Gayle Aprile, Director
Gayle is starting her 24th year as Director here at Torbank. She lives in Carmel with her husband Rich and 3 of her 5 children. Four of her children are Torbank graduates. Gayle holds a BA from Pace University and is CPR and First Aid certified. The Aprile family shares their home with a black lab named Tucker, two cats, Abbey and Cali, and numerous Torbank hatched chickens and ducks…actually they live in the barn, not the house. Her interests include gardening, home canning, nature, antiques, and raising chickens and ducks, of course!
Elissa Fullerton, pre k teacher and Faculty Chairperson
Elissa begins her 7th year here at Torbank as lead teacher in our older 3’s and 4’s classroom. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Elissa is also our faculty chair, overseeing the curriculum and represents the school along with Gayle in the community. Elissa lives in Briarcliff with her husband John and her two children, both graduates of Torbank. She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood and elementary education from NYU and is N-6 certified. She is CPR and first aid certified and her interests include beading, painting, and crafts.
Cathy Nichols, teacher three year old class
This is Cathy’s 6th year here at Torbank. Cathy lives in Ossining with her husband Rob and her three children, two of which are Torbank grads. Cathy holds a BS for Bucknell University and is CPR and First Aid certified. Her interests include hiking and cooking.
Suzanne Nolan teacher two year old class
Suzanne begins her 10th year at Torbank working with two year old and has been actively involved in the school for as many years. Suzanne lives in Ossining with her husband Bob and their three children, all of which are Torbank graduates. Suzanne is originally from the Albany area and holds a BS in marketing from Southern University of New Hampshire. She is First Aid and CPR certified and enjoys teaching here at Torbank as well as volunteering at St Augustine’s and the Ossining Community.
Gael Poltrack teacher assistant older 3’s and 4’s
Gael has been a teacher assistant here at Torbank for the past 27 years. She will be the assisting Elissa Fullerton in the classroom on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this year. She was born in England and lives in Ossining with her husband Steve. Gael has three children; the youngest two are graduates of Torbank. Gael shares her home with two cats, Sadie and Willie and numerous unnamed fish. Gael is also our in house expert on chick hatchery and come this spring her expertise will hopefully bring us a new batch of baby chicks. Gael attended Norwalk Community College for two years and is CPR and first Aid Certified. Her interests cooking, baking, skiing, and traveling.
Mary Haag, teacher assistant
This is Mary’s 5th year here at Torbank and she will be assisting Elissa in the older 3’s and 4’s class on Mondays and Fridays and Cathy Nichols in the threes on Tuesday and Thursday. . Mary lives in Ossining with her 3 children, the youngest two are Torbank graduates. Mary holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Manhattanville College and is CPR and first Aid certified. She enjoys cooking, golf, tennis, and is being a busy sports Mom to her three children.
