Meet Our Faculty

“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand. Step back and I will act.” –Chinese Proverb

My journey into education began 25 years ago, quite serendipitously, as I made the move from Dallas, Texas, to Washington, DC. As a liberal arts graduate, I knew I wanted to work with children in some capacity, but had no idea that my journey would lead me to American University’s master’s program in learning disabilities, headed by the legendary special education pioneer Sally L. Smith. After spending 18 months taking classes in the evenings and filling my days with an internship at the Lab School of Washington, I was hooked! I learned what theory looks like in practice, I learned to make learning visible, I learned to appreciate teaching from a strengths-based approach, and most importantly, I learned to understand that all children have the ability to learn – and that it is our job as educators to find those openings for them, to discover the things that catch their interest and engage them in the learning process.

After spending a number of years at Fairfax County Public Schools, I left the classroom to raise a family and began an Arlington business tutoring, assessing, and advocating for families of students with learning differences. Once I completed my Ph.D. in education at George Mason University with a focus on special education and arts integration, I began teaching at American University’s Masters of Arts program in learning disabilities, as well as working full-time as the curriculum and technology coordinator at The Lab School of Washington and then as academic dean in the high school. Through the intersection of these roles, I have had the opportunity to supervise and train dozens of educators at all levels of experience. I’ve also had the privilege of engaging in multiple research projects and authoring a textbook, Creative Materials for the Early Childhood Classroom.

I am thrilled to be joining the Potomac School community. My favorite part of my work is the opportunity to engage with students, parents, and colleagues.

"The classical ideal of sound body and sound mind has always appealed to me, and it is one I seek to instill in my students and athletes here at Potomac."

The classical ideal of sound body and sound mind has always appealed to me, and it is one I seek to instill in my students and athletes here at Potomac. Teaching Latin and coaching cross-country and track have given me a unique opportunity to work with students over the span of several years.  Remembering the challenges of balancing academics and athletics in both high school and college enables me to identify with the typical Potomac student experience. Furthermore, teaching and coaching is a wonderful way to honor the tremendous support and dedication that my own teachers and coaches provided me. Having grown up in the area and attended a Jesuit high school and Quaker college, I feel at home here at Potomac both in terms of locality and ideology.

The early childhood years are where we teach students to dream while they are awake. Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

During my very first visit to the Potomac Lower School, I knew it was a perfect place for me. I saw students being encouraged to invent algorithms and write their own kindergarten how-to books. When I got an opportunity to join in on the fun while being served a bamboo salad on the playground, I was hooked.  Imagination requires the use of our whole brain, which increases our students' problem-solving abilities, social-emotional development, and empathy quotient.  I love that the Potomac Lower School encourages students to use their imagination to speak their dreams into existence.

I knew that I wanted to be an educator since I was five years old when my favorite at-home activity was pretending to teach my siblings and my teddy bears.  I consider it a badge of honor that most of my life has been spent in schools.  After college, I began my teaching career as a middle school mathematics teacher and found my love of early childhood while in graduate school.  Shortly after completing my doctoral studies, I became the founding Head of School for an early childhood school that grew into a preschool to a Grade 8 parochial school during my eighteen-year tenure.  

I love the natural curiosity, the kindness, and the willingness to take academic risks of our youngest learners. I am elated to be back to exclusively focusing on the Lower School, where we teach students to dream while they are awake.

My husband, Mark, and I have five children and two grandchildren.  Our youngest son, Donovan, will be an incoming Potomac 9th grader.

"I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and my Master of Fine Arts in drawing and painting from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill."

Prior to coming to Potomac, I taught beginning and advanced painting, as well as digital art, at the Albert Einstein High School in Montgomery County. I also served as their yearbook adviser. I earned my bachelor's degree in Spanish and education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and my Master of Fine Arts in drawing and painting from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In addition, I have had my work exhibited in half a dozen shows.

"It is refreshing every day to come to work with a group of students who want to learn."

Learning about the past has always intrigued me, and I think sharing that curiosity with my students is the most rewarding part of my job. With the help of Potomac, I have had many opportunities to travel and hone my craft. Most recently, last summer I spent a week in England exploring the mystery surrounding the death of King Richard III. He was one of the most hated kings in English history, and he had a dramatic death, but the discovery of his body 450 years gave his story new life. This trip, like many others, gave me a newfound focus and passion that I was able to share with my students.

Over the past 13 years, Potomac has certainly helped foster my love of teaching and learning. I have loved every moment. From the children, to the parents, to my fellow teachers, I have found a real home. It is refreshing every day to come to work with a group of students who want to learn.

