Upper School (6-12)
Quad Prep’s Upper School includes students in grades 6–12, bringing together the middle and high school years into one unified division. This structure creates a seamless experience that supports personalized scheduling and makes it easier to accelerate learning—all while fostering strong relationships and continuity over time.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Students enter Middle School ready to make the transition to higher expectations, more academic rigor, and engagement in all classes. Our Middle School programming offers flexibility for different academic pathways and learning experiences with programming for substantial growth in academic, social-cognitive, critical thinking, and executive functioning skills required for success in High School.
In the middle school years, academic learning is deeply personalized through a combination of small group seminars and 1:1 sessions with faculty in the core academic subjects. Executive functioning and study skills are taught weekly through a comprehensive program. Students are grouped into cohorts by grade level (Prep). Each cohort is supported by a consistent team of psychologists, counselors, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and academic teachers who work closely together to support student growth.
Zenith High School (Grades 9-12)
The Quad Preparatory School’s Zenith High School corresponds to traditional grades 9-12.
Students enter Zenith High School ready to delve into a rich array of rigorous and engaging academic classes. Our High School programming retains the flexibility for different academic pathways and learning experiences and reflects the expectation of substantial growth of social cognitive and self-regulatory skills achieved in our K–8 grades.
Quad Prep’s signature 1:1 instruction in the core academic areas are maintained throughout the high school years, allowing for true personalized learning plans. In the Zenith High School, larger group-learning experiences with up to ten students and out-of-class learning take on increasing prominence to prepare students for the transition to post-secondary education. Opportunities for this are available in all subject areas.
Upper School Leadership
Brendan Buckley, MS, MA | Upper School Co-Head, Academics
Brendan Buckley was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, in a log cabin that his parents built. He left Alaska in 2000 to attend college at Harvard University, which he graduated from with a degree in Government. After a year of working in politics in Alaska, he shifted to education, and graduated from Boston University with a Master’s Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors’ University.
After completing his degree at BU, Brendan moved to Brooklyn, where he worked for the public schools, as a private tutor, and as the History and English teacher for the boys in the cast of the Broadway production of Billy Elliot. For twelve years, he had the joy of being a member of the faculty and academic leadership team at York Prep, where he served as a History Teacher, Department Chair, Dean of Curriculum, and Director of Assessment.
In his non-working time, Brendan can mostly be found wrangling his two children through the playgrounds, pools, and museums of Brooklyn. Brendan enjoys sampling the cuisine of Brooklyn with his wife, exploring his neighborhood on his bike, and swimming with the Coney Island/Brighton Beach Open Water Swim Club.
Athena Stagias, MS, CCC-SLP | Interim Upper School Co-Head, Clinical & Chief Executive Functioning Specialist, K-12
After beginning her career treating elementary students in a NYC charter school, Athena joined Quad Prep in the summer of 2019 as a speech-language pathologist and social-cognitive therapist. She later served as Lower School Associate Clinical Director for two years, where she supported the clinical development of students in grades K–5 and helped expand key initiatives, including the school's executive functioning program, staff supervision and didactics, and the Lower School-to-Upper School transition. In 2024, Athena stepped into the role of Chief Executive Functioning Specialist and Admissions Liaison. She led the development of a comprehensive executive functioning scope and sequence across both campuses, creating curricula, classes, and trainings for the school's staff and parents. In her new role as Interim Upper School Clinical Co-Head, Athena is excited to continue supporting Upper School students as they pursue their passions and share their remarkable gifts with themselves and the wider community.
Athena earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Franklin & Marshall College and her Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. In pursuit of ongoing professional growth, she has completed the Certificate in Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children program and many professional courses in Language, Learning, and Executive Functioning.
Outside of work, Athena enjoys Broadway shows, cheering for the Yankees, and traveling with her husband and son.
Alicia Smith, MA, MST | Associate Upper School Head, Academics
A veteran educator who has taught at every grade level from preschool through high school, Alicia is an experienced instructional designer and dedicated educational leader, supporting the growth and development of all learners in the school community. Ever a problem-solver, Alicia joined Quad Prep in August of 2020 and has been stalworth to Quad Prep's "not if, but how" mantra. She enjoys leading and inspiring young people not only to do their best, but to be their best everyday.
