Meet Our Administrative Team
The VAVA High School Admin team is the backbone for the day-to-day operations of the school and leverage their extensive experience serving both public and private enterprise to keep VAVA running smoothly.
Su Garcia-Batiz
Su Garcia-Batiz joined the Virginia Virtual Academy in July 2019 as a Health/PE teacher and Administrative support at the Middle School. In July 2020, she became an Assistant Principal at the Middle School and in August 2021, she was proud to accept the role as the Middle School Principal. In August of 2022, Mrs. Garcia-Batiz accepted a new role as the Principal for all students and staff, grades 6-12. Prior to joining VAVA, she spent 12 years teaching for Prince William County Schools and 3 years as an Instructional Coach for K12. Mrs. Garcia-Batiz earned her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from George Mason University in 2004. She earned her Masters Degree in Special Education, ED/LD in 2007 from George Mason University and her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from American College of Education in 2011. Mrs. Garcia-Batiz currently lives in Prince William County with her husband, who is also an educator, two daughters; Natalia (8) and Mila (10) and their pet Boxer, Jab. Her family likes to spend time outdoors; finding new parks to hike at or just playing in the backyard. She loves being a VAVA Bee and is looking forward to continuing to support the Middle and High School.
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Amy Stevens
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Chip Deliee
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Morgan Horne
Morgan Horne joined the Virginia Virtual Academy team in August 2020 as a middle school counselor. In 2021, Ms. Horne joined the Data and Assessment team before moving to the high school counseling team in 2023. She now serves high school families and staff members as one of the Assistant Principals. Before VAVA, Ms. Horne served as a middle school and high school counselor in Pittsylvania County for seven years. Ms. Horne earned her undergraduate degree in History with a minor in Dance from the University of Virginia in 2011. She earned her Masters Degree in School Counseling in 2013 and her Education Specialist in Educational Leadership in 2017 from Liberty University. Ms. Horne currently lives in Pittsylvania County with her two daughters; Lillian (5) and Eleanor (2) and their Pit Bulls, Hemi and Bristol. Ms. Horne is also a Certified Personal Trainer so when she’s not working, you will probably find her at the gym coaching clients through a workout. Besides working and working out, Ms. Horne enjoys spending time with her kiddos, being outside (especially in the sunshine!), listening to live music, and reading a good book with a cup of coffee. Ms. Horne is so excited to continue supporting VAVA families and staff this school year!
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Meet Our Team of Counselors
The Counseling team at VAVA are available every school day to help students and learning coaches navigate their courses and overcome any obstacles they may encounter on their education journey. They also assist with graduation plans and pursuing their goals beyond high school.
Katina Bookard
Katina Bookard serves as the 12th grade school counselor and Lead Counselor for VAVA. Katina is originally from South Carolina and resides in Northern Virginia. She has served as a Stride K-12 School counselor for 6 years and has over 18 years as a public school counselor in the brick and mortar setting. She received her bachelors and masters degree from South Carolina State University and taught English Language Arts for 6 years. Katina has a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University and is a National Board Certified School Counselor (NBPTS). Katina has been married for 20 years to her husband and has 3 beautiful children.
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Kim Bond
Kimberly Bond joined VAVA in 2018 as the Attendance Specialist. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and then earned her Master’s in School Counseling from Liberty University. She lives in Floyd Virginia with her husband Chris and has two children Alena and Ryne. In her free time, she loves to bake and eat sweets and one of her favorite vacation spots to visit is Disney World. She is excited to be a School Counselor at VAVA and hopes that she can help students reach their goals whether it is academically, career oriented or socially/emotionally.
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Stephanie Gross
Stephanie Gross joined Virginia Virtual Academy in 2021 as a middle school counselor and later became a member of the high school counseling team in 2023. Stephanie is from Wise Co., Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Intermont College in Interdisciplinary Studies Prek-6. She taught elementary & middle school education for 18 years before becoming a school counselor. She earned master’s degrees from Virginia Tech in administration, and Liberty University in school counseling. She has been a school counselor for the past 5 years. She enjoys working with students in academic and career readiness while also guiding their SEL needs. She enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, cross-stitching, and with her family.
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Rachel Reynard
Rachel Reynard serves as the 9th grade VAVA school counselor. Rachel is originally from Alexandria, Virginia, but now resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in human services and psychology from Old Dominion University in 2016. She then received her Masters of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University in 2020. She comes with more than 4 years of experience in the education system. In her spare time she loves spending time with her puppy and husband, and going on hikes. Her goal is to help each student reach their full social/emotional, academic and career goals.
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Austin Hamill
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Valerie Hughes
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Austin joined the Virtual Virginia Academy in 2024 after over 17 years of experience in education. Austin received her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Denison University and her Masters in Education from George Mason University. She has worked in both Florida and Virginia public high schools, including time in Loudoun County, Fairfax County and, most recently, Arlington County where she was also the social and emotional learning coordinator and a varsity swim coach. In addition, Austin spent a year working in college admissions at Florida Gulf Coast University and has several years of experience as a private college admissions consultant and essay coach. Originally from Vienna, VA, Austin currently lives in Falls Church, VA with her husband, Kyle, her two kids Carter (14) and Molly (11) and her Bernedoodle, Wheels. With a passion for post-secondary planning and college admissions, Austin looks forward to helping her students plan and meet their academic and personal goals. In her spare time, she loves cooking and traveling when she can!
