English Department Faculty
Jennifer Beach
  • B.A. in English and Women’s Studies, University of Pennsylvania
  • M.A. in Teaching, English Concentration, Johns Hopkins University
  • Ph.D. in English Education, University of Maryland
  • Jennifer received National Board Certification in 2001.
  • Jennifer presented at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, and 2006, and at the Virginia Association of Teachers of English annual conference in 2003, 2004, and 2007.
  • Jennifer served as co-president and treasurer of the English Teachers Association of Northern Virginia.
  • Jennifer was a finalist for FCPS Teacher of the Year and The Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award in 2007, and won the Al and Winnie Hodgson Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys reading, traveling, scuba diving, hiking, volunteering at the Washington Humane Society, running, and playing with her two rescue dogs.
  • Jennifer served as Secondary Language Arts Curriculum Specialist for FCPS from 2003-2005.
  • Jennifer first joined the WSHS staff in 1996 and returned in 2005.
  • jabeach@fcps.edu
    • Martha Beall
  • B.A. in French, Centre College
  • M.A. in English, Georgetown University
  • She is a recipient of National Board Certification.
  • Recipient of The Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award
  • Recipient of three Presidential Citations, Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Richmond, for “having a positive influence on the educational development of gifted and talented students while fulfilling the usual duties of a teacher; for demonstrating a caring, empathetic attitude while assisting students to achieve their educational goals; for mentoring, advising and inspiring the youth of the Commonwealth of Virginia”
  • Participant in AP Summer Institutes (Lewes, Delaware and Fairfax County, Virginia), English Literature and Composition
  • Prior to joining the WSHS staff, Martha taught English and Journalism I-III in Prince William County, Virginia, where she also served as a resource teacher for the gifted education program.
  • Martha has served as an instructor and judge for the Virginia High School League and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and as a judge for Quill and Scroll. She has also worked as an adjunct faculty member of Marymount University in communications.
  • In her free time, Martha plays piano for the Irish Breakfast Band. Her twin daughters, Catherine and Emma, perform Irish dancing with the group. Martha also serves as the accompanist for the children's choir at her church and as the pianist for summer evening services.
  • Martha joined the staff in 2000.
  • mcbeall@fcps.edu
    • Stuart Carter
  • Stuart joined West Springfield in 2005.
  • sgcarter@fcps.edu
    • Madeleine Deliee
  • Recipient of Creative and Performing Arts scholarship, University of Maryland
  • B.A. in English and Theater (concentration in Dramatic Literature), George Mason University
  • Career Switcher (following more than ten years in professional theater), George Mason University
  • Madeleine sponsors the WSHS Forensics Team.
  • She joined the WSHS staff in 2006.
  • mdeliee@fcps.edu
    • Laura Goodman
  • B.A. in English, State University of New York at Buffalo
  • M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
  • Career Switcher Program, Old Dominion University
  • Laura is a trained mediator.
  • She gladly became a teacher after having spent a number of years in marketing communications and as a technical writer in the telecommunications and high-tech industries.
  • In 2006, Laura attended the Belfer Conference for Educators at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum.
  • She joined the staff of WSHS in 2005.
  • She co-sponsors the Book Lovers Club and the Jewish Culture Club at WSHS.
  • lngoodman1@fcps.edu
    • Jennifer Goransson
  • B.A. in English and Creative Writing, Dartmouth College
  • Pursuing an M.Ed. in Secondary Education at The George Washington University
  • Jenny is an avid distance runner, and she competed for Dartmouth College's Cross Country and Track teams for three years.
  • After completing a year's internship at WSHS, Jennifer joined the English staff in 2008.
  • jggoransson@fcps.edu
    • Marilyn Harriman
  • B.A. in English Literature, University of Oregon
  • B.A. in Journalism, University of Oregon
  • M.Ed. in Leadership and Curriculum Development, University of Virginia
  • Virginia Secondary Public School Administration Endorsement, University of Virginia
  • She is a graduate, Education for Ministry, School of Theology, (Sewanee) University of the South.
  • Marilyn won a Best of Texas award for an early childhood professions curriculum she wrote and directed. She researched and wrote high school and college courses through a federal grant program.
  • Marilyn is a published author of English department curriculum guides and education articles on numerous topics including classroom sociology.
  • Her previous teaching assignments include journalism at Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas; English and journalism at Clackamas High School, Milwaukie, Oregon; and English and journalism at Vilseck American Secondary School, Vilseck, Germany (DODEA).
  • During Marilyn’s free time she enjoys enjoys traveling, reading, watching live theatre, and listening to classical music.
  • Marilyn sponsors the National English Honor Society.
  • Marilyn joined the staff in 2004.
  • mlharriman@fcps.edu
    • Deena Johnson
  • Deena joined the WSHS staff in 2007.
  • dajohnson2@fcps.edu
    • Kerry Keith
  • krkeith@fcps.edu
    • Rachel Le
  • B.A. in English, University of Virginia
  • M.T., University of Virginia
  • Rachel received the Virginia Press Association Critical Writing Award.
  • Rachel is the advisor for Symposium.
  • Her hobbies include cooking, reading, listening to music, watching films, spending time outdoors, playing with her dog, and trying new things.
