ADULT PROGRAMS - Needham Public Schools

INSTRUCTOR BIOS
JENNIFER GIBBS owned and operated a successful
boutique in Dedham from 2004 until 2013. After a
close family member suffered a health crisis in 2011,
Jennifer began researching the foods we put into our
bodies and the products we put on them. She was
troubled to find out that many of the chemicals in
commerce today have undergone very little testing for
safety. Much of this information is not common knowledge
so she has made it her mission to share it with
others. Also as a response to this revelation, Jennifer
has developed a skin care line to offer people a safe
and effective alternative to their current products.
BILL GOLDMAN holds a BA in Government from
Colby College and a MS in Accounting from Northeastern
University. He has taught high school math since
2006, and began at Needham High School in the fall of
2009. He has taught SAT Prep classes for Needham
Community Education since the fall of 2010.
MICHAEL GREIS is the chair of the Green Needham
Collaborative. Michael brings thirty years of professional
experience in business development, sales and
management, and expertise in sustainability, finance
and information technology to his consulting work in
sustainability and sustainable investing. Michael is
active in federal, state, and local policy on renewable
energy. Michael has a BS in Molecular Biophysics
and Biochemistry from Yale University, a Masters
in Finance from Boston College’s Carroll School of
Management, and has completed all three levels of
the Chartered Financial Analyst examination. He is a
member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.
MAX HEKLER has a BA in English and a MA in Education
from UMass Amherst, and has been teaching
English at Needham High School for 12 years. He
has taught all levels of 11th grade English and AP
Literature and Composition for the 12th grade, and has
tutored students privately in writing and language arts.
While in graduate school, Max co-taught the TEAMS
Tutoring Project, a course that trained and monitored
over 100 undergraduate and graduate tutoring secondary
students in local public schools.
MIKE HIGASHI, recently retired NHS guidance counselor,
received a BA in psychology from Yale University,
a MEd from the University of Hawaii, and a CAES
from Boston College. Prior to Needham, he counseled
students at the Iolani School in Honolulu, and for nine
years co-directed Hawaii’s largest SAT Prep program.
He has led SAT Prep workshops at The College Board
Western Regional Conference and at The Hawaii Association
for College Admissions Counseling Conference,
and has taught SAT Prep classes for Needham
Community Education since the fall of 2005.
NICK HILL is a Needham resident, a member of the
Green Needham Collaborative, and the principal of
Hill Energy Services, a consulting practice focused on
helping businesses reduce their energy use and costs.
He has been active in energy management and renewable
energy for over 25 years. During his career, Nick
has helped clients reduce their energy use by over
1.2 billion kilowatt-hours. He recently helped a client
develop and install a large photovoltaic project atop
a warehouse and has several more in the pipeline.
Nick is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified
Energy Manager. He is a graduate of Wesleyan
University.
DAN HUDDER, NHS English teacher, received his
BS in English Education from NYU, his MA in American
Studies from UMass Boston, and his M.Ed. in
Organizational Management from Endicott College.
In collaboration with a former Needham High School
colleague, Dan founded, designed, and coordinated
Needham Test Prep, an SAT preparation program in
Needham. Dan has taught and coordinated SAT Prep
classes for Needham Community Education since the
fall of 2005.
MICHELLE KEEFE has been practicing yoga for over
10 years and teaching for 5 years. She is a Registered
Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance and is also
certified in prenatal yoga. She received her training
under Natasha Rizopolous and Barrett Reinhorn.
Misha focuses her teaching practice on the style of Vinyasa
Flow and believes strongly in the importance of
physical alignment. Misha considers teaching yoga a
great privilege and enjoys assisting people within their
own practice.
EMILY KELLER AND ROBERT DEUTSCH are Needham
residents who have extensive work experience in
professional writing (Rob) and the teaching of writing
(Emily). Emily Keller has taught English for 20 years
in several area districts, including Needham, Wellesley,
Lexington, and Wayland, and is currently teaching
English as a Second Language to adults at EF Interna-
FAX: 781-455-0417 • PHONE: 781-455-0400 x235 35