Free Union Country School Faculty and Staff, 2011-2012
Blair Amberly
Second and Third Grade Teacher
Having grown up in northern Virginia, Blair has called Charlottesville home since graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Economics. A life-changing stint as a summer camp counselor followed by a post-college position as a PE teacher led Blair to pursue a Masters in Elementary and Special Education from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He loved his first years as a classroom teacher, during which he taught 4th grade at Brownsville Elementary School in Crozet. Then the time was right to chase his long-time dream to open a record store, and he started Speakertree Records in downtown Lynchburg, VA. After two exciting years as a small business pioneer, Blair missed the classroom and the joy of working with young people. He sold the store and is now delighted to be teaching at Free Union. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife Maggie, his son Zhivan, and lots and lots of records.
John Fisher
Fourth and Fifth Grade Teacher
John was born and raised in Washington D.C. but spent a good bit of his life in Milton, Delaware and Capon Bridge, West Virginia. After graduating from Guilford College with a degree in geology, John went into the field of Outdoor Education and then into the classroom. In 2002, after teaching fourth and fifth grade math, language arts, social studies, and science at an independent school in Alexandria for nearly six years, he relocated to Albemarle County. After some pretty serious home renovations, John began teaching at Free Union in 2004 and has never looked back. He spends his free moments trying to slow the entropy of his surroundings, going on nice walks, and playing music. He lives in a great old house in Charlottesville with a dog, a cat, and his lovely wife.
Donna Frye
Preschool Assistant Teacher
Donna studied education for three years at East Carolina University, then worked at a respite care center for intellectually disabled children and adults and substituted at a day care center. While working as a nanny, she attended the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated with a degree in nutrition. She then found her way to Virginia, where she was employed for 10 years as a maternal child health nutritionist with the Public Health Department. After her son graduated from Free Union Country School, Donna’s passion for the school and for nurturing and educating children led her to her current position, which she has enjoyed since 2005. When not at school, Donna spends her time gardening, dancing, creating art, exploring nature, camping, hiking, and kayaking.
Maureen Hegarty
Art Teacher
Mo, or "Ms. Mo" as the students affectionately call her, graduated with a B.F.A. and a minor in English and Physical Education from Radford University. She has taught art at Free Union Country School for seventeen years "because the school allows children to discover the world in an environment that uplifts them as people and provides the structure they need for further learning and growth." Mo has been heard to say that like art, "Life is all about perspective." A vast majority of the art you see on the Free Union web site was inspired by Mo's active engagement with our students.
Jolee Nail Horn
Admissions and Communications Coordinator
Jolee came to Free Union Country School in 1992 when her daughter was enrolled in kindergarten. With a degree in English and museum education employment experience at the Smithsonian and Monticello, she found at Free Union the perfect combination of endearing children and paperwork to organize. Her contributions to the School include coordinating admissions inquiries, organizing special events and school programs, and creating the school newsletter. She also has a rather large, full band aid box for injuries, both real and almost real. Jolee and her husband have two daughters, Emily and Callie, who are alums of Free Union. Her hobbies include knitting, reading books for grown-ups and children, collecting fabric (making something with it too!), and finding interesting art projects for students and teachers. She would like to bring back the art of letter writing with smooth paper and good pens.
McKenzie Inigo
Assistant Head of School
McKenzie earned her BA in Religious Studies at The University of Virginia and completed coursework in the Masters in Teaching Program at Mary Baldwin College. She was an Assistant Teacher for two years at Venable Elementary School, as well as a 6th grade teacher at Walker Upper Elementary School, and a Site Facilitator for the Walker after-school program. McKenzie grew up in Charlottesville and attended the city schools. Before college, she was a counselor at Rockbrook Camp for Girls, having been a camper for six years. This is her 6th year at Free Union. She is transitioning into an administrative role after years of teaching in the first grade classroom. She loves the people, the freedom to create learning experiences based on what the children are interested in, the involvement the faculty have in the daily operations of the school, and working in a log cabin with a lot of windows. McKenzie is an avid runner, reader, and hiker, and enjoys adventures with her two boys (who both attended Free Union) and their dog Lilly.
Justine Jones
First Grade Assistant Teacher and K-1 Physical Education Teacher
Justine graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A. in Elementary Education, K-6 certification, and a concentration in math, science, and technology. Justine will help Joya in first grade (and also will serve as our K-1 physical education teacher). She holds the distinction of being a Free Union Country School alumni. Justine says, "Free Union gave me the foundation that carried me through public school, able to be a critical thinker with a self-confident passion for learning that is still with me. I’d like to pass that on to the next generation." Justine also enjoys teaching Pilates, and is a certified instructor.
Alice Johnson Kelly
Transition Kindergarten Teacher
Alice earned a B.S. from Bucknell University, and a Masters in Early Childhood/Elementary Education at New York University. She has taught in preschool through fifth grade classrooms in New York City and Baltimore and at Free Union. Alice feels very fortunate to work with children, helping to instill a love of learning—a job she truly enjoys doing every day. Alice also likes hiking, running, reading, yoga, gardening, listening to live music, and sound of childrens' laughter. Her own two children are both students at Free Union.
Martha Maclay
Office and Facilities Manager
Martha has been employed at Free Union Country School since 1990. Her relationship with the School began as a parent in 1986. A few years later she began working as an assistant teacher in the Kindergarten/First Grade class and taught math at various levels until 1986. Since then she has worked in the Administration. Martha lives in Free Union with her husband, several cats and a dog. She has three grown children and a granddaughter.
