Faculty and Staff

List of 70 members.

• 

  Aaron Alter 

  Senior Associate Director of Admission; Director of Global Education; Student Leadership Coordinator

  804.542.6844

  Yale University - BA

  Bio

  CCS Aspiration # 6 – to be aware of and actively engaged with the international community. To this end, we are committed to buiding curricular and co-curricular programs that foster a global understanding of learning and living.

   

  World traveler Aaron Alter epitomizes CCS aspiration #6 - to be aware of and actively engaged with the international community - and aren’t we lucky that he is making Christchurch his home base for further global exploration!  The son of beloved former faculty members Bett and John, Mr. Alter spent his childhood in four countries, on three different continents – the US, India, Mauritania and Senegal.

   

  Previous to joining the CCS faculty, Mr. Alter was running his own business, Baobab Educational Adventures (BEA). BEA was built to present a model for sustainable resource use built around outdoor education and recreation. Mr. Alter ran trips – fly fishing expeditions and educational adventures – and headed up trip-funded conservation efforts, which involved subsidizing alternative energy in remote areas of the Himilayas, promoting proper fisheries management, diversifying livelihoods and generally aligning business interests with conservation initiatives.

   

  It was as the owner of BEA that Aaron realized the CCS was the place for him. In 2013 and 2014, he organized and led our international Immerision Trips to India and Senegal. His interactions with our students and the CCS mission and curricular goals sold him on the school’s potential to build an incredibly unique international program. The opportunity to continue working with our remarkable students as well as to play a role in our International Immersion program caused him to jump at the opportunity to be a Seahorse!

   

  When it comes to education, Mr. Alter believes that “students are always best off when they are curious about what they are learning and when they can see a link between themselves, the subject matter and the rest of the world. Confidence and discipline are important tools in the lifelong pursuit of curiosity and understanding – our duties as educators is to equip students with these skills while pushing them to be more curious and connected.”

   

  Mr. Alter is a passionate outdoorsman whose favorite pastimes include exploring, hiking, camping and fishing. He likes to read and think about international relations and politics, and is an avid basketball player.

   

  Special Awards – “Though I have won many academic and athletic awards during my life, the one that holds the most value to me was presented in recognition of the conservation and livelihood diversification work I completed in rural India.  The people of Agora village, where my efforts were based, presented a simple award as a public display of appreciation.  It was a humbling experience.”

   
• 

  Franklin Bell 

  Science Department Chair

  The College of William & Mary - MA
  The Ohio State University - BS
• 

  Susan Bennett 

  Housekeeping
• 

  Jimmy Bristow 

  Groundskeeping
• 

  Terry  Brooks 

  Accounting Manager

  804.542.6854
• 

  Mollie Brumfield 

  Interim Director of Learning Skills Program; Advisory Coordinator; River & Outdoor

  Dickinson College - BS

  Bio

  Ms. Brumfield has taught in the Learning Skills Program for more than 20 years. She spends her afternoons in or on the river as a co-leader for the River Immersion co-curricular offering.  She is an immersion trip leader, is passionate about Chesapeake Bay issues and wants students to carry that understanding and commitment back to their local watersheds.  She also enjoys helping CCS students find success in school, so you can often find her in the Learning Skills Center.  Ms. Brumfield is most excited when a student gains the skills to make a huge turn around on his or her own, when she is exploring or traveling with someone who is learning something new, and when she is eating something that she has grown in the garden and sharing it with her family and friends. Ms. Brumfield has three children. Abigail graduated in 2023, and Owen will be a senior this year.
• 

  William Burlee IV 

  Director of Admission

  804.542.6805

  Hampden-Sydney College - BS

• Joel Carlin PhD 

  Science

  UNC Wilmington - BS
  Louisiana State University - MSc
  University of Florida - PhD
• 

  Taylor Carter 

  Hall Leader 1st Murrell; Assistant Girls Basketball Coach

• Jill Casciello 

  Math

  Virginia Tech - BS
• 

  Meghan Cavanaugh 

  Director of International Student Programs; English Language

  804.542.6853

  Kent State University - BA
  The Pennsylvania State University - MA
• 

  Charlotte Charlton 02

  Learning Specialist

  University of Mary Washington/University of Delaware - BA
• 

  Wesley M. Charlton JD 01

  Senior Director of Strategic Advising, Business Development & Major Gifts

  804.542.6805

  College of William & Mary - BA
  University of Richmond School of Law - JD
• 

  Mrs. Abigail Cola 

  Science; Immersion Trip Leader

  Hood College - BA

  Bio

  Abigail Cola and her husband Dave, our Outdoor Educator, came to us straight from Tangier Island, where they spent three years teaching Bay culture, history and ecology to middle, high school and college level students for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at Port Isobel Island Education Study Center. Before that, Mrs. Cola taught art in the Tangier School. She believes strongly that every child is unique, and holds the right to learn, explore, play and succeed. Mrs. Cola was a Learning Specialist in LSP for years, and this year she will teach in the Science Department. Mr. and Mrs. Cola live on campus with their children, Teal and Wade.
• 

