Teaches:

Principal

Hails from:

Annandale, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

BA History, Virginia Tech,
MAEd Curriculum and Instruction, Virginia Tech,
Educational Leadership Program, Auburn University

Experience:

Dave was a social studies teacher at Estacado High School in Lubbock, TX, Booker T. Washington High School in Montgomery, AL and at Auburn High School in Auburn, AL. He was an Assistant Principal at Blacksburg High School for six years, before coming to SMS in 2008.

Little known fact:

Dave once held a "Top Secret" clearance and worked with the Department of Defense.

Teaches:

Counselor, grades 6-8

Hails from:

Pennsylvania

Current hometown:

Radford, VA

Education:

BS in Sociology/Psychology, Radford University

MS in K-12 School Counseling, Radford University

Experience:

This is Margaret's fifth year as the School Counselor at Shawsville Middle School. Before working for Montgomery County she worked as an Elementary School Counselor for Roanoke City Public Schools.

Little known fact:

Margaret proudly served in the  Air Force National Guard for seven years.

Teaches:

Keyboarding, Computer Applications, Computer Solutions

Hails from:

Rich Creek, VA

Current hometown:

Lindside, WV

Education:

Bluefield State College/Business Management

Experience:

This is Janet's fourth year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Janet has 5 brothers and 4 sisters.

Teaches:

English 6

Hails from:

Paris, VA (The Appalachian trail ran right by her driveway and the Shenandoah River was nearby.)

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

BS Education, Longwood University - Minor in Outdoor Education

Experience:

Käthe has taught in Virginia, Wyoming, Germany, and Louisiana.

Little known fact:

At a previous position Käthe was required to wear bear spray to protect her students from grizzly bears.

Teaches:

Beginning Band, Intermediate Band

Hails from:

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

BS in education from Concord College, certified in Music Pre-K-12.

Experience:

Stanley has been teaching in the Shawsville Strand for almost 30 years!

Little known fact:

Stanley enjoys baseball, reading, computers and gardening.

Teaches:

Tech ed., coaches baseball and basketball at SMS.

Hails from:

 Fredericksburg, VA

Current hometown:

 Blacksburg, VA

Education:

 B.S. in Technology Education, VT 2002; MAEd in Curriculum & Instruction, VT 2011

Experience:

 Nick taught in Montgomery County from 2002 to 2003, and in Roanoke City Schools from 2003 to 2010. He returned to Montgomery County in 2011.

Little known fact:

 Nick has visited 20 different major league ballparks.

Teaches:

ISS Teacher/Clerical Aide

Hails from:

Franklin County, located in Rocky Mount, VA (Moonshine Capitol of the World)

Current hometown:

Elliston, VA

Education:

Majored in accounting and minored in math education at Hampton University, Hampton, VA. Received additional credits at VWCC in education.

Experience:

Bertha has been an MCPS employee for 19 years. She substituted for 10 years before coming to SMS, where she has worked mostly with special needs students.

Little known fact:

Bertha became the first and still the only black Homecoming Queen at FCHS in 1981. She enjoys gardening, landscaping and sewing.

Teaches:

Special Education: grade 6,7,8 Math

Hails from:

Donna grew up in Arnold, Maryland along the Magothy River off  the Chesapeake Bay where she enjoyed swimming, water skiing, and boating.

Current hometown:

Riner, VA

Education:

Graduated from University of Maryland, and completed her Special Education curriculum at Radford University.

Experience:

Donna taught in Queen Anne County, Maryland for 2 years, Roanoke City for 3 years and has been in Montgomery County since 2001.

Little known fact:

Donna enjoys being outdoors in her garden, winter pastimes are sewing and reading.

Teaches:

Special Education Consulting Teacher

Hails from:

Marion, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

    BS Psychology - Virginia Tech

    MS Education - Virginia Tech

Experience:

This is Kiah's 9th year teaching for MCPS. She spent 6 years at BMS and 2 years at PFES.

    Kiah loves her job!

Little known fact:

Kiah's husband also teaches for MCPS. They have two boys, Parker and William. Not only is Kiah an avid Hokies fan, but she loves chocolate.

Teaches:

English 7

Hails from:

Richmond, VA

Current hometown:

Salem, VA

Education:

B.S. in Education from Radford University. Certified for K-5, 6-8 English, and K-12 ESL (English as a Second Language)

Experience:

Megan taught elementary school for several years in Roanoke city. This is her first year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Megan hopes to publish a children's book one day with her mom.

Teaches:

7th Grade Life Science and LEGO Robotics

Hails from:

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

BS Aerospace Engineering - Virginia Tech 1972,

MS Education - Old Dominion University 1993

Experience:

Dave spent  21 years in the United States Navy as an F-4 and F-14 Radar Intercept Officer. He retired as a commander from the Navy in 1993. He subsequently taught Life Science and reading for 5 years with Hampton City Schools and moved to Montgomery County in 1998. He has taught at Shawsville Middle School since moving to Blacksburg.

Little known fact:

Mr. Gato is married to a retired Montgomery County school kindergarten teacher, Mickey Pierce. Mr. Gato was selected as the 2002-2003 Montgomery County Teacher of the Year.

Teaches:

Special Ed.

Hails from:

Brockway, Pennsylvania

Current hometown:

 Salem, Virginia

Education:

   B.S. - Clarion State University; M.Ed. University of Miami/Syracuse University

Experience:

Ed has worked in Montgomery County Schools' Special Education Dept. for 15 years.

Little known fact:

Ed was formerly the head men's basketball coach and Athletic Director at Roanoke College, and also served as Athletic Director at Coastal Carolina University.

