OUR RISING STAR: Rachel Krisbergh
Rachel Krisbergh is a passionate and dedicated education consultant and community leader committed to fostering inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration where every voice is heard and each individual feels valued.
As the Founder of Rachel Krisbergh Education Consulting, she provides school placement services for day and boarding schools, along with special education advocacy. Rachel works closely with families to assess their child's academic and social needs, developing tailored strategies to find the right school fit. She supports parents through the complexities of the application process, helping them advocate effectively and communicate with schools. Additionally, she connects families with trusted professionals for evaluations and support services.
Rachel is deeply committed to volunteer work in Scarsdale and has held numerous leadership positions in the Scarsdale schools as well as in other service organizations in the broader community. She served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service and now sits on its Advisory Board. At Greenacres Elementary School, Rachel held multiple roles within the PTA, including serving on the executive committee for 4 years and as Treasurer and PTA President, where she played a key role in shaping school programming and policy. She also championed inclusivity as Chair of C.H.I.L.D. (Children Having Individual Learning Differences) and as District Liaison for the Learning From Our Differences Program across all five elementary schools.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rachel helped raise over $55,000 in just five days to provide meals for frontline workers at White Plains Hospital and Scarsdale Medical Group-an effort that reflected her deep commitment to community support and care.
Rachel is also an active member of Westchester Reform Temple, where she served as Co-Chair of the Temple's preschool (ECC) Parent Association and contributed to initiatives on inclusion, leadership, and community engagement through roles on the Inclusion Task Force, Steering Committee, Hiring Committee, and Connections Committee.
Rachel holds a Master's degree in Special Education from New York University and a B.S. in Psychology from Lafayette College. She has worked in both public and private schools in New York City, building a wealth of experience that she brings to her consulting practice.
She lives in Greenacres with her husband, Jon, their daughter, Jordan (13), son, Dylan (11), and Bernadoodle, Ollie.
OUR GUIDING STAR: Maryellen Saenger
Maryellen Saenger is a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in the field of geriatric care. She joined SFCS in July 2015, as the Coordinator of the Aging in Place Program (AIP). As a resident of Scarsdale, Maryellen possessed a unique understanding of the community and resources available to the senior residents. Through her seven years as AIP Coordinator, she increased and expanded the services available to Scarsdale's most cherished residents, however it was Maryellen's kindness, compassion and genuine love for those in her care that warrants recognition.
During her tenure at SFCS, Maryellen recognized that building a system of sustainable care for seniors could only be accomplished by collaborating with community partners, such as the Scarsdale Recreation Department, the Scarsdale Library, public safety personnel, small businesses, and houses of worship. Maryellen organized a Vital Aging lecture series focused upon the importance of intellectual stimulation, the promotion of senior wellness and risk prevention. The Vital Aging seminars were to supplement the Recreation Department activities held at the Girl Scout House, Scarsdale Pool, and other requested venues. She advocated on behalf of her senior clients through her visibility and membership at key local, county, and regional organizations, gaining recognition and support for the Aging in Place program from Westchester County Department of Aging constituents. But Maryellen's most notable accomplishment was the creation of the Vital Aging Fair, in coordination with the Scarsdale Library and Recreation Department. The Vital Aging Fair was so well received, it turned into an annual event, which recently celebrated its 10th consecutive year this past October.
The least visible, but arguably, the most important part of Maryellen's work was the individual client contact she provided. Maryellen spent most of her time visiting and cultivating relationships with many of Scarsdale's most vulnerable, in their homes, where they felt safe and most at ease.
During COVID, and when most senior providers moved their services to Zoom, Maryellen simply moved her sessions to outdoor yards and patios, recognizing that there was no virtual replacement for human connection.
For those that were not under Maryellen's direct care, she enlisted the support of residents to volunteer for the "Adopt a Senior" program, delivering groceries and vital necessities during the national lockdown period. Additionally, she recruited local teen volunteers to deliver homemade baked goods to the homebound for "Sweets for Seniors" and she assisted the SHS entrepreneurship students endeavoring to make a difference through meetings and connections with older residents for "Interview a Senior", a program that was mutually gratifying to students and residents alike.
Maryellen perfected the art of delivering high-quality professional care while somehow making every client feel as if they were a beloved member of her family. One particular client with whom Maryellen forged a close relationship was an elderly widow, and long-standing Scarsdale resident, with no family nearby. Maryellen ensured that she received all the essential resources she needed to remain comfortable and secure in her home, allowing her to feel safe and cared for even as she entered her final days. In gratitude, the woman arranged that a significant financial gift be given to the Aging in Place Program in Maryellen's honor so that other residents could benefit from this important program. This generous gift has helped sustain AIP services and recognizes the pivotal role it plays in the community.
Maryellen and her husband, Chris, lived in Scarsdale for more than 20 years, raising their children, Ella, now 25 and Christopher 23. During that time, they were active members of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the Scarsdale Golf Club, and they held various coaching positions in Scarsdale Recreation Sports leagues. Although she now resides part-time in Greenwich and Bonita Springs, FL, Saenger remains affiliated with SFCS in her role as a Consultant for AIP-related matters. She is professionally licensed in New York and Florida and is a nationally Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP).
Outside of her work at SFCS, Maryellen volunteers as a member of the Undergraduate Student Advisory Council for the University of Notre Dame. She is a former member and Treasurer of the New York State Mental Health Counselor's Association and she served a six-year term on the St. Pius X Parish Council. Maryellen spent several years volunteering as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, Lion's Heart Parent Volunteer, and she has held various roles in Scarsdale PTA, Maroon and White, Scarsdale Little League, and The Junior League of Central Westchester. She enjoys travel, tennis, golf, and spending time with family and friends.