I committed to graduate. I graduated from Western Branch High School in Chesapeake Virginia.  Go Bruins!  I have been teaching for over 30 years and have been part of the gifted staff in MCPS for 15+ 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 two children: Jessica and Ryan. Jessica is a lieutenant in the Navy and is doing her medical residency in California. Ryan graduated with a business degree from James Madison University and is working as a financial officer at VBI on the Virginia Tech campus. I enjoy reading, computers, clogging, making scrapbooks, swimming, riding my bike, going to the movies, and cheering for the Hokies!

I committed to graduate.  I graduated from Christiansburg High School, 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 24+ years of teaching experience in Montgomery County.  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, Zumba, 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, five grandsons, and a great grandson and great granddaughter. 

 *My favorite quote, from a 5th grader:  “Physically, I’m here--mentally, I’m everywhere.” 

I commit to graduate!  I graduated from Graham High School in Bluefield, VA in 1988.  I attended Virginia Tech from 1988-1992 and graduated in the spring of 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.  I was fortunate enough to student teach in Montgomery County at Harding Avenue Elementary School where I met Mrs. Naff, our gifted supervisor, while teaching her daughter Jessica. I began my teaching career at Christiansburg Primary School where I taught second grade for five years before moving to Christiansburg Elementary School to teach fourth grade. Now I teach at Auburn Elementary School and Auburn Middle School.  This is my 19th year teaching and I love my job! 

My husband, Tim, and I have two daughters, Brooke and Paige, who attend school in the Auburn Strand. We are very proud and blessed to have two great kids! We spend a lot of time together enjoying movies, playing with our pets, playing games and traveling to new places.  We are big college football fans and love to cheer for the Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers.  Go Hokies! Go Vols!

I committed to graduate!  After receiving my diploma from Radford High School, I attended Virginia Tech and earned my undergraduate degree in Marketing and Distributive Education. I received my gifted endorsement from the University of Virginia and my Master’s in Education Leadership from Radford University. My work background is varied, and my commitment to my education made these jobs possible.  I worked for President Ronald Reagan’s administration for six years, I was the Director of Trademark Licensing at Virginia Tech for nine years, and I have been in the field of education for over fifteen years.  For the past two years, I have also served as the Director of Virginia’s Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts. I am married to Tom Hale, a graduate of Marshall University and the head football coach at Carroll County High School.  I have two wonderful daughters who are now in college.  Sarah, a sophomore at Virginia Tech, is studying biological sciences, and she plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.  Meg is a freshman at Radford University, and she is exploring several different career paths.  I believe a good education provides one with exciting choices and unlimited opportunities in life, and I will work hard this year to make sure all my students are committed to graduate! 

I committed to graduate. I attended public schools in Montgomery County, graduated from Radford University with a B.S. degree in Education and Human Development, earned a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech, and completed my gifted endorsement. Teaching and learning has been a focus for my family; my grandmother was a teacher and my great-uncle was a professor at Duke University. I began my teaching career in Montgomery County Schools. Before returning to MCPS as a gifted resource teacher, I taught in Roanoke City Schools for 24 years. My husband and I like to travel and are enthusiastic VT fans!  I enjoy gardening, writing, playing bridge, and my friends. My delightful children are grown, and I have 4 granddaughters and two grandsons. My three younger brothers still light up my life: one in Christiansburg, one in Savannah, Georgia, and one in Japan.

I committed to graduate.  I received my high school diploma from Shawsville High School in Shawsville, Virginia.  The “Shawsville Shawnees” are now known as “The Mustangs” at the beautiful Eastern Montgomery High School.  I also committed to graduate from college.  I obtained my degree from Radford University, with a B.S. in English and certification to teach grades 8 through 12.  I recently completed my endorsement in Gifted Education from the University of Virginia.  After teaching middle and high school English over the course of ten years, I have enjoyed making the transition to the field of gifted education as a resource teacher.  I serve students at Shawsville Middle and Blacksburg Middle School. 

My family is happiest when we are outdoors - hiking, bike riding, boating, swimming, exploring, and attending Hokie football games.  Since I have two girls, we also spend some quality time shopping.  Our loveable pets include two dogs, a cat, and two African frogs named Benny and Joon.

I committed to graduate.  I graduated from Ritenour High School in St. Louis, Missouri.  Go Huskies!  I have been teaching for over 30 years and have been part of the gifted staff in MCPS for 5 years.  I have a B.S. in Education from Missouri State University. I also have a Gifted Endorsement from the University of VA.  I have attended college courses in Missouri, Illinois and Virginia and I love learning!  I am married to Paul and have two children: Adam and Brian. Adam and Brian graduated with business degrees from Virginia Tech and work for medical technology companies.  They sell medical equipment and train and assist ENT surgeons during surgery.   Adam and his wife Olivia and their two children Mary Fowler and Davis live in Richmond, very close to the University of Richmond.  Brian and his wife Lindsay and their son Gavin like in Chicago, Illinois.  I enjoy reading, mathematics, walking, going to the movies, going to the beach, playing with my grandchildren and cheering for the Hokies!

I graduated from King George High School in King George, Virginia. Go Foxes! This is my first year as a Gifted Resource Teacher for MCPS. I have a B.S. from Old Dominion University in Interdisciplinary Studies and a M.S. in Elementary Education. While in college, I loved using technology to meet my academic goals! I am married and have two boys who are students in Montgomery County. We keep busy with baseball and football games, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy swimming, going to the movies, decorating, scrapbooking, and watching my boys play ball!

I committed to graduate from Henderson High School in Henderson, KY in 1968. Long before that, however, 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 37 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 41 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 Miami, and Ross who is here in Blacksburg. When not teaching, I enjoy reading, quilting, hiking, cooking, and playing with our two dogs, Darcy and Chaussy.

I am a Christiansburg High School graduate.  I am also a graduate of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, where I earned a B.S. degree in Sport Management.  I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, where I received a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education.  And because I love learning I have also 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 tell the kids my job is to help them stretch their brains, because I believe every student should have the opportunity to learn something new every day!