Creating Individual Paths to Success
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     4207 Forest Hill Avenue   Richmond,Virginia  23225                                                                                         Telephone  804.231.1452     Fax  804.231.9925
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Administration

Michael B. Woodruff

Head of School

 

Hope Elizabeth King

Assitant to Head of School

 

With over 28 years experience in institutional operations and management, including owner/operator of Bon Air Family Childcare.  Hope serves as front office support and daily operations coordinator at GSES.   Hope enjoys spending time with her husband Bruce and their children Pippa, Jennifer, Matt, Rhys, and Chloe, as well as her dogs Molly, Ashley, and Nash. 

 

 

Amy Broocke 
Director of Instructional Support, PK-8th grade
Bachelor of Arts, College of William and Mary
Master of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
Post Graduate Education, Virginia Tech


With 16 years of teaching experience, Amy’s teaching certification includes a broad endorsement in history and social science (6th-12th) and a learning specialist (K-12th). Students are active learners in her classroom as they engage in interactive games and activities to teach math concepts. As a learning specialist, she helps students find their strengths and identify their learning style. She enjoys reading, swimming and playing with her daughter.

 

 

Blake C. Chapman
Bachelor of Arts, William and Mary
Instructional Support  

 

Blake was most recently with the Weinstein JCC Preschool serving as a substitute, assistant and Lead Teacher. She has worked for Richmond Goodwill Industries as a Program Manager, has been the Director of Education and School Director for Beta Tech Career College, a Center Director for Kaplan Educational, a Director of Education for Huntington Learning Center, and an Associate Center Director for Sylvan Learning Center. Blake's ideal educational philosophy involves a traditional approach emphasizing the "three r's" within a relaxed atmosphere, subsequently allowing for flexibility and creativity which inevitably produces those magical teachable moments. She enjoys movies, reading and nature, and loves GSES for it to her is the "whole package", encompassing strong academics, extra-curricular opportunities, low student-teacher ratios, and an overall positive familial environment..

 

Hortensia Plummer, "Miss Tina"

Early Childhood After School Programs/ AM Office Support

 

 Tina comes to GSES with 31 years experience in early childhood.  Most recently, she served in office adminstration/classroom support at All Saints Childcare for over 10 years.  Tina's love of children and families shines through as she serves as the morning front door "greeter" each morning!  Her expertise in adminstrative support has been a welcome addition to the office. 

 
Early Education Division

Jayne Bryant
Division Head, Early Childhood
Junior Kindergarten 5/Kindergarten Teacher
Bachelor of Science, Marymount University
 

For 18 years, Jayne has enjoyed teaching children as they learn through doing, singing, playing and allowing lots of time to ask questions and explore. She shares her love of science by incorporating child-directed experiments and animal studies in her classroom. She’s not afraid to be silly to encourage students to participate or try something new. Her hobbies include listening to music, wine tasting, yoga, walking and reading books on child development.

 

Kitty Ashton
Pre-Kindergarten/Junior Kindergarten 4 Teacher
Early Childhood Education, Southern Seminary
 

For 28 years, Kitty has provided fun opportunities for young children to grow socially, emotionally, intellectually and creatively in her preschool classroom. When sharing silly songs, storytelling and dramatic play with her students she sometimes forgets she’s not 3 years old! Her structured classroom is balance with lots of creativity especially art and crafts. She enjoys herb gardening, reading and her two Scottie dogs.

 

Jackie Barden
Pre-Kindergarten/Junior Kindergarten 4 Aide
Extended Day Care

 

Jackie is celebrating her 18th year at GSES!  Students love her soft-spoken, patient and caring personality. She loves to see children’s faces when they learn something new. Every day is fun as she shares her creativity and love of arts and crafts with our students in Pre- Kindergarten and EDC.

 

Jean Eubank
Junior Kindergarten 5/Kindergarten Aide

 

Jean has been teaching for 25 years and returned to the neighborhood where she grew up when she started working at GSES five years ago. Her nurturing and patient teaching style creates a caring environment for children to thrive. As a teacher, her greatest joy is watching children grow, learn and develop. She enjoys Sudoku, reading and water aerobics.

 

 

 

 

 
Lower School Division

Lisa Archer

1st Grade Teacher

 

Lisa recently joined GSES faculty as the first grade teacher.  She has enjoyed the first week of school and looks forward to a great year.

