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Staff Bios |
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Diane Naff |
Supervisor of Gifted
Programs, Advanced Placement, and Governor's Schools |
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I
have been teaching for over 30 years and have been part of the gifted
staff in MCPS for 10+ years. I have a B.S. from James Madison
University in Early Childhood Education, a M.A. in Curriculum and
Instruction from Virginia Tech and a M.A. in Educational Leadership from
Radford University. I also have a Gifted Endorsement from the University
of VA and a Virginia Technology Certificate from UVA. I have attended
college all across Virginia and I love learning!
I am married to Mike and have 2 children: Jessica and Ryan. Jessica is a
third year medical student at VCOM and Ryan graduated with a business
degree from James Madison University and is working at VT. I enjoy
reading, computers, clogging, making scrapbooks, swimming, riding my
bike, going to the movies, and cheering for the Hokies!
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Cynthia Saferight |
Administrative Assistant |
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Terri Vangelos |
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I grew up in
Christiansburg and graduated from CHS (many years ago). I
attended Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, where I
earned a B.S. degree in Sport Management. I later received
a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education from
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, and
I have earned a gifted endorsement through the University of
Virginia.
I spent the first few years of my career teaching
first graders in Dinwiddie County, before moving to Chesterfield County
where I taught various grades at the elementary level. I am very happy
to be back in Montgomery County, and especially working as a
Gifted Resource Teacher for MCPS. I serve students, their parents,
and teachers at Belview Elementary School and
Prices Fork Elementary School. I believe every
student should have the opportunity to learn something new
every day of school. |
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Jane Collins |
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I am a native of Christiansburg, Virginia. I received my undergraduate
degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education K-7 and my master’s
degree, a K-12 Reading Specialist, through Radford University. I
completed a gifted endorsement through UVA in January 2009. I have 21
years of classroom teaching experience in third and fourth grades and
three years experience as a gifted resource teacher. I serve students,
teachers, and parents at Kipps Elementary school. I enjoy watching
students think when posing open-ended questions and benefit from small
group discussions where there are no right or wrong answers. I am very
pleased to be serving in this present capacity as this is a dream come
true.
I enjoy walking, reading, Bible study, playing Bridge, and spending time
with friends and family when I am not in school. My husband and I have
two grown children, four grandsons, and a great grandson and great
granddaughter.
*My favorite quote, from a 5th grader: “Physically, I’m
here--mentally, I’m everywhere.”
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Laura Daniels |
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Wow!
It is hard to believe it has been over 16 years since I started teaching
after graduating from
Virginia Tech. I love
teaching and the kids I teach, and I try to make everyday a fun learning
day.
I am lucky to be married
to a wonderful man, Tim, who also is my best friend. We have two
daughters, Brooke and Paige, who attend MCPS schools. We also have three
dogs (Molly, Lucy and Leia), a cat (Kitty), an African fat
tailed Gecko (Boomie), an African side-necked turtle (Zimby), and ....well that is enough! We love to spend time
together doing things as a family- especially going to and watching
University of Tennessee and
Virginia Tech
football games (our favorite hobby)! I am very blessed to have such a
wonderful family! I look forward to each day at
Auburn Elementary where I serve as the Gifted Resource Teacher.
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Marti Hale |
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I
am a native of Radford and currently live in Dublin with my two
wonderful daughters, my husband Tom, our four dogs, and our three cats!
I’ve been in the Montgomery County Public School System for five years
and have taught school for thirteen. I received my Bachelors from
Virginia Tech in Marketing and Education, my Gifted Endorsement from the
University of Virginia, and I am currently working on my Masters in
Education Administration at Radford University. Prior to coming to
Montgomery County, I was the Director of Licensing and Trademark
Administration at Virginia Tech for nine years, and I served in the
Reagan Administration in Washington, D.C. for seven years. My
background is varied, which helps me bring real world experiences to my
students as they develop knowledge and skills to prepare for their
futures. This year I will be the Gifted
Resource Teacher at Auburn Middle School and Auburn High School. I look
forward to working with my gifted students and their teachers to ensure
that they reach their full potential. |
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Vicki Kitts |
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As
a lifelong learner, I adore teaching and learning. I attended public
schools in Montgomery County, graduated from Radford University with a
B.S. degree in Education and Human Development, and earned a Masters
Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. I am currently
working on a gifted endorsement. Before returning to Montgomery County
Schools, I taught in Roanoke City Schools for 24 years. I had the honor
of working at Margaret Beeks Elementary and Christiansburg Middle School
several years ago. While not in school, I enjoy gardening, volunteering
with Master Gardeners, writing, my three cats, and my friends.
