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Faculty & Staff Biographies
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Amaker, Alma |
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Belghache, Nacera |
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Braiber, Larbi |
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Ciftci, Yasemin |
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Mrs. Ciftci has been teaching English as a second language at Pimmit
for the last 12 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in English Linguistics
from Hacettepe University located in Ankara, Turkey and a graduate degree
in Education from George Mason University. She has a passion for learning
about the lives of her students who represent many different countries
and cultures of the world. She is a nature lover. She enjoys hiking, canoeing,
and gardening. |
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Crowder, Didi |
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Didi Crowder was raised in Falls Church, Virginia and graduated from Fairfax
County Public Schools. She graduated from George Mason University with
a degree in Education and later completed her Masters degree in Guidance
and Counseling at Virginia Tech. She taught for ten years at the elementary
level before moving into middle school as a guidance counselor. Prior to
coming to Pimmit Hills as a Career Development Coordinator she was a counselor
at McLean High School. She enjoys travel and has spent summers in Ireland
and France. Her hobbies include computer graphics and web design, construction
design, interior decorating, and travel. |
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Davis, Tim |
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Mr. Davis, computer graphics instructor, received his
Master’s
Degree in Art Education from the University of Illinois, and his Bachelors
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art education from Eastern Illinois University. He studied sculpture and
painting with established artists Frank Gallo and Bill Carlson. In 1979,
he was awarded an Academic Fellowship from the University of Illinois.
Tim was then honored by the National Endowment for the Arts with an Arts
Management Fellowship in 1984. He continued to work for the arts in the
Washington metropolitan area as a consultant with the D.C. Commission on
the Arts and Humanities, D.C. Art Works Murals Project, Council on Foundations,
and Arlington County Arts and Planning Commission. In 1997, Mr. Davis opened
an art gallery where he continues to exhibit his paintings. He also has
exhibited widely in Chicago and in the Washington, D.C. area. He has many
paintings in private and corporate collections. |
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Dick, Roylon |
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I am excited to be the director of student services at Pimmit Hills Alternative
High School. I began my career in education twenty-three years ago. My
varied experience was as a teacher and school counselor in the secondary
school and an instructor at the college level. In 1990, my tenure began
with FCPS (school counselor, at West Potomac and Lake Braddock High; director
of student services, Mark Twain). It is extremely rewarding for me to witness
the success of young adults who have gone through many adversities in their
lives walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. My philosophy
is that life would be easier if we listen more, speak less, be at peace
with ourselves, and enjoy life. I enjoy traveling, reading and discussing
things that have eternal values. |
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Garcia, Tiffany |
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Mrs. Garcia has been teaching English at Pimmit since 2005. She is new to teaching
at the high school level, but has worked at the elementary level working
with children that have autism. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree
in English from George Mason University in 2002 and received her teaching
certification from Shenandoah University in 2004. She loves the diverse
student population at Pimmit and enjoys not only teaching the students,
but learning about the different cultures, languages, and religions that
are represented here. |
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Gerdin, Donna |
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In the winter of 2005, while completing her M.A. in English at George Mason University,
Mrs. Gerdin accepted a long-term-substitute position teaching English 12
at Pimmit Hills. Within a very short amount of time she knew she had become
pimmitized* by the warm and welcoming students and staff here. She joined
the English Department the following fall with certifications in both
English and journalism. A former director of communications for a
small non-profit, Mrs. Gerdin’s main interests in life are spending time
with her family and friends and
writing for the theatre. She studied playwriting at the Universities of
Houston and St. Thomas and has enjoyed seeing several of her plays produced
locally. One of them, LOSING LAWRENCE, was part of the Kennedy Center’s
“From Page to Stage” reading of new works in 2002 and was recently published
by Samuel French, Inc.
* pimmitize (pim’i tiz) v. – to charm, delight, or otherwise captivate; to bring
great joy.
