PEABODY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Teaching Fellowship Coordinator
Mrs. Wilson graduated from the University of Virginia in 2006 with a degree in History and Studies in Women and Gender. Following her educational pursuits, she gained valuable experience teaching students of all ages, from preschool to high school. In 2010, she returned to UVA to earn her Masters of Teaching, obtaining endorsements in elementary, special, and gifted education.
She joined the Peabody faculty in 2013 as a second grade teacher, where she distinguished herself as an expert in classroom management, creating a productive and welcoming learning environment for her students. Her dedication to fostering empathy and community among students is a cornerstone of her teaching philosophy.
Mrs. Wilson is passionate about her role as the Peabody Teaching Fellowship Coordinator, where she shares her commitment to education with the next generation of teachers. She works closely with the graduate students to help them earn their teaching credentials and develop the skills necessary to create a positive and inclusive classroom experience.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the Head of School
Aimee Nolasco received her B.S. at Radford University (VA) and Masters in Health at SUNY Cortland. She and her husband moved from Maui to Charlottesville when their daughter arrived in 2015. Aimee loves being a part of the Peabody community and enjoys working in the front office.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Teaching Assistant
brings to Peabody nearly 10 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, ranging from Pre-K teacher to Childcare Assistant Director to Registered Behavioral Therapist. Allyssa believes in creating a fun, safe, and challenging environment to help each student grow to his/her full potential. Born and raised in Charlottesville, she enjoys spending her free time with her family and staying involved in the community as an avid supporter of the East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Department.
Job Titles:
- Director of Educational Technology
Amy Brudin has been teaching and learning with technology since she graduated from UVA in 1994. She spent 10 years in the Washington, D.C. area, teaching at the National Cathedral School and consulting privately with families looking to set up networks and computers at home. She and her husband and fellow UVA graduate George moved to Batesville in 2003 and are proud parents of Lune, Peabody class of '21.
Amy Lastinger has a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from NC State University and a Masters in Science Education from The University of Texas, Austin. Her experiences include working at a wildlife conservation center in Florida, teaching 7th grade science in Texas, and most recently as the program coordinator for environmental science classes at Green Adventure Project here in Charlottesville. Her goal as a teacher is to make science relevant for her students and to build their confidence to be independent thinkers. Ms. Lastinger has three children and in her free time she loves getting outside with them, running, and going on road trips.
Job Titles:
- Student Wellness & Support Services Leader
Student Wellness & Support Services Leader Ann Tolley Jones earned a B.A. in Religious Studies and Anthropology from the University of Virginia and a M.Ed. in School Counseling from James Madison University. Ms. Jones is a licensed school counselor and has served as a counselor, social-emotional learning and health educator, early childhood teacher, and volleyball coach in schools for over 10 years. She grew up in Charlottesville, graduated from Albemarle High School, and recently returned to the east coast from Los Angeles with her husband. She enjoys playing volleyball, going to concerts and live theater, all things UVA athletics, and spending time with her dog and three cats.
Anne Kinsley earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the College of William & Mary and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Virginia. She has taught middle school math and science in both public and private schools in the Charlottesville area for more than thirty years. Ms. Kinsley enjoys working with students who are already comfortable thinking mathematically and seeking challenge, as well as those who have not yet experienced the excitement (and improved self-confidence) that mastery of mathematical concepts can bring. When not teaching, Ms. Kinsley spends time reading, gardening, and working on craft projects, usually in the company of her two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Outdoor Education and K - 8 After School Assistant
joins our faculty in Fall 2023 as our Outdoor Educator. She earned a B.S. from Oregon State University, where she majored in Fisheries and Wildlife Science. Annika has most recently worked as an Environmental Education instructor for the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District and also as an Aquatic Ecology technician for the U.S. Forest Service.
Ayesha Ahmad holds a master's degree in English from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Before working as a reporter for a local newspaper in Maryland, she taught elementary school for two years in Raleigh, NC.; she has owned her current wedding and portrait photography business for the past 11 years. She moved to Charlottesville with her family in the summer of 2019, and the younger of her two sons attends Peabody. In her free time, she reads books excessively, but she also enjoys baking, hiking, and handwork.
Sixth Grade Humanities Mr. Brinkop has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Augsburg College and an M.A. in Educational Psychology (with a focus on Gifted and Talented Education) from the University of Connecticut. He joined the Peabody faculty after 10 years teaching gifted 3rd-5th graders at the Sage School in Foxboro, Massachusetts. When not teaching, he enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling.
Second Grade Mr. Smith attended Elon University in North Carolina, graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 2009. He was born and raised in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. As a child he enjoyed the outdoors, working his way up to the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts. He combined his passion for teaching and outdoor adventure as the climbing and ropes course instructor at Camp Ho Mita Koda - a summer camp for children with diabetes. During his college years, he was involved with the founding of Elon Academy - a residential summer program giving underprivileged high schoolers tools for college access and success. Mr. Smith spent six years teaching 3rd and 4th grade in Fairfax County Public Schools in northern Virginia. He has extensive training in Responsive Classroom and Kagan cooperative structures. He is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia. Mr. Smith spends his free time outside, running, playing kickball or climbing rocks. He loves to travel and takes every opportunity to play uncle to his young nieces and nephew in Ohio and California.
Bethany Melton-Taylor has been working with preschoolers and exceptional learners since 2005, and she joined our Peabody PreKindergarten team in 2011. She is completing her studies in Elementary Education with honors, and as a parent of two young children, she has a deep understanding and appreciation for the needs of preschool families. Mrs. Taylor provides "the Peabody magic" that goes into making each day happy and special in PreK, and she enjoys sharing her love for school, gardens, art, animal friends, and outdoor adventures with our little ones at Peabody and her little ones at home.
Bidhan (Bobby) Parmar holds an PhD, MBA, and a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. He is currently a faculty member at the Darden School of Business Administration. His award-winning teaching and research focus on business ethics, critical thinking, and collaboration. Parmar works with senior executives on issues related to decision-making, stakeholder management, design-thinking, and leadership. Parmar has a daughter at the Peabody School and loves spending time at the beach with his family and dog.
