Faculty & Staff
Joanne Bookbinder
Kindergarten Teacher
Joanne Bookbinder earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studies of Women and Gender followed by a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia in December 2009. This will be Joanne’s first year teaching at CDS. Joanne is fluent in Spanish and has had experience teaching the language. The Curry School of Education has provided Joanne with a plethora of opportunities to teach in different elementary schools. She is passionate about the teaching profession and enjoys seeing children actively engaged in their learning. Joanne is excited to be teaching the Kindergarten class at CDS!
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Annelise Lucas
3rd/4th Grade Teacher
Annelise earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. She then earned teaching credentials and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision degree from Chapman University in California. She has taught at a variety of levels from preschool through high school and has been passionate about each grade. Throughout her teaching career, Annelise has assumed administrative responsibilities, including developing curriculum and classroom management strategies. Annelise's talents and hard work have been crucial to CDS's beginning. We are very excited to have Annelise in the classroom full-time again! Annelise is the proud mother of three children: Logan (13), Jorun (7), and Jake (5). Jorun and Jake are enrolled at CDS.
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Jan Breeden
Assistant Kindergarten Teacher/Elementary Extended Day Teacher
Jan has taught both preschool and elementary students. Prior to joining CDS, Jan worked as the Director of an afterschool enrichment program. She is loved by her students and is dedicated to fostering each child's self-esteem. Jan was a nurse prior to entering the world of education. Jan was born and raised in Charlottesville and is the mother to her teenage son who attends Emory and Henry College.
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Rita Stratton-Moore
2/3 Year Olds Class Teacher
Rita earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Social Work from the University of Georgia. As a social worker, Rita served a diverse range of children and families. Her primary focus was to enhance parent/child relationships and interactions. After having two children of her own, Rita became actively involved in their education. She has been teaching in the Cubs classroom since 2006, when CDS opened its doors. Rita enjoys the amazing learning process, creativity, and joyfulness of two year olds! She is a kind, patient and warm member of our faculty. Rita is the mother of two children, Will & Gracie. Gracie is a 4th grader at CDS.
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Townley Cole
3/4 Year Olds Class Teacher
After graduating from The College of William and Mary, Townley began her teaching career as a first grade teacher in Newport News Public Schools. When she and her late husband, Malcolm, moved to San Rafael, California, they founded Janus School, a private preschool through second grade, which they operated for eighteen years. Upon returning to Virginia, Townley was the founding director of The Salvation Army Child Care Center for Homeless Children in Charlottesville. She has also worked as a teacher in the Albemarle County Afterschool Program and as director of Trinity Episcopal Child Care Center. For the past seven years, Townley has worked as a preschool teacher. Townley brings with her a wealth of experience and a passion for early childhood education. Her proudest accomplishment is being a parent to her amazing children, Mira, Andrew, and AJ and spending time with her granddaughter Aiyana and new grandson Nathaniel.
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Katie Hickson
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Katie Hickson graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education from the Curry School in May of 2010. This will be Katie's second year at CDS and she couldn't be happier to be teaching and playing with the Grizzlies every day. Katie delights in sharing her enthusiasm for bugs and nature, all things art, and general love of learning with every student at CDS.
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Meryl Kahn
Preschool Assistant
Meryl returns to Charlottesville Day School for her third year as a preschool teaching assistant. A native of Charlottesville, Meryl has worked with preschool children in a variety of settings. She received her Associate degree in Early Childhood Development from Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA. While pursing her degree, she interned at St. Paul's Children Center in Stockbridge, MA. An avid sports fan, Meryl follows UVA sports and the Yankees. Meryl is very excited about the new school year and working with Katie and Michelle.
Tamara Murray
Art Specialist
Tamara earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). In addition to teaching, Tamara has been a practicing fine artist for over 20 years. She shows her work locally as a painter and is a member of the Bozart Gallery, the Charlottesville Virginia Watercolor Guild and various other art associations. This will be Tamara's fifth year teaching at CDS. She brings an abundant knowledge of the various fine art disciplines. With a great appreciation for each child's unique qualities, Tamara works passionately to enhance each student's ability to explore art-making independently.
Angela Kelly
Music Specialist
Angela is an accomplished educator with more than 16 years experience teaching young people not only how to play music, but how to love it. She holds a degree in Music Education from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music. Angela has a busy performing career as a professional flutist. She currently serves as the Acting Principal Flute for the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra. She also plays Principal Flute with the Virginia Consort and the Oratorio Society of Virginia. She is the director of several flute choirs in the local community. She strongly believes in the power of music to impact young lives. Angela returns for her sixth year as our Music Specialist at CDS. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Angela offers individual flute lessons at CDS.