My delightful children are grown, and I have a granddaughter, Ella. My
three younger brothers still light up my life: one lives in
Christiansburg, one in Savannah, Georgia, and one in Japan. |
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Amy Lunsford |
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I
have been teaching in Montgomery County for over 10 years. I
received my teaching license through Radford University’s
graduate program and received my gifted endorsement through UVA.
I serve two schools within the county as well as the community,
parents, faculty and students in my position as gifted resource
teacher. Please let me know if you have any questions about how
I may help you. |
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Brenda Mash |
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I am a native of Montgomery
County and have degrees/endorsements from both Virginia Tech and the
University of Virginia. I live with my husband and our two
daughters. We enjoy doing things as a family such as traveling,
reading, and watching the Atlanta Braves play. I have enjoyed
teaching since I began in Roanoke City in 1990. I have been in
gifted education since 1996 and started as a Gifted Resource Teacher in
Montgomery County in 2003. I currently work in
Falling Branch Elementary School. It's very exciting to be able to come back
to the schools I attended as a child and be able to give back to them. |
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Shpresa Mykerezi |
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I
received my B.A. degree in 1977 from the University of Tirana Albania in
Physics. For nearly 25 years I taught physics and math in high and
middle schools in Albania. I came to the United States in 2000. I
started as a Gifted Resource Teacher in Montgomery County in 2005. I
currently work in
Blacksburg Middle School and Blacksburg High School. I am married and my
husband teaches in Virginia Tech. We have two sons, both graduated from
Virginia Tech. We are proud to be a Hokie family. We live in Blacksburg. |
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Debbie Sharp |
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I received a BS in Education
with a double major in Mathematics and Biology from Missouri State
University in 1971. I have taught mathematics and science at
private and public high schools and middle schools for twenty-seven
years. I moved to Roanoke in 1986 after living in Illinois and
Missouri. I have served as a coach for MATHCOUNTS. This is my third year as the
Gifted Resource Teacher for Christiansburg Middle School, coming from
Auburn High School, where I taught algebra and geometry for two years.
I also serve as the Gifted Resource Teacher for Christiansburg High
School. My primary focus is to work with students in mathematics and English
classes and to be a resource for teachers. I am married and have two sons
and two grandchildren. |
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Patty
Thompson |
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At the ripe old age of three I
informed my family that I was going to be a teacher when I grew up.
Since then, I have never wavered in my conviction that teaching is my
vocation. I graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1971 with a BA
in Elementary Education, received an MA in Elementary Curriculum with an
emphasis in reading in 1977, and have a Gifted Endorsement from the
University of Virginia. My 35+ years of teaching have included elementary
classroom, gifted, Title I, and adult education positions in a variety
of settings; rural, suburban, inner city, private school, and
Neighborhood Youth Corps. Over the years I have been privileged to enjoy
a challenging and diverse career.
Steve, my husband of 38 years, is a professor of architecture at
Virginia Tech. We have three adult children who are spread across the
country; Rachel in San Francisco, Adam in New York, and Ross who is the
band director at Narrows Middle and High Schools. When not teaching, I
enjoy reading, quilting, hiking, cooking, and playing with our two dogs, Zylah and Chaussy.
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Polly Zeiger |
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My name is Polly Zeiger and I am the Gifted Resource Teacher at
Christiansburg Elementary School. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I
graduated from Concordia University in May of 1994 with a BS in Early
Childhood and Elementary Education, with a minor in Psychology. I also
have an associate’s degree in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising. I
started teaching at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School in September of
1994. I was an instructional aide for two years before starting my
full-time teaching career. I have taught 1st grade, 3rd grade and also
4th grade, all at GLE. I graduated from Virginia Tech in May of 2008
with a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Development, with an emphasis
as a Math Specialist. My husband Matt and I have lived in Blacksburg
for over 13 years. We have three children that keep us very busy.
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