Brett Jones earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering with a focus on signal processing and pattern recognition. He held numerous quantitative roles at JP Morgan and was a portfolio manager at hedge funds Millennium and Ramius. In 2014 he started the proprietary trading firm Cannonball Trading, where he remains the managing partner. He is one of Peabody's biggest fans and has two children (one Peabody alum and one current student). He joined the Peabody board as Treasurer in 2016.
Charles Lunsford holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University, as well as a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Greg Frank as President in the founding of Pula Capital Management, Charles spent a decade investing in and managing private equity transactions. Charles has worked as an operating partner and interim-CEO, and has been a board member of several privately held and private equity backed companies. Charles was the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Smith Mountain Industries, a CPG company that was grown substantially and from which he exited successfully. Charles began his career on the buy side working in Hong Kong and investing across Asia. Currently, Charles is Chairman of International Neighbors and served as Chair of Peabody School's Board of Trustees for eight years. He also previously served on the board of the Thomas Jefferson Area United Way. Charles is a proud parent of three Peabody graduates and one current Peabody student. He is an outdoors enthusiast and has a particular interest in bow-hunting and saltwater fly-fishing.
Chris Haske received his B.A. in Studio Art from Whitman College and his Masters in Art Education from NYU. He taught art at Peabody School for eight years, then taught art and design at the International School Moshi in Tanzania for a year. Mr. Haske has returned to Peabody School as the K-4 Technology teacher, bringing his love of making and figuring things out. He also teaches middle school arts and enrichment courses that blend art and technology. Chris and his wife Ruth have two lovely daughters, Maia and Noa.
Christine Barth received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. She most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Harren Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm, where she managed the finance and administration functions of the firm. Prior to Harren, Barth was the CFO of Snowbird Capital, a private investment firm focused on providing mezzanine debt and private direct investment capital to lower middle market companies. She held board positions and was a board observer on various portfolio companies within the Snowbird Capital portfolio. Ms. Barth's earlier career included financial, operational, and investment experience with lower middle market companies in both the for profit and not-for-profit sectors. She was the CFO at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation where she managed the operating budget, retail operations, IT and HR. She was the CFO and a Regional Director of Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF), an international investment firm focused in emerging markets. She also held operating positions at MuseumCompany.com, American Airlines, and First American Bankshares. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the George Washington University and as a member of the Darden School Alumni Association Board.
Courtney Bernsen earned her B.A. from California State Stanislaus, and M.A. in counseling from the University of Maryland overseas program in England. During her time in England, she also taught second grade for the Department of Defense. Before coming to work at Peabody she was a school counselor with Prince William County Schools for seven years. She has spent some time working in a private practice doing individual and family counseling. When not working she keeps busy with her two boys.
PreKindergarten A graduate of Lock Haven University (PA), Mrs. Paulsen earned a dual B.S. Degree in Elementary and Special Education with a Minor in Music. Prior to joining the Peabody faculty, Darlene taught for 31 years in public and private schools and retired in 2010. She was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in 1992 and taught in London for a year. She enjoys traveling to new places, walking on the beach, antiquing, and collecting quilts.
Job Titles:
- Director of Admissions and Alumni Engagement
Director of Admissions and Alumni Engagement Diane DeBerry Krehmeyer holds an Ed.M. in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as a B.A. in both Psychology and Communication Studies from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining the faculty of Peabody School, Mrs. Krehmeyer was a management consultant for both PricewaterhouseCoopers and AT Kearney in Washington, DC. She also is the former Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions for Oldfields School, in Glencoe, MD. She is a former board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, the Virginia Discovery Museum, Madison House at UVA, and Peabody School. She is the proud parent of two Peabody alumni, and in her free time enjoys reading on the beach and laughing with her family.
Dorothy Batten took a BA in Economics from Hollins University in 1985, an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from the University of Virginia's Colgate Darden School of Business Administration in 1990, a M.S. in Counseling Studies from Capella University in 2010, and a PsyD from the American University of Positive Psychology in 2012. She also attended the design school at the University of California Los Angeles for two years before returning to Virginia. Ms. Batten is currently the President of the D.N. Batten Foundation and DTMP, LLC, a real estate investment company. She is a former director of Landmark Media Enterprises LLC of Norfolk, Virginia. Ms. Batten serves on a number of nonprofit boards, including the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, The Women's Initiative, and the Alumni Board of Trustees at the University of Virginia. She has served on the board of trustees of the Norfolk Academy, the Peabody School, the Amazon Conservation Association, and the Paramount Theater. She has also served the University of Virginia as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Managers, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Board of Directors and National Advisory Board, the Fralin Museum of Art Advisory Board, the Virginia Film Festival Council of Friends, and as co-chair of the Virginia Arts Council. She has also launched a non-profit initiative, called iThrive, to create mental health prevention apps and games for adolescents.
Emily Steppe earned her B.F.A. in Painting from Guilford College and her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley University. Ms. Steppe has taught for twelve years in various capacities, including preschool and Kindergarten - 5th Grades. Fall 2023 marks her seventh year teaching at Peabody and tenth year specializing as a classroom teacher in gifted education. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, playing the violin, listening to many genres of music, trying new recipes, and going on hikes with her two dogs.
Emmie Wright holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Anthropology from Washington and Lee University. She earned her M.A. in Spanish from the Middlebury Language School, finishing her last summer in Guadalajara, Mexico. She has spent a number of years teaching both middle and upper school Spanish in Charleston, SC, New York City, and Charlottesville. She took time off from teaching to stay home with her two children, both of whom attend Peabody. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family (especially to Menorca, a small island off the coast of Spain), garden, read, and run.
Job Titles:
- Community Connections Coordinator
Eric Anderson earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a Master's degree at Columbia University in cognitive biopsychology with certification in conservation biology. He has worked in urban education and environmental non-profits, and both taught in and led independent schools in New Jersey and Charlottesville. A Peabody parent, Mr. Anderson will work to build bridges both within the school and to the broader community in his role as Peabody's new Community Connections Coordinator. A middling birdwatcher, soccer and ultimate frisbee player, and outdoor enthusiast, he is currently trying to learn guitar to help drown out his oft-unwelcome singing.
