At Hill, we are fortunate to have excellent facilities and resources, which provide an ideal environment in which to teach our children. But no asset is more valuable and important than the people. The faculty and staff of The Hill School are truly inspirational. Many of these people have been associated with the school for decades; for others this will be their first year at Hill. All of them are dedicated to Hill’s educational philosophy and program.
Faculty & Staff
Denise All
Kindergarten Lead
B.S. Bridgewater College
Hill School 1989-1994; 2011-
dall@thehillschool.org
Denise, a native of Loudoun County, and her husband, Olen, moved to Middleburg after they were married. Denise earned her BS in elementary education from Bridgewater College in 1989. The following fall she joined The Hill School faculty. Between 1989 and 1994, she served as a 2nd grade assistant and 3rd grade lead teacher. Denise left Hill in 1994 after the birth of her first child. She returned to Hill in 2011 to assist in 2nd grade. Denise is now the lead Kindergarten teacher. She and Olen have three daughters, Emma a University of Virginia graduate, Hannah (Hill ’11), a third year at The University of Virginia, and Abigail, (Hill ‘16), a sophomore at Foxcroft. For relaxation Denise enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.
Faculty & Staff
Paula Austin
1 Homeroom Lead
B.S Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M. Ed. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Hill School 1996-2002; 2004 –
paustin@thehillschool.org
Firmly believing in learning from experience, Paula tries to take away something from every phase in her life. She grew up in a close knit family in a tiny western Pennsylvania town (appreciation for a small town community). The oldest of four children (responsibility and awe of the randomness of genetics), she was the first in her family to graduate from college (grit). After completing her degrees (focus and fun times can coexist!), she left Pennsylvania. For the first eight years of her career, Paula taught 1st-3rd grade (young children are very funny), developed curriculum, and served as a reading teacher and testing coordinator in Prince George’s County and in Washington, DC. In 1996, she came to Hill as the lead 2nd grade teacher (Hill has the textbook characteristics of a great school). Her post-graduate work at the University of Virginia centered on reading and word study. Her recent professional interests cluster around the interplay of child development, self regulation and learning. In 2002, she took two years off to begin a family before returning to Hill (parenting is humbling, hard, yet there is nothing like it). Paula lives locally with her husband, Richard Skarnes, son Benjamin (Hill ’17), daughter Mei Shan (Hill ‘22), and two cats, named Turtle and Tiger. She enjoys gardening, reading about China, environmental and sustainability issues, and nature.
Faculty & Staff
Mike Barreda
Dornin Lab Program, JK-8 Athletics
B.A. University of California at Santa Cruz
Hill School 2006 –
mbarreda@thehillschool.org
Mike grew up inside the Washington beltway and graduated in 1988 with a BA in Linguistics from the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he met his wife Leslie Grayson. Mike worked as a writer and management analyst for contractors serving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government agencies before becoming an editor at the National Recycling Coalition. Throughout this period he played on club teams representing the Mid-Atlantic at the Ultimate Frisbee National Championships. In 1996 he began farming full-time. Mike is the manager and sole employee of Blue Ridge Beef, which produces natural, grassfed beef and commercial cattle. As a farmer, he received the Virginia Forage Producer of the Year Award in 2003 and the Potomac Watershed Environmental Stewardship Award in 2004. Mike discovered the joys of coaching when he found himself guiding his children’s recreational soccer teams. His children still play soccer and compete at the highest travel and college levels. As a coach, he is especially interested in fostering a lifelong love of physical activity in children of all athletic abilities. As a fan, Mike follows soccer, especially the Premier League. As an athlete, Mike is a passionate road cyclist. He lives at Blue Ridge Farm near Upperville with his wife Leslie, daughter Mia (Hill ‘11), son Xeb (Hill ‘15), cattle (70), laying hens (30), dogs (3), and cats (3).
Faculty & Staff
Jill Beifuss
English Department Chair, 7 Homeroom, 7 & 8 English, 5 Writing & Language Fundamentals
B.A. Lawrence University
M.A. University of Virginia
Hill School 1999 –
jbeifuss@thehillschool.org
Jill earned her BA from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and her MA in English Literature from UVA. She taught literature, composition, and remedial writing at UVA, spent two years as an instructor at Chowan College in North Carolina, and taught for four years at the College of Charleston. Jill’s experience teaching a wide variety of ages has reinforced her commitment to helping students become lifelong readers and writers with an awareness of the power of language. Jill has presented papers on Renaissance literature, Shakespeare, film, and media literacy at conferences in Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded her grants to study Mark Twain and the literature of the Reformation. While Jill owns two cats, she is also very fond of dogs. She is a doting aunt, an interested cook, and a passionate filmgoer.
Faculty & Staff
Karen Chase
JK-8 Music, Drama Support
BChM Westminster Choir College
Hill School 1991 –
kchase@thehillschool.org
Before coming to Hill, Karen’s career history included a variety of occupations, all with one common thread: music. She worked as a music therapist, a church musician, as Head of the Music Department at the Ethel Walker School (CT), and as music teacher and Dean of Students at Foxcroft School. Karen earned a Bachelor of Music at Westminster Choir College (NJ). After spending six years as Hill’s third grade assistant teacher, Karen became the Lower School Music Teacher in 1998. She became the K-6 music teacher in 2000 and in 2006, added grades 7 and 8 to her musical responsibilities, and JK in 2013. Karen is certified in the Orff music curriculum through level two and is also an amateur cellist and has attended Cellospeak, a national workshop for five years. Besides music, Karen has many interests. She enjoys handwork, such as needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitch; running (she won her age-level in the Lovettsville Road Race two successive years), and studying 19th century history and culture. She, husband Steve, and daughter Aimee (Hill ’06) live in Unison in a home that dates from the 1820s. The Chases have three cats.
