Who We Are

Rebecca is thrilled to serve the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as the Director of Education. Rebecca attended Ithaca College in upstate New York, where she studied oboe performance and history. She began her career as a 7th grade English teacher in the South Bronx as a Teach For America corps member, then spent time teaching in Brooklyn, NY at Achievement First before obtaining a dual master’s in Library Science and Humanities at Long Island University and New York University.

Jill DeRosa joined the department in July of 2023 as the Assistant Director of Education. Originally from North Stonington, Jill attended Wheeler High School and then went on to study secondary math education at the University of Connecticut.

Sadie Pires is the Scholarship Project Manager with the Education Department! Sadie Pires is a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and a proud New Englander having been raised in the Southeast Connecticut and Rhode Island areas. She has worked closely with the Education Department throughout childhood and has received a degree in Accounting for her love of math and organizing numbers.

Ashley Adams joined the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as the Behavioral Intervention Specialist in July of 2022. She has since been proud to support the community across multiple settings; including, within schools, recreation programming, the Child Development Center, and Tribal family homes. Ashley received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Central Connecticut State University, and her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology, Physical Education and Health from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Marissa Morris is honored to serve the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as its Special Education Advocate. She is from Torrington, CT where she graduated from Torrington High School. She went on to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education from the University of Connecticut’s prestigious Neag School of Education.

Ian Thomas is excited to serve the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as a Certified Educator working as a tutor in the Education Department. He is a proud Fishers Island High School and University of Connecticut graduate who works as a full-time teacher for the State of Connecticut.