ADULT PROGRAMS - Needham Public Schools

INSTRUCTOR BIOS
DANIEL PANERO BERTUCCI, a native of Spain, received
a master’s degree in English Philology and Italian
Studies from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid
in Madrid, Spain, as well as a BA in English for Primary
School Pedagogy from the Universidad Cardenal
Cisneros de Alcalá de Henares, also in Madrid. Daniel
has also studied art in Madrid, and worked there as an
art teacher for 5 years. He has been teaching Spanish
language and culture for the past three years, first in St.
Louis and presently at Needham High School. When
not teaching, Daniel works as a freelance illustrator for
publishers McGraw-Hill and SM Ediciones.
DIANA PARKHURST has a BS in Physical Education
and a MS in Teaching and Administration, both from
Springfield College. She has been a member of the
Needham High School Physical Education & Wellness
department since 2005, and before that taught physical
education at Newman Elementary School. She
received the 2009 Massachusetts Secondary Teacher
of the Year for Physical Education. Diana is also the
head coach for the NHS Boys Rugby Club, head coach
for the Northeastern Women’s Rugby Club, and serves
as coach, player, and captain of the Boston Women’s
Rugby Club.
BOB PONTE received a degree in Music Education/
Piano from the New England Conservatory of Music,
and has taught music in public schools and tutored
students privately for over 25 years. He is recently
retired from the Cambridge Public Schools where he
taught and/or developed a wide array of courses for
4th through 12th grade. In addition to providing piano
instruction for Cambridge students, Bob assumed
many other roles, including Orchestra Director, Concert
Band Director, and Jazz Ensemble Director. View
more details at www.pianoplus-fatcow.net
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.
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, and 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.
ROBB SANDAGATA is an artist and educator who
earned a BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in
Sculpture from Sarah Lawrence College, and a MA in
Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix
in Tucson, AZ. He taught art at both middle school
and high school levels for five years and is currently
employed as the Digital Product Manager at Davis
Publications in Worcester. Robb received an Honorable
Mention this year at the Fitchburg Art Museum’s
77th Regional Exhibition at the Davis Art Museum and
you can view his drawings online at http://rsandagata.
wix.com/robbsandagata
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
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NEEDHAM COMMUNITY EDUCATION