroom and loves being back at Tower Hill again.
Crystal Mitton - Pre-Kindergarten Assistant
Crystal Mitton enters her 22nd 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 grow 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.
Aleah Freer - Pre-Kindergarten Assistant
Aleah enters her 4th year assisting at Tower Hill after observing in our classrooms during the Spring of 2020 while finishing up her Health Sciences degree at Monmouth University. Ms. Aleah is interested in pursuing Pediatric Nursing. She’ll be assisting in our Pre-Kindergarten Program during the 2021-2022 School Year and is excited to get to know a new class of students.
Vanessa Briggs - Assistant Teacher & Substitute
Vanessa Briggs joined the Tower Hill School during the summer of 2017 and serves as an assistant teacher throughout the building. She recently finished up 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 Mrs. Briggs enjoys reading, going for walks, spending time on the beach and being with friends and family. She has four children, Breanna, Samantha, Anthony and Tyler.
Meghan Donnelly - Assistant Teacher & Substitute
Meghan joined the Tower Hill School staff for the 2021-2022 School Year. Mrs. Donelly has lived in Fair Haven for the past 11 years. She’s a former teacher and reading specialist who is excited to get back into the classroom after spending time at home raising her two children Brenden and Caroline. She loves gardening, the beach and going for walks.
Mike McMahon - Assistant Teacher & Substitute
Mike joins the THS teaching staff in 2023 after initially joining us on the custodial end of things. Mr. Mike is currently enrolled in college majoring in education. He’s excited to get to assist our oldest students in their preparation for elementary school.