Johanna Beaver
Music Specialist
Johanna Beaver began teaching in 1993 while pursuing her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance. Since then she has served on the faculties of the University of Virginia, Interlochen Arts Camp, Opus 118 Violin Program in New York, and the Stony Brook Pre-college. Johanna performs regularly in the Roanoke and Richmond Symphonies, The Oratorio Society of Virginia, Charlottesville Chamber Orchestra, and as a member of the Afton String Quartet. Currently, Johanna is faculty member at the University of Mary Washington and teaches private lessons from her studio at home in Charlottesville. Johanna holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where her mentors were Katherine Murdock, Mitchell Stern, and the Emerson String Quartet. She is looking forward to her new position teaching violin and viola at Charlottesville Day School.
Coro Cope
First/Second Grade Teacher
This will be Coro's second year teaching at CDS. Coro grew up in Charlottesville and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Teaching degree in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia. Prior to graduating in 2010, while studying at the Curry School of Education, she served as the student representative to the Curry Foundation Board, working to bridge the gap between students and the Board. Being from Charlottesville, she has a strong connection to and an abiding love for this community. Coro is thrilled with the opportunity to work as a teacher and give back to such a wonderful place. Her time in Charlottesville has allowed her to work in a variety of elementary school classrooms throughout the city prior to joining CDS. Coro's own passion and enthusiasm for learning is her greatest strength in the classroom, and she is excited to share these with her students!
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Karin Reed
Middle School Teacher
Karin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College and a Master of Education degree from Trinity College. This is Karin's fifth year at CDS. Karin came to us with 11 years of experience in a variety of public elementary school classrooms. In 2006, Karin received the Golden Apple Award that honors outstanding teachers in the Charlottesville and Albemarle communities. Karin has a gift for reaching children and is passionate about her profession. Karin has taught almost every grade level and is excited to be the lead teacher in the Middle School at CDS! Karin has two daughters, Ella and Izzy, who both attend CDS.
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Trecia Gunnoe
Assistant 1st/2nd Grade Teacher
Trecia returns for her fourth year at Charlottesville Day School. She earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and English followed by a Master of Arts degree in English as a Second Language from West Virginia University. She was an ESL instructor and a pre-school assistant in North Carolina before moving to Charlottesville. Last year, Trecia was the lead teacher in the Polar Bear classroom. She is excited to be teaching enrichment and assisting in the elementary school. Trecia and her husband have one daughter, Leah, who attends CDS.
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Jamie Kuykendall
2/3 Year Olds Class Assistant Teacher
Jamie joined CDS in 2007 and returns this year as a preschool assistant teacher by day and office assistant by night. She holds an Associate degree in Education and an Early Childhood Teaching certificate. Jamie is well-loved by children of all ages and enjoys teaching elementary enrichment classes in addition to teaching in the preschool program. Jamie is excited to return for a fifth year at CDS. Rita and Jamie make a dynamic, loving team for our Cubbie Bears!
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Mary Markle
3/4 Year Olds Class Assistant Teacher
Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi in 2009. In the subsequent 2 years, Mary served as an Assistant Director of Education and tutor at a Learning Center in Mississippi. This opportunity provided Mary with a wide array of wonderful experiences in education and working with children. This will be Mary's first year at CDS, and she is thrilled to join the CDS family!
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Michelle Lockwood
Science Specialist/PreKindergarten Teacher
Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UNC-Wilmington and teaching credentials from Colorado University at Boulder. Before teaching professionally, Michelle worked as a field biologist, naturalist, and an environmental educator with several non-profit organizations. When she is not sharing her enthusiasm for science with her students, she enjoys the outdoors with her husband and their three children, who all attend CDS.
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Mira Cole
Substitute Teacher
Mira Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (with an emphasis on children) and a Master of Teaching degree from the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education in 2006. She has returned to the Curry School to pursue her PhD. Mira was raised by a family of educators and has taught in preschool and elementary school classrooms. This will be Mira's sixth year at CDS. She is a loving teacher who believes whole heartedly in differentiated instruction. She is a natural with children and brings out their best. Mira's daughter, Aiyana, will be in fourth grade at CDS this year. Mira just had her second child Nathanial on July 30, 2011.
Amy Buddington
Spanish Specialist
"Señora B" is back for a fifth exciting year of Español at CDS! Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Virginia and earned her teaching licensure from Mary Baldwin College. She worked in the Albemarle County schools as a Spanish Teacher before taking time off to be home with her children. Amy has two daughters in the CDS Elementary program. Her Spanish curriculum includes age-appropriate songs, games, stories, poetry, culture, and art. Children learn Spanish the fun way!
