Shawsville Middle School         

Faculty and Staff Biographies                  

 

 

Dave Dickinson

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.

 

Margaret Mayberry

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 third 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.

 

Becky Alls

Teaches:

School Resource Officer, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Hails from:

Floyd County, VA

Current hometown:

Pilot, VA

Education:

NRCC

Experience:

 Becky has worked in law enforcement for 19 years. She spent 10 years in the Floyd County Sheriff's Office before coming to Montgomery County. She was the S.R.O at EMHS for 6 years and this is her third year  at SMS.

Little known fact:

Becky is the child of a preacher.

 

Janet Boothe

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 second year at SMS.

Little known fact:

Janet has 5 brothers and 4 sisters.

 

Stanley Bragg

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 more than 20 years.

Little known fact:

Stanley enjoys baseball, reading, computers and gardening.

 

Shirl Chittum

Teaches:

US History I to 1877, Writing 6

Hails from:

The Dixie Caverns area of Roanoke County

Current hometown:

 Shirl lives in the same house she grew up in.

Education:

MS in upper elementary education from Radford University

Experience:

Shirl first taught fifth grade in Brunswick Co. VA, then 6th grade at Seneca Ridge MS in Loudoun Co.(4 years), and has been here at SMS since 1999.

Little known fact:

Shirl was a State champion swimmer when she was 10 years old.

 

Donna Deaner

Teaches:

Special Education: grade 6,7,8 Math, Science 7, Science 8

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.

 

Idella Dishner

Teaches:

English 6, Writing 6

Hails from:

    Idella was born and raised on a tobacco farm in Dinwiddie County, VA.

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

BS in biology and English from East Tennessee State University;

Master's Degree in Middle School Curriculum with an emphasis on writing from Virginia Tech.

Experience:

Idella taught in Scott County for two years, at Hargrave Military Academy for two years, and has been teaching at SMS for the past 20 years.

Little known fact:

She enjoys dancing, cooking, reading, walking, and attending Blacksburg United Methodist Church where she is an active member.

 

Dave Gato

Teaches:

7th Grade Life Science and 7th Grade Language Arts Remediation

Hails from:

     Miami, FL

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.

 

Shelley Gelbert

Teaches:

Special Education Consulting Teacher

Hails from:

Smithtown, Long Island, NY

Current hometown:

Montgomery County, VA

Education:

AA, Keystone College

BA, James Madison University

M.Ed., George Mason University

Experience:

Before coming to SMS in 2008, Shelley was an administrator at a private special education school in Maryland and a special education teacher in Loudoun and Clarke counties (VA)

Little known fact:

Teaching is (at least) Shelley's second career. She has also worked in advertising, publishing, and as a naturalist instructor.

 

Mae Hey

Teaches:

6th grade science, writing

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 seven 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.

 

Josh Hollifield

Teaches:

Civics 8, Writing 6, Extended English 7/8, 7th and 8th Girls' Basketball, and JV Football

Hails from:

 

Current hometown:

Salem, VA

Education:

BA in Social Sciences, Roanoke College.

Experience:

Josh began teaching at SMS in 2001.

Little known fact:

Josh's son is named after a famous wrestler.

 

Carol Hurt

Teaches:

7th grade English, SOAR Reading

Hails from:

Carol was born in eastern North Carolina.

Current hometown:

Ironto, VA

Education:

BS, Radford University

MS, Radford University

Experience:

Carol has been teaching at SMS for 20 years.

Little known fact:

Carol has two cats, Adrienne and Shady.

 

Bradley Jenkins

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 second year at SMS.

Little known fact:

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

 

Jeannie Lane

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 - Plant Science and Pest Management option, Virginia Tech  (should complete Spring '10)

Experience:

Jeanne has been teaching at SMS since 2002.

Little known fact:

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

 

Ann Mann

Teaches:

Math 7 and Algebra I

Hails from:

Blacksburg, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, VA

Education:

Radford University

Experience:

Ann has taught for 28 years at Shawsville High & Middle School and  SMS.

Little known fact:

Ann's favorite singer is John Denver.

 

Heather Marciniec

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 5th year at SMS.

Little known fact:

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

 

Lynn Margheim

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 6 years.

Little known fact:

Lynn used to be a gymnast and a springboard diver.

 

Jennifer Mooney

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 tenth year at SMS. She was a corporate librarian before moving to Virginia.

Little known fact:

Jen's house is decorated with yard sale finds.

 

Russell Presson

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 26 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.

 

Matt Rezac

Teaches:

7th grade history

Hails from:

Strongville, OH

Current hometown:

Christiansburg, VA

Education:

Masters of Education, Ohio State University

Experience:

 

Little known fact:

Matt referees high school and college football.

 

Wanda Riddle

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.

 

Randy Rudasill

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 five years.

Little known fact:

Randy helped build the expansion to Lane Stadium.

 

Melinda Smith

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.

 

Regina Smith

Teaches:

8th grade English, 7th grade English

Hails from:

Utah & Kansas

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!

 

Reba Taylor

Teaches:

Gifted Resource Teacher

Hails from:

Reba was born in Winston-Salem, NC, but grew up in Martinsville, VA

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, Virginia

Education:

BA from Emory & Henry College (Majors -  math & French ; Minor - Education),

MS in Secondary Supervision from Radford University,

Additional graduate-level coursework at Carnegie Melon, Kalamazoo College and others.

Experience:

Reba began her teaching career in 1972.

Little known fact:

Reba's favorite quote is, "Can't never could, until it tried." -- S.C. Taylor

 

Heather Wilson

Teaches:

Health & Physical Education (6,7,8)

Hails from:

Cleveland, Ohio

Current hometown:

Blacksburg, Virginia

Education:

BS in Health & Physical Education, Kent State University

Experience:

This is Heather’s first year teaching!

Little known fact:

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

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