1
/
1
WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY AND STAFF 2025-265
Science Instructor; Assistant JV Volleyball Coach
North Carolina State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
BS Forensic Science, w/concentration in Forensic Chemistry
Lindsay Adkins '97 is thrilled to return to Christchurch School as a faculty member.
Her mother, the legendary Jeannette Adkins (College Counseling/Science Chair/Field Hockey Coach), began working at CCS when Lindsay was eight years old. The campus became a second home for Lindsay and her siblings, Meredith '00, and Tommy '03. She enrolled at Christchurch in the 8th grade (then referred to as "pre-9th"). As a day student, she was Head Honor Prefect, a 13-time varsity letter winner, and valedictorian of her class.
Lindsay went on to study at NC State University and received a degree in Forensic Science and Forensic Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University. She worked for more than twenty years in the field of forensics for various companies, conducting lab work, certifying data, and giving expert testimony in court. She also worked as a forensic toxicologist for VCU Health Systems/Medical College of Virginia.
Lindsay believes that learning should be fun and engaging, but also understands that some methods speak better to certain people than to others. "The trick is to take the time to find that method. If the student and teacher are both willing and patient, we can get there!"
Lindsay lives on campus with her dog, Tessa. She is an assistant volleyball coach and is working to bring field hockey, a big part of her family's legacy, back to Morris Field. Lindsay and her siblings own a local brewery called Dragon Run Brewing Beer Lab and Taproom.
"Christchurch means the world to me. This is the place that I owe so much, and I want to be a part of keeping that spirit and community alive. You quickly realize it's the same family you've known for so long. It's hard to describe, but I know that this is where I'm supposed to be."
Marketing & Communications Associate
Head Soccer Coach
Fordham University
BS Psychology
As many are, David Burrell was drawn to Christchurch when he learned about the community. Before coming to Virginia, the New Jersey native worked as a youth coach for the New York Red Bulls.
As far as coaching goes, David wants his players to have the courage to fail. "It's not that I want them to fail, but I want them not to be afraid of failure and to push themselves past what they find to be easy ... to be ready and willing to step up to a challenge. I also want my players not to dwell too much on a failure and instead use it as motivation and inspiration to learn from their mistakes and seek to improve."
In addition to soccer, David also loves wrestling. In college, he was president of Fordham's club wrestling team. He studied abroad in England and spent a good amount of time enjoying English football.
He enjoys spending time with his brother, working out, and dogs.
He enjoys spending time with his brother, working out, and dogs.
David says, "I am incredibly excited to start my time at CCS and help to make an impact on the kids that I work with."
Design and Technology Department Chair
Hall Leader 3rd Scott
Frostburg State University
BS Computer Science: Information Systems
It is always exciting to welcome a Seahorse back to campus, and welcoming Tom Chafey '04 as the Design and Tech Department Chair is no different.
Born in Knoxville, TN, Tom spent his childhood on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in St. Michael's.
For the past eight years, Tom served as the Technology Director, AP Computer Science teacher, sailing and basketball coach at The Gunston School in Centreville, MD. Before that, he worked as a technician specialist in an aquatic toxicology laboratory for Wildlife International for eight years.
Tom loves to learn new things, build "stuff," and renovate his home. He loves technology, enjoys golf, and is passionate about rescuing and TNR (trap, neuter, release) cats.
After a decade of teaching and coaching, Tom finds it rewarding to not only teach the topic at hand but also to share his knowledge of the world.
Tom is very knowledgeable about the woodworking, electrical, and plumbing trades.
He has been sailing on the Chesapeake Bay for over twenty years and has numerous keelboat first-place finishes to his name.
He has been sailing on the Chesapeake Bay for over twenty years and has numerous keelboat first-place finishes to his name.
World Language Instructor
Assistant JV Volleyball Coach
Harvard University
MEd International Education Policy
University of Delaward, Newark
BS Ed Elementary and English as a Second Language
Chandra Claussen spent the last two and a half years in El Salvador, where she taught at a small, international private school.
She "had the privilege of getting to know Christchurch as parents first. Seeing how well both our children have been doing and witnessing how the teachers really knew them made me want to be a part of that. I enjoy the community feeling that the school has."
Chandra encourages her students to "embrace challenges as opportunities to try something new and grow, be compassionate and kind, and focus on the things you can control rather than those you can't."
Chandra was a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia. She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and qualified for and ran in the 2007 Boston Marathon.
