Ms. DeFreze

"Do what you love, love what you do"

This is a quote I have been very fortunate to live by. I also tried to instill it in both of my boys when they were growing up.

I answer to many names... Ms. DeFreze, Mom, Aunt Jacq but my favorite is Nani Jacq. My oldest son, Ryan has two boys, Mason is 4 and Sawyer who is 2 months old. Ryan and his wife Meg live in Exeter, NH. My youngest son, Zac is a cinematographer living his best life out in Los Angeles.

Most people know I am a NY Yankee fan, but I do have many friends who are Sox fans!

I have a black lab named Tucker who is 4 years old.

I feel very lucky to be starting another year here at Rye Elementary School. I have been here, a long time! HA!

I love my job and can't imagine working anywhere else.

Please feel free to reach out at any time.

Mrs. Smaracko

Welcome to 4th Grade! I have been teaching for over 30 years and by far I feel 4th grade is the BEST! As we grow together, I’d like to share a little bit about myself. My husband, Larry and I have three children. Our oldest son, Marshall, attends University of Maine. Our son Reed is a freshman at the University of Utah and our daughter Adele is in 8th grade at Marshwood. We love traveling, the beach, paddle boarding and hiking. We love playing and watching sports, especially baseball and soccer. We have a black lab named Indy and a goldendoodle named Beaux.

Every day is a new opportunity to grow and have an adventure! Let’s make 4th grade the BEST learning adventure ever!

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

Mr. Svirsky

My name is Justin Svirsky, and I'm excited to be returning to RES as a fourth grade teacher. Some of you may remember me from my time here in 2022-23 as a building-based substitute, which was incredibly valuable as I pursued my graduate degree in education. The support I received from everyone at RES was exceptional, and I am thrilled to be rejoining such a supportive team.

I come to Rye with a background in graphic design and a master's degree in elementary education, along with experience teaching kindergarten through fifth grade. It's a joy for me to embark on this new journey as a fourth grade teacher in this vibrant and caring school community.