Horizons at New Canaan Country School is thrilled to announce two vital additions to our full-year office team! Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Bentley, Director of Student and Family Programming, and Katy Walsh Banks, Director of Academic Success, who both began their roles this Monday, February 2. Both Jennifer and Katy bring immense experience, a deep dedication to our community, and a shared passion for the Horizons mission.
Jennifer will lead the development and implementation of programmatic experiences that support the "whole child" and deepen family engagement. Jennifer is bilingual and looks forward to supporting Spanish-speaking families. Originally from Stamford, Jennifer is a Horizons and NCCS alumna who most recently served as the Executive Director of Kids Helping Kids, a non-profit dedicated to youth-led service projects. Katy will develop and manage the academic and curricular elements of our year-round programming. A Norwalk native, Katy brings a wealth of local insight and expertise, having served as a public school teacher for over nine years.
Jennifer Bentley shared: “I am honored to be joining the Horizons team as the Director of Student and Family Programs and to be returning to a community that shaped who I am today. As a former Horizons student and NCCS Class of 1991 graduate—and now a proud NCCS parent of Matt Rivera ’22—this work is deeply personal. After serving as Executive Director of Kids Helping Kids, I am excited to partner with a passionate team of educators and staff members to help close the opportunity gap and support Horizons students and families with care, commitment, and heart.”
Katy Walsh Banks expressed her excitement, stating: "I am thrilled to join the Horizons team as the Director of Academic Success. As a public school teacher for over nine years, I am passionate about creating learning experiences that are joyful, rigorous, data-driven, and tailored to each student from the heart. I am eager to work with the teachers, students, and families of Horizons to help close the opportunity gap and cultivate a love of learning. I am thrilled to be joining this community and look forward to seeing some of my former students from Norwalk!"
