Academy Staff Members

Feel free to e-mail the staff members. Click the staff members name for e-mail, click the class name to go to the class page.

 

Brad Rickel - Academy Administrator
Mr. Rickel has been affiliated with Thomas A. Edison High School for over 15 years. He began his career in education at Edison as the theatre arts and film studies teacher. He also served as the chair of the fine arts department until he was appointed as the Edison Academy Administrator in 2004. A native of Indiana, Mr. Rickel earned his BA in political science from Wabash College and his MFA from the University of Virginia, where he also received his endorsment in administration and supervision. He was appointed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve on the state steering committee for SOL's for fine arts. He has also served on the film subject committee for the International Baccaulareate Organization, and serves that organization as an assistant examiner.

 

Jim Abrams - Support Staff
Jim Abrams is a special education resource teacher at the Academy. In this role, Mr. Abrams provides support to students in Auto Collision Repair, Auto Technology, Culinary Arts, and Network Design and Engineering (Cisco). He brings 30 plus years of career experiences to the Academy having spent part of his career as US Congressional Committee staffer and as a Parts and Service Director for local auto dealerships. Most recently he owned, The Rib Rack restaurant in Alexandria.

Mr. Abrams holds a B.S. degree from East Tennessee State University and an M.Ed with and endorsement in Special Education from George Mason University.

 

Meredith Ayala - Career Coach
After working as a school counselor for Edison High School for two years, Meredith Ayala joins the Edison Academy staff this year as a Career Coach.  Now an employee of Northern Virginia Community College, Meredith assists students with creating comprehensive career plans that focus on their transition from secondary school to post-secondary education, training and/or employment.  Meredith earned a BS in Interpersonal Communication from James Madison University (1996), an MA in Education from Chapman University (1999) and an MA in School Counseling from Marymount University (2004).  Meredith lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband and son.

 

Soussan Bayati - Cosmetology
Soussan Bayati is the Cosmetology instructor at the Academy where she helps prepare students for the Virginia State Board Cosmetology License. Mrs. Bayati brings over twenty years experience in the field to the Academy. Born in Tehran, Iran, Mrs. Bayati received her training at the Hairdressing Institute and Vocational Training Center and the School of Art and Hair Design. She owned her own training institute for cosmetology in Tehran, The Gilda Institute, and served as the head administrator there.

Mrs. Bayati came to the United States in 1989 and completed her Virginia Cosmetology License in 1994. During this time, she worked as a representative for Sebastian International, where she attended hair shows, seminars, and worked as a hair stylist in various hair salons. Mrs. Bayati joined the Academy in 1997 and was one of nine representatives, who participated in an educator study tour by CDS International for American Educators in Germany, she was recognized as an Outstanding Vocational Educator by Penn College Of Technology in 2004. She was also a nominee for the State of Virginia Outstanding Cosmetology Instructor. She will be serving as the President for the Fairfax County Cosmetology Council for the next 2 years. She received her teaching certification from James Madison University in 1999.

 

Dennis Belyea - A+
Dennis Belyea joined the Academy in 2003 as the Computer Systems Technology instructor. He set himself apart from other first year teachers by being nominated for the Fairfax County Public Schools First Year Teacher of the Year award. Mr. Belyea spent fifteen years working in industry prior to joining the teaching profession. His resume includes: owning his own computer service business, working as a technical analyst for Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington, working for Gateway Corporation as a service manager and sales manager and serving in the United States Navy.

Mr. Belyea holds an Associates Degree in Network Engineering and is A+ Certified in Computer Systems Technology. He lives in Manassas, Virginia with his wife and four sons.

 

Brice Boyd - Landscape Architecture & Turf Management
Brice has been involved in the landscape industry for over 12 yrs. He most recently came to Edison from Fairfax County Grounds Department where his experience took him in different areas from tree care to snow removal. Brice has owned or been involved in several landscape & lawn care businesses the most recent one being Boyd Lawn & landscape, LLC. He is working towards finishing his degree at George Mason University. Brice Resides in Springfield Va with his wife and son.

 

Maggie Devine - Support Staff
Ms. Devine is new to the Academy Support Staff this year, but not new to Edison. She has spent the last five years teaching math in the Special Education Department at Edison High School. Before that, she taught math in Alexandria City Public Schools. She has also taught English and Religious Studies courses in private schools.