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Hemenway, Deborah |
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Deborah Hemenway is teaching ESOL 1 and Developing Reading this year. She has
a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Berkshire Christian College. Her Master
of Arts degrees are from the University of Massachusetts in ESOL and Towson
State University in General Education. Deborah is certified in ESOL 1-12,
Social Studies 1-12, and in Elementary Education 1-8. Deborah has taught
at a variety of institutions in the United States and overseas in Africa
and the Middle East. Deborah loves the diverse student population here
at Pimmit Hills High School! |
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Jones, Jenifer |
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Ms. Jones is originally from Houston, Texas. She is a graduate of Hampton University
and currently attends George Mason University. Ms. Jones has been a Mathematics
teacher at Pimmit Hills High School for 1 year and has a passion for
helping others understand the concept of Mathematics. She enjoys differentiating
instruction and integrating learning with technology. Ms. Jones is excited
about having the opportunity to work with such inspirational students
at Pimmit Hills High School. |
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Johnson, Cynthia |
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Lukeman, Karen |
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Karen Lukeman has been the School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS)
at Pimmit Hills School for the past 6 years. Ms. Lukeman taught Marketing
and Education for Employment for 17 years (7 in Michigan/ 15 in Virginia)
prior to becoming the SBTS. Degrees include: University of Missouri-Columbia
(Marketing and Education): Masters of Education In Vocational Studies with
Marketing and Adult Education EmphasisWestern Michigan University: Bachelor
of Science in Marketing Education and BusinessOriginally from Michigan. |
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Marshall, Barbara |
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Mrs. Marshall has been teaching business at Pimmit Hills High School
since 1997. She also taught business at Coxsackie-Athens High School in
Upstate NY for one year prior to moving to Virginia. She has a BS in Marketing/Management
from Siena College in Loudonville, NY and earned her MEd from George Mason
University. Before beginning a career in teaching, Mrs. Marshall worked
in the retail clothing industry for twelve years as a store manager for
several retail companies. Mrs. Marshall is married and has two children.
She enjoys spending time with her family, shopping for antiques and trying
new recipes when she is not teaching. |
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Martin, Deborah |
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Mayo, Bud |
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Bud Mayo has worked for F.C.P. S for thirty four years. He is currently
the senior assistant principal in the school system.He is a graduate of
the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia. Mr. Mayo has
been an assistant principal at Pimmit Hills for eight years. Mr. Mayo is
also an adjunct instructor at the University of Virginia/Northern Virginia
Center. I his spare time he enjoys traveling and watching lacrosse games. |
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McKeown, Sally |
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Sally McKeown has been teaching in Fairfax County for
21 years, both at the elementary and high school levels. She served a
year in instructional
services supervising elementary physical education teachers and writing
curricula. She received her undergraduate degree from George Mason University
and is certified in Health and Physical Education Pre K – 12. Her
graduate work has focused on her strong interest in substance abuse and
nutrition.Mrs. McKeown’s personal mission is to convince the county
to replace all sodas and other junk food in school machines with healthy
options. Favorite quote: “90% of the putts that are short don’t
go in.” Yogi Berra |
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Rutherford, Carol |
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Carol
Rutherford has been teaching ESOL in Fairfax County Public Schools since
1993, at both elementary and high school levels. She joined the Pimmit
Hills ESOL staff in 2001. Her earlier instructional experiences include
teaching elementary school in her home state of California, and teaching
high school English for the Department of Defense in Sasebo, Japan. She
has also worked as a news editor for a local area non-profit group. She
earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English at the University of California,
Davis, and a Masters Degree in the Curriculum and Instruction of ESOL
at George Mason University. Carol feels she “gets her teaching energy” in working daily with students from diverse backgrounds who speak other languages
in addition to English. Outside of class, Carol enjoys perennial gardening,
travel with her husband, and an ongoing interest in the activities of
her grown daughter and two sons. |
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Snyder, Kathleen |
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Mrs. Snyder is originally from Long Island, New York. She came to the Washington
area to attend The George Washington University where she majored in
English. She worked for the National Endowment for the Humanities doing
research and as an editor for the U.S. Geological Survey. She attended
graduate school at The Catholic University of America getting an M.A.
degree in 18th century English drama. More recently, she completed the
graduate hours at the University of Virginia to become a reading specialist.
At Pimmit, Mrs. Snyder has taught many things including several levels
of English, all levels of ESOL and even a government course. She really
enjoys the students at Pimmit and especially likes teaching the literacies
classes because she is very proud to see Pimmit students pass both the
English 11 SOL tests. Mrs. Snyder is married and has 3 grown children.
In her free time she likes to read, travel, walk outdoors, do yoga and
play with her grandson. |
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Stevens, Frank |
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Frank Stevens has taught high school for four years and is a graduate
of FCPS. He has returned to the teaching profession after twenty years
as a partner in a successful golf course management company. He holds a
BA from Lynchburg College and MS from Virginia Commonwealth University.
His main objective is to bring US history alive in his classroom and to
make the learning of history fun through the use of stories. Mr. Stevens
and his wife, also an FCPS teacher, can be found traveling from game to
game on weekend as their two children play a variety of sports each season.
He hopes someday to see a golf program here at Pimmit. |
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Sykes, James |
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Mr. Sykes is a native of Norfolk Virginia. Raised in a military family
he lived in Seattle Washington and Northern Virginia while growing up.