Eric Bundonis received a B.A. in history from Middlebury College and an M.B.A. in finance and management, with honors, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a managing director at UVIMCO, with responsibility for Absolute Return and Credit investments. He serves as a member of UVIMCO's investment committee and is involved in all aspects of the investment process and portfolio risk management. Prior to joining UVIMCO, Mr. Bundonis served as Head of Research at Artivest in La Jolla, California, where he was a member of its investment committee and oversaw the identification, sourcing, due diligence and ongoing monitoring of alternative fund managers across multiple investment strategies totaling approximately $4 billion. Before joining Artivest in 2009, Mr. Bundonis served as an associate at OneCapital Management Partners in New York and began his career at Auda Hedge, LLC in New York. He previously served as the Treasurer of the Bird Rock Foundation. Eric and his wife Jaylene are proud parents of four Peabody students.
Erica Roth earned a B.A. in Spanish Literary and Cultural Studies at Occidental College. She earned an M.A. in Bilingual Bicultural Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where her thesis work focused on culturally relevant pedagogy and multicultural curriculum design and led to an award for her work titled Reflections, Creating a Culturally Relevant Classroom. Erica's passion for language learning stems from her study and work experiences in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Spain. While in Spain, Erica taught English and supported bilingual education programs in three schools, including public elementary and high schools and a private language institute. Erica was awarded a fellowship in the Klingenstein Summer Institute at Teachers College in 2016, and she received a National Geographic Educator certification in 2019, the same year her former school named her recipient of the Lower School Teaching Excellence award. In her free time, Erica can be found exploring Charlottesville or traveling with her husband, daughter, and Boston terrier.
Gary Fox has practiced law for more than 45 years, first in the private sector, and then as a trial attorney within the Office of General Counsel at a federal agency. He received an A.B., with a concentration in political science from Brown University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. A number of years later, Gary returned to school on a part-time basis, ultimately earning a Master of Theological Studies from Boston University. During that time, he served for two years as a teaching fellow for Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel, assisting in the development and presentation of four academic courses. Mr. Fox's daughter has taught at Peabody for several years.
Geneva Mommsen received her B.A. in Zoology from Miami University of Ohio and holds many certifications for environmental education programs, including Project WILD and National Geographic Educators. Her professional experience in Environmental and Outdoor Education began with multiple positions at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in the Education Department, leading summer and overnight programming. Most recently Ms. Mommsen served as the Education and Volunteer Coordinator for the National Marine Life Center in Massachusetts. When not helping students make discoveries in nature, you can find her hiking or kayaking, baking something with lots of cinnamon, or brushing up on ballroom dance skills.
Greg Frank holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as a BSc Electronic Engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is Chairman and CEO of Pula Capital Management LP, a quantitative investment firm. Prior to this, Mr. Frank founded Presagium, an investment firm that traded foreign currencies electronically. Previously, he founded Ovation Capital, a venture capital fund in New York. Mr. Frank grew up in a rural mining town in South Africa and moved to the United States in 1996 after his conscripted military service and early engineering career there. He met his wife Lauren, also a South African immigrant, in New York. He is the proud dad of a current Peabody student and a Peabody alumnus. He spends his free time with family and enjoys jazz piano, running and tennis (despite now being usually defeated by his sons).
Haley Atkinson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Additionally, she holds a Master's Degree in Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Mrs. Atkinson has nine years of experience as an educator focusing on literacy development and learning differences across a range of grades. She holds multiple teaching licenses, including Elementary Education, and has taught in a variety of schools. In her free time, Mrs. Atkinson enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with fami ly.
Harriet Oravec holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education. She also received her Master's of Education in Elementary Education and Elementary Supervision from James Madison University. Prior to joining Peabody's faculty, Mrs. Oravec taught in the Albemarle County Public School system where she served as a classroom teacher, in addition to being involved with the ACE (Albemarle County Enrichment) program. Mrs. Oravec has served on the faculty of James Madison University's School of Education, where she was a supervising instructor in teacher education - teaching, training and supervising prospective educators in the on-campus laboratory school, Anthony-Seeger Campus School. Mrs. Oravec is a native of Charlottesville, and enjoys traveling, quilting, crafting, and gardening.
Heather is the proud parent of two Peabody graduates - Ellena ‘21 and Mira ‘23 - and is happy to be helping in the Development Office after volunteering at Peabody for almost ten years. She graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Spanish and minors in Government and European Area Studies. Before moving to Virginia in 2009 with her husband and daughters, Heather worked for nearly fifteen years at the Connecticut State Capitol in the Governor's Office, the Senate President's Office and for ten years as the Legislative Liaison/Lobbyist for the Connecticut DMV.
Ms. Miller received a B.A. in history from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University Teachers College. She has taught several different age groups but has a particular passion for teaching math to students in the upper elementary grades. Ms. Miller has taught at private schools in Connecticut, Ontario, Manhattan, Charlotte, and Barcelona. She has served as both a homeroom teacher and as a learning support specialist. When not teaching, she spends time with her children, who are young adults, and she enjoys hiking, reading, yoga and relaxing with her two cats. CLOSE Kathryn Reese Seventh and Eighth Grade English
Henry Chin is a proud Peabody alumnus (‘15). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a Certification in Biological and Environmental Conservation from the University of Virginia, where he is earning his Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. While an undergrad, Mr. Chin served as a substitute teacher at Peabody School and led a research team for his Distinguished Majors project studying the health and restoration of tallgrass prairies through cross-cultural exchange with high school students and leaders from the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota. He is excited to bring his background in wildlife conservation, field research, and transformative educational experiences to his role as a teaching fellow at Peabody. He is a certified Type 2 wildfire fighter and a member of UVA's Forestry Club and Parkour Club, and when he isn't working in the classroom or the lab, he can be found removing vines from trees, bouldering, playing strategy games, or entertaining his hermit crabs and rescue cats.