Faculty & Staff
Linda Conti
Art Department Chair, 4-8 Art, Culture Study Program, Yearbook
B.F.A. Temple University – Tyler School of Art
M.I.S. Virginia Commonwealth University
Hill School 1996 –
lconti@thehillschool.org
Linda Conti has been creating art all her life. As one of seven children growing up outside of Chicago, Illinois, there were always plenty of art supplies available. She went to Tyler School of Art, Temple University in Philadelphia, and also received an MIS from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been teaching at Hill for 21 years. Linda loves teaching children because she feels that art really is for everyone. The students explore a variety of materials, and find ways to express themselves visually. She is currently President of the Virginia Art Education Association, the professional organization for art educators in the state. She has served on a number of community boards, and enjoys working with adults to make the world a better place. She lives near Philomont with her husband Matt. She loves seeing her grandsons at Hill – Frank in 1st grade and Finn in Junior Kindergarten and looks forward to Rowan joining them soon.
Faculty & Staff
Erin Coulter
3-8 Theatre, 6 Homeroom
B.F.A. Carnegie Mellon University
M.S.T. Pace University
Hill School 2018 –
ecoulter@thehillschool.org
Erin serves The Hill School as the Theater Director and sixth grade homeroom partner. Erin received her BFA in Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University and has been involved with 100+ productions as a director, actor, teacher, or producer, spanning three decades. She began teaching through Teach for America, has her Masters of Science in Teaching from Pace University, and spent ten years in New York City teaching everything from Kindergarten to graduate courses. Erin is originally from the home of the Little League World Series, Williamsport, PA, and in her free time she enjoys travel, writing, creating more theater, and spending time with friends, family, and her two cats.
Faculty & Staff
John Daum
5 Homeroom, Culture Study Program
B.A. Ohio Wesleyan University
M.F.A. New York University
M.Ed. UCLA
jdaum@thehillschool.org
John grew up in the Washington suburbs and made his first trip to Europe in elementary school which fostered his life-long love of travel. He spent his junior year of high school as an exchange student in Germany and then attended Ohio Wesleyan University where he received his BA. He lived in New York City for three years and received an MFA from New York University. He and his wife Kasia lived in Los Angeles for eight years where John received an MED from UCLA. Kasia and John have traveled extensively throughout Europe with their children, Jacob (‘13) and Julia (‘15), and also enjoy trips to New York City, and cross-country driving trips to California. John has endless enthusiasm for all things Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque. He is an avid scholar of art history, architecture, and the great cities of Europe (and their food!) He also enjoys taking families on custom designed trips to Europe as part of his company, Daum Adventures.
Faculty & Staff
Kasia Daum
School Counselor and Consultant
B.A. University of Maryland
M.A. Loyola Marymount University
Hill School 1999 –
kdaum@thehillschool.org
Kasia was born in Poland and moved to Maryland with her family at the age of eleven. She discovered her love for the field of psychology while attending college at the University of Maryland. After earning her bachelor’s, Kasia moved to California, where she completed a master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy. It was Kasia’s job at a school-based clinic that first exposed her to working with schools. She found the job so rewarding that she was hooked! After working professionally for a number of years in Los Angeles, Kasia and her husband John moved back to the East Coast to be closer to their families. Kasia divides her work time between her job as Hill’s counselor and her private practice in Leesburg. At Hill, Kasia loves all aspects of her job: consulting with parents and teachers, leading town meetings, meeting with Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten applicants, and providing support to students of all ages.
Faculty & Staff
Dorsey deButts
Development – Publications, After School Care
B.S. Roanoke College
Hill School 2008 –
ddebutts@thehillschool.org
Dorsey grew up in Arlington, VA. She graduated from St. Agnes School in Alexandria and then attended Roanoke College where she earned a BS in Psychology. She worked as a travel agent, a meeting planner, and a manager of a travel agency over the course of 11 years. Dorsey and her husband Hays have lived in Upperville since 1988. They have three sons, Hays (Hill ’09), Rooney (Hill ’12), and Cooper (Hill ’14). Dorsey loves skiing, tennis, traveling, the beach – and her boys. She enjoys the opportunity to work with children of all ages in the After School Care program.
Faculty & Staff
Cate Donohoe
Kindergarten
B.A. Randolph-Macon College
M.S. Walden University
Hill School 2009 –
cdonohoe@thehillschool.org
Cate grew up in Middleburg. She and her brother Larry (Hill ’97) and older sister Samantha (Hill ’90) are all graduates of Hill. They loved living in the country, playing in the creeks and woods, and mastering climbing skills on the rocks and trees around their house. Cate earned her BA at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia and her Masters in Education from Walden University in 2010. She taught Senior Infants (1st grade) in Wexford, Ireland, where she met her husband Michael. She has also taught in Loudoun County public schools. Cate loves spending time in Middleburg with her husband Michael and their family. She also enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, grocery shopping, and relaxing with friends and family. Cate is grateful to live close to family and friends, and thrilled to be teaching at Hill.
