ADULT PROGRAMS - Needham Public Schools

INSTRUCTOR BIOS
PEARL PRESSMAN, a Needham resident, is a nationally
certified exercise instructor by AFAA (Aerobics and
Fitness Association of America). Since 1996, she has
taught exercise and muscle conditioning classes in
a variety of settings, including colleges, health clubs,
and corporations. She is currently on staff at Newton
Wellesley Hospital’s Wellness Center.
QUENTIN PRIDEAUX has a degree in Physics from
Bristol University, and is a Partner in the management
consulting firm Alder Associates. He began learning
about climate change in the 1990’s, is active in various
local climate groups, and was honored to join The Climate
Reality Project as a Climate Leader in 2012.
SARAH ROBERTS has a Masters degree in Physical
Therapy and has worked as a physical therapist,
most recently as director of a rehab facility in Brockton.
She has taught Pilates in various settings, including a
Yoga studio, a clubhouse in Quincy, a staff development
course for Needham teachers. Sarah has taught
Pilates for beginners and advanced beginners for
Needham Community Education since 2006, and has
developed a very loyal following of students.
LYN SCHWARTZ, MS, RD, is a Registered Dietitian
who received a degree in nutritional sciences from
Cornell University. She is a part-time lecturer at the
University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and has a
private practice in nutrition counseling. She is a member
of Eat Well, Be Fit, a group of Needham professionals
dedicated to improving the health and well-being
of Needham residents, and a regular nutrition guest
on New England Cable News live morning show.
STEFFI SHAPIRO has both a MSW and is a R.Y.T.
(Registered Yoga Teacher), and is the founder and
director of The Well Street Station in Watertown. She
has combined her background in social work and yoga
to work in various settings for over 30 years. She currently
teaches at several senior centers and senior facilities
in the area. She is a member of both the Mass
Yoga Network and national Yoga Alliance, and often
presents workshops at national conferences.
JOHN SHEA has a BS in Mathematics from the University
of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, an MBA with
a concentration in Management from Bentley College
and a MEd from the University of Massachusetts at
Boston. John has been a math teacher for over 12
years, and is currently teaching math and serving as
the Math Department chair at Needham High School.
John has taught SAT Prep classes for Needham Community
Education since the fall of 2008.
ANNA SIMON was born and raised in and around
Stockholm, Sweden but has spent most of her adult
life in the Boston area. She has a bachelor’s degree in
religion from Wellesley College, and a MFA in Creative
Writing from Lesley University, and has several years
of experience researching and editing in writing groups.
She has taught writing classes for Needham Adult Education
for several years and is an instructor for Intuitive
Writing Workshops. Recently, Anna has also taught
adult education writing classes in her native Sweden.
Anna is also a culinary instructor and loves sharing her
passion for food, especially educating others in Glutenfree
baking and cooking.
ELIZABETH SPARK, MD, brings over 25 years of experience
teaching communication and stress management
skills in group settings as well as in her medical
practice located in Newton, MA. NVC (Non Violent
Communication) has touched her profoundly and has
become a major influence in her work with patients as
well as in her personal life. For more information on
NVC, go to www.cnvc.org
CARA STUDDS has been teaching art in Massachusetts
public schools for 10 years. After living and
teaching on Martha’s Vineyard for five years, she
joined the faculty in the Fine and Performing Arts
department at Needham High School in 2012. Cara
earned her BFA at the University of the Arts and her
Master of Arts in Teaching at the School of Visual
Art. She works primarily as a freelance illustrator and
portrait artist in watercolor. She is currently working
on an imaginative body of work depicting fish, dragons,
and frogs. As a teaching artist, Cara hopes to see her
students change their perception about talent and its
presumed dictation over success in visual art.
DANNO SULLIVAN presents comedy and music at
special events around the country, and runs the 500
member Ukulele Union of Boston (www.meetup.com/
BostonUke) and the Out-of-Copyright Old-Time Ukulele
Sheet Music of the Week Club (www.UkeSongofthe
Month.com ). Danno lives by the axiom (copped from
an old ukulele ad) “Music self-played is happiness selfmade”.
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NEEDHAM COMMUNITY EDUCATION