  • She joined the English Department in 2007.
  • rale@fcps.edu
    • Lianne Mason
  • B.S. in communication/education, James Madison University
  • Lianne is continuing her course work through GMU and UVA.
  • slmason2@fcps.edu
    • Brooke Nelson
  • Bachelor of Journalism, University of Missouri
  • M. A., University of Texas at Arlington
  • A professional journalist since college, Brooke has worked for publications around the country, including Cosmopolitan, The Dallas Morning News, and The Washington Post. She also worked as a Capitol Hill press secretary, and for a national trade association. She currently is a freelance writer and editor.
  • Brooke sponsors WSHS’ newspaper and yearbook, and teaches Journalism I and AP English Language and Composition.
  • She volunteers for the Madison High School Booster Club, and for three local swim teams.
  • Brooke’s husband, Mark, is also a PR professional who writes for Washington Golf Monthly. Brooke and Mark have two daughters: Chrissie, who is a freshman at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and Katie, a Madison sophomore.
  • Brooke began her teaching career at WSHS in 1994.
  • brnelson@fcps.edu
    • Katherine Norton
  • B.A. in English and Creative Writing, Virginia Tech
  • Pursuing an M.Ed. in Secondary Education at The George Washington University
  • Katie spends the summer on the pool deck, coaching swimming.
  • She is a proud member of the LARPING community, level VI Wizard status.
  • Katie joined the WSHS faculty in 2009 after interning here in 2008-2009.
  • kanorton@fcps.edu
    • Jamie O'Neill
  • Jamie graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with degree in English.
  • She was born and raised in Green Bay, WI (Go Packers!)
  • She is married and has twin sons.
  • In her spare time, she likes to read, cook, watch football, and hang out with family.
  • Jamie joined the staff in 2008.
  • jroneill@fcps.edu
    •
    Simon Schatmeyer
  • B.A. in English, James Madison University
  • He is extraordinarily lucky to be married to Kristin Schatmeyer. He has a son, Jakob Simon,and daughter, Morgan.
  • Simon currently teaches English 11 American Literature and AP Literature and Composition.
  • His interests include watching Dutch soccer on T.V. with the sound turned off, ill-advised strolls through darkened alleys, haberdashery, and biographical phrasery .
  • He has a vast collection of wooden nickels.
  • Simon joined the WSHS faculty in 2004.
  • spschatmeyer@fcps.edu
    • Leslie Simmons
  • B.A. in English, University of Virginia, 1991
  • M.A. in Journalism, University of Texas at Austin, 1994
  • Career Switcher Program, University of Virginia, 2002-2003
  • Leslie is endorsed in English, Journalism, and Marketing.
  • Leslie is a College Board Authorized Advanced Placement English Teacher and is listed in the 2006 and 2007 Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers publications.
  • She joined WSHS in January 2002 after having spent seven years as a marketing professional in the telecommunications and media industries.
  • Leslie currently teaches Pre-AP English.
  • In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.
  • lksimmons@fcps.edu
    • Jamie Sullivan
  • B.A. in English, University of Virginia, 2002
  • M.A.T., Wake Forest University, 2007
  • CPT, Transportation Corps, United States Army Reserves
  • Jamie joined the staff in 2008.
  • jlsullivan@fcps.edu
    •
    Holli Wolter
  • B.S. in Education, Central Michigan University
  • M. A. in Administration
  • Holli is originally from Detroit, Michigan.
  • She has also taught in Prince George's County Maryland.
  • Ms. Wolter is Lead Mentor for new faculty at WSHS
  • She became a member of WSHS staff in 1991.
  • hjwolter@fcps.edu
    • MaryLove Wynne
  • B.A. in Speech Communication, Mississippi State University
  • M.A. in English, University of West Florida
  • Mary Love is married to retired Navy Captain Larry Wynne and has two grown children.
  • As a military wife, Mary Love lived all over the US and taught school in six states before coming to WSHS in 2001.
  • She currently teaches English 10 Pre AP, Speech, and Debate.
  • She was named the Speech Coach of the Year for the Virginia Association of Speech, Debate, and Drama coaches for 2005.
  • She was Vice President of Speech for the Northern Virginia Forensic League for three years.
  • For three years she has led training seminars for Fairfax County Speech and Debate Coaches.
  • She served two years as the English 10 TLDG Team Leader; and two years as the English 10 Grade Level Leader.
  • She coached the WSHS Speech and Debate Teams for four years, winning a number of championships including the VHSL AAA State Championship in Forensics in 2006.
  • At West Springfield she has been a teacher mentor for two years and has been the cooperating teacher for two student teacher interns.
  • In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, going to the movies or theatre, and dancing.
  • mlwynne@fcps.edu
    • Susan Zernik
  • B.A. in Liberal Arts, University of Pennsylvania
  • M.Ed, in Psychology of Reading, Temple University
  • Ed.D. in Reading/Writing/Literacy, University of Pennsylvania
  • Susan joined the West Springfield staff in 2004.
  • sezernik@fcps.edu

    • WSHS Curator - wshscurator@fcps.edu

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