Faculty & Staff
Bob Dornin
Grounds Supervisor
B.S. Virginia Tech
Hill School 2002 –
bdornin@thehillschool.org
Bob graduated from Hill (‘72), Woodberry Forest (‘76), and Virginia Tech in 1984 with a BS in Forestry and Wildlife Management. He has spent most of the last 30 years working in the plant care industry as a high-climber and consulting arborist, and as the owner/operator of a small design-build landscape company from 1990-2002. Bob’s father began teaching at Hill in 1960, so many of his earliest memories involve being on the Hill campus. His daughter Sarah ’06 is also a Hill alumna. Bob’s primary role is managing the Hill grounds, and like his father, he hopes to instill in Hill students an appreciation and a reverence for the beauty and complexity of the natural world around them.
Faculty & Staff
Silvia Fleming
Assistant to the Head of School
Teachers College, Bern, Switzerland
Hill School 1983 –
sfleming@thehillschool.org
Silvia was born and raised in Switzerland. She graduated from the Teachers’ College in Bern with a Kindergarten Teacher Diploma. She taught Kindergarten in Switzerland before coming to the United States to work as an au pair. In September 1983 Silvia was hired to design and implement the Afternoon Kindergarten Program and later taught lower school science. In addition to having fun with the Kindergartners and teaching science, she had two sons, Alexander Bern (Hill ’00), and Nicolas Basel (Hill ’02). Silvia’s organizational talents have made her indispensable in the Hill School front office, where she began working as a part-time receptionist in 1990. During the 90s, Silvia took over more and more administrative duties and taught fewer and fewer classes. Her interests include playing with her two grandchildren, reading, sewing doll clothes, and skiing.
Faculty & Staff
Doug Hart
4 Homeroom
dhart@thehillschool.org
Doug and his wife, Becky, just moved to Middleburg in April in order to be closer to the grandchildren and to enjoy the sense of community here. He has been teaching 5th-8th graders at The Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences in Maryland since 1995, with a 5 year break in 2005 to teach at a public high school and then serve as Principal/Interim Head of School at The Banner School in Frederick, Maryland. He was wise enough to return full time to kids in a classroom at Barnesville in 2010. Most of Doug’s 30 year education career has been spent in smaller, independent school settings from Maine to North Carolina working closely with students of all ages in history, language arts, and math classes. Doug has always enjoyed coaching (soccer, basketball, lacrosse, tennis), and he thoroughly enjoys supporting the really creative kids in music and theatre productions. He often tells bad jokes. In his spare time, he enjoys competitive tennis, bogey golf, home improvement projects, and the best times out of school involve cook-outs with his kids, Becky’s kids, and the 5 grandchildren! Dogs and sports are usually involved, too.
Faculty & Staff
Will Heron
Director of Finance & Operations
wheron@thehillschool.org
Will grew up splitting time in both New York City and San Francisco which helped him realize a love of travel and culture. Will attended boarding school at Loomis Chaffee School and graduated with honors from Claremont McKenna College. Before beginning his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in their financial services practice, Will enjoyed teaching skiing and mountain biking in Park City, Utah. After 2 years in New York, Will returned to school to pursue a Master’s degree in Management from the London School of Economics. Due to graduating during the opening movements of the financial crisis, Will shifted gears toward teaching and travel, joining the faculty at the American College of Sofia. After 2 years teaching Economics and Math in an independent school setting, Will discovered a passion for the financial side of independent schools. Will and his wife Sonya arrived at Hill in July of 2018 after spending more than four years at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach California, first as the Assistant Controller, then three years as the Controller. Both Will and Sonya are avid hikers, animal lovers and adventurers and are eager to explore the wilds of Virginia. Will is excited to join the Hill School community and is looking forward to ensuring the financial health of the school for years to come.
Faculty & Staff
Megan Hubbard
Afternoon JK & K
B.A. Muskingum College
Hill School 2016 –
mhubbard@thehillschool.org
Megan grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Virginia after college. She earned her BA from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Following college Megan taught preschool in Washington, DC for seven years. Megan and her husband Jay (‘84) are the proud parents of Timothy (‘19). She has joined Hill’s Stay and Play program and is thrilled to be part of Hill’s community. When not at Hill, Megan enjoys reading, baking and spending time with her family.
Faculty & Staff
Thea Israel
2 Homeroom
B.A. Western Maryland College
Hill School 2008 –
tisrael@thehillschool.org
Originally from Baltimore, MD, Thea is an alumna of the McDonogh School (MD) and a graduate of Western Maryland College. While in college, she swam competitively. Before teaching at Hill, she taught fourth and fifth grade, and served as a summer camp counselor for over fifteen years. During the summer Thea is the Head Swimming Coach for the Winchester Country Club. When not teaching, Thea enjoys working with her church, swimming, and spending time with her husband, Stuart, and her children, Charlotte (Hill ’23) and Stuart Jr. (Hill ’26).
Faculty & Staff
Chris Johnson
Auction Coordinator, Development Administrator
Florida State University
Hill School 2000 –
cjohnson@thehillschool.org
Chris came to Hill in 1989 as a parent and eleven years later joined Hill’s administrative staff in 2000 as the Auction Coordinator. While her children, Brett (Hill ’91), Casey (Hill ’98), and Carly (Hill ‘00) attended Hill, Chris was very involved in volunteer activities. She served as a room parent, Ski Club Coordinator, Book Fair Chair, Annual Giving Chair, Auction Chair, PTC President, and as a member of Hill’s Board of Trustees. Since 1990, Chris has been involved in every annual Auction in some capacity and she chaired the first Auction held in the Athletic Center in 1997. Chris majored in French and Political Science at Florida State University and worked for the research and development firm CACI as the Personnel Director and Manager of Corporate Services. Before her first son Brett began school, the Johnsons traveled extensively on their boat and spent several months of each year sailing. During their free time, Chris and her family still enjoy traveling, snowboarding, skiing, and of course, sailing.
