School Leadership

I grew up in several states across the Northeast and in Texas, and I have called Richmond home for more than 30 years. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mary Baldwin University.

Before entering education, I held senior leadership roles in advertising and marketing communications in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Richmond. Most notably, I worked at The Martin Agency, where I led national campaigns for clients including GEICO and Coca-Cola. I later brought those skills to the nonprofit sector, supporting foster care adoption at the Children’s Home Society of Virginia and serving as Director of Preschool Ministries at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

I began my career in education in 2007 at St. Christopher’s School and spent more than a decade at St. Andrew’s School, serving as a classroom teacher, Director of Instructional Technology, and Director of Instruction. I began my tenure at Good Shepherd as a fourth-grade teacher, where I came to know the school through the daily experiences of its students, families, and faculty. That time in the classroom deepened my connection to the community and strengthened my belief in Good Shepherd’s mission and potential.

Serving as Head of School allows me to draw on the experiences that have shaped my life and career in service of a community that means a great deal to me. Those experiences have deepened my appreciation for Good Shepherd as a place where every child is known and valued, learns from the perspectives of others, and is encouraged to discover who they are and what they can become. I care deeply about Good Shepherd and am committed to building on its strengths and supporting its continued growth for the students, families, and faculty who call it home.

My husband and I have one son, who lives and works in New York City. In my free time, I enjoy reading historical fiction, experimenting with new flavors in the kitchen, spending time at the beach, and watching Formula 1 racing.

I grew up in Staunton and moved to Richmond to attend college. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a concentration in special education from VCU and my MEd in counselor education from the University of Virginia. I began my career in Henrico County as a high school counselor. Then I shifted to teaching and academic advising on the college level, before returning to school counseling at The Steward School, where I was the Middle School Dean of Student Support. I have three sons who all attended Good Shepherd during their elementary school years. I am excited to be part of the Good Shepherd community and enjoy working with students and their families.

I also love to read, take walks with friends, spend time at the beach and the mountains, and watch my son perform with the JMU Marching Royal Dukes.

I grew up in a military family, spending my early years in Mystic, Connecticut, where my father was a Naval officer and captain of a nuclear submarine stationed in Groton. My mother was my elementary school librarian, which helped foster a lifelong love of books.

When my father stopped going to sea, our family moved to Northern Virginia. I attended middle and high school in McLean before heading to the University of Virginia, where I studied at the McIntire School of Commerce and discovered my interest in advertising.

My career took me to New York and San Francisco before bringing me back to Virginia to join The Martin Agency—where, as it happens, I first met Kathy Tappen. I later moved into higher education, first as an adjunct professor and then as a full-time faculty member at the VCU Brandcenter, where I loved helping students develop ideas and bring them to life.

Eventually, I found myself working with a very different kind of student: preschoolers at First Presbyterian Church. Just as I began thinking about retirement, I found myself back in Kathy’s orbit and now at Good Shepherd Episcopal School.

I’m delighted to be part of the Good Shepherd community and to spend my days surrounded by the energy, curiosity, and joy of our students. I’m also excited to help strengthen the school’s fundraising capacity, building greater support through charitable giving, grants, and new opportunities to advance Good Shepherd’s mission.

I am a Richmond native and proud VCU graduate, holding both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education in Counseling. With nearly a decade of experience in education, I have worked with students at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels, including serving as a middle school counselor in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

After taking time away from my career to raise my two daughters, I remained active in my community through volunteer work with Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement program for children, and by starting a Girl Scout troop at Good Shepherd Episcopal School. I also volunteer as an intake coordinator for MidAtlantic Pug Rescue, helping connect rescue dogs with loving forever homes.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, practicing yoga, reading, and taking walks with our pug. I strive to live by the Golden Rule—treating others the way I would want to be treated—and it continues to guide me both personally and professionally.

I have been proud to call GSES home since 2018. I currently teach middle school science and serve as the Director of Buildings, Grounds, and Technology. Over the years, I have also held roles in outdoor education, served on the Board of Trustees, and even been a GSES parent! Nothing is sweeter to my ears than hearing a student experience a scientific breakthrough moment, or offer a heartfelt “thank you” when something gets fixed.

In a past life, I was a chemist for a chemical company in the automotive industry. I draw on that real-world experience when designing my science curriculum, focusing as much on practical scientific skills as textbook acumen. I believe a good scientist doesn’t need to know the answer; they just need to know how and where to find it.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading, cooking, tinkering, and daydreaming.