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Meet Our Team of Dedicated Teachers
VAVA High School is staffed by an enthusiastic team of experienced teachers who are passionate about working with students to provide an engaging and enriching online education experience. They work every day to help students learn and grow and are available every school day to help overcome any challenges that students may face.
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Brianna Ayers
Math Department Brianna Ayers joined VAVA in September of 2018 and has taught both Geometry and Algebra. She is currently teaching her passion of Algebra 1. Mrs. Ayers graduated from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics. She lives in far southwest Virginia and enjoys the mountains, gardening and her chickens. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters, cooking, organizing, and is always open to a new project of any kind. |
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Lance Ayers
PE/Health Department Lance Ayers has been with VAVA since August 2020 as a Health and Physical Education teacher. He received his degree in Health/Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Special Education from the University of Virginia College at Wise. When Mr. Ayers is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, being physically active and engaging in multiple outdoor activities. |
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Mandy Ballingall
Social Studies Department Mrs. Ballingall was born and raised in Southern California but moved to Virginia in 2010 where she became a history teacher for Suffolk Public Schools. She first worked for VAVA in 2016 before moving to Japan for four years. Upon her return to Virginia, she returned to VAVA at the Middle School. She is thrilled to join the high school as a social studies teacher! Mrs. Ballingall has taught ancient world, modern world, civics, VA Studies, psychology, and AP Euro. She currently resides in Alexandria with her husband and two dachshunds and enjoys running, cooking, and traveling. |
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Dr. Lynn Beal
Special Education Teacher Dr. Beal joined the VAVA team in 2024. She earned her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, focusing on instructional practices for students with exceptional needs, and she earned her Special Education post-graduate certification from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Beal is a 9th Grade Special Programs Teacher for English and comes to us with 15 years of experience. Dr. Beal is a certified Special Education Teacher and English Teacher. She resides in Fairfax, VA with her husband. When she is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. |
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Jennifer Bennett
Science Department I come to VAVA with 31 years of teaching experience in science in 5 different states. I love working with students and look forward to getting to know you. In my leisure time, I love to spend time with family, ride motorcycles, read, hike, and camp. I am so excited to get started on our adventures together. |
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Kim Bintz
CTE Department Kim Bintz teaches in the CTE department at VAVA. She is originally from Kentucky and earned her degree in Business Education from Northern Kentucky University. Mrs. Bintz enjoys teaching real world skills to her students. She loves to spend time outdoors and exploring new places. |
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Courtney Blasius-Owens
Head of Science Department Courtney Owens joined the VAVA team in August of 2015 as a science teacher. Prior to coming to VAVA, she spent ten years teaching Life Science in Prince William County. Mrs. Owens earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Mary Baldwin College and a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Old Dominion University. She currently teaches Biology and AP Environmental Science for the high school and serves as the Science Department Chair. Mrs. Owens resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, three kids and two Great Danes. She enjoys spending her summers in the Adirondack mountains with her family as well as photography, baking, live music and being outdoors. |
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James Board
Mathematics Department James Board joined the VAVA team this past year in August 2023. James spend two and half years teaching in Franklin County Public Schools and two years teaching at Floyd County Public Schools. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics and a Masters in Education from Radford University. James lives in southwest Virginia with his wife, daughter, three dogs, two chickens, and one bunny. He spends as much of his time outdoors as possible, tending to his tiny farm or playing with his daughter. James is excited for the school year and can’t wait to help students build their foundational math skills! |
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Mac Bradbury
Social Studies Department Mr. Bradbury graduated from the University of Georgia in 2003 with a Bachelors Degree in Social Science Education. He has his masters degree from Troy University, in post-secondary education. He taught in Georgia at Grayson High School from 2003-2019. At Grayson, he taught Government, Economics, and AP Macroeconomics. In addition to teaching he also coached cross country, track, and a couple of years with baseball. This is currently his second year at VAVA. He currently resides in Blacksburg, VA with his wife and two daughters. When he is not teaching or coaching, the family is usually out hiking or running on trails. |
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Lindsey Bradshaw
Electives Department Lindsey Bradshaw is a CTE teacher at VAVA, teaching courses in Business and Information Technology. She joined VAVA in Spring of 2022 and previously worked for Southampton County Public Schools. She is a graduate of Christopher Newport University (Go Captains!). She hopes to inspire her students to pursue their interests and seek out a career that both fulfills them and allows them to live a balanced life. Mrs. Bradshaw enjoys all sports, especially when her kids are playing, and taking trips to the beach or the mountains with her family. |
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Rhiannon Bowden
Special Education English Teacher Rhiannon Bowden joined the VAVA team in 2020. She earned her Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Tyler and her Masters of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rhiannon is a 9th and 11th Grade Special Programs Teacher for English and comes to us with 15 years of experience. Rhiannon is a certified Special Education Teacher, English Teacher, Elementary Teacher and a certified Reading Specialist. She will be teaching Collaborative English in 9th and 11th Grade, Reading and Social Skills Courses. She resides outside of Richmond, VA with her husband and two children. When she is not teaching she likes to be outdoors, camping and hiking. |