Hope Sikora received a B.A. in Mathematics and a MAT in Secondary Education from the University of Virginia. Ms. Sikora loves math because it encourages problem solving and helps us understand the world. In her free time, Ms. Sikora enjoys cooking, exercising, and cheering on the Hoos!
Hunter McCardle earned his professional degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. He is Principal and Founder of Red Roots Communities, a real estate development firm dedicated to providing affordable and healthy housing solutions in areas of need with a high barrier to entry. Prior to starting Red Roots, Hunter owned and operated a landscape architecture and planning firm for 15 years in Charlottesville. He has served on several Charlottesville-based non-profit boards, and is the father of two Peabody students.
Jacob Herrin is a proud Peabody alumnus. He holds a Bachelors in English from the College of William & Mary and a Masters in teaching from the University of Virginia. Before joining the faculty at Peabody, Mr. Herrin taught high school English in Rio Grande City, Texas, and then second grade at the local Jackson-Via Elementary. When not teaching, he enjoys creative writing, rock climbing, painting, and doting on his cat, Taiga.
Jamie Ebersole earned his B.A. in English with a minor in Philosophy from Muhlenberg College and his M.A. in English from the University of Vermont. He has 20 years of experience teaching in middle school, high school, and collegiate settings. Most recently, he taught 9th grade English and AP English Language and Composition at The Episcopal School of Dallas, and prior to that he taught English and Humanities classes at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, TX, where he was also a coach, college counselor and Senior Project Coordinator. He is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia.
A graduate and student athlete of Longwood University, Mr. Fargo holds nationally recognized youth soccer coaching licenses. His passion for working with children is apparent in his 10 years of prior experience in coaching youth soccer with children of a variety of ages and abilities. Mr. Fargo uses sport and physical activity to build self-confidence in each child to help guide the learning of life skills. He enjoys soccer, golf, snowboarding, any beach activity, and spending time with his family.
Jeff Corlett attended the University of Florida and the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he received his Bachelors of Science degree in mathematics. Mr. Corlett previously taught in public schools on Long Island and private school in New York City. He has taught all levels of math from Algebra I through Calculus. He grew up in Florida, but lived in New York for 18 years. When he is not working, he enjoys reading fiction and shooting pool.
PreKindergarten While completing her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin, Ms. Strong worked with children and families as both an advocate and a teacher. Recognizing a need for specially tailored, culturally sustaining educational experiences for exceptional preschoolers, she returned home to Charlottesville to earn her endorsement in Gifted Education through the master's program in Educational Psychology at the University of Virginia. She launched the Peabody PreKindergarten program in 2008. Her love for animals and stories is woven into every aspect of Peabody's magical preschool experience. As the parent of two Peabody alumni, Ms. Strong has a deep appreciation for the expectations of the Peabody School community, and she has received multiple "Best Teacher" awards in the Family Favorites Edition of Charlottesville Family BLOOM magazine.
Jessica Harrison Fifth Grade Humanities Jessica earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Louisiana State University, an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Illinois where her graduate work focused on the ancient Maya, and a Master's in Teaching from LSU, where her graduate work focused on teaching history through primary sources (her action research project was titled, "Exploring Indigenous History through Historical Inquiry: Filling the Gaps with Primary Source Documents.") She is joining Peabody after four years of teaching 6th-12th graders in public schools in Louisiana and Illinois, including 6th Grade Social Studies, and AP Human Geography and European History. In her free time, Jessica enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her two dogs.
Jillian Wilde earned her B. A. from the University of Connecticut in Political Science and her M.A.T. from Goucher College in Elementary Education and Special Education. Mrs. Wilde holds teaching licenses in both Elementary Education and Special Education. She taught preschool for four years, followed by four years of teaching third grade in the Montgomery County, Maryland Public School system, before coming to Peabody. In her free time, she enjoys reading and traveling, as well as antiquing and thrifting. She also loves a variety of outdoor activities and is a certified scuba diver.
John Duncan is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds expertise in corporate development, national security, and personnel and facility security. Across a 25-year career in defense and intelligence that encompassed public and private sector roles, Mr. Duncan has overseen a broad range of US defense efforts, from large-scale IT initiatives to intelligence and counter-terrorism support operations. He has directed programs with worldwide applications, designed and managed corporate deployment strategies, and personally directed staff operations in a variety of foreign theaters. In June 2019 he successfully exited Intrepid Solutions and Services, Inc.; a company that he co-founded in 2009 and served in a variety of senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive/President. During his tenure, the company received industry-wide recognition and awards including multiple-year rankings as one of the fastest-growing companies in America and designation as Small Business Federal Contractor of the Year in 2012. In 2020, John formed Heahmor, a Charlottesville-based real estate investment and development platform focused on community collaboration-driven projects with synergistic stakeholder outcomes. He is a proud parent of two Peabody graduates and one current Peabody student.
Julie Gottschalk, B.A., M.A.T., is a third grade teacher at Peabody School. Ms. Gottschalk received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from the New School for Social Research in New York and her M.A.T. from Mary Baldwin College. The parent of two grown sons (one was in the first graduating class of Peabody School), Ms. G. has taught grades 1 through 5 and drama at Peabody School. Before she came to Peabody, she served as a gifted resource teacher in the Albemarle County schools and a volunteer in the Learning to Read through the Arts program at the Guggenheim Museum in NY. For fun, Ms. G. likes to take classes, play guitar, read, and spend time with friends.
Kasha Viets-Wood graduated from Guilford College in 1989 with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Art. She has worked with children in a variety of capacities for more than 35 years in public and private schools, daycares, preschools, and after care programs. Outside the classroom, Ms. Viets-Wood enjoys spending time with her her husband and three dogs, in addition to swimming, watching a good mystery series, socializing at the dog park, growing flowers, going for walks in the woods, and spending time with family and friends. She is thrilled to return to Peabody's After School program.
Job Titles:
- Director of Information Technology
Director of Information Technology Kathryn Barker holds a B.S. in Spanish from Georgetown University, but has spent her career in IT in Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville, working in both business and education settings. When not at Peabody, she is usually hard at work on her farm.