Faculty & Staff
Kelly Johnson
Director of Enrollment
B.S. Berry College
M.B.A. Georgia State University
Hill School 2011 –
kjohnson@thehillschool.org
In 2006, Kelly and her husband Tom joined the Hill School community as parents of Madison ’12, then a 3rd grader, and Cole ’14, then a 1st grader. From the beginning of their children’s experience, Kelly knew this was an extremely special place. Throughout the years, Kelly and Tom have grown as parents and worked in partnership with Hill to provide the best experience, both academic and co-curricular, for their children. Watching Madison and Cole grow and mature in an environment that is supportive, patient, challenging, and respectful has been a joy. Serving as the PTC President in 2010 provided Kelly the opportunity to see how the engagement from the families, teachers, staff, and Board members make Hill the community it is. In 2011 Kelly joined Hill as an Admissions and Development Officer. She will tell you the highlight of her day is meeting with prospective parents and giving them a look into the gift of a Hill School education, through her personal experience and an engaging tour of the school.
Faculty & Staff
Vicki Kelly
3 and 5-8 Academic Support
B.A. Marygrove College
Hill School 2013 –
vkelly@thehillschool.org
Vicki received her BA at Marygrove College (MI) with a major in special education for the emotionally impaired. She continued to do graduate work focusing on learning disabilities. After graduation, Vicki worked for eight years at a center-based program in Detroit. She provided individualized academic instruction in a self-contained classroom for severely emotionally impaired (SEI) students. In 1997, Vicki and her family moved to southern California. She taught third grade at Castaic Elementary which is a blue ribbon school. Her classroom included many second language learners and children with learning disabilities. During her time there, Vicki also mentored new teachers and served on the school’s student study team. She spent ten years raising Patrick, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Erin, a graduate of The Savannah College of Art and Design and Matthew, a junior at Marymount University (VA). She loved volunteering in her children’s schools, the countless hours of sporting events, and horse activities. In 2013, Vicki returned to teaching at the Hill School as the upper school academic support person. She enjoys sharing her passion for academics with her students. Vicki spends her free time reading, gardening, and traveling to horse shows with her husband Dan.
Faculty & Staff
Sarah Kuehn
Business Manager
Hill School 2017 –
skuehn@thehillschool.org
Sarah grew up in Ridgefield Connecticut and moved to Virginia in 2001 to pursue her love of horses. During her time galloping steeplechasers, Sarah recognized that many self-employed people needed business guidance which resulted in a ten year career in public accounting where Sarah specialized in helping local businesses streamline their accounting systems and tax planning. With her son Will (Hill ’20), Sarah enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle including adventure racing to photography and everything in between. A self-professed cat lady, Sarah loves all animals large and small. She is excited to join the Hill community.
Faculty & Staff
Treavor Lord
Head of School
B.A. St. Lawrence University
M.Ed. University of Virginia
Hill School 1990 –
tlord@thehillschool.org
Treavor grew up in Williamstown, Massachusetts (one of four children born within five years). He earned a BA with honors in Philosophy from St. Lawrence University, a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Virginia, and has completed postgraduate work at Oxford, the University of Rochester, and UVA. After he visited Hill in 1990 as a candidate, he knew he wanted to be part of the Hill community. Treavor has taught history, English, math, language study, grammar, and coached upper school sports at Hill, and he co-taught a senior seminar in African History at Foxcroft. Before beginning his graduate work, Treavor spent his summers teaching sailing, English, and creative writing at Tabor Academy in Marion, MA. Treavor was Chair of the Emerging Leadership Institute – a joint venture between the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and the University of Richmond; he serves on the VAIS Board as Chair of the Accreditation Committee; and he is on the Board of Directors of the Middleburg Community Center. He loves living in Middleburg, close to Hill, where he sees members of the Hill community often.
Faculty & Staff
Christie Lovelette
6-8 Latin, Dean of Students
B.A. Wesleyan University
Hill School 2006 –
clovelette@thehillschool.org
Christie grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she attended a charter high school and competed as a coxswain on a rowing team. She went on to Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where she earned Honors from the College of Social Studies and completed a second major in Classical Civilization. Christie moved to Middleburg after graduation to head the Latin program at Hill School. She loves sharing her passion for ancient history, mythology, and language with her students, who participate in a variety of national competitions and use Roman literature and artifacts to learn about the ancient world. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, playing board games, and traveling. Christie lives in Middleburg with her husband Brendan and their two dogs, Evie and Georgie.
