RICHMOND WALDORF SCHOOL (RWS) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Administration
- Ex - Officio Member
Andrew joined the RWS administrative team in 2023, returning to the state of Virginia where he began his diverse career in education over 20 years ago. He started in the classroom as a health and physical education teacher, working with students from kindergarten to 12th grade during his 15 years in the classroom. He has taught in public, private, and international school settings. His time and experience in Austria had a powerful impact in the early part of his career.
Starting in 2018, he pioneered with a team to open a Waldorf charter school in Boise, Idaho. During this time, he primarily served as the Charter Administrator leading a team of 45 faculty and staff members in service of delivering a Waldorf education to over 350 students. He holds a Master's in Educational Leadership. Additionally, he completed his Waldorf Leadership and Administration program from the Center for Anthroposophy recognizing that Waldorf education is a genuine, meaningful, and revolutionary way to teach and learn. It has grounded him as an educator and as a leader.
He and his wife, Deborah, were married in Alexandria, Virginia in 2005. They have 4 children: Ella, Findlay, Cora, and Bennett. Deborah and Andrew met and got married in Virginia, and though they moved away in 2006, Virginia remained in their hearts and minds all these years. Together, they enjoy the mountains and the beach (well, Andrew is warming up to it) as well as all the outdoors has to offer. From camping to kayaking, it is an adventure every time with their children.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Designer
- Project Manager
Ashley Long is a Designer and Project Manager with 18 years of experience in Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning. She began her career working on regional K-12 and higher educational design and joined an international firm developing master plans for federal projects nationally and abroad. She has designed and managed a number of award-winning projects for Virginia universities, and has broad experience collaborating on strategic planning, budgets, and programming for a variety of project types and sizes. After establishing her own business, she worked with select residential clients and currently manages renovations and operations for a portfolio of investment properties. Throughout her career she has consistently supported interdisciplinary teams, and values listening to understand and open communication. Ashley has a second grader and an early childhood student at RWS. Ashley holds a BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- Parents Association Moderator
Brionna is a labor organizer with nearly two decades experience advocating around education issues. Her career began in Richmond Public Schools where she taught Fourth Grade and Kindergarten and served as a K-5 Reading Specialist. After leaving the classroom, Brionna received her PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Education in the Curriculum, Culture, and Change program. She then joined Legal Aid Justice Center as an Organizer where she led a statewide school funding campaign advocating for full and fair funding of Virginia's public schools. Brionna and her husband, Michael, have a Second Grader, Maverick, at RWS.
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Treasurer of the Audit Committee
Brooke is currently a Nurse Manager for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System. Brooke is also a Registered Nurse and started her nursing career at VCU Health System Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. Brooke has a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Howard University and a Bachelor's in Nursing from VCU. Brooke is currently enrolled in Masters in Business Administration with a finance concentration at Louisiana State University. Brooke's professional journey has consisted of diverse roles and experiences over 20 years including private banking, financial analysis, business account manager, esthetics instructor, master esthetician, spa manager, operations manager, and nurse manager. Brooke's two children have attended Richmond Waldorf school starting with the Sprouts program. Brooke resides in the city of Richmond and currently has a child in early childhood and a child in third grade.
Job Titles:
- College Member Bios Are Available on the Faculty & Administration Page
Glenn arrived in Richmond in 1990 to study Fine Arts at VCU where his studies ultimately focused on glassblowing and goldsmithing. Upon graduation he chose to open a small jewelry making studio in Shockoe Bottom where he worked diligently and became known for producing engagement rings and wedding bands of his own design.
Glenn met Letitia Harris (now Letitia Amey and a grades teacher here at Richmond Waldorf School) while riding a bike. They adventured for several years, honeymooned on a tandem in Ireland and began growing their family. Given his clear passion for bicycling, it was no surprise when Glenn volunteered to bring bicycling to the first grade class once a week. With a few cash donations, a small fleet of ten bicycles was assembled and the pilot program was born in 2013. Fast forward to today and the program, with Letitia Amey as a co-instructor, now has fifty proper bicycles and a skills course with each child in the school participating.
Glenn's newest chapter sees the closing of the jewelry studio in order to open The Journeyman's Adventure Company, a specialized bicycle shop focused on traveling by bike.