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Amber Burke
Electives Department (Music) Mrs. Burke joined the VAVA team in August of 2020 as the middle school music teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from James Madison University. Mrs. Burke has 13 years of experience as a music teacher, choral director, theatre director, and choreographer. She lives in far southwest Virginia with her husband and three children. Mrs. Burke has a passion for teaching, singing, traveling, and all things Disney! |
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Ashley Callejas
World Language Teacher (Spanish) Ashley Callejas joined VAVA in October of 2022 as a Spanish teacher. She has taught both Spanish and English as a Second Language in elementary, middle, and high school in Orange and Culpeper. She earned her bachelor’s in Spanish from the University of Virginia and Masters in ESL from Dominican University. Ashley loves sharing language and culture to open new opportunities for students! When she is not teaching, she enjoys cooking, traveling, walking and taking care of her dog and three cats. |
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Carley Cook
Science Department Carley Cook teaches Biology at VAVA. Ms. Cook is originally from Michigan and earned her degree in Biology at Hope College. Her love of teaching science began in 2004 in Prince William County Public Schools and she has been trying to make science relatable and fun for students ever since! Ms. Cook enjoys creating new ways to get students engaged with the content and finds it rewarding to help others enjoy science as much as she does! Partly due to her love of science and partly due to her love of adventure, Ms. Cook spends a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, and exploring. She also loves cooking and traveling to new places to explore different food and cultures. |
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Charisse Cooper
Electives Department (CTE) Charisse Cooper is a CTE teacher at Virginia Virtual Academy, teaching courses in Business and Information Technology. Charisse worked in banking for 8 years before transitioning to the education world, where she previously worked for Southampton County Public Schools. Charisse received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University (Yay Monarchs!), and she holds a Master of Arts in Business Management and Leadership from Liberty University. In her free time, Charisse enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She also enjoys sports, reading, and poetry. Her passion is teaching her students skills/practices they will use and carry with them throughout a lifetime. Charisse’s goal is to help her students uncover or enhance their greatness from within; everyone has it, sometimes assistance is needed to bring it to the surface! |
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Sabina Dallmeyer
Mathematics Deparment Sabina Dallmeyer works as the math interventionist at VAVA High School. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching at Christopher Newport University and is currently working on a second degree in Virtual Instruction. Mrs. Dallmeyer studies math anxiety and enjoys cheering her students on to success! |
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Kimberly Deel
World Language Department Madame Lee Deel is a true Francophile (someone who loves all things French)! She has nearly 20 years of teaching experience, and she has taught French I, French II, and French III with Virginia Virtual Academy since 2018. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French and Education, and she is known among friends and family as a professional bookworm. She also enjoys writing and gardening. |
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Olivia DeMik
English Department Olivia de Mik has been an English teacher for VAVA since the Fall of 2019 and currently teaches American Literature and AP English Language and Composition. Mrs. de Mik has a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language with Teacher Licensure from Liberty University. Before coming to VAVA, she worked with both Lynchburg City Schools and Virginia Beach City Public Schools to start and implement Newcomer Programs for English Language Learners new to our country. With this background in mind, she always aims to make sure the literature and writing content in our courses are easily accessible for students at all levels in order for them to succeed and prepare for the End of Course SOLs. Outside of school, Mrs. de Mik enjoys cooking and baking; so, she is usually trying out new recipes. She also loves to go to the beach, which is quite convenient since she lives in Virginia Beach, or going hiking and is willing to travel for a great hike. |
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David Dunstan
Social Studies Department Mr. Dunstan graduated from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a MS in Educational Leadership. He has taught in Roanoke County and Montgomery County at both the middle school and high school level. In addition to teaching, he also coaches Baseball. This is his second year with VAVA. Mr. Dunstan currently lives in Roanoke, VA with his wife and two daughters. Mr. Dunstan enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing and when he is not doing one of those things spending time at the barn with his daughters and their horse. |
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Whitney Fagan
PE/Health Department Whitney Fagan has been teaching Health and Physical Education at VAVA High School since we opened in 2017. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree from San Diego State University in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition, and Health and later went on to earn her Teaching Credential and Masters Degree from California State University, East Bay in 2012 in Physical Education and Curriculum Planning. Whitney has also been certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), as well as a Functional Medicine Health Coach (FMCHC) by the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. She is a proud wife and mama to three boys aged 3 and under. In her youth, Mrs. Fagan enjoyed competitive swimming, basketball, softball, track, tennis, and soccer, and as an adult continues to enjoy swimming and running in particular. It is her goal that every student find a lifelong activity they enjoy, and that they find the intrinsic motivation to “get moving” for their own health, every day! |
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Cassandra Fisher
Social Studies Department Cassandra is originally from Pennsylvania but moved to Virginia in 2019 after finishing up her undergraduate degree at Kutztown University in Secondary Education Social Studies and Special Education. She currently resides in the Williamsburg, VA area and can be found spending time with her husband and daughter or reading a good book! Prior to joining VAVA, Cassandra taught 5 years of middle and high school Social Studies in both Gloucester and Westmoreland County Schools. Cassandra also is working towards finishing up her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. |