Faculty & Staff
Huntington Lyman
JK-8 Academic Dean, 7 & 8 English, 4 Language Fundamental, Peer Mentoring Program Coordinator
B.A. Yale University
M.A.L.S. Wesleyan University
Ph.D. University of Virginia
Hill School 1984 –
hlyman@thehillschool.org
Hunt came to Middleburg from New York City in 1984 to teach for a year or two, and he has stayed for 33 years (and counting). He loves working at Hill because of the school’s commitment to building a strong community of learners, helping students unlock worlds of reading, and encouraging them to explore their lives as writers. Hunt graduated from Yale Phi Beta Kappa in 1983, and he earned a Master’s Degree from Wesleyan in 1992 and PhD from the University of Virginia in 2004. He has chaired high school English departments, taught Advanced Placement courses, graded AP exams, taught at the University of Virginia, directed the Central Virginia Writing Project, written frequently for publication, and presented at schools across the country. Hunt plays many roles in the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, including serving on the faculty of the New Teacher Institute and leading Accreditation teams. Hunt and his wife Sue have a son, Christian (Hill class of 2015) and an overweight Jack Russell. He enjoys distance running, kayaking, hiking, playing guitar, and performing in local theater productions.
Faculty & Staff
Susan McCaskey
JK-5 Science
B.S. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Hill School 1998 –
smccaskey@thehillschool.org
Susan is a native of Middleburg. Not only was she a member Hill’s class of 1986, but both of her parents attended Hill School and her two sisters are alumnae as well. Susan, who teaches 5th and 6th grade science, spent her childhood exploring local fields, ponds, and woods learning about the natural world. At Hill Robert Dornin, Sr., (a Faculty Emeriti) was one of her science teachers and further inspired her love of nature. Susan was also a student of Sydney Bowers and then went on to become an All-League Field Hockey and Lacrosse player at Foxcroft. After graduating from Foxcroft, she studied science at Lynchburg College and earned a BS in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Susan has led many students on outdoor adventures such as camping and kayaking in the Georgian Bay, Canada; canoeing local creeks and the New River; hiking in the Shenandoah Park. She is also an avid gardener and participant in the Gunnell Garden adjacent to the Dornin Science Center. She enjoys working with local organizations in monitoring Wankopin Creek in an effort to protect the area’s streams. She, her husband Sean, and their daughter Caitlin, who is in first grade, live on the Hill campus.
Faculty & Staff
Joan McNaughton
4 – 7 Academic Support
B.A. Ashford University
Hill School 2002 –
jmcnaughton@thehillschool.org
Joan grew up in Northern Virginia, the youngest of four children. She spent a number of years working as an office administrator and bookkeeper, responsible for management, human resources, and accounting. She and her husband Steve, have three children: Michelle (Hill ’97), a graduate of Arizona State University, Caitlin (Hill ’03), a graduate of The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and Ian (Hill ’09) who is a senior at the Shenandoah University. In 2002 she joined Hill’s faculty as an assistant to Debbie Sharples in Special Academic Services. In 2007 she joined the first grade homeroom team. Each summer, she has furthered her development in education through courses on the reading and writing workshop approach, guided reading, interactive writing, and word study. She has received training in Sterns Structural Arithmetic, Math-U-See, the Wilson Reading System and the Orton-Gillingham Approach. She has also been trained in Handwriting without Tears instruction, evaluation, and remediation. She earned her BA in Organizational Management, with a minor in Psychology from Ashford University. Joan loves knitting, gardening, and cooking. She enjoys working with students as an Academic Support teacher.
Faculty & Staff
Janet Milloy
Kitchen
Hill School 2013 –
jmilloy@thehillschool.org
Janet is the grandmother of Hill Alumni Melissa ’04, Evan ’07, Anthony ’10 and Lindsay Woods ’13. She was born in Washington, DC and grew up in McLean, VA. She currently lives in The Plains where she helps take care of retired horses. She enjoys spending time with her family and especially watching her grandchildren’s sporting events.
Faculty & Staff
Karen Monroe
Business Office Administrative Assistant, Reception, Staff Photographer
Hill School 2000 –
kmonroe@thehillschool.org
Karen was born in Australia and lived both there and in England before moving to the United States at age five. She grew up in Middleburg and has lived here since. Before coming to Hill, she worked at Lee Cross Jewelers and the Middleburg Bank. She enjoys her work in the Business Office where she handles a variety of tasks. Karen is a professional photographer and along with her husband, Doug Gehlsen, owns and operates Middleburg Photo, and and has exhibited her work in many local shows.
Faculty & Staff
Claire Nichols
3 Homeroom
N.N.E.B. Norland Nursery Training College (England)
Hill School 1987 –
cnichols@thehillschool.org
Claire was born in Connecticut and moved to England at the age of five. She grew up on a farm in Suffolk. Before going to college, she spent a year living in France working in a children’s home. Claire attended Norland Nursery Training College in England where she earned her NNEB after completing a broad spectrum practical and theoretical program which prepares students to work with children from birth to age eight. She delivered babies in a London hospital, taught nursery school, and worked in England before coming to the states. She lived in Kentucky and taught pre-Kindergarten and second grade at the Lexington School and later pre-K at the lab school at Midway College where she established their nanny-training program. Claire moved to Virginia in 1987. Soon thereafter, Claire began to assist in the Kindergarten program at Hill. She has taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades at Hill. She loves the energy, excitement, and curiosity that third graders bring to the classroom every day. She has three children – Josh (Hill ‘06) a graduate of Sewanee, University of the South, Meredith (Hill ‘03) a graduate of High Point University (NC) and Caroline (Hill ‘00) a graduate of Roanoke College. Claire and her family enjoy traveling, the outdoors, horse racing, and breeding Labrador puppies.