In addition to running, Chandra enjoys reading, movies, and traveling.
The Claussen family lives on campus with their dog, Stormy.
Math Instructor
Pace University
Juris Doctor
Oregon State University
BS Nuclear Engineering
Robert Claussen just retired after 21 years with the federal government. He was overseas nearly all of that time, serving in Ethiopia, Haiti, Egypt, the Republic of Georgia, and El Salvador. His first teaching experience was with the Peace Corps, teaching math and science in Malawi.
Robert is the proud father of two Seahorses, Ayden and Andrew. Their positive experience at Christchurch had a great deal to do with Robert thinking that this could be a good place for him, as well. He says, "For me, getting older means learning more about myself. And I have learned that what I do is less important than who I do it with. Having caring, committed colleagues is something that drew me to Christchurch School for my second career."
Robert's mother is Vietnamese. Although he doesn't speak Vietnamese, he has visited Vietnam and has experience with its culture. Robert loves to travel and likes golf and cooking.
Robert's wife, Chandra, also joined the faculty, teaching in the World Language Department. They live on campus with their two Seahorses and their Shi Tzu, Stormy.
Marketing & Communications Associate
Head Lacrosse Coach
Queens University of Charlotte
BA Communication and Media Studies
Chaplain
Yale Divinity School
Master of Divinity
College of Wooster
BA Religious Studies
Science Instructor
University of New Mexico
MS Earth and Planetary Sciences
Williams College
BA Geology
Associate Director of College Counseling
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
BA Theatre
Sheryl Goodspeed comes to us from the Orme School in Arizona, where she served as Director of College and Career Counseling. While at Orme, Sheryl also taught theatre, directed plays, and served as Dean of Academics.
Sheryl worked at Hawaii Preparatory Academy for two decades, teaching Theatre and Drama, Humanities, Great Books, and Introduction to the Arts. She took a group of students to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She also taught theatre and directed productions at Rolling Hill Preparatory/Renaissance School and Chadwick School, both in California.
Sheryl loves horses. She owned two in Arizona and will be looking for a local place to ride! She likes jewelry making, acting, and creative writing. She had a flash fiction story published in a curated anthology.
Sheryl was attracted to Christchurch because of its location and place-based curriculum. She says, "I'm a life-long learner and I learn as much from my students as they may learn from me. It's all about the kids!
Sheryl's husband, Tom, joins the science faculty. They live on campus with their dogs, Pinot and Baxter.
Math Department Chair
University of Richmond
MEd Educational Leadership and Policy Studies,
Curriculum and Instruction
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
BA Economics and Anthropology
As the child of parents in the Air Force, Patricia Jessee moved around. She attended a private high school and, therefore, is personally familiar with the benefits an independent school can provide for its students.
Patricia is a high-energy and positive person who has dedicated herself to the discipline of math and to educating young people. She started her career as a Teach For America corps member, increasing average student proficiency by 2.5 years. In completing her Master's Degree and Post-Master's program, she was at the top of her class and graduated with distinction. She was a finalist for Sigma Gamma Rho's Golden Apple Teacher Award.
Most recently, Patricia served as Interim Principal at All Saints Catholic School in Richmond, VA. "I am excited to return to teaching and the world of mathematics." She believes in making the future better than the present and that education should be empowering, active, and relevant.
She has been coming to the Middle Peninsula with her family for years, and was aware of Christchurch's reputation for graduating kind and globally aware students.
She has been coming to the Middle Peninsula with her family for years, and was aware of Christchurch's reputation for graduating kind and globally aware students.
Patricia loves spending time outdoors, whether hiking, boating, or anything in between. She loves reading historical fiction and painting, and recently completed her 450th Orange Theory Fitness class. She loves Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, and a good catch phrase.
Her husband is also an educator. They live locally with their two young sons and two dogs, Murph and Wally.
Her husband is also an educator. They live locally with their two young sons and two dogs, Murph and Wally.
Latin Instructor
University of Mary Washington
MALS Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
The University of Georgia
MA Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
College of William & Mary
BA Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Admission Office Manager
Financial Aid and Database Manager
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Before becoming a Seahorse, Andi Mapes worked in the Cincinnati/Dayton, OH area for a biotech startup affiliated with Cincinnati Children's Hospital and focused on compounds that successfully treat blood cancers.
Andi loves the energy that comes from helping to grow high school students into kind, smart, good citizens. She says that Christchurch is a "your presence will help us build excellence" type of community, and that extends to faculty, staff, and students.
