Beginning & Lower School Leadership Team

The Beginning and Lower School leadership team is committed to fostering a sense of place and connection for students, celebrating them as individuals, and working with families to ensure supports are in place to help them achieve their best. Read an interview with Nick, Tracy, and Genevieve: “Guiding Students to Take Their Own Path.”

Nick Zosel-Johnson

Head of Beginning and Lower School

Prior to arriving at Catlin Gabel in 2023, Nick spent twelve years at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington, as a teacher, curriculum co-chair, assistant director and director of the Lower School, where he incorporated placed-based experiential education and updated curriculum and assessment tools across the grades. He also taught 2nd and 3rd grade in Chicago through Teach for America. Most recently, he was the Lower School Director of Admission at Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma. Nick earned a BA in government from Claremont McKenna College, an MAT from Dominican University, and an MA in educational leadership from Klingenstein Center, Teachers College at Columbia University.

headshot of Genevieve Bouwes

Genevieve Bouwes

Beginning and Lower School Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning

Genevieve has been in her current role since 2023, and previously served for ten years as Catlin Gabel’s Assistant Head of Lower School. Prior to joining Catlin Gabel, she was with Trillium Charter School in Portland where her roles included Director of Preschool, Director of Afterschool Programs, and Interim Charter School Executive Director. She also spent ten years in the classroom as a lower school teacher at New Canaan (Connecticut) Country Day School and Riverside Elementary (Clackamas). Genevieve earned a B.A. in Geography from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Masters of Science degree in Education from Bank Street School of Education in New York City.

headshot portrait of tracy gray

Tracy Gray

Beginning & Lower School Assistant Head-Student & Family Support

Tracy joined Catlin Gabel in 2023 after serving for almost two decades in education leadership positions, including as a Screening and Assessment Specialist for the New York City Department of Education, an Infant Mental Health Consultant for Ryan Women and Children’s Center in New York City, a Master Teacher at Pacific Oaks Children’s School in Pasadena, and a Lead Teacher at The Brooklyn Charter School. She holds a M.S.W from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, an M.S.Ed from Bank Street College of Education, an M.S.T from Pace University, and a BA in  Psychology and Education from the University of California Los Angeles