Job Titles:
- Acorn Class Assistant & Aftercare Assistant
Hannah Mae, an RWS alum, is overjoyed to bring to life the wonders of a Waldorf education for the children in the Acorn class. She joined the RWS community in the 2022-2023 school year, after a year of teaching through the Reggio Emilia approach. Hannah Mae loves to grow, learn, and explore alongside the children. She has had the pleasure of teaching in many capacities, such as swimming, figure skating, and soccer, but she is most excited to teach alongside Ms. Megan in the Waldorf community!
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
Heather is a creative spirit with a business mindset. In 2008 she founded design agency, BigTree, and continues to grow and evolve its services based on the needs of clients. She works with business owners to analyze and strategize their marketing, and align the visual identity with their mission, vision, and values. BigTree was an integral partner in the rebranding of RWS in 2016.
Involvement in Waldorf education began in 2013 when Heather and her husband, Nate, enrolled their 2-year-old daughter in Sprouts at Richmond Waldorf School. As a parent of a now 6th grader, Heather remains active in the school and has attended many anthroposophical classes throughout the years to grow a deeper understanding of the Waldorf philosophy.
Job Titles:
- an Aftercare Assistant
- Oak Class Assistant & Aftercare Assistant
Jackson started working in childcare in the summer of 2019 at Catoctin Quaker Camp, and continues to work there over the summers. He has led 3-day backpacking trips with 19 campers, and in 2022, Jackson led a 10-day backpacking trip for that camp's graduating unit.
Jackson joined Richmond Waldorf School as an Aftercare assistant in 2022, and was then hired as the Oak class Assistant Teacher in 2023. RWS has been an incredible place for him to incorporate some of the in-depth childcare he does during the summers into his everyday life.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Audit Committee
Kadie has been an educator for 15 years, working in both public and private school systems, and currently works at The Steward School in Richmond, VA. Kadie has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mary Baldwin University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Longwood University. She resides in Richmond's West End with her husband and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Trustee
For most of her career, Leah has worked in Medical Administration in various roles, learning many skills along the way. Although a tough decision, she recently took a hiatus to devote more time to her family and further her education. After graduating from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in spring of 2023, she plans to continue her studies at the University of Richmond and study Communications.
Leah is a proud Richmond native and Former Waldorf parent. She joined the Waldorf community three years ago when her family was exploring their middle school options. Her family enjoyed their time at Richmond Waldorf School and Leah is grateful to be able to serve the Waldorf community in a different capacity.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Faculty College Chair
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Audit Committee
For over twenty years, Marianne has specialized in creating engaging communications and event strategies that drive company culture, employee recognition and client appreciation. Marianne has worked in many industries including international development, at-risk youth program management, renewable energy & energy efficiency, and travel & hospitality. Her experience at Siemens Gamesa, U.S. Department of Energy, Hilton Worldwide, and Marriott International led her to working for herself under the moniker Bespoke Words. Marianne hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a proud "lifer" of the Quaker educational system; she attended Friends' Central School and received her BA in Spanish & Latin American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in International Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She is mother to Amalia, an RWS student, and wife to Antonio, the most interesting man in the world. When she isn't traveling with her friends & family, chances are you'll find Marianne talking about, reading about, or cooking food from all corners of the earth.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Trustee
Melissa is currently a heart failure cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health where she has practiced since 2012. Melissa is an Associate Professor of medicine and the Director of the Advanced Heart Failure Fellowship Program. She has a BA in East Asian Studies from the College of William and Mary. Melissa obtained her MS and MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She did all her training in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Heart Failure at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Melissa loves running, skiing and reading mysteries. Melissa's two daughters joined Richmond Waldorf School in 2020 and are currently in sixth and eighth grade. Melissa was a class representative and member of the Parent's Association for three years and then transitioned to the Board of Trustees in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Chairman of Committee on Trustees
- Engineering Manager at Veolia Water Technologies
Ron is an engineering manager at Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions with over 18 years of experience in engineering, research, development and manufacturing across a variety of industries, including aerospace, nuclear and energy. He currently leads a multi-disciplined international team of mechanical designers responsible for providing engineering solutions for clean water production challenges in service across the globe.
The Volpicella family has been part of the Richmond Waldorf School since 2018 with two children attending school in EC and 3rd grade.