Andi is never without a book and is always on the hunt for volunteer opportunities. She believes that one way or another, we have all been on the receiving end of the gift of time or support from someone else. Paying that forward allows those gifts to grow.
She believes everything that happens colors your life. "You get to choose the color. Choose boldly!"
Andi lives locally with her husband of 39 years and their English Setter, Keva. She has two grown daughters and is the very proud grandmother of a perfect granddaughter!
ROLL TIDE!
Math Instructor
Johns Hopkins Unviersity
MS Education Policy
Sweet Briar College
BA Psychology
Bettie Lee Moore is a native of Virginia, born and raised in Richmond and Norfolk. She spent most of her life living in Washington, DC, and Loudoun County, and recently moved to Williamsburg to be closer to the beach.
Bettie Lee began her career as a mathematician but soon found that her passion lay in the classroom. Her teaching background is primarily K-12 math at independent schools in DC and Northern Virginia, with one wonderful year at a charter school in Corolla, NC. While raising her children, Bettie Lee owned an educational toy store for 15 years. She was thrilled to return to the classroom a few years ago.
"My first visit to Christchurch left an impression of a school with all the qualities I would hope for in a place to live and work, with a warm faculty, engaging students, and a beautiful campus on the river!"
In her free time, Bettie Lee enjoys spending as much time as possible with family and friends.
Science Instructor
Athletic Trainer
California University of PA
MS Health Science
University of North Carolina Wilmington
BS Athletic Training
Born in Connecticut, James O'Leary spent his childhood on the beach and traveling for sports.
His ten-year teaching background is primarily in private schools, including boarding, single-sex, and coed day schools. Happily for us, James prefers coed boarding schools to all others!
The O'Leary family loves to explore the river and area trails and is excited to soak up the rich history of the surrounding area. James describes them as a "water family." They love boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, and just "lounging" by the water.
Jay believes in forming and cultivating connections with the students through humor and life experiences. "I weave together lessons I've learned from personal experience, relevant news, course material, and available resources specific to our location."
Jay played baseball in college and is a fan of Boston sports teams, namely the Red Sox and Bruins. When he was growing up, a distant cousin was the Boston Red Sox Manager, which allowed him access to the dugout, locker room, and field-level seats where he rubbed elbows with baseball greats like Roger Clemens and Mo Vaughn.
Jay is a licensed athletic trainer and insurance agent. His wife, Trish, works in LSP and is the Hall Leader for First Murrell, where they live with their two daughters and their dogs, Puck and Freddy.
Learning Specialist
Hall Parent 1st Murrell
Eastern Connecticut State University
Theater
Born and raised in Connecticut with a dream to someday move to warmer weather, I come to Christchurch School with a deep appreciation for the importance of individualized support in education. As a Learning Skills Teacher and dorm parent in First Murrell, I’m excited to bring my family’s boarding school heart to this incredible riverside community.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Theater from Eastern Connecticut State University. I’ve written and directed an Off-Broadway show, spent time studying theater in New York City, and lived in London, England taking theater classes at London Metropolitan University. Dance and theater were my first loves, and that creativity continues to shape my approach to teaching and connecting with students. I more recently returned to school to study Special Education at Central Connecticut State University after I discovered a deep sense of purpose in supporting students and adults with diverse learning needs.
My husband, James, and I were drawn to Christchurch by the beauty of the river, but it was the people who made it feel like home almost instantly during our initial tour of campus. We’re a close-knit family that strongly believes in the mission and magic of boarding school life. Our daughters, Lydia and Maddyn, have grown up as faculty kids and instantly fell in love with Christchurch the moment they stepped foot on campus. They especially love dorm life, water sports, and being part of a vibrant, caring community. We knew this was the perfect next chapter for us!
During the past decade as a dorm parent at a New England boarding school, and of course a Mom to my own children, I was also the caregiver for faculty children when there was no on-campus childcare available at our former school.
I found so much fulfillment in enriching the residential student's lives, especially with big pasta dinners that fed more hearts than mouths, especially my own! I was also a teacher in a micro-preschool and a paraeducator in the public school. Creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people has become the center of my life’s work.
