All-Star Line-Up
Who's Who at Venable This Year
We've had a number of staff changes this year, which includes returning people serving in new roles and some new staff as well. We are very excited about the 19-20 staff line-up. Scroll down to learn more about our staff. For a complete staff list, with room numbers, please click here.
Heather Schoonmaker
Ms. Heather is joining us as our Early Childhood Special Education teacher. Originally from upstate New York, Ms. Schoonmaker has been most recently working as a special education teacher at Burnley Moran. She joins Ms. Perry in room 2.
Karelle Murison
Ms. Murison is joining our special education team as a resource teacher. She is originally from Florida, and has enjoyed a wide career in special education, from classroom teacher to compliance coordinator. She will be working closely with Ms. Lowe and Ms. L'Oreal Lee.
Jacey Cox
Ms. Cox is joining us as our speech-language pathologist. She moved this summer from Northern Virginia, where she worked at a very large K-5 elementary school. She is excited to be in our small community and know all our students and families.
Sharlene Abney
Ms. Abney is joining our kindergarten team as the teacher in room 5. She has 9 years of experience in Henrico, with 6 of them in kindergarten. Last year she taught part time at Molly Michie preschool.
Mark Shipp
Mr. Shipp will be the instructional assistant working with Ms. Abney. He began his career as a PE and instructional technology teacher in Orange County, and then moved to Charlottesville to work full time in our IT department. He missed the children and is thrilled to be back in the classroom.
Crystal Johnson
Ms. Johnson (left), will be joining Ms. Hamilton as the instructional assistant in kindergarten room 6. Ms. Johnson has several years of experience working with children as an assistant at a local homeschooling cooperative. She is also the doula coordinator for Sisters Keeper Collective and will be working as a group leader in our CLASS program.
Megan Greenwood
Ms. Greenwood is returning to Venable, this time as a 1st grade teacher in room 202. Ms. Greenwood previously taught kindergarten with us, and we're thrilled to have her back on our team.
Anne Kirkland
Ms. Kirkland is joining our 2nd grade team in room 206. She has most recently been teaching in a small K-12 school in northern New Hampshire, where she taught 2nd-4th grades.
Jessica Mothersell
Ms. Mothersell is joining our 3rd grade team in room 302. She previously taught at the K-12 school in upstate New York where she attended school. She loves warm weather, and has found it here!
Isabel Smith
Ms. Smith did her student teaching at Venable 7 years ago in our 4th grade, and then left us to go to Burnley Moran to teach kindergarten. Since then, she has taught in northern VA and back at Burnley Moran in 4th grade. She's glad to be back home on the 3rd floor, room 303.
Jordan Buckrop
Ms. Buckrop is our new reading specialist. She holds a doctorate in reading education from UVA and licenses in K-12 reading, elementary education, and special education. She is coming to us from Woodbrook Elementary in ACPS, where she was the reading specialist last year. Ms. Buckrop remains active at the McGuffey Reading Center.
Jo French
Mr. French is joining us as an instructional assistant in 2nd grade. He has coached with SOCA for the last few years and worked with middle schoolers in a variety of capacities, including at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. He will be working primarily with Ms. Moore and Ms. Kayser on the 3rd floor.
Tamara Dias
Dr. Dias is joining Dr. Kershner on the administrative team as our new assistant principal. Dr. Dias began her career as a Spanish teacher in Chesterfield County, and then came back to Charlottesville, working at Buford, Jouett, and Charlottesville Catholic Schools. She holds her doctorate from Morgan State University and is the executive director of the African American Teaching Fellows Program.
Kiera Jones
Ms. Jones is a student at the Curry School at UVA. She is joining team Hunter/Houchens as the student teacher in room 201. She likes to paint, read, and explore astronomy in her spare time.
Allison Shields
Ms. Shields is also a student at the Curry School of Education at UVA. She is originally from Baltimore, MD and played varsity lacrosse at UVA during her undergrad.
Position Changes
We have a number of returning staff members who are serving in new roles this year. They include:
- L'Oreal Lee, special education instructional assistant (former K IA, current & former CLASS group leader)
- Calder McLellan, 3rd grade teacher (former math specialist)
- Karen Minor, gifted resource teacher for K-2 (former K/1 teacher)
- Susan Northington, gifted resource teacher for 3-4 (former 3rd grade teacher)
- Kristi O'Brien, 2nd grade teacher (former 3rd grade teacher)
- Daniel Satterthwaite, CLASS site director (former kindergarten IA)
- Beth Schrank, 2nd grade instructional assistant on the 2nd floor (former librarian)
- Cicely Shelton, librarian (former reading specialist)