The two most important questions for any society are: Who will teach the children? And What will they teach them?”
Plato
Schoolhouse Academy Founding Team
Significant Collective Team Experience
The team at Schoolhouse Academy is composed of a diverse group of professionals, including experienced administrators, educators, curriculum specialists, and master teachers in Math, Science, and Art. Together, they bring a depth of expertise and a shared commitment to fostering academic excellence and creativity in every student. The founders add to this strength with extensive experience in creating, launching, and operating successful schools, providing the vision and leadership that guide Schoolhouse Academy’s continued growth and success.
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Carlo Schiattarella
Co-Founder/Executive Director
Carlo Schiattarella has more than 35 years of experience in launching, operating, and developing charter and private schools. He has played a leading role in establishing several schools in New York, each with unique focuses such as project-based learning, STEM, and computer science. As co-founder of the Schoolhouse Project, a school development company, Mr. Schiattarella has combined vision with hands-on expertise to create innovative learning environments. He holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree from New York University. Currently, he resides in Stamford, CT, with his wife and three young children.
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Dr. John Kalaboukas
Principal
Dr. Kalaboukas has over 35 years of distinguished experience in education, specializing in the training and development of school leaders, teachers, and support staff. He has successfully overseen the turnaround of a health certification–based charter school and has held senior leadership positions at several highly regarded private schools.
In academia, Dr. Kalaboukas has served as a professor at St. John’s University’s Graduate School of Education, where he has instructed and mentored aspiring teachers and administrators preparing for district-level leadership roles. He holds a Doctorate of Education from St. John’s University.
Andrew McLaughlin
Co-Founder/ Chief Operating Officer
Andrew McLaughlin has over 35 years of experience in facility construction and development, with a particular focus on schools. Over the course of his career, he has managed the design, construction, and operations of numerous school facilities, ensuring they meet both the practical needs of students and the long-term goals of educational organizations.. As co-founder of the Schoolhouse Project, Mr. McLaughlin directed operations, guiding projects from concept through completion and helping to create safe, modern, and inspiring environments for teaching and learning.
He studied Architecture and Design at the New York Institute of Technology and currently resides in Riverdale, NY, with his wife and two young children.
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Dr. Cruceru
Master Math Teacher
Dr. Cruceru ("Dr. C") has over 40 years of experience teaching Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics at the doctoral, graduate, undergraduate, secondary, and elementary levels. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing both student learning and academic excellence across disciplines.
He served as Senior Professor and Chairman of the Mathematics and Economics Department at the Keller School of Management in New York, where he oversaw curriculum development, mentored faculty, and guided countless students in their academic and professional pursuits.
Dr. C earned his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in Economics and Statistics from the University of Bucharest, Romania.
Ms. Rose Highland
Master Science Teacher
Ms. Rose Highland has over 30 years of experience teaching Science across all grade levels, with subject expertise in Botany, Zoology, Biology, and Chemistry. Over the course of her career, she has developed a reputation for making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging to students of all ages. Her specialty is project-based learning with a strong emphasis on STEM, encouraging inquiry, experimentation, and real-world application in the classroom.
Ms. Highland holds a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Fairfield University and a Bachelor of Education in Science from Mangalore University in India. She currently resides in Wilton, CT, with her husband.
Ms. Natasha Ulyanov
Master Art Teacher
Ms. Natasha Ulyanov is an accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries across Fairfield County, New York City, and Sarasota, Florida. With more than 20 years of experience curating exhibitions in New York City, she has collaborated with artists in a wide range of mediums while continuing to pursue her own studio practice. Passionate about arts education, Ms. Ulyanov shares her expertise with students, fostering creativity, self-expression, and a lasting appreciation for the arts.
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She earned a Master’s degree in Art and Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and a Bachelor’s degree in Art from Parsons School of Design. Raised in New Canaan, she currently lives in Stamford, CT, with her husband and their three young children.
Michael-Louis Smith
Master Music Teacher
Mr. Smith has over 25 years of experience as both a musician and an educator. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad, bringing his artistry to a wide range of audiences. Passionate about music and teaching, he is dedicated to inspiring students to develop both skill and a lifelong appreciation for music.
Mr. Smith earned a Master’s degree in Music from Purchase Conservatory in Purchase, NY. He currently lives in New Canaan, CT, with his wife and two childre
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Contact Schoolhouse Academy to learn more about our educational program. We are currently enrolling children throughout Wilton, Ridgefield, Redding, Westport, Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Weston, Easton, Fairfield, CT, as well as Bedford, Pound Ridge, South Salem, Pound Ridge, NY.