I’m an artist at heart. Outside of the classroom, I’ve built a small artisan business creating memorial and keepsake jewelry, a calling that allows me to honor people’s stories and connect with families in deeply personal ways. You’ll often find me cooking or baking something new, caring for and propagating plants, crafting, reading historical nonfiction, or spending time outdoors, especially on our lake in the summers at our small cottage in Connecticut. Our family loves boating, water-skiing, and we are so excited to explore everything the river has to offer. Puck and Freddy, our two little rescue dogs, are always along for the adventure.
Whether in the dorm, the classroom, or out on the water, I am passionate about cultivating spaces where all people feel safe, heard, and valued. I believe every human being deserves dignity, and that if we take the time to learn one another’s stories, we’ll move through the world with greater compassion and understanding.
I am so excited to be a part of this very special Learning Skills Program. We’re so happy to call Christchurch our new home and to be part of a community that celebrates curiosity, connection, and care.
Director of Mental Health and Performance Counseling
Boston University
EdM Counseling, Specialization in Sport Psychology
Clemson University
BS Psychology
Maggie grew up in Charlotte, NC. She comes to us from Boston, MA, where she completed a Master's of Education in Counseling and Sport Psychology while working as a F45 trainer and coaching girls lacrosse.
Maggie appreciates the tight-knit community at Christchurch, as well as the school's goal of supporting well-rounded students. Her philosophy as a practitioner focuses on building the holistic individual, and she appreciates that the CCS culture values that as well.
Fitness and activity are essential parts of Maggie's life. When it comes to sports, lacrosse is her "one true love." She played at Clemson and, after graduating, coached elementary-aged girls.
Maggie believes strongly that knowing when you need support or help and asking for it is what makes someone strong. It shows a willingness to grow and learn.
Maggie was part of a three-year research study exploring the connection between a slow, deep breathing exercise and its impact on stress, mood, and cognitive functioning. Read the article here, in Advances in Mental Health: Brief slow-paced breathing: potential moderators and effects on executive functioning, stress, mood, and arousal in college students.
Maggie is a twin and one of four children. She loves to read and is building a personal library. Maggie lives on campus with her dog, Luna. "She is the best girl!"
Science Instructor
Columbia University Teachers College
EdD International Education and Development
Sardar Patel University
PhD International Education
Madurai University
MEd
Mysore University
BEd Teaching of Science and Mathematics
Bangalore University
MSc Physics
Bangalore University
BSc
Humanities Instructor
University of Virginia
PhD Religious Studies, History of Religions
University of Colorado Boulder
MA Religious Studies
Siena College
BA History
Eben Yonnetti spent his childhood in the Hudson Valley of New York and attended New Paltz High School in his hometown of Poughkeepsie.
Before becoming a Seahorse, Eben taught and conducted research at the University of Virginia. As a postdoctoral College Fellow, he developed and taught interdisciplinary courses within the first-year student curriculum. He was a teaching assistant in the Department of Religious Studies, and as a graduate assistant, he taught skills and strategies for academic success to incoming students.
When he visited Christchurch for the first time, Eben was struck by a strong sense of community and the kindness of both faculty and students. He felt "welcomed in."
Eben believes that forming connections lies at the core of a strong education. "Connectivity is how knowledge of the world and our lives are intimately woven together. It is also a call to action—to discern, create, and sustain connections whenever possible and to live a life that reaches beyond the individual."
Eben has worked with study abroad programs in Nepal and India. He speaks German, Mandarin Chinese, and Tibetan, and is always eager to chat with speakers of any of these languages!
He is a passionate fan of folk music and has played the bagpipes for over twenty years.
Eben lives with his wife and two young sons on campus.
Director of Health Services
Shenandoah University
BSN Nursing
BS Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Victoria has received the Golden Brain Award, as well as two DAISY Awards. The Golden Brain Award goes to the person with the fastest time administering tPA (a thrombolytic agent) to a stroke patient. The DAISY award recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate care that nurses provide to their patients and their families.
Victoria began her career as an ER tech before graduating from nursing school. Most of her six years of experience as a nurse has been in the Emergency Department and Operating Rooms. She has also worked in trauma centers.
When she first visited Christchurch, Victoria fell in love with the welcoming atmosphere.
Victoria loves to travel and read books at the beach, which is her happy place! She loves running and racing, and has a passion for caring for others. She believes in embracing change and finding joy in the present moment. She believes in being adaptable, learning from mistakes, and appreciating the beauty of everyday life. She values strong relationships and strives to build meaningful connections with others.
Victoria holds dual citizenship in the US and Germany. She lives in nearby Deltaville, VA with her growing family.