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Kate Fletcher
History Department Bio: Mrs. Fletcher graduated from the University of Virginia and began her teaching career in Chesterfield County, where she taught US History, Civics, and World History courses for 18 years. A native of Winchester, Virginia, Mrs. Fletcher has lived in Midlothian since 2002 with her husband, Gary. Together they have three sons: Matthew, Wesley, and Henry. The Fletcher family enjoys hiking, kayaking, 80s movies, live music, and trivia games. Mrs. Fletcher also volunteers as a community educator for the Autism Society Central Virginia, providing Richmond-area businesses with disability and inclusion training. |
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Pilar Freed
Social Studies Department Pilar Freed has been a Social Studies teacher in Virginia since 2013 and at the VAVA High School since 2018. She holds a degree in Secondary Education with a specialization in Social Studies/History from Liberty University. Over the years, Pilar has had the opportunity to teach several social studies and history classes, but currently teaches World Geography and A.P. US Government and Politics. Pilar loves teaching and considers it her true passion. And while she loves looking at maps, exploring regions of the world and studying political theory, the best part of her job is the students. From joking around with students to seeing a “light bulb” go off for a student who has struggled, Pilar loves it all. Pilar resides in Roanoke with her husband Jonathan and young son Carver. She enjoys reading, hiking, watching movies (especially Star Wars), sarcasm and being with her family and friends. |
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Nellibrooke Fultz
Science Department Mrs. Fultz is from Southwest Virginia. She received her degree in Chemistry near her hometown at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Mrs. Fultz has taught Chemistry in the state of Virginia for twelve years, and this is her fourth year with Virginia Virtual Academy. She loves teaching and has a passion to help her students see science as fun and engaging. In her free time, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or relaxing with a good book. |
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Catherine Gibson
English Department Cat Gibson teaches English 10 and American Literature for VAVA. She earned her B.A. in both English and Theatre from the College of William & Mary, and later earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. Ms. Gibson joins VAVA with 12 years of experience as an English teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools and Hanover County Public Schools. She currently resides in the Richmond area with her husband and two daughters and enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, writing, and creating art. |
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Casey Grandy
Math Department Casey Grandy joined the VAVA team in August 2020. Before joining K12, Inc., Casey spent many years as a Fairfax County Public School teacher and Prince William County Public School teacher. She spent most of that time teaching Geometry, Algebra II and Calculus. Casey earned a Bachelor's of Science from Penn State University. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, children, and dogs. In her time away from work, Casey enjoys camping, cake decorating and sewing. Casey is excited for another year supporting and guiding families with Math this year. |
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Amanda Haas
Electives Department Spanish Teacher Amanda Haas is a Spanish Teacher for VAVA HS. Prior to VAVA, she taught Spanish for Fairfax County Public Schools and Spanish/ESL for Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. She attended George Mason University where she received her B.A. in Foreign Languages with a minor in Education Studies. She then received her Masters of the Arts in Teaching Spanish PK-12 from Christopher Newport University. Amanda loves creating new lessons and activities that get students inspired to learn Spanish. She is always researching new methods to deliver engaging content to her students! When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading a good book or being outside with her family. |
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Lauren Hamilton
Special Programs Department Lauren Hamilton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University and a Master of Special Education from the University of Virginia. With 22 years of experience in teaching special education, she has spent the last 8 years instructing virtually. Lauren grew up in and taught in Fairfax County before jumping into the world of online instruction. Outside of education, Lauren cherishes moments with her family, embarking on adventures to new places, and nurturing a love for travel. She loves that within a few hours you can be at the beach or the mountains. Education is her truly her passion. Lauren values the importance of fostering an positive environment where her students can thrive, encouraging their own journey of exploration and growth to be lifelong learners. |
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Taylor Harris
Special Education Department Taylor Harris has been teaching Special Education for 8 years. Her teaching philosophy is founded on self-efficacy, connecting the curriculum to daily life and building and maintaining healthy relationships. The most important lesson she wants her students to learn is that anyone can learn anything and the most rewarding accomplishments happen after working through downfalls, overcoming obstacles, and most importantly, serving others. She am looking forward to an amazing year!!! |
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Baylee Hawks
PE/Health Department Mrs. Hawks is one of the four High School Physical and Health Education teachers for Virginia Virtual Academy. In May 2020, she graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise, sport, and health education. In May 2023, she received her Master of Education degree at Liberty University. Mrs. Hawks goal as a teacher is to help her students become the best version of themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. You can find Mrs. Hawks on a ballfield coaching her varsity softball team when she is not teaching. |
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Nancy James