Debbie Jo McGowan
Spanish Teacher
Debbie Jo graduated with a B.A. from Virginia Tech, and an M.A. from Mary Baldwin College. She has taught Spanish in Albemarle County for a number of years and has developed curriculum that the school believes is an excellent fit with Free Union, as she integrates language, culture, and technology in her teaching. Greer Elementary, Broadus Wood Elementary, and Walker Upper Elementary are among the schools where Debbie Jo has taught. Debbie Jo looks forward to sees herself providing an important experience for our students along their way to a mastery of the language and an appreciation of other cultures. We are delighted to welcome her to Free Union this year.
Tom McIntosh
Physical Education Teacher
Tom’s three sons are all Free Union alumni. A retired floor trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, he has been the Physical Education teacher for grades two through five since 1988. Tom is currently serving his second term on the Free Union Country School Board of Trustees. When he’s not running kids around the playing field, he volunteers for the Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Men’s Rowing Team.
Joya McMurray
First Grade Teacher
Joya graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Studio Art. She pursued postgraduate preparation in teaching at Western Governor's University and currently is completing a Masters of Education (MEd.) degree in Environment-based Learning at Mary Baldwin College. Joya is a friendly and familiar face at Free Union as she served as a substitute teacher for two years and as an assistant teacher in first grade for two more years.
Carolyn Merrick
Health Teacher
An avid believer that teaching young people healthy life skills is the best way to promote greater well being and self esteem, Carolyn has designed and taught health curricula to young people in several private schools (K-High Schoolers) in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the past six years. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Millersville University, an M.A. in Psychology from UVA, and is a licensed substance abuse counselor in Virginia. Carolyn is currently pursuing a D.Min. from Wisdom University. Mom to three Free Union graduates, Carolyn loves to dabble in watercolors, knitting, sewing, canning fruits and veggies, and gardening. She often sings around the house or at the Free Union Country School Spring Fair with her husband, Tolly. A confirmed land lubber, Carolyn recently learned to water ski, a feat that has secured her lifetime status as a "Cool Mom" in her family's eyes.
Howard Miller
Interim Head of School
Howard first came to Free Union as a substitute teacher. Because of his belief in progressive education and the spirit of joy in learning he found among students and faculty, he came out of retirement to accept a one-year position as Head. Previously, he taught at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, New Jersey, where he established an inquiry-based science program for grades one through four. Before that, Howard was the Executive Director of a non-profit youth and adult services organization in New Jersey. Howard earned an A.B. in biology at Lafayette College, an M.S. in zoology and animal behavior at The University of Rhode Island, and went on to receive a Doctorate in Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Howard is a believer in the power of good teaching that values individual student interests, personal pace, and readiness to learn.
Kent Raine
Music and Drama Teacher
This is Kent’s 14th year at Free Union. He has been an assistant in many grade levels and has taught Music and Drama for the last 10 years. Besides that he rounds out his duties with various building and grounds tasks including but not limited to shoveling too much mulch. He has a theatre degree from Roanoke College and is trained in Violin making and repair. After going to Haiti to teach and repair stringed instruments, he realized that teaching was what he loved and wanted to continue doing. Kent is certified in Music Mind Games, Kodaly, and Orff –Schulwerk. He has also been a working musician for 25 years and has worked extensively in technical theater. Kent, his wife and their two children live in North Garden with 2 dogs, a rabbit, 2 rats, 15 chickens and 30,000 bees (give or take a few hundred).
Liz Savage
Second and Third Grade Teacher
Liz holds a B.S. in Childhood Education from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in instructional systems development at the University of Maryland. Most recently Liz taught fourth grade at Lettie Marshal Dent Elementary in Maryland. She brings a depth of knowledge in differentiating instruction and recognizing the diverse strengths each student brings to class. Liz loves to backpack with her husband.
Katie Swinson
Transition Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and Librarian
Katie grew up in Charlottesville and always heard what a great school Free Union was. The assistant teaching job in second/third grade became available right after she graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Communications, and she jumped at the chance to find out for herself. "I have loved my time at Free Union in 2/3 and 4/5, and now in T/K, and can't imagine my life if I hadn’t come to this school. It is truly a job that makes me love getting up in the morning— a magical combination of great colleagues and fantastic kids."
Tom Trotter
Fourth and Fifth Grade Teacher
Tom received a B.S. in Economics from the College of William & Mary. Following a successful career as a writer and editor, Tom sent his eldest child to Free Union in 2001. Several years of volunteering in the classroom led him to discover his true calling as a teacher. He completed the Alternative Teacher Licensure Program at Lynchburg College in 2006 and has worked at Free Union ever since as a teacher, librarian, and technology guy. Tom lives down the block from school with his wife Amy and two children, Theo and Delilah.
Marjo van Dijck
Preschool Teacher
Marjo earned a B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary School education at the college Clara Fey in her hometown of Maastricht, The Netherlands, and a second degree in high school education with a major in art. She has worked in a variety of places, including a special education school, an itinerant trade school, and a regular elementary school in the Netherlands. Now she teaches preschool at Free Union. When not in school, she likes to fiddle, cook, garden, bike, and hike. And last but not least…practice Kung Fu!
