Susan Hoffman, A.B. Smith College, Ed. M. Harvard, Ed. D. Johns Hopkins University, has more than four decades experience as an educator, a classroom teacher, a mathematics resource teacher, and as a tutor. She teaches math and participates in many school and farm activities. school@bellemeadeschool.org
Head of Farm
Michael J. Biniek, B.S. in biology, George Mason University, has both a theoretical and a practical interest in farming. He studies and practices ecological growing of food and animal husbandry. He created a heating system for the schoolhouse and the farmhouse using locally available wood. Mike is involved with the students as a teacher, as a mentor, and through going on trips with the school.
Teachers
Teresa Boardwine, B.S. Campbell University, NC, RH, is a master herbalist and shares her passion and wisdom through her Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine and Herbal Apothecary. Teresa taught in Germany for seven years and took her class to Paris every year, put on fashion shows and dinners, and sponsored the student union. She taught earth science in Munich and was the eighth grade class sponsor. Teresa is so pleased that she can combine both her love for teaching and the holistic approach to life that includes being close to the Earth, nature and our food source. Teresa is in her fourth year at Belle Meade and teaches civics, history, nutrition, and an elective each trimester. Teresa@bellemeadeschool.org
Kevin Gurubatham has a B.A. in History from Columbia Union College and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis. Before coming to Belle Meade, Kevin managed faculty development programs and the general education curricula for all Everest Colleges and Universities. In addition, he has taught various humanities courses in Takoma Park, Maryland. Kevin has a deep love of the liberal arts and truly believes in the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to education. When teaching, his primary goals are to inspire students to think critically, become more self aware, be passionate about learning, and to view the entire world as their classroom. Kevin@bellemeadeschool.org
Tanya Amrhein Paull has a B.S. in biology from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in biology from George Mason University. Tanya has taught a variety of subjects to students of all ages in formal and informal settings. She has taught classes at George Mason University; as the naturalist at Bull Run Mountains Conservancy; and to residents and staff as a Fairfax County employee. She brings her wide range of teaching experience to Belle Meade School’s natural science class as well as its horseback-riding program. Tanya is also managing the school’s vegetable garden and is a self-described “garden-aholic.” Tanya@bellemeadeschool.org
Remi Godlewski has a B.A. in Economics from Temple University and an M.S. in International Business from Florida Metropolitan University. He began teaching as a tutor and instructor in high school and college. He has a passion for teaching and a commitment to holistic student achievement. Remi studied diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College and spent a year at the University of Saarland, Germany. Since moving to Rappahannock County to practice sustainable living, Remi has continued to teach a variety of subjects including Spanish and Latin. He also teaches Tai Chi, kickboxing, and karate to the community.
Dontez Harris is a musician and a master teacher. He has taught music in public and private schools in Washington, DC and Rappahannock County for 19 years. He has an uncanny ability to relate to a wide range of students, stimulate their interest, and get them to perform well. He teaches music with gusto and joy. He received his formal education at Howard University and University of the District of Columbia. He performs with several groups in a variety of styles: jazz, bluegrass, world beat, gospel, reggae, and classical.
Davette Leonard has a BLS in Studio Arts from the University of Mary Washington, studied at the School of Visual Arts and the Corcoran School of Art, and is a member of the Washington Calligraphers Guild. She has taught at Hearthstone, Headwaters Workshops, Charlottesville Homeschool Enrichment classes, Rappahannock County Adult Education, and teaches as Artist in Residence at Rappahannock County Elementary School. Davette has had the pleasure of teaching figure drawing, painting, puppet making, claymation, botanical drawing, calligraphy, art history, mural painting and working on stage sets. Davette combines a passion for the Renaissance tradition of acute observation of nature and exacting draftsmanship with an enthusiasm for sharing these skills and methods with her students. Her work may be seen at davetteleonard.com, the Caulfield Gallery Web site, and the McGuffey Art Center.