English Department The 12th grade English teacher for VAVA, Dr. Nancy Carol James teaches British and World Literature and AP Composition and Literature. Having taught with VAVA since 2017, James appreciates the rich academic K12 curriculum. A former K12 learning coach herself, James enthusiastically affirms the great benefits of online learning and of the VAVA high school. James has an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Virginia with major subjects in English, French History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Active in her academic field, James publishes about one book a year. Her most popular books are I, Jeanne Guyon (Seedsowers Publishing) and The Complete Madame Guyon (Paraclete Press). She lived in the Charlottesville area of Virginia until recent years when she returned to her roots in Fairbanks, Alaska. She lives in the hills outside of Fairbanks with her family where she enjoys the beauties of nature and hiking. During summers, she writes on her book projects and teaches writing at the University of Alaska. She also flies into the northern Alaska bush villages to work on educational and community projects. |
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Kristyn James-Fox
CTE Department Kristyn James-Fox joined the VAVA team in December 2022 as an English teacher. Prior to that, she taught for 15 years in Maryland and Virginia as a Language Arts and CTE teacher. In January 2024, she switched from VAVA’s English department to the Electives department. Ms. James-Fox has earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in TV-Radio-Film from Syracuse University. One of her goals is to open students up to career possibilities they may not have considered before. She lives in Fredericksburg with her husband, daughter and pet turtle and loves spending time with her family and friends. Ms. James-Fox also enjoys visiting museums, bingeing podcasts and true crime television, and editing videos. |
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Jan Jessie
CTE Department Jan Jessie is a CTE teacher at VAVA, joining the team in September 2023 after 34 years in brick-and-mortar schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in Business Education and a master’s degree from Radford University in Counseling and Human Development. Mrs. Jessie lives in Central Virginia with her husband and Belgian Malinois, Isla. She spends her free time training Isla in the AKC Family Dog Program, hiking and working on completing the Virginia State Parks Trail Quest, enjoying her four grandsons, and eagerly anticipating her first granddaughter due to be born this spring. |
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Tanya Jones
Mathematics Department |
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Jennifer Kingman
Science Department Jennifer Kingman joined the VAVA team in August of 2018 as a middle school science teacher and advisor. Prior to coming to VAVA, she taught middle school Life Science in Stafford County and Biology and Ecology in Prince William County. Ms. Kingman earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Biology. She currently teaches Biology and Environmental Science for the high school. Ms. Kingman resides in Pennsylvania with her daughter and Labrador Retriever. She enjoys getting outside, kayaking, snowboarding, hiking, and relaxing at the beach. |
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Brenda Klauss
Science Department Brenda joined the VAVA team in January 2024. Originally from Connecticut, she has also lived in Texas and North Carolina. Prior to joining VAVA she spent thirteen years teaching Biology and AP Biology in Carteret County, North Carolina. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Science Education from East Carolina University. She loves sharing her passion for science with students making it fun and engaging! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling with her partner, hiking, cooking, museums, and live music. |
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Heather Konings
Mathematics Department Ms. Konings has been teaching high school math for 14 years, from Algebra 1 to Calculus. She loves encouraging students to find success through the challenges that math brings and find so much joy in each “aha” moment! Outside of teaching, Ms. Konings enjoys hiking, running, and playing volleyball. |
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Misty Lester
English Department Misty Lester teaches English 10 and Creative Writing for VAVA and has a 20 year career in public education. She received her B.S. in English with certification to teach grades 8-12 from Radford University. She also holds an endorsement in Gifted Education from the University of Virginia. Ms. Lester lives in Southwest, Virginia, and she and her rescue dog, Wilson, take advantage of the abundance of hiking trails and spectacular views nearby. She practices yoga, and loves to plan family adventures with her two daughters, Annah and Abi. Ms. Lester firmly believes in the power of building positive relationships and hopes this attitude creates a classroom in which all students can reach their highest potential. |
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Shirly Liu
Mathematics Department Originally from Beijing, China, I ventured to the United States to pursue my passion for language education, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in TESOL and foreign language teaching. It's fascinating how life leads us down unexpected paths. Currently, I find myself fully immersed in the picturesque surroundings of Virginia, where I have discovered a new passion for teaching math. Outside the classroom, I engaged in activities such as walking, hiking, and traveling, enjoying the beauty of nature. With over 10 years of experience in both language and math instruction, I take pride in my role as an educator, committed to making a meaningful impact here at VAVA. |
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Lee Marshall
English Department Mr. Marshall earned his Bachelor's in English and Philosophy from the University of North Texas 2010. Since then he had been teaching English in the classroom while writing advertising copy and editing fiction through freelance work and with a small ebook publisher. He brings real world professional writing experience to his classroom and promises to make every lesson valuable to student's daily lives both in and out of the classroom. When he isn't reading, writing, editing, or teaching about those three, he is probably working on his cabin deep in the woods somewhere along the Blue Ridge. |
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Amanda Massey
Social Studies Department Ms. Massey is excited to be a part of the Virginia Virtual High School Social Studies team! Ms. Massey comes to VAVA with nine years of teaching experience in Loudoun County Public Schools. She graduated from Cedarville University with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Secondary Social Studies Education and History. In 2010, she completed her Master of Education in Instructional Technology from George Mason University. Ms. Massey lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two young daughters, and a Cockapoo named Luna. When not teaching, Ms. Massey loves to read or listen to audiobooks. She also loves family hikes, kayaking on the Potomac River, and traveling to the mountains or the beach. |
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Sara Matczak
