MPH Global Faculty Bios
Jennifer Concepcion (Math Madness) is the Grade 5 Math and Science teacher at the Manlius Pebble Hill School. Past teaching positions include MacFarlane Park International Baccalaureate Magnet School as Grade 5 Math and Science teacher, Mount Sinai School District as a Staff Developer for technology integration, and as a Ballet instructor on Long Island and here in Syracuse. Ms. Concepcion has a BA in Elementary Education and Special Education with a concentration in Mathematics from St. Joseph’s College along with a MA in Educational Technology Leadership from George Washington University. Ms. Concepcion follows educational trends and research to best institute research-based strategies for teaching and learning in her classroom. She loves teaching and enjoys sharing that enthusiasm with her students. When not teaching, you can find Ms. Concepcion curled up with a good book and warm cup of cinnamon tea.
Colleen Congel (Summer of Reading and Individual Literacy Instruction) is a passionate teacher of science-based reading instruction. She has 22 years in education, including 11 working at Manlius Pebble Hill. Colleen is an advocate for making sure all students receive reading and writing instruction grounded in research. Colleen is a New York State Certified Special Education Teacher, with a Masters of Teaching degree from Goucher College in Maryland. Colleen has three college-age children and lives in Syracuse with her husband and tiny dog.
Amy Doyle (Reading Detectives) teaches English at Manlius Pebble Hill. She is an essayist whose work has been published in the New York Times, Al Jazeera, Manifest Station, among other publications. She lives in Auburn, NY with her husband and three children, and enjoys yoga, hiking, and cooking – if someone else cleans up.
Tyler Eighmey (Voice and Piano Lessons) teaches general music and chorus at Manlius Pebble Hill School. After earning degrees from SUNY OCC, SUNY Fredonia, and The University of South Carolina, Mr. Eighmey has been performing and producing operas, and musicals with many schools and companies up and down the east coast. When he’s not singing, playing, or rehearsing, he enjoys attending concerts, skateboarding and snowboarding.
Gabby Goeglein (Summer of Reading) (pronounced “Gig-line”) teaches second grade literacy and social studies. She has taught kindergarten through fifth grade at Spruce Street School (WA), The Perkins School (WA) and Shady Hill School (MA). Ms. Goeglein has her BA in Humanities for Teaching from Seattle University, her MA in Teaching with an Elementary Endorsement from Seattle Pacific University, and her Washington state teaching license. Outside of teaching, Ms. Goeglein loves to read, cook, hike, and spend time with her two chihuahua mixes.
Ryan Joeckel (Band Lessons) is currently on the faculty at St. Mary Academy, Trinity School, and performs regularly with his band All Poets & Heros. Joeckel holds a BS Degree from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY in Music Education.
William Knuth (Masterclass) is a violinist and Fulbright Scholar who has earned recognition for his artistry as a solo and chamber musician, is currently on the music faculty at Syracuse University where he teaches violin and viola. As a current member of Duo Sonidos with guitarist Adam Levin, their most recent album Duo Sonidos: Wild Dance on the NAXOS label, immediately rose to no. 3 on the Billboard classical music charts. BBC Music Magazine chose the debut album Duo Sonidos as the “BBC Top Choice US Release Album.” Knuth’s concerts in the US have included a debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall; performances in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Strathmore Center, Austin Chamber Music Festival, Guitar Foundation of American International Festival, University of Miami Frost School of Music, Fundacao Oscar Americano Sao Paulo, Columbia University’s Miller Theater, Boston’s Jordan Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Harvard Sanders Theater, Boston WGBH radio, Chicago WFMT radio, WCNY radio, NPR radio and Mayne Stage Chicago; guest solo appearances with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Boston International Guitarfest; and ensemble work with Jacksonville Symphony, Discovery Ensemble, Signal Ensemble, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Harvard Group for New Music, IMPULS Festival Austria, June in Buffalo Festival, Big Ears Festival and the Ojai Festival. Special projects have included collaborations with Steve Reich, Kaija Saariaho, Salvador Brotons, Eduardo Morales-Caso, Jorge Muniz, Phillip Glass, Julia Wolfe, David Lang, Lukas Foss, Norah Jones, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, Goldfrapp, David Byrne, Jon Brion and the Goo Goo Dolls. Mr. Knuth holds an M.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a B.M. from the Eastman School of Music.
Teresa Fiorenza Mirakian (MPH Global Director and String Lessons) teaches orchestra, is the performing arts chair, and is the director of MPH Global at the Manlius Pebble Hill School. Past teaching positions include the Suzuki School of Newton (MA) and the Cambridge Public Schools (MA). As a violinist, Ms. Mirakian has performed with the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra, Symphoria, the Boston Philharmonic, the Lexington Symphony (MA), and the Granite State Symphony (NH). Ms. Mirakian has a B.M. in Music Education and Violin Performance from Ithaca College and a M.M. in Suzuki Pedagogy and Violin Performance from East Carolina University. Ms. Mirakian enjoys hiking with her family, visiting State Parks, and cooking outside school.
Zachary Sweet (Suzuki Cello Master Class) is a registered teacher trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. He is currently an instructor of cello at Nazareth College, as well as Binghamton and Colgate Universities, and is on the faculties of Ithaca Talent Education and Music Together of Ithaca. Mr. Sweet performs extensively throughout the Tri-State area as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Currently, Zachary is principal cellist of Colgate University Orchestra and Tri Cities Opera, and he performs regularly with the Society for New Music.
Karin Trouyet (French and Spanish) teaches Spanish and French in Middle School and Upper School and is the World Language Department Chair at Manlius Pebble Hill School. Past teaching positions include teaching World Languages at the elementary school level and developing acquisition-driven programs and comprehensible input-based approach curriculum for all divisions at Manlius Pebble Hill, and other independent schools in CNY. Ms. Trouyet’s extensive knowledge of second language acquisition through all stages of childhood development, and broad training in TPRS® and various comprehensible input-based methods allow her to develop engaging programs for all her students. Ms. Trouyet holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and M.Ed. in Education in the Global Context. She loves large dogs and enjoys paddle boarding and skiing in the beautiful CNY region.
Arvilla Wendland (Orchestra Encores and String Lessons) teaches violin and cello lesson groups at Manlius Pebble Hill. She has taught public school string classes in New York City and Alabama; was co-founder of Norman School for Strings, a Suzuki program in Oklahoma; and has been teaching privately since 1999. Ms. Wendland is a tenured violist in Symphoria, a position she has held since 2013. She has extensive Suzuki Teacher Training from School for Strings (NYC) and summer institutes and Bachelors and Masters degrees in Viola Performance from the Juilliard School.