Faculty & Staff
Will Nisbet
Director of Institutional Development
B.S. University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
M.S.Ed. University of Pennsylvania
Hill School 2017–
wnisbet@thehillschool.org
Will was born and raised in North Carolina, the middle of three boys and a large zoo of animals. His life and desire to work with children has been influenced by his time traveling, working with summer camps, and the Boy Scouts. He attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, where he spent time in Middleburg and became familiar with Hill School. Following college at UNC, he felt the call of the Colorado mountains and expanded his interest in outdoor education by joining the faculty of Aspen Country Day School and filling many roles. After a stop in Philadelphia, he joined the Maret School in Washington, DC as a 4th grade teacher and Outdoor Exploration Director. After seven successful years in DC he joined The Hill School in 2017 as a member of the development team. He has enjoyed the Hill community and building partnerships with students and families. Will lives in town with his fiancee and enjoys reading, skiing, hiking, traveling, and generally exploring new opportunities.
Faculty & Staff
Lisa Patterson
Alumni Engagement & Development Coordinator
B.S. Bucknell University
M.S. University of Stuttgart
Hill School 2013 –
lpatterson@thehillschool.org
Lisa moved to Middleburg from the Virgin Islands when she was 10. She spent her fifth through eighth grade years at Hill School, graduating in 1985. She graduated from Foxcroft in 1989, Bucknell University in 1993, with a BS in Civil Engineering and from University of Stuttgart in 2003, with a Master’s of Science. After returning from Germany, she continued her environmental engineering work with the Virginia Department of Transportation, where she specialized in stream restoration, wetland design, and construction. She earned her professional engineering license in 2004. Since then, she owned and operated Mello Out, and now owns a health and wellness business. Her interests include birding, cooking, and hanging out at the beach. Lisa, husband Tom, and daughter Remy (Hill ’18), live just outside of Middleburg with their three dogs. Lisa loves working at Hill and being part of the Hill community and working with the Alumni Board and former schoolmates.
Faculty & Staff
Stephen Price
Athletics Administrative Assistant, 5-8 Math, 6-8 Athletics, 8 Homeroom
B.S. Davidson College
Hill School 2003-2005, 2006 –
sprice@thehillschool.org
Stephen grew up in Middleburg and has been part of the Hill community for most of his life. He graduated from Hill in 1995 along with his twin brother (Jon); he also has younger two brothers who are Hill alumni, Alex ’99 and Mark ’05. After graduating from Hill, Stephen went to Woodberry Forest School (’99) and then to Davidson College (’03) where he earned a BS in Psychology and a concentration in education. He loves number games, Davidson basketball and all the Washington sports teams, especially the Redskins. Stephen also loves the beach, skiing, rock climbing, golf, and getting together with friends.
Faculty & Staff
Kim Renneker
3 Homeroom
Kim Renneker is a lifelong Texan who traded the heat for the snow, living and teaching.in the Boston area for the past four years. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Sociology and Applied Learning and Development, Kim has taught students in grade levels ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade. Her professional development interests in recent years have focused on the workshop approach, design thinking, and socialemotional learning. Kim and her husband, Bob, are the parents of Kathryn, a second year student at the University of Virginia (’21) and Logan, a high school junior at The Berkshire School (’20). The Rennekers are travel enthusiasts, and enjoy exploring new places, people, food, and cultures together. Their best journey to date was hiking and diving in the Galapagos Islands. She is excited to be member of the Hill community and looks forward to seeing the light in her students’ eyes as they spark new ideas and connections this year!
Faculty & Staff
Will Roszel
6-8 Athletics, Team Saturday
wroszel@thehillschool.org
Will was born and raised in Northern Virginia and graduated from Fauquier High School in the spring of 2008 where he played sports all four years. After graduation, Will moved on to Radford University where he received a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. While at Radford, Will was selected as an athletic department employee where he received his first taste of managing competitive athletics. After school, Will spent time in Hilton Head Island, SC becoming a boat captain and restoration technician while coaching a local rec basketball team. After moving back to Virginia, Will was first introduced to the Hill School through his brother Zach who also works at the school. Will resides in the town of Middleburg.
Faculty & Staff
Zach Roszel
4 & 5 Athletics
zroszel@thehillschool.org
Zach grew up in nearby Marshall, Virginia and graduated from Fauquier High School in 2005. After graduation from Fauquier, Zach attended Radford University earning an athletic scholarship as a goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team where he started in over 70 division 1 soccer games. Zach was voted captain his Junior and Senior seasons (2007 – 2008) and was also named to the All Big South Team. Zach graduated from Radford in 2009 with a BS in Business Marketing. Prior to coming to Hill to teach, Zach started ZAR Soccer Academy LLC in 2010, a private training company for soccer players in Northern Virginia. As a soccer coach, he holds his US “D” License and National Goalkeeping License. At Hill, Zach’s responsibilities are coaching 4-5 sports as well as being the Summer Camp Program Director. He also runs The Hill School “Gap Camp” program through his company which is offered during the school year over holiday breaks for Hill School students. Although Zach’s primary background is soccer, he spent the majority of his childhood playing and being around all sports with his parents and brothers. His passion is helping young people develop athletically and individually, both on and off the field. Zach resides in Unison with his wife Kim, his dog Bentley, and two cats Stella and Irie.