Social Studies Department Sara Matczak recently joined VAVA in the Winter of 2023. She has been teaching High School Social Studies in Virginia for 18 years mostly in Fauquier and Prince William Counties. Most of her time is spent driving her kids to their sports after school but when not being a taxi she loves to spend time running. She also has become very involved with a local dog rescue group in her area, a cause that is very near and dear to her heart. |
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Amy Moretz
English Department Amy Moretz joined VAVA in September 2018 and has taught both English and math. English is her passion, and she is currently teaching English 10. Amy received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with majors in both English and communications. She also earned a master’s degree in education from Liberty University. She and her husband have two boys. When she isn’t teaching, Amy loves spending time with her family outside. Her hobbies also include reading, traveling, cooking, and exploring. |
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Ben Mullins
Science Department Ben Mullins joined VAVA in September of 2022 and has taught Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Mr. Mullins graduated from James Madsion University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and later graduated from Radford University with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership. Mr. Mullins loves sharing his passion for science and helping students connect with the world around them. He is from Franklin County Va where he enjoys being outside and doing projects around his house. Mr. Mullins spends most of his time with his wife and son going on adventures. In another life Mr. Mullins was likely a DIY television star. |
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Suzy Mullins
Social Studies Department Suzy Mullins has served as a member of the VAVA Middle School team since 2017 teaching both history and physical science. She earned a B.A. in French and a B.S. in Psychology from UVA-Wise and a M.Ed. in School Counseling from the University of West Alabama. Prior to teaching at VAVA, Mrs. Mullins taught for Wise County Public Schools where she was the recipient of the 2016 YMCA Service to Youth Award presented by Governor McAuliffe for her work with the Model General Assembly team at Eastside High School. Mrs. Mullins is a published author whose body of work includes poetry and stories in international education magazines and inspirational stories based on her ongoing battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Mrs. Mullins is excited to return to the high school classroom this year in World Geography and Modern World History. Her goal is to make her live classes a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable participating. She and her husband reside in Roanoke with their daughters Serenity (2022 VAVA grad) and Sophie (VAVA Junior), several fish, 2 budgies, and their 2 cats, Ellie & Katie, who rule the house. |
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Virginia Murphy
Electives Department Virginia Murphy teaches Art Appreciation, AP Art History and Public Speaking. Virginia Graduated from VCU in 2012 with a BFA in Art Education and is currently pursuing a Masters in Online Education from Southern New Hampshire University. She has been working for 3 years at VAVA and 6 years before in brick and mortar. Virginia is now the Department Head for Electives and is passionate about building community across the school. Outside of school, Virginia loves most nerdy things, like Dungeons and Dragons and Animal Crossing , but she also loves to create art and spend time with her daughter and husband. If you take a class with Mrs. Murphy, expect to create a lot as well as connect with your classmates. |
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Angela Myers
Electives Department Mrs. Myers teaches Game Design, Web Design, & Engineering. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 with a BFA in Technology Education. Angela taught in brick & mortar schools for 12 years before taking a short retirement to pursue self-employment. Mrs. Myers rejoined the education world with VAVA in 2019. She lives in southwest Virginia with her husband and daughter and also has a son in college. She enjoys all things learning and adventure and fills her cup by empowering those around her to think big. Mrs. Myers loves anything to do with sports, (coaching, playing, spectating) and when she is not teaching you can find her outdoors in her garden or watching a good Netflix series. |
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Anna Naylor
Electives Department Anna "Katie" Naylor currently teaches Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology here at VAVA. She earned both her B.S. in History and her M.A. in Education from James Madison University- Go Dukes! While this is her second year teaching with VAVA, she has taught history for the past 12 years in Fairfax County as well as Arlington County. Mrs. Naylor loves all aspects of teaching, but her absolute favorite part is getting to know students and families! She recently moved from Alexandria to Virginia Beach with her husband Brian, her two children, Aubrie (4) and Jake (2), and their pup, Carson. She's due with her next kiddo Sept. 1st! When she's not teaching, Mrs. Naylor enjoys adventuring outdoors, reading a good book, and hanging out at the beach! |
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Geneva Nelson
Mathematics Department Geneva joined VAVA in 2024 as a Geometry Teacher. Mrs. Nelson taught 8 years of middle school math in Stafford County prior to joining the VAVA team. She has experience teaching Math 8, Algebra 1, and Geometry. Mrs. Nelson graduated from the University of Delaware and grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband and three children. She enjoys spending time with her young family and has a dream to visit all the MLB stadiums. |
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Erika Ohearn
History Department Erika joined VAVA in 2025 as a High School Government and World Geography teacher. She joined VAVA after nearly 20 years of teaching in American Schools in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the U.S. Ms. O'Hearn received her bachelor's degree from Radford University, her master's in education from James Madison University and is a Doctoral Candidate with American International College. She lives with her husband, Dennis in Waterford, Virginia. They have 5 children, Broghan, Quinn , Brock, Maeve and Case. They have two dogs, Moby and Kili and one cat, Gobez. Erika is excited to join the VAVA high School team. |
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Anne Owens
Science Department Mrs. Owens is an Earth Science teacher here at VAVA. She has degrees in biochemistry, psychology, English, and theater from Virginia Tech and is generally enthusiastic about learning all the things. She loves animals, cheese, and the 1980’s television series Murder, She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury. She is so excited to work with her students and to be a part of the VAVA family. |
