Meet Our Team
Clark Leadership Team
Tara Kalnitsky | Director
Tara graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Fine Arts. She majored in Ceramics and Painting but has gravitated towards Illustration Markers and Polymer Clay. She is glad to be back in a school environment filled with amazing aspiring artists of all ages. Between the teachers and the students, she finds everyday at One River gratifying and inspiring!
Fred Quayenortey | Assistant Director of Member Services
Graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Animation. He specializes in Storyboarding, 2D Animation, and Illustration. Fred has freelanced on projects in animation, games, and advertising. He draws much of his influences from a love for cartoons and film, and the stories of his peers. Fred is excited to grow closer with the One River family and help them bring their stories to life.
Alyssa Lopez | Director of Education
Alyssa Lopez, born and raised in New Jersey, began her education at F.I.T for Fashion Design and Illustration and completed her AA in the Arts at Brookdale. She has completed two apprenticeships. One under Tom Smith, a Marvel Studios Colorist on the Spider Man comics. The other, Richard Botto, an award winning equestrian portrait artist. Alyssa likes to work in all mediums. Alyssa hopes to continue spreading her love and knowledge of the arts to the students of Clark!
Miranda Barrington | Student Services Coordinator
Miranda has recently graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Illustration. During her time there she worked in many different mediums, preferring digital illustration, as well as the classical techniques of oil painting. As an artist herself, Miranda is excited to help the makers of One River expand their creativity through her work as a student service coordinator.
Walley | Student Services Coordinator
Walley earned her BFA in painting and photography at Rutgers University with a double major in art history. Her career in photography includes covering local community events, freelance work, and marketing/advertising. Through her multidisciplinary practice, Walley incorporates animation and painting as mediums to explore motion across digital and traditional platforms. With her passion for art and experimentation, she hopes to encourage artists to reach their full creative potential by exploring different mediums at One River.
Tara Balboa | Student Service Coordinator & Studio Mentor (Grades K-5)
Tara Balboa is a New Jersey born artist and educator who earned her BFA at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan in 2007. Tara has overseen the arts and crafts section of the Roselle Park Loves the Arts Festival for 5 years as well serving on the Roselle Park Loves the Arts council. She has taught painting classes and led workshops with elementary through high school aged makers and has also provided assistance in prop design and painting for the Roselle Park High School Marching Band. Tara loves working with all of the talented people at One River and fostering creativity and passion for art amongst her students.
Clark Educator Team
Jayne Mayfield | Studio Mentor
(Art Start & Grades K-2)
Jayne grew up in central New Jersey in a family of artists, musicians and educators. She has been working with mixed media and teaching young artists to hone in on their talent since 2004. She is an elementary school teacher in a nearby town, as well as teaching here, at One River. She is passionate about creating art and encouraging others to reach their artistic goals. She loves how One River exemplifies acceptance and a warm learning environment for all ages.
Rachel Eisenberg | Studio Mentor
(Grades K-2 & 6-12)
Rachel graduated from Rutgers University with a major in Visual Arts and a minor in psychology. She is currently studying at Caldwell University majoring in Counseling with a focus in Art Therapy. Rachel has been teaching art at One River for the past two years. Her favorite medium is oil paint, although recently she has grown more fond of working with markers and colored pencils. Rachel’s favorite part of working at One River is watching her students grow and learn. She is passionate in guiding them through their creative journey and seeing how they get inspired.
Jessica Martell | Studio Mentor
(Art Start & Grades K-5)
Jessica earned her B.A. in Fine Arts Education with a minor in Art History from Kean University. A versatile artist and educator, she loves exploring different art forms, materials, and techniques, with a special love for clay and getting her hands dirty. Jessica brings that same playful curiosity into the classroom, encouraging students to experiment, try something new, and make each project their own. What Jessica enjoys most about One River is the creative freedom to explore and learn alongside her students. She loves seeing the unexpected directions makers take their projects and especially enjoys watching returning students grow in creativity, confidence, and skill over time.
