Meet Our Faculty

“All of our students are designers and creators.”

When given engaging problems to solve, our students generate ideas, expressions, and noise that energize us all. In my role as a technology and innovation coach, I am lucky to work with both teachers and students to develop and carry out exciting projects and activities. Just stop by one of our makerspaces to see what I mean!

I started at Potomac in 2002 after teaching middle school English and algebra in Baltimore City Public Schools and then trying the corporate environment as a software trainer. From very early in my career at Potomac, it became clear that I was amongst lifelong learners and innovative thinkers, especially in pursuits of curriculum development and technology integration. I have been a part of the technology development of Potomac both as a specialist and a teacher and appreciate the courage and creativity of Potomac’s administrators, teachers, and students. While the devices and applications have changed over the years, our commitment to students and their families remains steadfast. In addition to teaching, I enjoy YA fiction, DIY projects, and road trips with my family as we explore parks and landmarks in the surrounding area, and especially enjoy finding Virginia’s LOVE signs and Civil War trails.

"My favorite moments at Potomac involve either a) appreciating students’ performances, or b) working one-on-one with students to help put their ideas onto the page."

I am delighted to be returning to Potomac following a four-year absence as a full-time parent. 

Between 2012 and 2017, I was a History teacher, English teacher, student advisor, and faculty advisor to the Student Government Association and the Model UN club. 

My favorite moments at Potomac involve either a) appreciating students’ performances, or b) working one-on-one with students to help put their ideas onto the page.

In my time away from Potomac, I had a second son and joined activism related to climate, human rights, and anti-supremacism. 

I graduated from Dartmouth College and have a Masters in Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. 

“Learning how to become your own health advocate is one of the most powerful life skills a young athlete can learn.”

Managing health and wellness through sports and activities is an important aspect of a young person’s life. It takes time to understand your own health needs, and I love being able to assist students in that process. My goal is to not only diagnose and treat injuries but help students understand the importance of prevention and maintenance through diet, strength training, and conditioning. I too was a competitive athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track & field. I have also competed in fitness competitions. I spend most of my time strength training for fun now. 

I am currently pursuing my Doctorate of Athletic Training degree from Indiana State University. I completed my Master of Applied Nutrition at Northeastern University, and my Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from George Mason University. I hold the ITAT (ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer) certification, and the Performance Enhancement Specialist certification.

"When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, skills I honed and put to good use while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia a few years ago."

After a teaching career that has taken me to western Massachusetts, southwestern Virginia, and central New Jersey, I am thrilled to be joining The Potomac School faculty and working just outside my hometown of Washington, DC. I have not lived or worked here for many years, but it’s wonderful to be back.

My resume says I have studied and taught English, history, and religion, but my work with teenaged students over the years has made me realize that what we are really studying together is imagination--our uniquely human capacity to wonder, to explore, to dream of things that do not exist and then to create them. Imagination is the foundation of empathy, cooperation, and innovation; Albert Einstein said it was more important than knowledge. It makes us human in the deepest sense of the word, and directly or indirectly I have tried to make it a major theme of my classes in the humanities.

When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, skills I honed and put to good use while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia a few years ago, as well as some shorter treks on the John Muir Trail in the Sierras and the Long Trail in the Green Mountains. During some future summer vacation, I can “imagine” myself walking the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) in northern Spain, but first I look forward to this newest phase in my teaching career at Potomac, and to re-exploring the metro area while helping my wife and two sons (as well as our dog) settle into our new hometown.

"One of my greatest joys is helping young people understand themselves and the natural world around them. Teaching biology allows me to experience this joy every day and to nurture students’ growth in the process. My goal is for them to connect our study of biology to what they hear on the news, read in a book or discuss with a doctor. "

After receiving my B.S. in Biology, I taught for a few years, spent a few years in Germany for my husband’s job and then was fortunate to join Potomac where the campus can be our classroom and exploration is engrained in the culture. I went on to earn a Masters degree in Sustainability and have also tried to help students participate in Potomac’s sustainability efforts. When I’m not teaching you might find me cooking, crafting, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling or traveling around the world with my two children and husband.

Ever since I can remember athletics have played a major role in my life. I’ve transformed this passion into a rewarding career educating young people. Twenty years dedicated to collegiate athletics, including seventeen as a soccer coach and operations assistant at Catholic University, have equipped me with a deep understanding of athlete development. My coaching philosophy centers on fostering a supportive and challenging environment where student-athletes can excel both on and off the field. Beyond wins and losses, I prioritize building character, leadership, and a long term love of sports. 

A lifelong athlete, I was fortunate to participate in soccer and baseball at Christchurch School and Washington College, earning induction into both schools' Halls of Fame. I am thrilled that my journey has led me to Potomac and I look forward to contributing to our student’s experience.

I am a life-long learner who loves spending my days in school. I’ve worked as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, director of student services, lower school head, and director of curriculum and instruction across several schools, including The Langley School and Fairfax County Public Schools. In every role, the best part of my day is spent in conversation, learning, and growing with those around me.

Originally from the San Francisco bay area, I’ve called Northern Virginia home since 2010 and have loved trying new foods, day trips, and hikes. I love it so much that I convinced my two sisters and their families to move here, too! I enjoy reading, exercising, and gathering for meals with loved ones in my spare time. 

"My favorite thing about Potomac is the relationships that I get to build with students, both in the classroom and through athletics."

A native of northern Virginia, I attended the Holton-Arms School, where I thrived as a three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I went on to play lacrosse at the University of Virginia, where my team captured three ACC championships and appeared in two NCAA Tournament championship games. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in government, I stayed in Charlottesville for a fifth year and earned an Master of Science in commerce through UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. In college, I developed a passion for traveling while studying abroad in Australia and China.

I began my professional career at a commercial real estate development firm in Arlington, where I worked for three years as a financial analyst. I stayed active by coaching club lacrosse in my free time. When the opportunity to come to Potomac presented itself, it was too good to pass up. Working in a variety of different capacities as a teacher, coach, and admission officer has been extremely rewarding. My favorite thing about Potomac is the relationships that I get to build with students, both in the classroom and through athletics.

“Outside of teaching, you can find me hiking, biking, playing soccer, or tending to plants at Common Good City Farm in DC.”

In my classroom, I strive to blend intellectual challenge with the energy and joy young people bring to the study of history. As a tutor and a teaching assistant at Match Charter High School in Boston, and then as a teaching fellow at the Barrie School in Silver Spring, I focused on helping my students develop their own interpretations of critical issues and, more broadly, their own intellectual passions. In this process, I've found that my students have a lot to teach me. Now entering my fourth year at Potomac, I remain inspired by the process of teaching young people history.

When I started at Swarthmore College, my plan was to go to medical school. All that changed after a few amazing courses in history -- these courses changed how I viewed the world in powerful ways. My graduate work at the University of Chicago allowed me to focus more deeply on the history of the abolitionist movement in the United States. I wrote my master's thesis about a group of nineteenth-century abolitionists who attempted to reverse the growth of slavery in the South by creating an alternative market in free-labor cotton. I won the Fogelson Prize from the University of Chicago for my master's thesis.

Outside of teaching, I spend lots of time outside, usually with my dog. I recently completed the John Muir Trail, a 200 mile backpacking trip through the southern part of the Sierra Nevada range, which ended with a midnight climb to the top of Mount Whitney. My picture (above) is from the top of Mount Whitney just after sunrise!