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Kathryn Parkhurst
Head of Social Studies Department Kathryn is privileged to teach US History and AP US History for VAVA. She earned her BA in History from the University of Virginia, MA in Teaching from the University of Virginia, and MA in History from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys drinking coffee, reading historical biographies, and traveling to national parks with her husband and two kids. |
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Kevin Parkhurst
Social Studies Department Kevin is proud to teach Modern World Studies, VA & US Government and AP Psychology for VAVA. He has been teaching for VAVA since 2019 and served as a teacher in Henrico County prior to joining the staff at VAVA. He earned a BA in History and a MA in Teaching, both from Virginia Commonwealth University. Kevin lives in Richmond with his wife (Kathryn) and two children. In his spare time, Kevin is the head coach of a Youth Olympic throwing event club, specializing in coaching shot put, discus and hammer throw and is proud to have coached at least one state champion in each of the last 4 years. |
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Michelle Pauley
English Department Michelle Pauley joined VAVA in 2023 as a ninth-grade English teacher. She spent many years teaching in the classroom--everything from elementary school to adult education--but high school English is her passion. She loves connecting with her students and sharing her enthusiasm for reading and writing. Mrs. Pauley grew up in New Jersey and earned her Bachelor’s in English and Education from Rowan University. She has called Virginia home for many years now. Her husband and three children are the joys of her life. Mrs. Pauley is an avid reader. She also enjoys water activities and spending time at the river in Deltaville. |
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Christopher Peterson
Science Department Mr. Peterson lives in Richmond, VA and has lived in almost all the states from VA up to ME. He is a proud husband, and the proud father of one daughter and one dog. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 2001 with a B.S. in Biology, and spent several years after college working in Conservation from Virginia to Wisconsin. This will be Mr. Peterson’s 15th year teaching High School Science in Virginia, and has taught courses in Biology, Honors Bio, Bio II Oceanography, Ecology and, of course, Earth Science! From a very young age, Mr. Peterson has had a fascination and appreciation for the natural world (especially shorelines) that has only grown with age and experience. A self-proclaimed “lifelong-learner”, Mr. Peterson finds joy and inspiration in teaching and learning with his students, visiting National and State parks, studying Music, Art, Geology, Cosmology and Physics in his spare time. Mr. Peterson has found what he believes you will find to be a very special team of teachers at VAVA High School and is honored to be the person to take you on a mind-expanding journey this year; from the center of our earth to the stars and beyond… |
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Camryn Pictor
Math Department Ms. Pictor is a Mathematics teacher at Virginia Virtual Academy. She has degrees in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Bellarmine University where she also played Division I soccer. She is currently working on a Masters in Teacher as Leader in Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Kentucky University. In her free time Ms. Pictor is an avid runner and plans to run her first marathon in 2024. She also enjoys all things outdoors and sports, as well as spending time with her family. |
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Amber Pogue
Science Department Amber Pogue joined VAVA in fall of 2023 as a member of the Science Department. She is in her 19th year of teaching and has enjoyed bringing science alive to thousands of students. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University and SUNY ESF in Environmental Biology and Forestry with a minor in Chemistry. Amber currently teaches Chemistry, AP Environmental Science and Biology. Always up for a challenge, you can find Amber hiking, running, playing softball, baking, and crafting when she isn’t having fun with her awesome VAVA students! She happily lives in Blacksburg with her three amazing kids, ridiculous dog, and awesome husband of 17 years. |
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Natalia Popko
CTE Department Natalia been a middle school mathematics/Algebra teacher for VAVA since 2018. She is delighted to join the high school team as a CTE teacher, teaching Economics and Personal Finance. She graduated from Krasnodar State University with a bachelor’s in Economics and Finance and spent 4 years of my professional life in banking before becoming a teacher. She has been in the field of education for 12 years, and her journey as a teacher has been incredibly rewarding. She holds a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Regent University and has taught Mathematics for Norfolk and Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 7 years before joining the VAVA family. She currently reside in Virginia Beach with her son Alexander, mom Elena and our 2 cats, Mellow and Snowball. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with friends and family at the beach, concerts, hiking, and taking trips to explore new places as it provides me with the balance and rejuvenation needed to bring my best self to the classroom every day. She deeply cherishes the relationships she builds with her students, their parents, and colleagues, as she believe that a strong support network is crucial in the educational journey. She is truly excited about the upcoming academic year and the chance to embark on this learning journey with all of you! |
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Amanda Seldomridge
Health and PE Department Amanda Seldomridge is excited to join VAVA as a Health and Physical Education teacher. She is a proud alumna of The Ohio State University, where she earned her degree in Physical Education. Mrs. Seldomridge has lived and taught in many places from Alaska to Florida and several states in between. Finally settling in Virginia, she now calls Smithfield her home. Beyond the classroom, you can find Amanda exploring local trails, spending time outside in her gardens, and reading a good book. She aspires to instill an appreciation for an active lifestyle and aims to help each student discover the joy of movement in ways that align with their interests and passions! |
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Jacob Shuman
CTE Department I am from Short Pump Virginia. I graduated from VCU with a bachelor's degree in marketing with a concentration in personal sales. I currently live in Glen Allen VA with my wife and my 9 month old son. I am a huge basketball fan (honestly I like most sports). In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, watching sports, and helping my father with his sports card business. |
