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The Head's Head's UP!
As a school, we cannot live into our mission at Chesapeake Academy without the coaching, modeling, nurturing, enthusiasm, high expectations, and love of this dynamic group of faculty and staff. Each one plays an important role in the lives of our students and families.
We are so truly lucky to be in-person doing the work we do with each other and our students. We help each other to stay positive and set an optimistic, “can-do” tone for each day.
As we approach Valentine's Day, I hope you'll indulge me in my own annual reflection about the people who make up this community of professionals and allow me to share with you a little glimpse of what makes each one so special.
Catherine Emery has a natural gift for working with students of all ages. Her leadership of our student life programs has been superb. She is always patient, always kind, and always insightful. She is a calm, trusted adult for students who holds them accountable to bring their best selves to each endeavor.
Susan May brings her love of literature to children every day. She finds ways to connect with the academic classrooms and with each child. Her spearheading of the mock Ezra Jack Keats awards, her weekly surveys, and her oversight of a rotting (and rerooting?) pumpkin all make the library a special place to be.
Rosetta Struse brings her nurturing and creativity to every part of her day with students. Her love for children and her gentle nature shine through in every interaction with or about students. Her Pre-K through second grade PE classes are fun, funny, and purposeful. Extended day is a happy place because of her leadership.
A pied piper of kindergarteners, Molly Vanderpool leads them on adventures of every kind in and out of the classroom. Always thinking about the elements of childhood that are special, Molly never misses an opportunity to get outside with exploring kindergarteners. Molly models creativity, joy, and inquiry with the students and adults throughout CA.
Courtney Reisner, volunteer extraordinaire, has a connection to each student who has ever been in a classroom where she has worked in the last 12 years. Ms. Courtney is the queen of snack time, the courier for the library books, and the extra set of hands at just the right moment.
Jane Allen–or Coach–brings her high energy, her athletic expertise, organization, and enthusiasm for the Ospreys to everything she does. From teaching her fun and purposeful classes to planning all the athletic and after school activities to supporting advisees to helping with events to greeting the kids each morning, Coach Allen is all in all the time.
Tiffany Harrison brings fun, passion, and purpose for working with younger learners. She has embraced what makes emerging readers and mathematicians so fun, and makes the second grade classroom a special place to be! She is a key ingredient in the Lower School team!
Ashley Duncan brings a collaborative spirit to all that she does. The first one to say, “I can help,” she is a flexible teacher who brings good humor to fifth grade geography and all levels of Spanish. Her classes are multi-sensory and engaging so that each student builds vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills as they are ready.
Beth Clark has amazing empathetic senses coupled with her expertise, and she brings deep understanding to a child's journey. She recognizes and affirms others' gifts. She absolutely sees the best in each child. Her ability to partner with parents about what makes the early childhood years special is a treasure. She shares her love for CA easily.
A beloved alumna, Harley Haydon has made her way back to CA. She knows and loves each Pre-K and extended day kiddo for who they are, and she finds ways to laugh alongside them. Harley is an amazing “right hand” to Ms. Clark and Ms. Struse, but takes the lead whenever she needs to. She is an invaluable addition!
A gifted musician and performer, Starlet Knight brings a professional eye, a self-deprecating sense of humor, and extensive knowledge to the music/performance program. She knows how to get kids moving, singing, playing music, and acting. The showcase events this fall and winter have been tremendous because of her direction.
Kenzie Manetz brings her expertise as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and special educator to her role as the Academic Dean. She never shies away from new challenges. She supports each teacher and each student so that our students are successful. She models good practice throughout her work with individuals and makes sure that students love learning as much as she does!
Chrys Royall-Elam–an award winning teacher in her prior school–brings a quiet, calm demeanor and deep knowledge of how young people learn. Her classroom is equal parts productive, peaceful, and engaging. Modeling curiosity and creativity, she always seeks to build students' skills as well as her own.