Dalton Jones | Studio Mentor
(Grades K-5 & Adults)
Dalton graduated from Kean University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, concentrating in Studio Art with a minor in Art History. Specializing in painting and drawing, he has been educating and sharing the gifts of art and creativity with his community for well over a decade. Dalton loves working at One River because it is a community focused on art and the joy of making, and looks forward to supporting others on their creative journeys.
Irene Domingo | Studio Mentor
(Grades K-12)
Irene earned her B.F.A. in Studio Art with a minor in Art History from Kean University. A multidisciplinary artist, she enjoys working across drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and digital art, and loves experimenting with different materials and techniques. What Irene enjoys most about One River is the creative community and the opportunity to introduce makers to new artists, materials, and ways of creating. She especially loves that her students keep her on her toes, surprising her with their ideas while developing their skills, gaining confidence, and discovering their own creative voices.
Jeffrey Villanueva | Studio Mentor
(Grades 6-12)
Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University and brings a background focused on supporting students' creative needs. His true passions lie in teaching art and mentoring others, helping students discover their unique artistic voices. What he loves most about One River is that it provides a safe, caring environment for students and makers to explore various artistic disciplines and forms of expression. The high quality of the mentors and the inspiring, supportive atmosphere here make it a truly special place to learn and grow.
Jonathan Scialabba | Studio Mentor
(Grades 6-12 & Adults)
Jonathan Scialabba, born and raised in New Jersey, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Art Education from Kean University. In addition to teaching visual art at East Brunswick High School, Jonathan is the founder of Jonathan J. Studio LLC and serves on the board of the historic Court Street School Education Community Center. From large-scale murals to community art programs, he is passionate about using creative expression to make a meaningful impact. Jonathan looks forward to sharing his love and knowledge of the arts with the students of One River in Clark!
Kate Annen | Studio Mentor
(Grades 3-5 & Adults)
Graduate from the University of Cape Town with a B.A.(Art), H.D.E. and brings international experience having lived in South Africa, Germany and the United States. Kate has taught all ages, but mainly High School Art concentrating on Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Ceramics and History of Art and Architecture. She takes great pleasure encouraging personal growth, exploration, and a love for art in all her students.
Bobbi Van Etten | Studio & Digital Mentor
(Grades 3-5)
Bobbi graduated from Sussex County Community College with a degree in Liberal Arts. She specializes in illustration, primarily focused on character work, while taking inspiration from her interests and working as a convention artist and freelance illustrator in her own time. With One River's wide variety of classes, she's excited to help her students expand on their abilities and tell their stories through their artwork.
Eric Miele | Studio & Digital Mentor
(Grades 3-12)
Eric graduated from Kean with a Master of Arts and Bachelor in Fine Art Illustration. He specializes in Digital Art specifically Illustrations and Concept Art for Video Games. Playing video games most of his life has influenced his art making in terms of incorporating high fantasy concepts and magic! He also has 10 Years of teaching experience as a Martial Arts Instructor and a College Professor. He loves to teach and is happy to share his passion for art making to all of his students of any age.
Jia Hang Zhang | Digital Mentor
(Grades 3-12)
Graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's Degree in Design, Jia Hang specializes in digital illustration, typography, and branding. He is constantly keeping up to date with design trends along with illustration techniques that can help speed up the process of creating. With a background in illustration and design, Jia Hang is excited to teach and help the students at One River achieve their goals one step at a time.
Sahleem Lane-Jeffress | Digital Mentor
(Grades 6-12)
Sahleem studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated with a bachelor’s in art with a Video Game Concentration. He specializes in 3d art and Animations . He has interned as a 3dD animator for Melanin Babies YouTube Channel. He also enjoys creating custom clothing and framed artwork. One thing he loves about One River is working with students who also have a passion and enthusiasm for art!
Join Our Team
Career opportunities at One River School allow passionate artists, educators and lovers of art to share their love and knowledge of art and enhance the lives of people they connect with everyday.