Maureen Lenihan, Grade 2

Ms. Lenihan has worked as an elementary school teacher licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has taught Kindergarten and 2nd Grade. She has worked in both public and private school settings, including several years as a Language Arts instructor and as a 2nd Grade Computer Lab teacher. Ms. Lenihan has extensive experience and knowledge in early childhood education and in foreign languages. She will be teaching French and Latin. She has also taught a children’s religious education course at her church. She has served as a soccer coach for an All-Girls’ Soccer Team with the Lee- Mount Vernon Soccer Association. She lives in Dominion Valley with her family. She recently moved to Haymarket from Alexandria, Virginia. She has three children, a 6th grader, 4th grader and a son in 2nd grade

Justine Wald, Grade 1

Justine Wald, M.Ed. is the lead teacher of St. Paul's Jr. Kindergarten class.

Justine is a licensed public school teacher from Idaho. She taught Kindergarten in the public school system, and also taught in a private school, and a cooperative preschool in St. Michaels, Idaho. Justine holds a Masters Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Boise State University). She is currently taking courses toward a Education Specialist Degree in Reading Education. She is a member of the Arizona Education Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She also is a qualified Montessori teacher, with much experience in using the Montessori Method in a preschool environment.

Chris Powers, Pre-K4 Lead Teacher

Mrs. Powers is the Lead Teacher of St. Paul's Pre-K4 class. She also taught the Pre-K4 class in 2008-2009. Prior to coming to St. Paul's, she worked for several years in a Christian preschool in Florida. Mrs. Powers has a Bachelor’s degree International Studies and has lived and studied abroad. These qualifications serve her well as the Geography and Cultures teacher in our Encore Program. Someday when her 5-year old son and 7-year old daughter are older, Mrs. Powers hopes to take a year off to show her own children the world; the way of life in other countries, their cultures and customs. Something no one knows about Mrs. Powers is that she was a competitive figure skater for eight years, and that among her awards is a 2nd Place Award in the Hershey Figure Skating Competition. She has taught figure skating to children ages 3 and up, and to adults.

Carrie Jones-Bonkiewicz, Pre-K4 - 2nd Grade Classroom Assistant

Ms. Jones-Bonkiewicz is a Classroom Assistant in the Pre-K4 class and in first and second grades. She was a school parent and St. Paul's School Treasurer during the 2003-2004 school year. She brings to our program seven years of experience assisting teachers in the classrooms (3-5 day week) at Mountain View and Buckland Mills Elementary Schools. Carrie also founded a Mother's Morning Out program in the Piedmont community. She is well known in Haymarket as a dynamic leader. She has owned an events and wedding planning firm, Galaxy Galas, and she was the coordinator of the Haymarket Day Parade in 2009. Carrie also builds websites part-time.

Ms. Nicole Roberts

Ms. Roberts is a Pre-K3 teacher at St. Paul’s School. Ms. Roberts has 11 years of experience working with preschoolers; three of which have been with 3-year olds. Ms. Roberts is one a semester away from completing her Bachelor of Arts degree. She was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year 2008. Ms. Roberts has earned a series of Early Childhood certificates in Child Development.

In addition to working with children she enjoys scrap booking, knitting, beading, camping, exploring our local community, and volunteering. Ms. Roberts has lived in Gainesville with her family for the past seven years.

Joanne Gonzalez, Supervisor, Afternoon Preschool and Pre-K2/MDO Program

Ms. Joanne Gonzalez is St. Paul's Pre-K2 Program Supervisor and a teacher. She also teaches the Spanish immersion portion of Pre-K2 classes. She is former Director of the Alpha Academy (Preschool) in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where she supervised 40 teachers and staff (five years). She also served as Director of the Palm Day school in Hialeah, Florida (six years). Locally, she worked as an educator at Yorkshire Elementary School (ESOL for seven years) and has participated in PWCPS Parents as Educational Partners program. Ms. Gonzalez is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. Her primary language is English. Ms. Gonzalez has a Bachelor Degree in Music Education (Jacksonville University) and is several courses away from completing a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology. She is very familiar with the research on how classical music affects the infant and toddler brain. Ms. Gonzalez played in the string orchestra and symphony orchestra throughout college. Later she played in the Georgetown String Ensemble, the Manassas City Orchestra and the Montgomery County Orchestra. Her children also appreciate music. Her daughter, who is an Honor Roll student, plays the violin and piano. She also sings in the church choir and for the “Shout” Band for the Teens’ church service. Her son has also played the violin for seven years. He received a scholarship to George Mason University (an honor student). Ms. Gonzalez is fully aware of the importance of exposing very young children to languages, particularly Chinese (see Time Magazine article 11/23/09), a language St. Paul’s Pre-K2 program will be introducing in January. Her son is studying Global Affairs with a Concentration on China. He has completed one semester of Chinese language and reports that he loves it. Ms. Gonzalez is certified in Basic First Aid and CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) through 2011.

Administrators

Terri Sawyers, Office Manager

Terri Sawyers serves as the School's Office Manager. She has served in that capacity for four years, from 2004 to 2008. Prior to this time, she served as a parent on the School Board.