Sonja Smith is a creative thinker and problem solver in all aspects of school life. Sonja is always an upbeat and flexible team player who can work with anyone–student or adult--to yield great results. She is an amazing ambassador for CA, welcoming families in a warm and approachable way. Sonja knows the program inside and out, so she shares her love for CA authentically and with enthusiasm!
Kelly Antonio has played so many roles at CA–teacher, parent, administrator, volunteer–that all point to where her heart is. Kelly loves working with the sixth grade class for literature and continuing to be a part of the CA faculty.
Martha Rogers is the consummate cheerleader for her students. Always ready to try a new approach or a new project, Martha models risk taking and a “can do” spirit for her students. “Ok, cats, we got this!” Martha knows what Lower Schoolers need and creates a classroom spirit of enthusiasm, purpose, and fun.
Catherine Emry has a deep knowledge of every child, family member, grandparent, special friend, and donor who has been part of the CA community. She rallies the troops to volunteer in all capacities to help CA. She is expert, organized, humble, and genuine. Catherine makes our events shine and makes supporters of the school feel so special.
A lover of all topics scientific, Noel Ross enjoys creating projects that drive student thinking. She has jumped in to the fourth grade curriculum and classroom with gusto, working hard to know the students as well as the material. She connects to each student and supports their growth.
A fantastic addition to our Business Office, Nancy Frank brings her professional skills and friendly nature to the front office. She is optimistic, precise, and thorough, bringing her experiences with businesses and independent schools to CA. We are so lucky she found us and we found her to join the team!
Marshall Novak is a natural teacher, a leader of the seventh grade homeroom crew, and bus driver extraordinaire. She inspires students in all levels of math to find strategies of learning that are multidimensional and confidence building for mathematicians. In US history, she helps students dig deep into the concepts important to our nation's history, all the while making learning accessible and relevant.
Coach, advisor, math teacher, literature teacher, Hillary Smith wears every hat with the same commitment to the development of young people as learners and leaders. Hillary has an innate sense of each student's needs and their personalities. She knows her material deeply, but knows her students even better.
An experienced educator who is a key part of the Learning Support Services team, Kelley Calkins has always been so flexible in helping our teachers and students. Upbeat and professional, she loves her students, holds them accountable, and celebrates their many successes with so much joy!
Amy DeWolf, the keeper of our world, is friendly, efficient, and effective, and always seems to keep track of the details. Students know when they come see Ms. Amy, she will greet them with kindness (and maybe a cough drop). She is helpful to staff, students, and parents. It's wonderful to have her at the front desk!
Kim Dynia is the consummate lead learner! Latin, geography, writing, tech support, arts & innovation, fiber arts, Lego ship building, historical interpretation, ghost tours, and now sheep shearing are among Kim's many talents. She brings her knowledge of technology, curriculum, and best practices in instruction to lead professional development and the continuing evolution of the program of the school.
Always looking for how to best position CA for today and the future, Richard Abbott brings expertise as well as humor to his work. Richard is the backbone of operations in every sense and helps anyone who needs his help. He keeps the wheels on the bus (literally and figuratively) and juggles so much to keep us all working well.
Robin Blake, or “the Energizer Bunny” as I call her, is full of energy and enthusiasm. Spirited, engaging, thorough, curious, Robin is the first one in the building every day, always going the extra mile or miles to make sure students have what they need. When she puts her mind to something, she is unstoppable!
Angela Turner and Joe Souders work tirelessly each afternoon to ensure that the school is clean and ready to go for the next day. With a ready smile, Angela greets each person with warmth. Joe, an alumni parent as well, knows the ins and outs of CA. They are a superb team and make the school shine!
Misty Smith, amazing instructional aide, works with third graders and first graders with ease. She brings her Orton-Gillingham reading training, her tutoring knowledge, and her warm personality to her work with teachers and students. What a wonderful asset she is!
“Collaboration is not about gluing together existing egos. It's about the ideas that never existed until after everyone entered the room.” These folks create a magical mix together!
Julianne Duvall,
Head of School
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