Kathryn received her B.A. in economics from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and her teaching certification from The University of Delaware. She earned her M.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania with a focus on reading, writing, and literacy. Kathryn started her teaching career at McCullough School in New Castle, Delaware. Kathryn is joining us from the Tower Hill School in Delaware, where she started as a third-grade teacher in 1997. Kathryn joined the middle school English department in 2004 and has been there ever since! In addition to teaching English, Kathryn has coached MS volleyball and lacrosse. CLOSE
Job Titles:
- Development Administrative Assistant
Keena White holds a B.A in Educational Studies from Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. Before joining Peabody, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician for the Virginia Institute of Autism here in Charlottesville, Virginia. White has worked with various populations of students ranging in age from PK-12, and has experience working within the area of Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Job Titles:
- Executive at - Large
- Strategist
Kelli Palmer is a strategist and practitioner in the fields of learning and inclusion. She is currently the head of Organizational Development & Corporate Citizenship at CFA Institute and their former founding head of Global Inclusion & Diversity. Kelli has also had the privilege of leading the development of a robust, multi-year corporate social responsibility strategy, establishing the organization's sustainability strategy, and ensuring that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are included in day-to-day operations. Her background working across business, nonprofit, and education landscapes has made her a multidimensional leader and strategist who brings together deep expertise with pragmatic, business-minded approaches to proliferating belonging through learning. Though a proud and longtime Charlottesville resident, Kelli was raised in Montgomery County, MD and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education at Elon University. A devoted alumna, Kelli is a member of Elon's Black Life Advisory Committee and the President's Council. She received her Master's Degree in Counselor Education from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from UVA. A lifelong learner, Kelli studied at Oxford University and has earned graduate certificates from Boston College and Harvard University. She is an active contributor on numerous local and state nonprofit Boards, including the Heather Heyer Foundation, Community Climate Collaborative (C3), Piedmont Virginia Community College Foundation, and the UVA Physicians Group. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Kelli is a classically trained vocalist and former member of the Washington Opera Company. Kelli and her husband James have four children, including three Peabody students.
Kimberly Jenkins Robinson graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, with a B.A. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. She is the Elizabeth D. and Richard A. Merrill Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law, and a Professor of Education at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She is a national expert who speaks domestically and internationally about educational equity, equal educational opportunity, civil rights and the federal role in education. Her scholarship has been published widely in leading journals, including the Harvard Law Review and University of Chicago Law Review, and proposes innovative legal and policy solutions for ensuring that all children receive equal access to an excellent education. She recently published the edited volume A Federal Right to Education: Fundamental Questions for Our Democracy (NYU Press 2019). In 2015, Harvard Education Press published her book that was co-edited with Professor Charles Ogletree Jr. of Harvard Law School, titled The Enduring Legacy of Rodriguez: Creating New Pathways to Equal Educational Opportunity. She also served in the General Counsel's Office of the U.S. Department of Education, where she helped draft federal policy on issues of race, sex and disability discrimination. In addition, Robinson represented school districts in school finance and constitutional law litigation as an associate with Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells).
Seventh and Eighth Grade Science Kristopher Chain received his Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from Louisiana Tech University before working as a Developmental Biology and Genetics researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Chain received his Masters of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of Virginia where his graduate work focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle during exercise and disease. He teaches Middle School Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Lauren Elliott holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in French from the University of Virginia. Before beginning teaching first grade at Peabody in 2022, she student-taught and interned in schools in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. She is passionate about responsive social-emotional teaching and learning and cultivating positive, interesting, and challenging learning experiences. In her free time, Ms. Elliott enjoys playing guitar and piano, playing volleyball, and spending quality time with friends supporting UVA Athletics!
Job Titles:
- Director of Teaching and Learning
has a B.A. from Juniata College, and has completed graduate coursework at both UVA and JMU. She has been an educator for more than 20 years, most recently teaching middle school English, high school English, and AP Literature & Composition. Prior to that, she served as a K-12 instructional technology resource teacher, and also managed a reading program at Venable Elementary School. Additionally, Ms. Funk has taught preschool and elementary classes in local independent schools and has also consulted with private clients on the college application process and academic coaching. She is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia. Ms. Funk is the mother of two Peabody alumni (Lydia, '11 and Sam, '19). Outside of school, she enjoys painting and crafts, cooking, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / PreK After School Teacher
- Teaching Assistant and PreK After School Teacher
Ms. Li earned a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia and holds a K - 6 teaching license in Virginia. She completed her student teaching at Stone- Robinson and Jackson Via Elementary Schools, and worked as an assistant teacher at the University of Virginia's Child Development Center. Ms. Li also has a Master of Science in Material Science and Engineering from Beijing University of Chemical Technology. With her bilingual and science background, Ms. Li is passionate about creating a curiosity-driven supportive learning environment.
Liz Barbour holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a Master of Teaching in Elementary Education, both from the University of Virginia. Prior to coming to Peabody, Ms. Barbour taught third and fourth grade in Fluvanna County. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, volunteering for animal rescues, and reading.
A Peabody alumna (‘11), Lydia Funk graduated from The College of William & Mary with a B.A. in French and Francophone Studies and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. She has completed graduate level coursework in Gifted Education and attended the 2020 summer workshop with the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard. While in college, Ms. Funk studied in both Montpellier, France, and Brussels, Belgium. Since graduating, she has worked with Iraqi undergraduates on exchange to the US and taught English in a French high school. She is thrilled to draw on her passion for language and communication in the English classroom this year. In her free time, Ms. Funk enjoys reading, gardening, restoring antique furniture, and planning her next travel adventure. CLOSE
Maran Garland earned her undergraduate degree in Communications with a concentration in Marketing and Public Relations from Marymount Manhattan College, followed by a Masters in Liberal Studies with a focus in Literature from Stony Brook University. After nearly 10 years of living and working in Manhattan, Ms. Garland relocated to Charlottesville where her husband Rob was, and continues to be, a local photographer. She was a member of The Paramount Theater's marketing team for two years before being promoted to Director of Marketing and member of the Senior Leadership Team for the nonprofit theater. Since 2019, she has proudly served as a lecturer for the course, Arts Marketing: Theory and Practice in the Arts Administration division of the Department of Art at UVA. Most recently, she joined Ting Internet's local team as the Marketing Manager for Charlottesville.