Alicia earned a BA in Biopsychology from Barnard College/Columbia University and an MA in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University. She also earned an MST degree in Adolescent Biology and Special Education from Fordham University. A life-long learner, Alicia is working on two certificate programs: the Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard University and the Gifted and Talented Education Certificate from the University of Connecticut at Storrs.
Kirstin Spielman, MEd | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Upper School
Kirstin Been Spielman has been an educator, school leader, coach, and counselor; has held leadership roles in New York City independent schools, public schools, and summer camps for over three decades; and has extensive clinical experience treating clients at The Center for Educational and Psychological Services operated by Teachers College, Columbia University.
Kirstin’s expertise in navigating the academic and social challenges of school provides her with a unique perspective on a student’s daily life. She works collaboratively with faculty, administrators, and parents to create actionable strategies and initiatives that ensure student success at school, at home, and in their social and emotional functioning.
Kirstin holds a BA from Connecticut College and an EDM in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.
Alberto Bassi-Smith, MA | Department Chair, World Languages, Art, & Culture
Alberto joined Quad Prep in 2014, and he developed its first curriculum for foreign languages. Alberto is also a member of the World Leadership Council, which provides a regular forum for world language educators and administrators to discuss and share their questions, concerns, and suggestions with the New York State Education Department.
In Italy, he received a BA in Liberal Arts and an MA in History of Italian Theater and Events Management. Before moving to the United States, Alberto worked as a producer for his theater company, which staged Italian literature masterpieces for middle and high schools. When he moved to NYC, his love for sharing his culture and language combined with his interest in pedagogy pushed him to earn his second MA in Adolescent Education at Hunter College, where he received the Teaching Award in Romance Languages and the Distinction in Graduate Studies Award. Currently, Alberto is furthering his education in the Educational Leadership program at SUNY Fredonia, driven by his desire to have a broader impact on students' educational experiences.
Before arriving at Quad Prep, Alberto worked with several private language schools where he taught both adults and teenagers. He firmly believes that learning a language must incorporate group interaction that sparks the interest of the students while instilling love and respect for other cultures and nationalities, and consequently creating a sense of community.
Lisa Marfleet | Director of College Counseling, Cloverleaf Transitions
Since joining the team in 2018, Lisa, in addition to her current role as Director of College Counseling and Cloverleaf Transitions, has filled several other roles including Director of Talent Development and Upper School Coordinator for Community Partnerships. Lisa brings over 25 years of educational consulting and college counseling experience to Quad Prep. As a member of Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), her background and focus has been dedicated to supporting students from non-traditional educational backgrounds as they transition to higher education. Helping to provide access to underrepresented students is at the heart of the work she has done for decades and has been instrumental in our mission to help students embark on their chosen futures. Lisa's varied background in arts and education has included work as an NYC public school teacher, humanities tutor, educational consultant, college advisor, fiction writer, literary editor, talent agent and film casting director.
Samantha Semlitz, MAT | Director of Learning Support, K-12
Samantha (Sam) Semlitz is a native New Yorker with a deep passion for teaching and learning. She has a strong commitment to professional development and excels in envisioning and implementing educational strategies and advancements.
Sam holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Minor in Education and a Certificate in Developmental Disabilities from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She received her Masters in Childhood Special Education from Fordham University and is double certified in elementary and special education. Sam has continued to enhance her skills with extensive trainings in the Science of Reading, math and writing intervention. In addition she is Wilson certified and is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist from the Center for Effective Reading.
Sam’s education led her to diverse professional settings: a baby research lab, behavior modification programs, preschools, charter, public, and private schools. She joined the Quad Prep team eight years ago as its founding Reading Specialist and played a key role in the founding of the Learning Support Department. Before stepping into her current role, Sam served as Quad Prep’s Lower School Chief Learning Specialist and ELA Curriculum Coordinator.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Sam feeds her creative side through visual art, travel, and theater. She is the author of a children’s picture book titled "Through Coda's Eyes” and an adult coloring book called "Color Me Geometrix."
A not-for-profit independent college preparatory school, Quad Prep’s rich and robust curriculum engages, challenges, and inspires students at all levels, K–12, through our Lower School and Upper School programs.