Ms. Devine majored in English Literature and minored in mathematics at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. And, yes, she still follows Irish football! She also has her Masters in Teaching from Catholic University with teaching endorsements in math, English and Learning Disabilities. She is happy to be a part of the Support Staff and will be working in the Cosmetology, Network Administration, Heating and Air Conditioning, Oracle and Hospitality Management classes.

 

Scott Evans - Oracle
Scott Evans has been teaching at the Academy since 1999. He also serves as the Academy website administrator and teaches in the Business Department at Edison HS. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems. He is certified in Oracle SQL and was previously a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). Prior to teaching at the Academy he worked as a Marine Systems Engineer and Network Administrator for various government contractors. Mr. Evans served six years in the United States Navy on nuclear submarines.

Mr Evans owns his own web hosting business which donates webspace and web page design to non profit organizations that help students. He is the father of three children and lives in Springfield with his wife (also an FCPS teacher) and son.

 

Patrick Kuesters - Network Administration

Mr. Kuesters is a new instructor to FCPS and Edison Academy teaching Network Administration. Currently he is working on finishing up his MBA and holds a B.S. in Management. Mr. Kuesters studied at the University of Maryland, George Mason University and completed his bachelors degree at the University of Phoenix. He has many years of computer experience both as a full-time job, and part-time family/friend PC support. Mr. Kuesters has held many different positions at several different companies thus, giving him a wide array of knowledge and experince in finance, business, retail, computers and education. In his career he has worked for several large corporations such as: Nordstrom, Verizon, AARP, Fannie Mae, ASIS, University of Phoenix and even NAVSEA. He is very excited to be teaching and hopes to have a great year with his students.

 

Dwannal McGahee - Hospitality Management

Mr. McGahee has been affiliated with Fairfax County Public Schools for the past 5 years.  He began his career as a hospitality management instructor at Chantilly High School.  Prior to joining FCPS, Mr. McGahee spent 16 years working in the hospitality industry, starting out entry-level as a bellman and progressing to become a director of human resources.  A native of Alabama, Mr. McGahee received his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Florida A&M University and his Master of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University.  He also owns an on-line travel business.

 

Shane Mills - Construction Technology
Shane Mills joined the Academy faculty in 2003 as the Construction Technology instructor. He brings ten years of experience in commercial and residential construction and five years experience in construction management. Mr. Mills worked with Blockbuster Corporation and built, remodeled, and maintained 51 movie rental franchises. He has worked with District of Columbia local government agencies as a contractor and also worked as a contractor for Performance Bikes, Bar-B-Q’s Galore, and Neisha Thai Restaurant.
Mr. Mills is a 1992 graduate of Edison High School.

 

Karen Nestlerode - Animal Science
Karen Nestlerode is the Animal Science instructor at the Academy. She is a graduate of Edison High School, received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Mary Washington College and recently completed her Masters of Education in Special Education from the University of Virginia . This is her 9th year teaching at Edison; she first joined the science department and taught biology prior to Animal Science. She has experience working in the veterinary field and currently works in an emergency veterinary hospital part time.

 

Steve Palese - Electrical Construction & Engineering
Steve Palese is the Electrical Construction and Engineering instructor at the Academy and is in his 16 th year teaching at Edison . During the 2003-2004 school year, Mr. Palese was nominated for the FCPS Teacher of the Year recognition program. Prior to entering the teaching profession, Mr. Palese served in the United States Navy for seven years. During this time, he worked for the White House Communications Agency and was responsible for advance work for President Ronald Reagan.

Mr. Palese has also owned an electrical contracting firm, Palese Electric, for the past twenty years. He lives in Warrenton Virginia with his wife, three sons and two dogs.

 

Kevin Quinlan - Support Staff
Kevin Quinlan is a resource teacher who supports students from Electrical Construction and A+. He has nine years of experience in the field of education, including three years of teaching biology at Thornton Friends School and five years of teaching general science at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School.
Mr. Quinlan holds a B.S. degree in zoology from the University of Maryland, a B.S. degree in geography from the University of Maryland, and a M.Ed. degree in science education from George Mason University. He also coaches boys' basketball at Edison HS.

 

Katharine Rineer - Support Staff
Katharine Rineer is the Academy’s ESOL resource teacher. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from George Mason University and a M.Ed. and ESOL endorsement from the University of Virginia. Mrs. Rineer has been with FCPS for 19 years and brings a wide range of academic experience to Edison Academy.

Mrs. Rineer has three children and has lived in several foreign countries while her husband pursued his military career. She enjoys reading and traveling.

