Millbrook School

When Jon Downs graduated from Millbrook in 1998, he knew that he wanted to become an educator. He says, “It was the sense of community at Millbrook – the profound sense of respect, the encouraged curiosity, the collective concern with service and stewardship, and the deep integrity of the institution” that inspired him to want to teach. Now, Jon says, “I am doubly fortunate to have the opportunity to be a colleague of so many people that I have admired for so many years. It’s great to be back.”

 

After graduating from Millbrook, Jon went on to graduate from Middlebury ’02, Bread Loaf ’06, and Harvard ’08. An eternal student, Jon did this while teaching English, coaching baseball and cross-country, and working in admissions at Newark Academy in Livingston, NJ. After leaving Newark, Jon became the Dean of Students at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. Now, he has proudly returned to his alma mater as Director of Admission.

 

More than anything, Jon is proudest of his wife, Erin, who also works at Millbrook as the Assistant Director of Communications and an English teacher. The Downses live on campus, and they are thrilled to be a part of the Millbrook community.  

After serving as Millbrook’s First Lady for fourteen years, Mrs. Casertano joined the faculty in the summer of 2004 as interim Associate Director of Development and then a year later was appointed Associate Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid. Having been involved in development and admissions at several schools since 1979 (Loomis Chaffee, The Gunnery, and Indian Mountain School, where she served as director of development for eight years), she brings a wealth of experience to her work at Millbrook. Not only has Mrs. Casertano “done everything” in an educational setting during the past thirty plus years – from teaching to producing publications to running a dormitory to fundraising – she has found time to volunteer for her alma maters, Albany Academy for Girls and Smith College.

In addition to her responsibilities in the admission and financial aid offices, she is an advisor to four students and a hostess for many events held for students, parents, alumni, and trustees at Pulling House, the Headmaster’s residence. She and her husband, Drew, have three boys: Alex, Tyler, and Will. She is an avid lacrosse fan and tennis enthusiast.

 

Mr. Mullen began his duties in Callard House during the summer of 2007. Having worked at the Pennington School in New Jersey since soon after his graduation from the University of Delaware in 2003, he brings lots of admission and coaching experience with him. It didn't take him long to become fully immersed in life at Millbrook, not only in his admission work, but also as a dorm parent to the boys of Burton Hall, as a form leader for the junior class, as an advisor to several students, and as the boys varsity lacrosse coach.

Mr. Mullen and his wife, Dana (a first grade teacher at nearby Mizzentop School) live in Burton Hall. During the fall and winter, his day is largely spent interviewing prospective students and organizing the student tour guides, but when the spring athletic season rolls around, he spends a lot more time as Coach Mullen down on the lacrosse field. Millbrook is lucky to have him in both roles.

Mrs. Massarone provides the support essential for the smooth running of the admission office and the entire application process; in fact, they couldn’t get along without her. Often, she is the first member of the admissions team to have contact with prospective students and their families, so her knowledge of and enthusiasm for Millbrook are important first impressions.

She can boast two reasons for loving Millbrook - daughters Katelyn and Melissa, graduated in 2004 and 2006 respectively. “I have the advantage of seeing Millbrook as both a member of the admission team and as a parent. The school is equally as impressive from both perspectives.”

Mrs. Farrington is a veteran of Callard House, and her responsibilities include greeting guests as a receptionist and handling administrative duties for the admission office. She is usually the smiling face who greets every visitor and gets each settled and ready for their tours and interviews. She additionally performs thousands of clerical and organizational tasks so vital to office operations. None in Callard House could get along without her.

Mrs. Farrington is a lifelong resident of nearby Millbrook where she and her husband have raised two now-adult sons. In addition to her work at Millbrook what she loves best is being a grandmother.

mfarrington@millbrook.org

Mrs. Greenfield provides administrative support necessary to the day-to-day operations of the admission office, including answering phones, scheduling tours and interviews, and processing applications. When she is not working in the admission office, she is busy managing the School Store which sells Millbrook apparel, school supplies, and textbooks.

Just like Mrs. Massarone, Mrs. Greenfield has three additional reasons for loving Millbrook – children Laurel ‘10, Jason ’13 and Sydney ‘13. She feels it’s a great advantage to be able to see Millbrook as both a member of the staff and as a parent.