 

 

Stephanie Eastham
Division Head, Lower School
3rd Grade Teacher

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Georgia
Masters in the Art of Teaching, Lewis and Clark College
 

In her 9th year of teaching, Stephanie challenges her students to take social and academic risks in a safe and supportive environment. She shares her love of art and photography by creating a creative, student-centered classroom. Her hobbies include hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, martial arts and traveling.

 

Cynthia Lee
2nd  Grade Teacher
Bachelor of Science, Fisk University
 

With 21 years of teaching experience, Cynthia’s love of children is reflected in her warm, nurturing classroom, and this supportive environment allows children to rise to their high expectations. Her interests include football, sign language, music, golf, reading, gardening and walking. During the football season, her husband is a “football widower.”

 

 
Middle School Academy


Michael Floyd
Middle School History Teacher / Computer Teacher / EDC
Bachelor of Arts, East Carolina University
 

With sitting in the front seat of roller coasters as a “favorite activity,” it’s no wonder why the students love Michael. He motivates his students to be active learners, and his students’ grasp of new facts and concepts motivate him. It’s a winning combination in the classroom that results in academic success. And how many students can say their teacher is also a Civil War Reenactor.
 
Michael Jones

Middle School Math and Science

 


Michael has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology from Hampden-Sydney College, is enrolled in the teacher Licensure Program at the University of Richmond, and was most recently with the Henrico County Public Schools (Biology). He is a graduate of St. Michael's Episcopal School and Trinity Episcopal School. . Michael and his wife, Kensey, are the proud parents of a 1 year old son named  Reid.
 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Gable

Middle School Spanish and Language Arts 
Bachelor of Arts, University of Mary Washington
Master of Anthropology, Duke University


Rachel brings her enthusiasm for different cultures into the classroom as she makes learning Spanish more than just about learning a language.  She chose to be a middle school teacher because she believes these are the years that students develop a love of learning and an ethic of social responsibility. Her hobby of gardening – with a particular interest in local farming and community gardens  is just one example of her leading by example and working for the betterment of her community.
 

 
Co-Curricular Faculty

Lourdes Cardounel
Spanish Teacher, Kindergarten through 5th grade
Bachelor of Arts, Escuela Normal de Maestros, Camaquey, Cuba


Before coming to GSES ten years ago, Lourdes traveled to Spain for 15 summers with young college students to expose them to Spanish language and culture. She enjoys sharing her stories and experiences growing up in her native Spanish culture in Cuba. Her leisure time is spent with her family, traveling, cooking and knitting.

 

Jerry Cassell
Physical Education, Pre-K through 8th / Coach /
Pre-K and JK Pre-Spanish / Pre-K through 3rd Science Lab
Bachelor of Arts, Virginia Tech
Virginia State University, Teacher Licensure


With 18 years of teaching experience, Jerry shares his belief that every child has the capacity to learn and every circumstance presents an opportunity to teach. Leading by example, he encourages his students and athletes to do their best, respect others and be good citizens. He enjoys gardening, fishing, cooking, music and art.

 

Colleen Heller
Music and Drama Programs, Pre-K through 8th 

Chapel Programs Coordinator


Colleen is presently the Center Director and Primary Teacher for Music Together of Southside Richmond. In conjunction with this position, Colleen leads a weekly class for students in both a parent/child setting at the Montessori Center for the Child. Also, she has been a private music lessons instructor for Shady Grove YMCA. Colleen has participated in the Collegium Musicum program through S.U.N.Y, New Paltz, and holds an A.S. Business Administration Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a candidate for a BS in Natural Health Sciences form Clayton College of Natural Health (September 2009). Colleen's principle instruments are Flute and Soprano Recorder, and she is proficient on the Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Bass Guitar, and Tenor Recorder. Most recently, Colleen has performed with the Savannah Winds (Savannah, GA), and before working with this group was a member of the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds. She has performed with the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony (White Plains, NY), as well. 


Margy Gagermeier
Art Teacher
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University


Margy’s warm and friendly personality has been a fixture at GSES for 15 years. Her creativity has inspired GSES students for the past eight years as their art teacher. Her love for art goes beyond the classroom – in summers she is a Children’s Art Educator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. She was a professional artist for 12 years and painted a 5’x10’ triptich painting which hangs in her living room. She enjoys teaching the students “How to Make Art” and relating art to the cultures of the past.