School Board Members
Katherine M. Christie
President of Global Communicators, Washington, DC, and a former journalist and long-time public relations professional, Katherine Christie has had an extensive career in fields ranging from politics and private industry to federal government service. As senior press officer at the National Endowment for the Arts, Ms. Christie was responsible for publicizing programs and projects to make the best of the American arts available to the widest audience. As a Washington-based news reporter and columnist, Ms. Christie covered the White House, Congress and government agencies. A co-founder of Global Communicators, Ms. Christie was a Vice President of Edelman Worldwide. She has a B.A. degree, majoring in history, with minors in German and English.
Dave Gerrish
Dave Gerrish is a financial planner. Active in his community, Mr. Gerrish is the former Chairman of the Fauquier Hospital Board of Trustees, on which he served for over ten years. He helped establish the Fauquier County Veterans Memorial Committee. He is a former Scoutmaster and is still active in the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Gerrish completed over 20 years of service as a military pilot, first in the U.S. Air Force and later in the Virginia Air National Guard. Mr. Gerrish earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and his MBA from Southern Illinois University. He lives in the historic district of Old Town Warrenton with his wife, Virginia. They have three sons, with David still at home and attending Belle Meade School. Their oldest son, Christopher, lives in Orlando, and middle son, Tony, has served in the USMC.
Barry Johnston
Barry Johnston grew up in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains. He is a graduate of Queens University Belfast and Manchester University in economics and econometrics. He worked in London for the Bank of England and the British Treasury and in Switzerland for the Bank for International Settlements, before joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC. During a 27 year career at the IMF he held various positions and assisted numerous countries on financial sector matters. He headed up the divisions responsible for countries’ exchange rates and exchange arrangements, and policy and research on the financial sector. After the September 11 attacks of 2001 he led the IMF’s contribution to the global response to counter terrorism. From 2006 he was responsible for the monitoring of countries’ financial systems. He has published books and numerous articles and taught courses dealing with the financial sector. In 2010 he retired from the IMF and moved to Rappahannock County where he lives on a farm that borders Belle Meade. He presently consults part time for the World Bank.
Clare Lindsay
Clare Lindsay recently retired from EPA where she worked for 20 years on resource conservation issues. Ms. Lindsay led EPA’s efforts to initiate the first-ever national dialogue on electronics product stewardship in the US. This initiative led to numerous states creating electronics take-back laws. She actively participated in development of many product stewardship initiatives for packaging, carpet, office furniture, and paint. Ms. Lindsay initiated a more coordinated EPA engagement in the development of sustainability standards for product design and performance. Ms. Lindsay was one of the primary authors of a road map for EPA leadership on sustainable materials management. Currently, Ms. Lindsay serves on the Boards of the National Center for Electronics Recycling and R2 Solutions (an organization that manages an international standard for electronics recycling practices). Ms. Lindsay also serves on the Steering Committee of a new organization that is being launched called the Sustainable Purchasing Council. Before going to EPA, Ms. Lindsay practiced environmental and energy law in the private sector. She has an undergraduate degree from Smith College and a J.D. with honors from George Washington University.
Cheri Woodard
Cheri Woodard’s career is notable for a lifelong dedication to community service and entrepreneurial success, along with exceptional creativity and a profound respect for people and nature. After moving to Rappahannock County in 1973, she founded Faith Mountain Company and became one of the county’s most successful business leaders. After selling the company in 2000, she and her husband, Martin, started their dream business, Long View Gallery in Sperryville. In 2002 she became a licensed Realtor and is currently working with Roy Wheeler Realty. She brings to Roy Wheeler a deep understanding of the land and people of Rappahannock County. Cheri is a past president of the Rappahannock County Library and former Co-Chairperson of the “Taste of Rappahannock,” the major fundraising event for Headwaters, the Rappahannock County Public Education Foundation. She is the past president and a board member of the Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the park, horseback riding and bicycling the beautiful back roads of Rappahannock County.