The Garlands are the proud parents of a Peabody student who began her Peabody tenure as a three-year-old in the Peabody PreK program. In her free time, Ms. Garland enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the sights of Charlottesville and Central Virginia, and cheering for the ‘Hoos.
Marie Bourgeois holds an A.A. in Interior Architecture and Design from the Intercontinental University of London and a B.A. in the Arts from Tulane University. Originally from Charlottesville, Marie has worked in design in New Orleans, Charlottesville, London, Gibraltar, and Sotogrande, Spain. Following graduate school, she worked on multiple projects in the London offices of Joanna Woods and Tim Gosling, including Gosling's redesign of the Goring Hotel. From London, she relocated to Gibraltar to work with Patricia Darch Interiors, with offices in Gibraltar and the south of Spain. Her work has been featured in LPA, La Revista, and Casa y Jardin. She returned to Charlottesville in 2014 and is the principal and owner of Marie Bourgeois Design. Marie has been in involved in several local charities, including the Women's Initiative and the Music Resource Center, which she helped design for its initial opening in 2004. Marie and her husband Pat have five children at Peabody and one Peabody alumna.
Mary Beth Perry has worked in many areas of education since coming to Charlottesville in 2002. She has a background in English Literature and a B.A from the College of William & Mary. At UVA's Curry School she finished her Teaching Masters in 2009. Now, she thoroughly enjoys her time as the Peabody Librarian! CLOSE
Mary Katherine Prehn has a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Spanish from Sewanee: The University of the South. After studying Art History and Medieval Spain and the Road to Santiago in Madrid, she hiked El Camino de Santiago in 2016. Most recently she has returned from living in Spain full-time and working at two schools outside Ourense, Galicia. She also has participated in the Advanced Spanish program at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and participated in outreach in Quito, Ecuador as part of the Youth World program. Senora Prehn is not only passionate about language learning but also youth development programs, and she has served with non-profit organizations both locally and abroad. She is excited to develop a cross-cultural curriculum for Spanish language learners at Peabody, incorporating artistic and literary elements for her students.
Job Titles:
- Director of Admissions & Alumni Engagement Title IX Coordinator
Mary Lou Primm earned her M.S. in Counseling and her B.B.A. in Marketing and Spanish at The University of Memphis (TN). She is relatively new to Charlottesville and enthusiastic about bringing to Peabody decades of admission experience in a variety of independent schools, including boarding, visual and performing arts, faith-based, and single gender environments. Mary Lou and her husband are proud parents of two adult daughters and in her free time enjoys playing tennis, hiking, needlework, and exploring Charlottesville.
Mary Stees Music (PreK - grade 3, grades 6-8) Ms. Stees earned a B.A. in Music Education from James Madison University and an M.Ed. in Special Education from Indiana University. Mary is certified in both vocal and general music K-12. Mary has most recently been the music teacher at Rogers Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana in addition to teaching two after-school programs (Musical Beginnings and IU Children's Choir) with the Indiana University Jacobs Academy. Her previous employment experience includes working for the IU Auditorium as the educational outreach specialist and at Brown County Junior High School as the performing arts director. She has also led the Rogers Elementary School Equity Committee.
Mary-Patricia Moynihan holds an M.A. in Hispanic Literature from Indiana University. While completing her B.A. at the University of Virginia, she majored in both Spanish and in Foreign Affairs with a concentration in Latin America. Her experience includes years of teaching Spanish on the high school and university levels, as well as running her own Spanish language tutoring service. She is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia. "Profe," as the students call her, delights in international travel. As a high school teacher, she ran several student trips abroad. She also has taught on the Semester-at-Sea ship. Having embarked on her first international trip at the tender age of fourteen months, Profe has now set foot on all seven continents and has visited at least 41 different countries. Her ambition is to make it to every single Spanish-speaking country, although that dream is still being realized.
French A native of France, Ms. Meyer-Pollock earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and her Master's Degree in Information and Communication at the University of Nancy, France. Prior to joining the Peabody School faculty in 2000, Ms. Meyer-Pollock taught middle and high school students in Lorraine, France for several years and is certified by the French National Education System (with a CAPES) in modern literature. She is recognized annually by L'Association Americaine des Professeurs de Francais (AATF - American Association of Teachers of French in Virginia) for her students' performance on the National French exam, a challenging French contest. Outside of school, she enjoys country living, hiking, gardening, volunteering at the SPCA, and singing in the Pollocks, a local rock band.
Matt Wyatt graduated with honors from UVA with a B.A. in Music and has worked professionally as a musician for over 20 years. His primary goal as a teacher is to help students develop well-rounded musicianship through practices that they find inspiring, exciting, and relevant. Mr. Wyatt incorporates listening, singing, percussion, ukulele, songwriting, and recording technology into the classroom. He performs as a drummer/percussionist with Humberto Sales, West of Wyatt, and Beleza and works as a freelance music producer and sound engineer.
McKenzie Harper earned her B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and her M.A.T. from Mary Baldwin University. She has taught a variety of grades in her career, including Grades 1, 4, and 6 in both public and private schools. Ms. Harper has two sons and in her free time can be found walking her three dogs, running, or reading from an ever-growing pile of wonderful books.
Michelle Krentz received a B.S. in Communications from Boston University and an M.A. in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught English in an inner-city high school for a time before a long detour into corporate America and raising a child. Michelle has worked with students of various ages through tutoring and classroom instruction. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys cooking, reading, exercising and playing board games with her husband and son.