Margaret Newcomb
Music Specialist
Margaret is well known to the Charlottesville community as a result of her 20 year tenure as principal flute with the University of Virginia Orchestra. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education and a Master of Arts degree in Performance. She is founder of the Shenandoah Recorder Society which offers educational programs for Charlottesville area schools and co-founder of the Blue Ridge Chamber Music Camp, celebrating its 5th year, with Angela Kelly. She maintains a private studio for beginning piano students, as well as flute and recorder students of all ages. In October 2007, Ms. Newcomb joined CDS where she continues her life-long commitment to educating the whole child through the arts.
Stacey Bruns
Head of School
Stacey has always had a clear vision and talent for educating young children. Her prior mentors have recognized this quality by, among other honors, naming her the outstanding student in the University of Virginia's Master of Teaching program, naming her the first-year teacher-of-the-year for the Hanover County school system, placing her in leadership positions early in her career, and promoting her to Assistant Head of School at a successful private preschool and elementary school in California. Before proposing and founding Charlottesville Day School, Stacey was the leader of a preschool in Arlington, Virginia. Stacey is the proud mother of two CDS students, Jack (10) and Jane (7).
Dave Bruns
Executive Director
Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the College of William & Mary. He practiced law for leading law firms in San Francisco and Virginia. Dave was recently recognized by Richmond Magazine as one of Virginia's best young lawyers. He and his wife lead the effort to form the vision, philosophy and mission of the school. Dave is the proud father of CDS students, Jack (10) and Jane (7).
Kimberly Kotarski
Administrative Coordinator
Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia. She brings great organizational skills to our office and keeps us running smoothly. Kim is dedicated to supporting the efforts of the faculty as well as working with the parents and children of CDS. In addition, Kim is a licensed aesthetician, a notary and mother to her 2 year old daughter Camryn who joins the Cubs class this year.
Board of Trustees
Candace Grierson
Chair
Candace is a founding CDS Board member. Both of Candace's children attend CDS. Candace is very active in the Charlottesville community, works in Event planning and leads the CDS Development team.
Read Candace's "Case for CDS">
Brian Johnson
Trustee
Brian owns his own law firm which specializes in business transactions involving entrepreneurs and private companies in Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. Prior to his career in the law, Brian worked for six years as a commercial banker.
Carole Lear
Trustee
Carol is a retired Kindergarten teacher with over 30 years in the classroom. She has been part of CDS from the very start and continues to be involved in the classroom and at the Board level.
Carol Tomlinson
Honorary Trustee
Dr. Tomlinson is a professor at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education where she serves as Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy. She is also a pioneer and expert in the field of differentiating instruction, a core principle in the CDS curriculum.
William Wolfe
Trustee
Bill is a Financial Advisor, CFP with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. He has served as Treasurer and Vice Chair of the Emory & Henry College Board of Trustees. Bill's son is enrolled in the pre-school program at CDS.
Duke Fox
Treasurer
Duke is a native Washingtonian, graduating from UVA in 2004 with a major in history. Duke spent 10 years working as an Institutional Equity Salesmen for FBR Capital Markets in Boston and in Washington. Duke and his wife Alice returned to Charlottesville in 2009, and is currently working as the Vice President of Business Development for Red Light Management. Alice and Duke have two sons, Brooks and James. Brooks is currently enrolled at CDS and James will be soon.
Renee Fischer
Past-Chair
Renée is a physician of internal medicine and partner at Internal Medicine, Ltd in Charlottesville. She has been practicing medicine for fourteen years. She is a graduate of Boston College and SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. Renee's three children attend CDS.
Read Renee's "Case for CDS">
John Kelly
Trustee
John owns and operates his own Public Relations and Communications business in Charlottesville. John is a published author and an accomplished singer songwriter. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond.
Read John's "Case for CDS">
Karen Taylor
Trustee
Karen has spent the majority of her adult life working with, or for children's causes. She taught kindergarten in Arlington and Chesterfield Counties, Head Start in Charlottesville, and later became Education Coordinator for that program. She has worked for the University of Virginia Health System Child Care Center, for 15 years, as Assistant Director, and then Director. She has been involved in several child advocacy groups, to include the Central Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children, the local affiliate of NAEYC, and VAECE. Having heard about the work Stacey was doing in developing CDS, Karen became involved in several ways, both during the organizational phase, and working with the children in a number of capacities after the opening. Karen strongly believes in the school, and the philosophy from which it has grown.
Read Karen's "Case for CDS">
Peter Wiley
Secretary
Peter is a native of Central Virginia. He joined Frank Hardy Realty in 2005 and has been very active in the brokerage of farms, estates and historic properties in the Charlottesville area. Prior to becoming a realtor, Peter served as a Congressional staffer for a member of Congress and more recently as a lobbyist for the Venture Capital and Biotechnology industries in Boston and Washington DC. Peter's daughter attends CDS.