  Dave Cola 

  Director of Place-Based Education; River & Outdoor; Head Swim Coach

  804.542.6835

  Washington College - BA, MA

  Bio

  LEARN OUTSIDE!” Mr. Cola believes passionately that connection with the natural environment can enrich lives, increase academic achievement and make communities stronger. “The Rappahannock River watershed and Chesapeake Bay can provide an ideal setting for these accomplishments,” he says. Mr. Cola came to us from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Port Isobel Island Education Center in the Tangier Sound, where he was an education program manager. Before that, he was the education program manager for the Foundation’s Clagett Farm. Mr. Cola was an award-winning swimmer (he is in the Washington College Hall of Fame), and has kayaked the Grand Canyon! Mr. Cola is passionate about teaching, whitewater paddling, fishing, and traveling. He especially likes to hike and explore with Mrs. Cola and their children, Teal and Wade. 
• 

  Billy Coyle 

  Head of School

  804.542.6849

  Central Connecticut State University - BS

• Denise Crlenjak 

  Associate Director of College Counseling; Hall Leader 2nd Murrell

  Syracuse University - BA
  California State University, San Marcos - MA
• 

  Floyd Crouch Jr. 

  Groundskeeper
• 

  Rob Deane 

  Waterfront & Sailing Program Director; Senior Head Sailing Coach

  Boston University
  University of Phoenix - BS
  The Johns Hopkins University, Carey School of Business
• 

  Bri Dehm BS, RN 

  Health Services
• 

  John Dehm 

  Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities; Head Lacrosse Coach

  804.542.6813

  St. Mary's College of Maryland - BA

  Bio

  John Dehm knows a lot about private school and private school students! He is so savvy because he attended junior boarding school at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH and then high school at Middlesex School, in Concord, MA. Working with young people is in Mr. Dehm’s DNA – his father was a high school biology teacher. His mother is an oncology nurse coordinator at Yale Hospital.

   

  Mr. Dehm knows his way around the athletic field, as he was a high school three-sport athlete/captain in football, hockey and lacrosse. He went on to play lacrosse at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s City, MD, where he was captain of his team.

   

  When he first visited the Christchurch campus, Mr. Dehm was instantly inspired by the beauty of the setting and the same, intimate prep school feel that he loved as a student. He is especially passionate about coaching the Seahorses and says, “coaching is very rewarding when kids come together and buy into something bigger than themselves. The experience is truly rewarding, every day.”

   

  Coach Dehm loves grilling, fantasy football, reading, time at the beach with old friends, and playing indoor lacrosse. He lives on campus with his wife, Bri, and bulldog, Hogan. 

   

   

   
• 

  Leland  DuNomes EdD 

  Math Department Chair

  Marygrove College - BA
  Concordia University - MEd
  Liberty University - EdD
• 

  Wendy Elbe 

  Athletic Trainer; American Red Cross Instructor

  804.542.6860

  Ithaca College - BS
  University of Virginia - MEd
• 

  Joey Fitchett 

  Baseball Coach
• 

  M. Huntley Galleher 

  Associate Director of Development

  804.542.6838

  Elon College - BA

  Bio

  One of Christchurch School’s most ardent spokesmen, Huntley Galleher is a graduate of the Blue Ridge School. Before stepping into his current role as Associate Director of Development and school historian, Galleher was an eleven-year mathematics teacher, physical science teacher, a thirteen-year dorm parent, the Director of Operations and Business services, Director of Alumni Relations, football coach and he tallied a 117-82 record in eleven years as the varsity tennis coach. For ten years, he developed and directed the school’s unique and successful Summer Camps on the River. When not on the road touting the good news about Christchurch, Mr. Galleher enjoys golf and fishing, whenever time allows. His son is a 2010 Christchurch School graduate and a graduate of his parents' alma mater, Elon University.
• 

  Kelly Goodrich BA, BSN, RN 

  Student Wellness Coordinator; Part-Time Nurse

  University of Richmond - BA
  VCU School of Nursing - BS
• 

  Peter Goodrich 

  Director of Community Life; Grade 11 Dean; Humanities

  804.542.6820

  Rhodes College - BA
  The College of William and Mary - MEd

• Amanda Gravatt '93 

  Dean of Residential Life and Director of Activities

  Emory and Henry College
• 

  Maxwell Groen 

  Mental Health and Performance Counselor

  804.542.6811

  St. Mary's College of Maryland - BS
  Boston University - EdM
  Association for Applied Sport Psychology - CMPC

  Bio

  It is always wonderful when people who have lived the boarding school life join the community, and it is no exception with Max Groen. Groen attended Choate Rosemary Hall, and understands very well the pressure that high school students, and especially boarding students, face socially, academically, and in their chosen activities.  
  