Faculty & Staff
Cynthia Saucedo
7 & 8 Spanish, 3 & 4 Strings
Hill School 2017 –
csaucedo@thehillschool.org
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico Cynthia Saucedo moved to the United States in 2001 to study music at Shenandoah University, where she earned her Masters in Violin Performance, Masters in Violin Pedagogy and Artist Diploma in Quartet Studies. While at Shenandoah Cynthia helped tutor Spanish students from the university and privately tutored children from Elementary to High School. In her violin studio Cynthia offers the option to teach violin in Spanish for those that are in an immersion program at school as well as native speakers. In addition to teaching the Strings Program at Hill with her brother, Dr. Alan Saucedo, and Hill School music teacher Karen Chase, Cynthia is excited to teach the 7th and 8th grade Spanish Class.
Faculty & Staff
Debbie Sharples
Director of Special Academic Services, Reading Specialist
B.A. Hollins University
M.Ed. Lesley University
Hill School 1992 –
dsharples@thehillschool.org
Debbie grew up outside Philadelphia where she attended the Baldwin School of Bryn Mawr, PA. She received her BA from Hollins University and earned her MEd from the Advance Reading Specialist Program at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Debbie has been a Kindergarten teacher for Head Start, an adult literacy coach in a Massachusetts maximum security facility, an assistant director of an adolescent residential treatment center, a foster care worker, a bookstore owner, Hill’s librarian and the second grade lead teacher. Debbie and her husband Mike are the parents of two daughters, Katie (Hill ’97), and Elizabeth (Hill ’99). Mike and Debbie also have a foster son, Bill, who now with a family of his own, lives close by and is an active member of their family. When she is not at Hill, Debbie spends the majority of her time with her family and participating in Soka Gakaii International activities, a non-profit Buddhist international peace organization. She loves being with her family and dogs, traveling, reading and photography, but most of all she loves helping children discover and enjoy the world of reading.
Faculty & Staff
Harrison Schroder
6-8 Science, 7 Homeroom, 6-8 Athletics
Hill School 2018 –
hschroder@thehillschool.org
Harrison grew up in Woodstock, CT playing youth soccer and basketball. He graduated from Pomfret School in 2013 and Middlebury College in Vermont in February 2018 with a BA in Chemistry and minor in Education Studies. While in college, Harrison was a member of the men’s varsity soccer team and sang in an all male a cappella group, The Dissipated Eight. Harrison completed his student teaching semester in the fall of his senior year, and then worked as the Phoenix Science Teacher at Middlebury Union Middle School for the remaining 2017-2018 academic school year. He is happy to be a part of the Hill community and to share his love of science, sports and music.
Faculty & Staff
Caitlin Slater
Junior Kindergarten, 6-8 Athletics
B.A. The University of the South, Sewanee
Hill School 2013 –
cslater@thehillschool.org
Caitlin is a native of Middleburg and a member of the Hill School Class of 2003. Her siblings Michelle (‘97) and Ian (‘09) are also alumni, and she is the daughter of Hill teacher Joan McNaughton. After graduation from Foxcroft, Caitlin attended University of the South, Sewanee, where she was a four-year starter on the field hockey team. She was captain for the 2010 season, voted Sportswoman of the conference in 2009, All-SCAC first team 2010 and NFHCA D-III Great Lakes All-Region first team. At Sewanee, Caitlin earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Education. Caitlin loves being a part of the Junior Kindergarten team where she can work with young children and encourage their curiosity and interest in their first learning experiences. Caitlin and her husband, Fletcher Slater (Hill ’98), live in Upperville, Virginia.
Faculty & Staff
Jay Speer
2 Homeroom, 3 Spanish, Music Support
B.S. Guilford College
B.S. Shenandoah University
Hill School 2014 –
jspeer@thehillschool.org
Originally from Huntington, West Virginia, Jay graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee and received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Upon graduation, Jay worked for the House of Representatives in Washington, DC, as a Legislative Correspondent before working as a Human Resources Coordinator for Inova Heath in Fairfax, Virginia. In 2004, Jay left Washington, DC and moved to Orlean, Virginia. Jay attended Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia and received his degree in Elementary Education. Jay taught seven years in Warren County Virginia as a third grade and second grade teacher. Jay is currently serving on the VAIS Annual Leading Learning Conference Planning Committee, the Board of the George Mason University School of Visual and Performing Arts, President of the Orlean Community Trail System and is co-chair of George Mason University’s 2017 “Arts by George.” Jay has also served on the board of the John Mosby Museum in Warrenton. Jay and his partner enjoy spending time playing tennis, traveling, tending to the farm, rehabbing old homes, and enjoying life in Orlean, Virginia.
Faculty & Staff
Lucy Turner
6 Homeroom, 6 English, 4 Writing Workshop
B.S. Wellesley College
M.F.A. Goddard College
Hill School 2013 –
lturner@thehillschool.org
A Floridian by birth, a West Virginian by upbringing, and a sometime- Pittsburgher by choice, Lucy likes places with complex histories and mountain views. Areas of particular interest to her and her family (husband Van and daughter Anya ’19) include central and east Africa as well as southeast Alaska. As a teacher, Lucy is a fan of children’s ability to stretch toward new ideas, their readiness to laugh, and their anticipation at the end of a suspenseful chapter. She enjoys working with colleagues in other disciplines, especially drama and history, helping students build connections between islands of knowledge. Lucy loves to write and works with students as writers-in-training, offering them age-adjusted versions of the experiences that have helped her own practice, from prompts for getting started through mentor texts, peer editing, and reinvention of drafts. Outside of school, Lucy now serves as the Lead Steward of Goddard’s Clockhouse Writers’ Conference, an alumni organization that publishes a national literary journal as well as offering writers’ conferences and retreats in both Washington State and Vermont.
