A new school year comes with new staff here at IHS. As we embark on another year full of learning, we have many new wonderful staff and educators joining us. The following is an introduction to some of the new teachers and staff at IHS!
Kirsten Pike
Kirsten Pike is teaching tenth grade English and a twelfth grade English elective this fall. She is from Ithaca and graduated from IHS in 1996. She has fond memories of playing flute in the band and orchestra, singing and dancing in the musicals, playing soccer, and running hurdles during her time at IHS. She has taught in Washington DC, Boston, Seattle, India (in the foothills of the Himalayas), and Hawaii, and she is happy to be home (with her husband and two daughters) after twenty-five years in other places. Ms. Pike loves cooking, outrigger canoe paddling, rock climbing, going to see live music, trail running, and good coffee.
Danielle LaGrua
Danielle LaGrua is one of the new school counselors at IHS. She works with students in AVID and whose last names fall in the range Ou-Sim. In her free time, Ms. LaGrua enjoys attending dance classes, reading, doing yoga, and learning new skills. The next thing she wants to learn is American Sign Language. A fun fact about her is that she backpacked through Scotland this summer.
Rob Cherundolo
Rob Cherundolo currently teaches Health at IHS for all grades, and he is very excited to be joining ICSD this year! He is the assistant coach for both the girls’ and boys’ Varsity Swim teams. He is also the teacher advisor for the bodybuilding club along with the teacher advisor for the ninth grade class as well. Mr. Cherundolo loves to travel, explore, work out, cook, and live an active lifestyle. He recently moved back to New York this Summer after just coming from working for IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton, Florida, which was a super cool and unique experience for him.