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / After School Teacher
Mykel Paige earned a B.S. in Communications from Kaplan University in 2009 and A.S. degrees in Teacher Assisting, Gourmet Cooking & Catering, and Nutrition, Diet & Health Science. Mykel's professional experience includes becoming Trauma-Informed Certified and working as a Residential Counselor in a group home for abused teens, as well as being trained in behavior management and crisis intervention. Mykel is currently working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Natasha Lawler holds a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Notre Dame. She got her start in journalism as a fact checker for San Francisco magazine and worked her way up to Managing Editor. Ms. Lawler was one of the first employees of Minted.com, a global community of independent designers and artists creating holiday cards, wedding invitations, and other artistic goods. She left Minted after eight years as the Senior Director of Public Relations, Partnerships and Events and currently owns and runs NML PR and Events, a brand building, public relations and events consulting business. While living in Hong Kong, Natasha founded a knitting group for undocumented refugees as a way to foster community and enable self-support. She moved to Charlottesville six years ago and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Virginia's Children's Hospital and is a former board member of the International Rescue Committee Charlottesville. She is a Sunday School teacher and is also involved in several other local charities including Lilypads Housing and the Women's Initiative. Natasha has three young boys at Peabody.
Job Titles:
- Business and Operations Manager
Nettie Lovet received a B.S. in Business and Accounting from the University of Phoenix. She has worked for small businesses as well as larger corporations for nearly 20 years, and has both accounting and operational experience. Ms. Lovet moved to the mountains of Virginia with her daughters in 2018. In her spare time, Nettie enjoys gardening, country living, dancing, and visiting the lake with her family.
Nicole Dreyfus graduated from Bard College with a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing, and earned her Master's of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. She holds a teaching license for grades PreK-6 in the state of Virginia, and is also a certified and licensed teacher of Meditation, Hatha, Kundalini and Raja Yoga. Ms. Dreyfus loves learning new things, chess, crossword puzzles, reading about everything, yoga, jogging, skiing, camping, snorkeling, creative writing, history, poetry, chemistry, art history, painting, travel, zoology, psychology, anthropology, volunteering, philosophy, theology, Halloween, mycology and pugs.
Nora Evans is originally from Bucharest, Romania and earned a B.S. in Computer Science at the Polytechnical University of Bucharest. Nora moved to Charlottesville in Fall 2004 to pursue graduate school at the University of Virginia, where she earned a Master in Computer Science, a Master of Science in Mathematics, and a Master of Teaching. Nora has several years of experience as a software engineer and is the author of several research papers in Computer Science. Nora is passionate about Math education, especially for girls and women, and she co-founded a Math Circle for girls and held lessons for four years until the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020, Nora decided to focus full time on education, and she joined the teaching faculty at Peabody School in 2022. Besides coding and teaching math, Nora enjoys hiking and biking with her husband and two children.
Paige Mattson earned her B.A. from the College of Charleston and her M.A.T. in Elementary Education from American University. Ms. Mattson holds a teaching license in the state of Virginia and recently completed her micro-credential in Culturally Responsive Teaching. Prior to her arrival at Peabody, Ms. Mattson served in the Peace Corps and taught at Stone-Robinson Elementary. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Mattson loves being outdoors, gardening, practicing yoga, learning to play the ukulele and spending time at home with her husband, two boys, eight chickens, and six beehives.
Rhonda Saunders received her B.A. (Honors) in Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Kent, Canterbury UK, specializing in directing. She then received her teaching masters at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and Early Years Professional Status at the University of East Anglia. In addition to teaching in schools, Rhonda has taught and directed youth theater for ages five to adult, has run a daycare and preschool, and has worked as an actress, director and set designer. Rhonda was Head of Drama and teacher of English at Langley School in Norfolk, UK for five years, where she taught the full range of theater skills, from acting to lighting, and script analysis to puppetry, in addition to serving as an examiner for A Level Theatre Studies.
received a B.A from Boston College in Education and History and a M.S. Ed. from Simmons College. He completed his administrative coursework at Northeastern University. Mr. Orlando has worked with various populations of students PK-12 in both public and independent schools. Prior to his arrival at Peabody, Mr. Orlando was the Head of School at Academy Hill, a school for gifted and talented students in Springfield, MA.
Job Titles:
- Lower School Teacher Support
Ms. Fox graduated from Cornell University in 2007 with a degree in psychology, concentrating on cognitive neuroscience. In 2009, Ms. Fox received her Masters in Teaching from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Peabody's faculty, Ms. Fox taught at Woodbrook Elementary School in Albemarle County for four years. Ms. Fox presented at the 2017 National Association of Gifted Children's Conference, entitled "All the World's a Stage: Sparking a Love of Shakespeare in the Primary Grades." Ms. Fox has also received a "Best Teacher" award in multiple years of the Family Favorites Edition of Charlottesville Family BLOOM magazine.
Job Titles:
- Online Learning Coordinator
Sarah FitzHenry holds a Masters in Library Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a B.A. in English and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, both from Bowling Green State University. Ms. FitzHenry brings experience from both public and independent schools, having taught a diverse range of subjects from elementary literacy to computer science. Additionally, she is an experienced educator coach and presenter, and is passionate about helping teachers and families shape the next generation of leaders and citizens. Ms. FitzHenry lives in Charlottesville with her family, and is pretty much always reading a book or asking someone a question.
Sarah Ridle received her Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation from Mary Washington and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington. A native of Charlottesville and a Washington State certified K-8 teacher, Sarah was a kindergarten and first grade teacher at Open Window School, an independent K-8 school for gifted learners in Bellevue, WA, for eight years. Her other experience includes environmental education, Kagan Cooperative Learning, Seesaw, Responsive Classroom, and the Bridges Math curriculum. She is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia.
Shelby Canonico holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Psychology, as well as a Masters in Teaching, both from Virginia Tech. She has worked with students from PreKindergarten to Sixth grade as an assistant teacher, personal tutor, and student-teacher. She has her ESL endorsement and is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia.
Stephanie Parr holds her B.A. in Fine Arts and her Master's Degree in Education from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. After graduating, she relocated to New Orleans and spent 13 years teaching K-8 students visual art at two independent schools. She has a passion for color and texture, and works in a variety of media including printmaking, painting, and ceramics. When she is not teaching or creating in her studio, Ms. Parr can be found working in her garden alongside her chickens and basset hound or in the kitchen baking up a delicious pie.