  Mr. Groen values an environment where purposeful relationships can be cultivated, and where genuine, meaning ful work can be done. "It was clear to me that this was going to be very possible here," he says, after feeling welcome from the moment he stepped on the Christchurch campus. 
  
  Mr. Groen's mission is to help our students be the best versions of themselves. "I believe that everyone, of all ages, can always use someone to simply talk to, and I wish to make that the norm here at CCS." Mr. Groen has found that mental health and performance services are drastically underserved at the high school level, and he is "honored to be able to provide these services to the CCS community."
  
  Mr. Groen grew up in New Haven, CT. He studied Psychology at St. Mary's College of Maryland where he played lacrosse and was captain of the team in his senior year. Following college, he worked through Yale University's School of Medicine and Psychiatry at a therapeutic middle and high school. He went on to receive his Ed.M in Counseling with a concentration in Sport Psychology from Boston University, while serving as the Mental Performance Coach for Emmanuel College's women's lacrosse, men's soccer, and men's basketball teams. At this time he also served as the School Adjustment and Mental Health Counselor and Head Mental Performance Coach at Watertown High School, MA.

• Stephanie Hamrick 

  Learning Specialist
• 

  Glenn Harper 

  Director of Operations; Head Girls Basketball Coach

  Virginia Commonwealth University
• 

  Molly Harper 

  Operations Assistant - Logistics
• 

  Trish Harper JD, RN, BSN, C-ONQS 

  Director of Health Services and Human Resources

  804.542.6809

  University of Virginia - BS Nursing
  The College of William & Mary - JD
• 

  Michael Heath Ph.D. 

  Humanities Department Chair

  James Madison University - BA
  Magdalen College, Oxford University - MLitt
  Edinburgh University - PhD
• 

  Dido Heath 

  Director of College Counseling

  804.542.6830

  Oxford University - MA
  University of Edinburgh - MEd
• 

  Rebecca Hogge 

  Development Database Administrator

  804.542.6831
• 

  Edward Homer 

  Humanities

  Middlebury College - BA

  Bio

  Coach Homer teaches Humanities and coaches the JV lacrosse team. For thirty years he was the CCS football coach, coaching an NFL signer, two high school football All-Americans, 25 college scholarship recipients, and more than fifty college ball players. He was named a U.S. Army All-American coach in 2007, and he coached the offensive line on the 2008 ESPN/Under Armour Team White to a 17-14 victory. In 2006 he was ODFC Coach-of-the-Year. He was inducted into the VISAA Hall of Fame in 2018, and will be inducted into the CCS Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in 2023. Prior to CCS, Homer started the Potomac School (McLean, VA) football program. Coach and Mrs. Homer live on Faye Dormitory. Their son is a 2012 CCS graduate.

• Jennifer Homer 

  Communications Assistant; Hall Leader Faye Dorm

  Middlebury College - BA

  Bio

  Mrs. Homer is the Hall Leader for Faye Dormitory and works in the Communications Office. Her husband, Ed Homer, is a CCS humanities teacher. Their son, Win, graduated from CCS in 2012.
• 

  Maria Jones LPN 

  Nurse

  804.542.6814

  Rappahannock Community College - L.P.N.
• 

  Joel Jorgensen 

  Humanities; Head Football Coach

  St. Anselm College - BA
  Goucher College - MEd
• 

  Carl  Kelly  

  LSP; Math; Ass't Dir. Athletics & Co-Curricular Activities; Head Basketball Coach

  Virginia Union University - BA
• 

  Kristin Kiland 

  World Language; NHS Advisor

  Miami University - BA, BS
• 

  Christopher  Little PhD 

  World Language Department Chair; River & Outdoor; Model UN

  University of Virginia - BA
  University of Virginia - MA
  University of Virginia - PhD

  Bio

  A Virginia native, Dr. Little came to Christchurch School from Richmond, where he taught at Collegiate School for ten years. Previous to Collegiate, Dr. Little taught at Berry College, Old Dominion University, The College of William & Mary, and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

   

  Dr. Little is a Fulbright Scholar, and was the principal designer of the U.S. Border Patrol Language Program.

   

  This accomplished member of our faculty believes that learning should be fun! “The things I remember most from my years of study are those things I learned from people with great insight, lively conversation, and intriguing ideas.”

   

  Dr. Little’s wife, Martha, works for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation as Director of Stewarship, protecting over 500,000 acres of open space in conservation easements throughout the commonwealth. They have two daughters, a dog named Rosie and a cat named Velvet.

   

  When not inspiring his students, Dr. Little enjoys reading, technology, fishing, travel, writing, poetry, cooking and gardening.

