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About
Our Location Makes Us Special

Nestled at the corner of the James River and Forest Hill Park, GSES capitalizes on learning in the community.

Where Inspiration Meets Community

Our curriculum maximizes the use of our community and inspires our students to serve our neighbors and learn typical subjects in compelling and thought-provoking new ways.
Admissions
Call for a Tour
The best way to learn if GSES is the right place for your family is to visit. Please call the school at 804-231-1452 to arrange a personal tour.

Visits
Throughout the school year, GSES will provide opportunities for prospective families to visit for group tours and information sessions. Our open houses and visit days are the perfect opportunities for prospective students to get a taste of life in a GSES classroom.
Academics
Small Classes Allow for Big Experiences

Our small size provides big opportunities for learning. With a student to teacher ratio of 8:1, students receive the personalized attention to grow at their own pace and learn about subjects that matter to them in addition to the core academic subjects.

Innovative Learning
Our supportive environment allows students to take risks in their learning. Building a catapult that doesn't work teaches far more than a catapult that does. Feeling safe to try new things, while being carefully guided through challenging subjects, encourages our students to thrive.
Programs
We LOVE the Outdoors
Our outdoor education program takes advantage of our location near the James River and Forest Hill Park. Lessons often take students on adventures such as searching for local quarry stone in the neighborhood, measuring the velocity of student-built boats as they float down the James River, or collecting native pawpaws to use in cooking.
Community
Community Cleanup
Our families show up for GSES. Each August, our students and their families help clean the school grounds in preparation for the new school year. This is just one of the many ways we work together to create a united and close community.
Support
Supporting GSES
As GSES approaches its 50th year, families, alumni, and friends loyally provide support for the school's academic programs, as well as capital improvements to school facilities. Over the past few years, funds from generous donors have provided for library and Parish Hall renovations, as well as classroom enhancements and special programming.

In This Section

Directory

We definitely feel at home at GSES. The teachers know who my son is and how he's doing, socially and academically.

Middle School Parent B. Burns

Faculty and Staff

Lorie Bartee

Lorie Bartee

Dean of Admission, Grades 5-6 Team

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Mark Binford

Mark Binford

Dean of Students, Grades 5-6 Team

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Kerry Blum

Kerry Blum

Grades 7-8 Team

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Laura Bradlee

Laura Bradlee

Director of Outdoor Education and Garden Coordinator, MS Homeroom Teacher, LS Spanish

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Melissa Brook

Melissa Brook

Grade 7-8 Team

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Katie Caprara

Katie Caprara

MS Team and Art

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Elizabeth Coleman

Elizabeth Coleman

Director of Community Engagement

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Chris Collier

Chris Collier

Grades 7-8 Math

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Suzanne Davis

Suzanne Davis

Lower School Team Leader, Grade 2 Teacher

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Corey Delaney

Corey Delaney

The Nature Preschool Educator

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Acorn Hanrahan

Acorn Hanrahan

Lower School Outdoor Education Lead Teacher, Grade 5 Science

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Dana Harrell

Dana Harrell

Kindergarten Teacher

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Carrie Harrup

Carrie Harrup

Grade 1 Teacher

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Katherine Jackson

Katherine Jackson

The Nature Preschool Educator

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Pamela James

Pamela James

Middle School Language Arts, Music Teacher

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Lori Jobe

Lori Jobe

Interim Head of School

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Moses Joshua

Moses Joshua

Chaplain, World Religions, and Leadership Teacher

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Natalie King

Natalie King

School Nurse

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Erin Knappman

Erin Knappman

Physical Education Teacher

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Ellen Landers

Ellen Landers

Grade 3 Teacher

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Mallory Lape

Mallory Lape

The Nature Preschool Teaching Assistant

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Jill Martin

Jill Martin

K-1 Assistant and Exploratorium Guide

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Nancy Negus

Nancy Negus

Associate Head of School for Academics

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Will Recinos

Will Recinos

Director of Buildings and Grounds, MS Science

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Joanna Schneider

Joanna Schneider

Grade 4 Teacher

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Sarah Sinclair

Sarah Sinclair

Director of The Nature Preschool

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Georgia Smith

Georgia Smith

Office Administrator

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Nicky Tilley

Nicky Tilley

Librarian and Technology Assistant

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Nina VanAtta

Nina VanAtta

Communications Specialist/Administrative Assistant

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