Teaches:

6th grade Science, 6th grade Social Studies

Hails from:

Canada

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

BA in Geography/Geology (Resource Management)

MA in curriculum and instruction

Experience:

Mae taught for three years at the Blacksburg New School, and has been teaching at SMS for eight years. She also spent one year as a geologist for the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Park in CA.

Little known fact:

Mae loves ducks and surfing.

Teaches:

Civics 8,  7th and 8th Girls' Basketball, and Varsity Girls' Track

Hails from:

Current hometown:

Salem, VA

Education:

BA in Social Sciences, Roanoke College.

Experience:

Josh began teaching at SMS in 2001.

Little known fact:

The expletive, "Holy Toledo," refers to Toledo, Spain, which became a Christian cultural center in 1085.

Teaches:

Geometry, Algebra 1, and Math 8

Hails from:

Winchester, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics, Radford University

Experience:

This is Brad's fourth year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Brad's right foot is a sixteenth of an inch bigger than left foot.

Teaches:

Gifted Resource Teacher

Hails from:

Christiansburg, VA

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

    BS in Education & Human Development, Radford University

    Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, Virginia Tech., Gifted Endorsment

Experience:

Vicki has 29 years of teaching experience.

Little known fact:

Vicki took students to Italy and Greece four times so far!

Teaches:

Agriscience

Hails from:

A farm in the Sinking Creek Valley of Craig County, VA

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

BS in Horticulture - Crops Option, Virginia Tech,  minor in Agriculture education

MS in Agriculture and Life Science, Virginia Tech 

Experience:

Jeannie has been teaching at SMS since 2002.

Little known fact:

Jeannie worked at Lowe’s in the garden center helping customers with their gardening and landscaping questions and needs for 7 years.

Teaches:

Math 7 and Algebra I

Hails from:

Blacksburg, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

Radford University

Experience:

Ann has taught for 30 years at Shawsville High & Middle School and  SMS!!

Little known fact:

Ann's favorite singer is John Denver.

Teaches:

Art

Hails from:

New Preston, CT

Current hometown:

Glenvar, VA

Education:

BS/Ed - English and art

Experience:

Heather taught art part-time for four years at St.Dominic Elementary school. This is her seventh year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Heather loves outdoor activities, painting, drawing, and fiber arts, and working with kids.

Teaches:

Family & Consumer Sciences, Spanish 1

Hails from:

Wheaton, MD

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

BS Science of Foods and Nutrition, Virginia Tech 1985

MS Teaching and Learning, Virginia Tech 2003

Experience:

After spending 5 years working in community development in Bolivia, Lynn spent 10 years in marketing for a scientific software company. She has now been teaching middle school at SMS for 8 years.

Little known fact:

Lynn used to be a gymnast and a springboard diver.

Teaches:

Library Media Specialist

Hails from:

Dunellen, NJ

Current hometown:

Radford, VA

Education:

BA in Anthropology, Rutgers University

MLS, Rutgers School of Communication, Information & Library Studies

Experience:

This is Jen's twelfth year at SMS. She was a corporate librarian at Bell Communications Research before moving to Virginia.

Little known fact:

Jen's house is decorated with auction and yard sale finds.

Teaches:

Phys. Ed. & Health 6-8

Hails from:

Christiansburg, VA

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

Experience:

This is Mike's eleventh year at SMS. He was an EMHS varsity football coach for 10 years, head JV football coach for 5 years, head SMS boys basketball coach for 9 years, head varsity track coach for 4 years, and head SMS track coach for 9 years.

Little known fact:

Mike enjoys spending his free time hiking and enjoying the mountains.

Teaches:

Chorus at both SMS and EMHS

Hails from:

Chesapeake VA

Current hometown:

Roanoke, VA

Education:

BA in music from Piedmont Baptist College;

MA in music education from UNC-Greensboro.

Experience:

Russ has 29 years of music education, choir and concert performances including  the Roanoke Symphony Chorus.

Little known fact:

He loves the outdoors and enjoys hunting, fly-fishing, reading and spending time with his family.

Teaches:

7th grade history

Hails from:

Strongsville, OH

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

Masters of Education, Ohio State University

Experience:

Matt has taught middle school social studies in Shawsville since 1998.

Little known fact:

Matt referees high school and college football.

Teaches:

Special Education: grades 6,7,8  

Hails from:

West Virginia

Current hometown:

Pilot, VA

Education:

BS in early childhood/elementary education from Concord College (now Concord University),

Masters in special education from Radford University.

Experience:

Little known fact:

Wanda has visited several states across the U.S. and places abroad, such as Ukraine, Paris,  and several islands in the Carribean.

Teaches:

6th grade math, 6th grade transition math

Hails from:

Newport News

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

Associates degree from NRCC

Bachelors degree from Radford University

Experience:

Randy has taught at SMS for 7 years.

Little known fact:

Randy helped build the expansion to Lane Stadium.

Teaches:

8th grade science

Hails from:

Shawsville, VA

Current hometown:

The Alleghany Springs area of Shawsville, VA

Education:

Mendy graduated from the University of Virginia.

Experience:

Mendy has been teaching for more than 20 years in Montgomery County schools.

Little known fact:

Her hobbies include cooking, swimming and reading.

Teaches:

8th grade English

Hails from:

Utah,  Kansas, and California

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, Virginia

Education:

BS in English, Masters in reading

Experience:

Regina has taught at SMS since 2001.

Little known fact:

Regina hopes to publish a book in her lifetime!

Teaches:

Special Ed.

Hails from:

Current hometown:

Education:

Experience:

Little known fact:

Teaches:

Health & Physical Education 6-8

Hails from:

Cleveland, Ohio

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, Virginia

Education:

BS in Health & Physical Education, Kent State University

Experience:

This is Heather’s third year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Heather spent 6 weeks overseas on a summer project in New Zealand.