 

Kris Simms - Administrative Assistant
Kris Simms is the Academy Administrative Assistant and has worked for Fairfax County Public Schools for the past twenty-four years in various administrative capacities.

A native of Tennessee , Mrs. Simms is a longtime Alexandria resident and two of her children graduated from Edison High School. She holds a degree in elementary education from Emory and Henry College.

 

Cynthia Stowers - Culinary Arts
Chef Cynthia Stowers is an artist who has found her passion in the world of culinary arts. Originally schooled in architecture from Wellesley College her past primary work has been oil paintings. Cynthia is an award winning and recognized chocolatier who creates hand-dipped European chocolate confections. As a chef instructor at the Art Institute of Washington, Cynthia taught and mentored many young professionals in the industry for three years before coming to Edison. In May 2005, she earned her Masters in Education from George Mason University.

 

Robert Stringham - Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Robert Stringham is the Academy Heating and Air Conditioning instructor and an Edison High School alumnus. As an Edison student, Mr. Stringham studied HVAC all 4 years of his high school career. He holds a number of Certifications in the HVAC industry including: ICE, NATE, EPA, and State Contractors License. From 1994-1998 Mr. Stringham owned and operated his own HVAC company in Florida .

He returned to Edison in 2000 to take over the HVAC program and in 2001-2002, he distinguished himself as the recipient of the Virginia Career and Technical Educator of the Year award and as the recipient of the Governor's Award for Innovative Use of Technology in the Classroom in 2001-2002. Mr. Stringham served as a Great Beginnings /New Teacher Coach FCPS Office of Staff Development 2002-2003.

 

Jackie Thomas - Counselor
Jackie Thomas is a twenty-year, veteran guidance counselor at the Academy. Through the years, she has assisted thousands of students navigate through high school and their personal lives. Mrs. Thomas is a native of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , a graduate of Lincoln University with a B.S. degree in Education , and a graduate of University of Kansas with Masters Degrees in Education and Administration.

When Mrs. Thomas is not counseling Academy students, she is the resident expert on antiques and collectibles. She has owned antiques stores in Maryland and Virginia . She is a mother and lives in Waldorf , Maryland with her husband and Yorkshire Terrier, Lucy.

 

Craig Troup - Auto Collision
Craig Troup has been the Auto Collision Repair instructor since 2004. He is a professional collision repair technician/manager with over twenty years experience in the field. He came to the Academy after spending ten years at the area's number one Mercedes Benz dealership.

 

 

Robert Watkins - Auto Technology
Bob Watkins , the Automotive Technology instructor, is a fifteen-year veteran of Edison. Mr. Watkin's automotive program is ASE/NATEF certified and is sponsored by American Honda Corporation. He has been an ASE master mechanic since 1973 and is a State Safety and EPA Emissions Inspector. Mr. Watkins served in the United States Army as a Green Beret and subsequently as a Green Beret instructor. He has an A.A.S. degree in Automotive Technology from Northern Virginia Community College.

 

Jennifer Weatherford - Finance Technician

Jennifer graduated from Hayfield Secondary School in 1999 and attended Christopher Newport University studying psychology.  During breaks from college, Jennifer started working at Edison High School as a substitute teacher.  From there Jennifer began working full time in the main office.  After two years she accepted a position working in Subschool II.  In August of 2007, she gratefully accepted a Finance position in the Edison Academy.  In her free time, Jennifer loves to cook and spend time with her family and is happily busy planning a September of 2008 wedding.

 

Adam Wells - Support Staff
Adam Wells is a special education resource teacher and serves as the Support Team Department Chair. In this role, Mr. Wells provides support to students in Animal Science, Computer Systems Technology, Construction Technology and Electrical Construction and Engineering. He is a graduate of Edison High School , earned a Bachelor's degree from Marymount University and an M.Ed with endorsement in Special Education from George Mason University.

 

Genie Williford - Career Experience Specialist
Ms. Williford is the Career Experience Specialist for Edison Academy. In this role she collaborates with school and business community groups to provide career experience opportunities to students in the Academy. She promotes Academy projects and programs to the FCPS community working with FCPS staff, parent, and community and business leaders.

Prior to coming to this position Ms. Williford was a veteran marketing education teacher for 21 years where she supervised students in cooperative education work experiences and in the international association of marketing, management and entrepreneurship known as DECA. Ms Williford holds a Bachelor of Science from The College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University and has recently completed her Masters of Business Administration from DeVry University. She is certified by the National Retail Federation in Customer Service and uses these skills daily to be of service to the students and community of Edison Academy.