Faculty & Staff
Emily Tyler
Reception, Development – Special Events, Student Council Co-Advisor, After School Care
B.A. New England College
Hill School 1995 –
etyler@thehillschool.org
Emily grew up in Connecticut, the youngest of five children. She graduated from New England College with a BA in Psychology. Her first job was with First Boston Corporation, where she was responsible for client entertainment and special events. After marrying her husband, Bill, she went to work for the family real estate company as a broker. She and Bill own Tyler Construction Management, a firm which builds custom homes. Emily enjoys cooking, gardening, and party planning and teaches cooking classes to both children and adults. Emily and Bill live in the Philomont area with their son, John Walter Montague (Jack, to his friends! – Hill ’14).
Faculty & Staff
Katherine Weeden
Mathematics Department Chair, 4-8 Math, 6-8 Athletics
B.A. Smith College
M.S. Johns Hopkins University
Hill School 1996 –
kweeden@thehillschool.org
Katherine grew up in Baltimore where she attended Garrison Forest School, played field hockey and lacrosse, and rode. She earned her BA in Mathematics from Smith College (MA) and her MS in Numerical Science from Johns Hopkins University. Before coming to Hill, Katherine worked as a mathematician for the CIA, Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab, and Bell Labs. When not teaching, Katherine enjoys time with her family, exploring the countryside, and officiating lacrosse. She and her husband, Matt, an analyst for the CIA, are the parents of Whitney
(Hill ’05), a graduate of Virginia Tech, and Nicholas (Hill ’07), a graduate of Brown University.
Faculty & Staff
Kara Whitehead
2 Homeroom Lead
B.S. Marywood College
Hill School 2006 –
kwhitehead@thehillschool.org
Kara was born and raised in Washington, DC. She loved wandering the museums as a child, visiting Chinatown, and playing in Rock Creek Park. She attended Immaculata Preparatory School in DC and then went on to graduate from Marywood University in Pennsylvania with a BS in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Kara developed a passion for field hockey in high school and played in college and post college on the DC team. Kara has lived in many areas of the country and has taught in five states plus the District of Columbia and the island of Puerto Rico. She has served on school boards in Puerto Rico and Florida and has taught children of all ages from preschool through high school. Kara is passionate about learning, birds, gardening, but above all else, spending time with her children: Douglass, Nicholas (Hill ’11), and Kathryn (Hill ’13).
Faculty & Staff
Don Woodruff
8 History, 6-8 Athletics, Administrator Support
B.A. Trinity College
F.B.S. The University of Edinburgh
M.A. The American University
Hill School 1996 –
dwoodruff@thehillschool.org
Don grew up in Baltimore and graduated from St. Andrew’s School (DE). He earned a BA in History and Philosophy from Trinity College (CT), a FBS in History from the University of Edinburgh, and attended the University of Virginia Law School. He spent three years in the Coast Guard and earned an MA in American History. Don began his teaching career as a math teacher at Stratford Junior High in Arlington. He taught at St. James in Hagerstown for twenty years, served as Headmaster of Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News, and was the founding Head of School of Fredericksburg Academy. Don has been a facilitator of the annual Princeton History Conference and presented at both the Virginia and National Conferences for History Education (VCHE). In 2002, he was elected President of VCHE. He has been honored as Maryland History Teacher of the Year and for his work with the Presidential Task Force on History Teaching and Standards. In 1988 he was elected to the Century Club of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a coach. Don’s interests include reading history, golfing, collecting military miniatures and porcelain houses, and furniture building. He and his wife, Mary, share their townhouse in Middleburg with their dog Callie, are the parents of two adult children and the proud grandparents of Mary Ann and Donnie.
Faculty & Staff
Mary Woodruff
Librarian, 1-3 Art
B.A. Shepherd College
M.F.A. Antioch University
Hill School 1997 –
mwoodruff@thehillschool.org
Mary grew up in New York City, the daughter of Colin MacLeod, one of the three men who isolated DNA in 1944. After graduating from the Lenox School (NY), Mary studied in Florence, Italy for two years. Returning to New York to attend NYU, Mary renewed a friendship with Don, whom she had known since the age of seven, and married him. She earned a BA from Shepherd College (WV) and an MFA from Antioch University (OH). Her teaching career reflects her interest in history and the arts. She has taught Studio Art, English History, Art History, World History, and developed a course in Western Art, Music, and History for which she received a Home Library Foundation grant. She has been a yearbook advisor and has coached field hockey and tennis. Mary and Don have two children: Don who lives in Norfolk and Michelle, the Athletic Director at Foxcroft School. The Woodruffs enjoy spending weekends at their pre-Revolutionary farm in Bucks County, PA, and vacations at the Woodruff family camp on “Golden Pond” in Maine. They also enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, Mary Ann and Donnie, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Faculty & Staff
Lisa Woods
5-8 Math, I.T. Support
B.S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hill School 2005 –
lwoods@thehillschool.org
Lisa has spent most of her life in Northern Virginia. After graduating from Oakton High School, she went on to earn a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. She has worked in the engineering and information technology fields for fifteen years. Her hobbies are reading, riding, and watching her children’s sporting events. She and her husband, Dennis, live in Philomont with their children, Melissa (Hill ’04), Evan (Hill ’07), Anthony (Hill ’10), and Lindsay (Hill ’13), and their horses, dogs, and cat.