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Deb Smith
Social Studies Department Ms. Smith began teaching Social Studies in Virginia in 2006. She earned her bachelor's degree in History Education with a Political Science Minor from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Averett University. She currently resides in Danville, Virginia where she participates in a semi-professional choir and takes an interest in the local history of the area. Her scholarly endeavors have included work with History United, genocide studies at the Virginia Holocaust Museum, The Belfer Conference through the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and working as a professional assessment writer. She loves working with students and posing questions to make them think beyond their required standards of learning. She admits they teach her just as much as she teaches them! |
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Kim Smith
English Department Kim Smith joined the VAVA Middle School team in 2020 and moved to the high school team in 2024. Kim taught for 17 years in the Virginia Beach city school system as a teacher, Literacy Coach, and Secondary Instructional Specialist. She earned her Bachelor of Science in English at East Carolina University and is currently completing her Masters in Online Education with Southern New Hampshire University. Kim lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and son. She enjoys going to the beach and pool during the summer. In her free time, you'll find her reading, crafting, baking, and spending time with her family and friends. |
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Vicki Stidham
Electives Department Mrs. Stidham is from Southwest Virginia. She received her degree in Business with an accounting concentration from Clinch Valley College in 1980 and then returned to receive her Business Education degree in 1990 from Clinch Valley College which is now known as the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. She received her Master’s of Instruction degree in 2010 from the University of Virginia. Mrs. Stidham taught various CTE courses in the Wise County School System for 28 years before retiring in 2017. Since 2017, she has worked with Virginia Virtual Academy. For the past two years she has taught Economics and Personal Finance, and this year added Principles of Business and Marketing. She has been married for 45 years and has two daughters and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, especially the grandchildren. |
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Jenny Ullman
Head of Math Department Mrs. Ullman has been teaching with the Virginia Virtual Academy since 2018. Prior to that, she taught 10 years for Fairfax County Public Schools. Mrs. Ullman received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Master of Teaching at the University of Virginia. In her spare time, she is an avid runner and has completed over 50 half marathons. She also enjoys traveling and is on a quest to find the world’s best chocolate chip cookie. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two sons. |
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Kinya Walker
Special Programs Kinya Walker joined VAVA in March 2022 and became part of the high school team the following academic year. Ms. Walker earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology and master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Mennonite University. In addition to certification to teach Special Education K-12 and English 6-12, she has an endorsement for Gifted Education from the University of Virginia. She lives in the Shenendoah Valley with her family, where she reads or crochets while binge-watching sitcoms or listening to history or true crime podcasts. Ms. Walker's favorite part of her job is helping students solve problems. |
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Jennell Warren
CTE Department Jenell Warren joined VAVA in August 2022 as a CTE teacher with a focus in Business and Information Technology. She previously worked for Southampton County Public Schools and Suffolk Public Schools. She earned her degree in Business from Norfolk State University. Jenell loves to teach real world skills to her students where they can relate today. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or organizing projects. Jenell strives to continue to build positive relationships with her students and hopes that one day they will make a great impact on the world. |
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Jamie Winslow
6-12 Lead Teacher Jamie Winslow joined the Virginia Virtual Academy in 2017 as a middle and high school math teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Mary Washington, later to return for her teacher licensure in secondary math. Jamie originally starting teaching high school mathematics in Loudoun County in 2011. It has been since then she enjoys helping students see the “why and how” in their math education. In 2021, she was thrilled to accept the role of lead teacher. It’s in this role Jamie gets to support teachers in grades 6-12 with all platform and instructional needs. Additionally, she is still able to connect with students both in math opportunities and support tasks. Jamie currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, who is also a public school math teacher, two daughters and cat. They enjoy running/walking, cooking and dance parties in the kitchen. |
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Lourdes Vazquez
Math Department Lourdes Vazquez is a Bilingual Mathematics teacher. She is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in both English and Spanish. She teaches Geometry and AFDA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from C.W. Post, Long Island University and her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She creates a warm, inviting, flexible and fun environment in her class where students feel wanted and cared for. She enjoys dancing and traveling. Outside of her family, her 25 years of experience working with High school students is her greatest love. |
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Lisa Willis
English Department Lisa Willis joined VAVA in early 2025. A native of North Carolina, she earned her degree from Appalachian State University. For the past two decades, she has lived in Virginia and resides in Rustburg. Mrs. Willis has been a public school teacher for 15 years, with the last 10 years spent in Bedford County. She began her career as a Special Education teacher, but her passion for reading soon led her to teach English Language Arts. Her goal is to inspire and cultivate lifelong readers. Mrs. Willis and her husband have raised three sons, all of whom pursued careers in engineering. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading historical fiction and memoirs, traveling with friends, and relaxing at the beach. |