Fourth Grade Math and Science Stephanie Scarpinato earned her B.S. and M.Ed. from Towson University in Elementary Education, and has the Gifted Education endorsement through Virginia State University. Mrs. Scarpinato has taught for more than 25 years in different capacities including grades 2-5, as a gifted resource teacher in Harford County Public Schools in MD, and in a center-based gifted program in the Chesterfield County Public Schools in Virginia. In her free time, Mrs. Scarpinato enjoys furniture restoration, crafting, reading, and spending time with her family, and looks forward to exploring bee keeping and other agricultural activities at her home in Scottsville.
Susan Kuhn Blank holds a B.A.from the University of Virginia and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. She completed a residency in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in endocrinology at the University of Virginia. She was a founding partner of Blue Ridge Endocrinology and Diabetes, which was later sold to the University of Virginia. She then founded BEATDiabetes, a non-profit social enterprise which aims to leverage technology and insights from behavioral economics to catalyze behavioral change, improve health, and lower cost in populations with Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Blank has served on the Board of Directors of Madison House and CHIP (Comprehensive Health Investment Project) of Virginia and is currently serving on the Board of Managers of the University of Virginia Alumni Association. Susan and her husband John are proud parents of two Peabody alumnae and two current students. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.
Séverine Frémy, a native of France, holds a Master's of Education from the National School of Education in France, and a Bachelor's degree in English and American literature and civilization. Madame Frémy arrived in VA in 2013 through a teachers exchange program to help facilitate educational partnerships between schools in Charlottesville (CHS, Buford, CATEC) and schools in the Besançon school district. Previously, Mme Frémy taught in France for 12 years at all levels, from lower school to mainly high school. She has also taught French in the UK for three years and, in Virginia, at the University of Mary Washington. Mme Frémy had her first contact with Peabody School in 2015 to start the French Exchange program she has been coordinating ever since with Vauban Middle School in Belfort, France. She has now extended the program to 3rd - 5th grades with École Victor Hugo in Belfort. During her free time, Séverine loves dancing, hiking, cooking, learning Italian, practicing yoga, reading, and traveling.
Tara Montgomery holds a BSN from the University of Virginia. Her experience includes nursing in the inpatient setting (Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital), outpatient clinic (UVA Cancer Center), and most recently, Telehealth nursing. Ms. Montgomery's goal as Peabody's school nurse is to provide a safe environment for students to learn and play as well as to promote health and wellness in exciting and proactive ways.
Tobias Dengel holds a BSE in Finance (Wharton) and a BSE in Systems Engineering, both from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been active in digital media for over 20 years, starting with AOL in 1996. While there, he held a variety of leadership roles including General Manager of AOL Local and VP of AOL International, based in London. Mr. Dengel left AOL in 2003 to found Leads.com, a pioneering search agency which was acquired by Web.com in 2005. In 2009, he co-founded WillowTree, Inc., a leading mobile agency based in Charlottesville which has grown to over 400 employees. Mr. Dengel began his career as an analyst at the consulting firm AT Kearney. He lives in Charlottesville, VA with his wife Lynn, a breast oncology and melanoma surgeon, and his four children, who attend Peabody School.
Tolly Merrick received a B.A. in English from St. Lawrence University and a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University of Baltimore. He earned his teaching certificate from the University of New Mexico in 1995 and has been teaching in public and private schools since that time. Mr. Merrick has worked in New Mexico, Virginia, and Northern California teaching English, History, Health, and Sociology classes. He has also coached boys' soccer and lacrosse. He is a guitarist, triathlete and certified scuba diver. Mr. Merrick presented at the 2017 National Association of Gifted Children's Conference on the use of student assessment "menus," which teachers can use to offer greater student choice and flexibility with material.
Traci Wynn holds a B.S. in psychology from James Madison University. She is an Enrichment/Resource Specialist at Peabody School, and chairs the Peabody Diversity Committee. She is also the coordinator of the middle school service-learning program. Ms. Wynn was an Instructional Assistant in Albemarle County Public Schools for three years, where she taught individual pupils as well as small groups of elementary level students in a variety of academic subjects, and where she was also responsible for the regular supervision of groups of students in the classroom and during other times throughout the school day. She is participating in the Peabody School Cohort for Gifted Education through the Curry School at the University of Virginia. She is the proud mother of a Peabody alumnus.
Tracy Armstrong earned her B.A. from Mary Baldwin in English and her M.Ed. from James Madison University as a Reading Specialist. Ms. Armstrong holds teaching certification in grades PreK-6. Ms. Armstrong is a certified reading specialist and working towards her micro-credential in culturally responsive teaching.
Victoria Young joined the Peabody staff in 2011. Prior to becoming Assistant Head, Ms. Young taught 2nd - 5th grade and was Peabody's first Director of Curriculum & Instruction. Ms. Young received her Bachelor's degree from UVA in 2007, her Master's degree from Virginia Tech in 2014, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University in 2015. Ms. Young was selected as an Education Fellow with Ecology Project International and has presented about Peabody's innovative Arts & Enrichment program at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Annual Convention. Ms. Young earned a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University in 2021.
Waki Wynn serves as Athletic Director for Peabody School and the Middle School boys' basketball coach. A native of Charlottesville, Mr. Wynn is a realtor and attended Albemarle High School and played football while attending Virginia Union University. He has also been involved in youth sports for many years, including coaching Pop Warner football and AAU basketball, coaching the number one 15-and-under USBA basketball team in the nation in 2009. Mr. Wynn has been involved in many community activities over the years, from co-founder of the African American Reflector newspaper, to serving on the board of the Young Black Professional Network.
Will Mayo holds a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and an M.B.A. from University of Colorado-Boulder. Will is the Chief Revenue Officer of WillowTree, where he leads sales and revenue functions for the company. Prior to this role, Will was a Director of Business Development at Twitter, where he led partnerships for Twitter's data services business. Will spent 9 years in management consulting where he provided commercial, government and non-profit clients with strategic planning and financial advisory services and spent the first couple of years out of college working for Lockheed Martin as a Satellite engineer. Will and his wife, Carol Lynn, have two Peabody students. He spends his free time running, fly fishing, and traveling with his family.