My education background has always been English language arts/history. After receiving my bachelor's degree in English/creative writing from San Diego State University, I decided to pursue my graduate degree in British literature/history. Upon graduating from SDSU, I immediately found a love for teaching 6th graders, and this is the age group I have been working with ever since. Sixth graders are fun, energetic, and always keep me on my toes. There is never a dull moment in my classroom, and not one day has ever felt like the one before. I consider myself lucky to have such a profession and love of learning.

“To find your passion in life is to know you would do that one thing for free, every day, for the rest of your life. To make your passion your job every day is the ultimate dream.”

Since I was 9 years old, I’ve known that Theatre Arts was my passion. Every day, I am blessed to have my passion as my actual job…what better way to live this life we’ve been given?

Creating tangible art from the pages of a script, building life on stage from a blank space and watching students breathe life into characters, are my great joys as an educator. There is no better moment than seeing a student’s confidence grow before your eyes…to watch their “light” turn on..to see them recognize their true power within. 

Drawing upon my professional experiences from performing on Broadway, off Broadway, national tours and regional theatre, I love imparting this knowledge to my students as they embark upon their own professional careers and theatrical journeys!

As a faculty member at Potomac, I am incredibly honored to work with such distinguished educators as we all work towards the same goals…fostering a rooted foundation while giving wings for our students to fly!

“I want students to love learning, to take pride in their accomplishments, to persevere when met with challenges, and to know I will always support them.”

Potomac is a special community. Every day I appreciate the students and the excitement they bring to the classroom. My colleagues feed my professional energy with their creative ideas and support of one another. And, of course, we’re surrounded by beauty on campus.

Growing up in Ohio and attending a small all-girls middle and high school, the teachers I loved and remember to this day were the ones who connected with me and pushed me beyond my comfort zone to do my personal best. More than that, however, they shared their passion and inspired me. I hope to do the same for my students.

At the University of Mary Washington, I majored in both in English and American studies, which led me to The College of William and Mary for my master’s in education. Since then, I’ve enjoyed 25+ years working in all aspects of education. My teaching career afforded me the opportunity to work with students of all ages - from preschool and high school and all grades in between, the common thread is the awe of wonder found in all my students. I want students to love learning, to take pride in their accomplishments, to persevere when met with challenges, and to know I will always support them.

In my free time, I love reading, walking our dog, and traveling with my family. From Kenya and Machu Picchu to America’s National Parks and North Carolina’s Outer Banks, being outdoors fuels my spirit.   

"Commitment behind desire breeds success. This is the foundation of my teaching and my coaching."

I'm a local guy who grew up in Prince George’s County, MD, where I attended Central High School in Seat Pleasant. After graduating, I enrolled at Bentley College in Waltham, MA, where I played NCAA Division II basketball and majored in computer science. After my freshman year, I decided to transfer closer to home and attend the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. At UMBC, I redshirted my sophomore year before joining the university’s Division I basketball program for three years. During that time, I changed my major to sociology but continued to take computer science and information-systems classes. Upon graduation, I worked as a developer and database administrator at AT&T in Herndon and as head JV boys basketball coach and assistant varsity coach at Oxon Hill High School. The next year, I was hired as the varsity boys basketball coach at Crossland High School in Temple Hills, MD. This was a time when I found my true passion for working with young adults. After six years in the computer world, I changed careers and became a full-time teacher, which was a perfect match with my coaching aspirations. It's one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Currently, I reside in Clinton, Maryland with my wife Paulette. We have four grown children - one daughter Leah, and three sons Levi Myles, Darryl and Steven, plus three grandchildren - DJ, Aniyah and Mackenzie.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” –William Butler Yeats

I am local to the area, having grown up in Fairfax County and graduated from Stone Ridge in Bethesda. I attended Boston College, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and my Master of Education in curriculum and instruction. After graduating, I worked at a parochial school in Rockville, MD, where I taught fifth grade. Later, I moved to Oxford, Mississippi, to achieve my M.B.A. from the University of Mississippi. Upon returning to the area, I worked at a school in Tenleytown, where I taught science labs to kindergartners through fifth graders and science to sixth through eighth graders. When that school’s door closed, it opened one for me at Potomac.

Potomac has encouraged my growth as a teacher and as a member of the greater school community. Potomac has become my home away from home. Not only am I a faculty member, but I am a Potomac parent as well. I look forward to watching my sons grow and learn in such a wonderful and caring learning environment.

When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our two sons, and our dogs, Sherlock and Rennie. We love old cars and spending time outdoors.