He is a graduate of George Mason University with a major in History. He
was also an exchange student at St. Peters College, Oxford University where
he studied Modern British Politics. He holds a masters degree in education
from The University of Virginia. He has taught Social Studies at Pimmit
for six years, serving as evening program lead teacher during that time
and most recently as Social Studies Department Chair. He has previously
taught in other Fairfax County schools and also as an ESOL teacher in Seoul,
Korea. A speaker and student of Spanish, Korean and Chinese languages,
in his spare time Mr. Sykes enjoys spending time with his nieces and nephews,
traveling, reading, and rooting for the Washington Redskins. |
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Terragna, Lindsay |
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Lindsay Terragna is a proud member of the Pimmit Hills High School English department.
Raised in Connecticut as a fan of the Boston Red Sox, she pursued a degree
in English Education from Boston University. After graduation, Ms. Terragna
worked as a real estate agent in the city, and after a few short months
in the field of sales, she realized her true calling was teaching. With
friends from college, she moved down to the DC area and joined the Pimmit
team in 2006 as the English 10 teacher. She currently is working on a master’s
degree in curriculum and instruction, and in her spare time she loves to
read, exercise, and travel. “Miss T”, as her students call her, hopes to
one day return to Sevilla, Spain, where in 2005 she lived, and studied
Spanish. |
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Vogl, Matthew
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Matthew Vogl is the Geosystems Teacher at Pimmit Hills. Mr. Vogl holds a Masters degree in Geosciences from Mississippi State University, and a second Masters in Education from Virginia Tech. He is also a meteorologist, and was a TV and radio weatherman for two years before becoming a teacher. Mr. Vogl is newly married, and he and his wife are looking forward to the arrival of their first child in June 2008. |
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Walsh, Jan |
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This is my fifth year as a proud member of Pimmit’s
elite faculty. My first 20 years of teaching were at Oakton High School
where I taught
the gamete of mathematics from Algebra I to Calculus. Although the courses
were challenging, the school itself was so large that it was very hard
to individualize instruction and get to know all my students well. My experiences
here at Pimmit have been among the finest in my teaching career. The diversity,
sincerity and individuality of the students make this the BEST school in
the nation!!! Daily I share with my family and friends the many new facts
and flavors my students have shared about this world in which we live.
I have been married about half my life to the same great guy and we have
two sons, Casey and Brian ages 20 and 17. My home is also shared by a tortoise
shell cat named Emma Lee and a 27 year old cockatiel named Chico. My interests
include gardening, skiing, and rollerblading, places that are warm and
quiet times near the water or in the mountains. My goal is to learn how
to speak Spanish!! |
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Wilson, Beverly |
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Mrs. Beverly R. (Talley) Wilson was born and reared in
Indianapolis Indiana. She is the middle of five siblings. She received
her master’s degree
in Education from the University of Virginia. She is a resident of Burke,
Virginia and has two sons and one daughter-in-law. Mrs. Wilson has been
in Public Education since 1973. She was a substitute in Dayton, Ohio and
later an English teacher, and Special Programs teacher. She once was a
speed ice skater for the Indianapolis Speed Skating Derby, enjoys wedding
planning and serves in her church, Antioch Baptist, as a Trustee. On Sundays
she volunteers with the Burke Health Care Center for the Elderly and has
been seen playing Santa on Christmas morning for the Alexandra Homeless
Shelter. She loves working at Pimmit Hills High School and is often heard
bragging about having the best job in Fairfax County. She practices and
believes in the power of praise but knows that the most effective characteristics
of a strong leader include initiative, confidence, tolerance for ambiguity,
ability to analyze, resourcefulness, openness, time-management skills,
high expectations, and knowledge of curriculum. Mrs. Wilson says that her
priorities at Pimmit are to focus on learning, to build a collaborative
culture, and to focus on results. She works daily on using these tools
to impact on students’ educational success. |
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Wilson, Wei |
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Ms. Weijian Wilson has devoted herself to badminton since her teen years. She
was the head coach of Zhejiang province badminton team in China. She was
also invited to be the head coach of the US Olympic team in 1991-1992.
Her first student, Li Ling-wei , has won 13 world championships. Many of
her successor students also earned world championship titles. The badminton
club she coached in California ranked number 1 Nation-wide in 1993-1994.
Wei is an Instructional Assistant here at Pimmit Hills for the Special
Education department. She uses her years of student coaching to create
a special bond with our special needs students. She has been a part of
our staff since 2006. |
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