NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Welcome to Our New Trustees

We are pleased to welcome three new members of our Board of Trustees. Get to know Amber West Buller, Turaya Bryant Kamau, and Amanda Atterbury Ryan.

AMBER WEST BULLER ’84

Dr. Amber West Buller is a clinical psychologist. She has worked extensively with children, young adults, parents and caregivers as a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Dr. Buller has experience in individual therapy, family therapy, educational support and coaching. With a background in pediatric neuropsychology, her work today focuses on assisting individuals, families, and schools.

After graduating from Benchmark School in 1984, Dr. Buller attended The Episcopal Academy, the University of Arizona where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Palo Alto University where she earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Amber has always been an active member in her community. and is the current Judge of Elections for Newlin Township. She has also served on the board at Greene Towne School, the board for Public Citizens for Children and Youth, chaired the PA Psychological Association Legislative & Government Affairs committee, and served on the Philadelphia Mayor’s Blue Ribbon

Commission of Children’s Behavioral Health.

Amber says, “Benchmark put me on the trajectory to get where I am today. As long as I am able to, I will give back to this place. I would love to see Benchmark be around forever to continue its great work of resetting trajectories of kids. All too often not knowing how one learns best interferes with how one sees themself and can undermine what the individual can achieve. I see Benchmark as the starting place for kids and their families to start to see new and bigger possibilities for themselves. I was thrilled to be asked to join the Board as it is another way I hope I can be helpful and supportive of Benchmark.”

TURAYA BRYANT KAMAU, P’24

Turaya Bryant Kamau is a Broadcast Producer for CBS Saturday Morning. Turaya has 20 years of television news experience, working at stations across the country.

Passionate about education, Turaya is an adjunct journalism professor at Temple University. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Turaya also serves on the Congenital Hyperinsulinism International board of directors.

Turaya has a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University, and a Master’s of Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

Turaya lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two children. Her son Malcolm currently attends Benchmark.

Turaya says, “Benchmark has been key to helping my son thrive as a student and in building his selfconfidence.”

AMANDA ATTERBURY RYAN, P’25

Amanda Atterbury Ryan grew up in California, where she developed a passion for horses and soccer before moving to the Philadelphia area to be closer to extended family.

Amanda attended Westtown School and Franklin and Marshall College, where she earned a BA in Business Administration/ Accounting and played on the women’s soccer team. After college,

Amanda worked for Deloitte as an auditor but then left to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Amanda attended the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, earning her VMD, and worked at Southwest Equine Medical & Surgical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she focused on surgery, internal medicine, and ambulatory medicine of (mostly) equine patients.

Amanda returned to the Philadelphia area in 2010 to raise her family. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Willistown with their three children. Amanda’s oldest son, Sam, attends Benchmark School. She has enjoyed being involved with the Benchmark Parents Association and her past role as Class Parent over several years.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys playing multiple sports, spending time with horses, playing the piano, reading, and sailing.

Amanda says, “I am honored to join Benchmark’s Board of Trustees. Benchmark School has had such a positive impact on so many past and current students, and the future of the school looks bright. This is an exciting time to be joining the Board and I am happy to help the school in any way that I can.”

Read all about our Trustees on our website, benchmarkschool.org.