   

   

   

   
• 

  Sarah  McCormick 

  Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair; Art

  Radford University - BS
• 

  Tina McCurry 

  Admission Assistant; Lead Administrative Assistant

  804.542.6843

  Rappahannock Community College - AAS
• 

  Sheri McGinnis 

  World Language

  University of Wisconsin - La Crosse - B.S.
  St. Mary's University - M.A.I.
• 

  Joshua Miller 

  Associate Dean and Residential Life Assistant; Strength & Fitness

  804.542.6803
• 

  Jessica  Miller 

  Associate Director of Community Life and Academic Oversight; Grade 9 & 10 Dean; Science

  804.542.6802

  West Virginia University - B.A. Chemistry
  Marist College - M.Ed.
• 

  Anna Moore 15

  Science; Head Volleyball Coach

  Lynchburg College - BA

  Bio

  It is always wonderful when Seahorses come back to the river, and we are especially thrilled that Anna Moore ‘15 returned to teach science and to be our Head Volleyball Coach. Anna grew up locally, “spending more time outside than inside.” Growing up, she fished the Rappahannock, the Dragon Run, and her family farm's freshwater pond. Anna's sister, Emily, also attended CCS, graduating with the Class of 2012. When asked why she chose to return, Anna says “it has always felt like home.” She loves gardening, sports, cooking, photography, and reading. Personal philosophy? “If you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine!” Anna lives in the faculty village with her husband, Mikey, and their son.
• 

  Ashley Myers 

  Registrar and Administrative Assistant

  804.542.6832

  Rappahannock Community College - AAS
• 

  Kerry O'Grady Ph.D. 

  Mathematics

  Connecticut College - BA
  Tufts University - MAT
  University of Massachusetts, Amherst - MFA
  Johns Hopkins University - PhD
• 

  Tasha Parrish 

  Accounting Associate

  804.758.2306 ext. 560
• 

  Evan Pausic 17

  Learning Specialist

  Randolph College - B.A. Philosophy
• 

  Emma Payne 

  Housekeeping
• 

  Mary Pryor 

  Admission Associate

  804.542.6807

  Sewanee: The University of the South - B.A.
• 

  Donald Pyles III 

  Senior Director of Curriculum and Program; Humanities

  804.542.6846

  Roanoke College - BA
  The College of William and Mary - MEd

  Bio

  From a family of educators, Mr. Pyles is passionate about and dedicated to excellence in teaching. He is a true outdoorsman, and loves fly-fishing, hiking, gardening, cooking and furniture making. He lives on campus with his wife and their son, Jackson '24.
• 

  Jim Robb 

  Design & Technology Specialist; Technology Department Chair; Hall Leader 3rd Murrell

  804.542.6812

  Virginia Commonwealth Univerity - BFA
  Virginia Commonwealth University - MPI
• 

  Teresa Saxon MS, BSN, RN 

  Health Services
• 

  Matthew Schaefer 

  Math; Head Boys and Girls Soccer Coach

  Virginia Tech/Pennsylvania State University - BS
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - MS

  Bio

  Before he came to Christchurch, Mr. Schaefer was employed by the USDA, on a USDA-sponsored fellowship at Penn State University for the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, working on a project in food engineering. Mr. Schaefer was also head coach of the PSU Mens’ Club Soccer team (which won the national championship in 2000), coaching assistant for the PSU Women’s Varsity Team, and coach of a U-14 girls classic travel soccer team. Mr. Schaefer loves the beach, water sports, hiking the mountains, nature, dogs, and cooking. He is a favorite dorm parent, as he is always willing and ever-patient in helping students with their math! The 2022 VISAA Division II Soccer Coach-of-the-Year, Mr. Schaefer lives on campus with his wife, Betsy, their three children, and two hound dogs. 
• 

  Michelle Schroeter 

  Chief Development Officer

  804.542.6850

  Randolph-Macon Woman's College - BA

• Caroline Smith BSN, RN, NCSN 

  Health Services

  William Jewell College
• 

  Desmond Smith 

  Math Instructor; Director of Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging; Hall Leader 2nd Scott

  Averett University - BA
• 

  Nicholas  Smith 

  English Language; Humanities

  James Madison University - BA
  Marquette University, Sensenbrenner School of Law - JD

• Regan Sprenkle 

  Choral and Performing Arts

  Virginia Commonwealth University - BA

• Ms. Salina Stanley 

  Director of SAGE Dining Services
• 

  James Sterling 14

  Network Administrator

  804.542.6804

  University of South Florida
  Florida Southern College
• 

  Orleita Taylor 

  Payroll Manager

  804.542.6857
• 

  Robert Thomas 

  Head Softball Coach
• 

  Jordan Wallace 13

  Christchurch School
  College of William & Mary
• 

  Chris Werner 

  Chief Financial Officer

  804.542.6851

  University of Virginia - BA