Free Union Country School Faculty and Staff, 2012-2013
ElizaBeth McCay
Head of School
ElizaBeth joyfully joins Free Union Country School this year with a lifelong passion for children, learning, and schools. She graduated from Wheelock College in Boston with a Bachelor’s degree in special education and early childhood education, and earned her Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in educational leadership from the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education. ElizaBeth has been a teacher, principal, and professor in settings ranging from preschool to graduate. She most recently served for eight years as principal of Jackson-Via Elementary School in Charlottesville. She believes in actively partnering with staff, parents, and the community to support and inspire the school’s mission. ElizaBeth believes that when we expect great things of all children and put in place a dynamic, comprehensive educational program that supports the whole child--as unique individuals and as members of a diverse yet intertwined community--children will experience learning as a deeply natural and cherished aspect of life. She is thrilled to have found her new home at Free Union Country School. In her other home, ElizaBeth and her husband are raising three teenagers and learning together about life’s ever-changing opportunities. She tries to keep a guitar and a yoga mat nearby, just in case there’s a spare moment to put either to use.
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 7th year at Free Union where she has served as first grade teacher and assistant head of school. 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 operation 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.
Jolee Nail Horn
Director of Communications, Alumni Relations, & Events
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.
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 as the school's business manager. Martha lives in Free Union with her husband, two cats, and a rabbit. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.
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, son Zhivan, daughter Vivienne, and lots and lots of records.
Jamie Babcock
After School Enrichment Teacher
Jamie comes to us from Ivy Creek School in Charlottesville where she served as an enrichment instructor, teaching art for adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. She is particularly proud of the collaboration her students demonstrated as they created a tree sculpture from recycled materials, and in the process developed social skills, grew in self confidence, learned the value of sustainability, and came to see the beauty in everyday objects. Inspired by the outdoor setting at Free Union, Jamie plans to incorporate group collaboration activities that will encourage student's to make new discoveries about themselves as individuals and as a group. Jamie earned a Master of Arts degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University in New York. She looks forward to providing vibrant and nurturing after school opportunities for students to have fun, to create, and to learn about the world around them.
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 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.
Alice Johnson Kelly
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 children's laughter. Her own two children are both students at Free Union.
George Mackaronis
First Grade Assistant Teacher
George graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. There, he pursued an interest in history and philosophy and spent his junior year in New Zealand. Influenced by a love of camping as a child, George is at home in nature and the outdoors, and worked most recently as a golf caddy and a rock climbing instructor. He devotes his spare time to climbing, hiking, cycling, camping, and trail running. Having recently moved from the Washington, DC area to Ivy, this is George's first year at Free Union Country School.
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 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. During her second year with us, Debbie Jo looks forward to providing an important experience for our students along their way to a mastery of the language and an appreciation of other cultures.
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 recently completed 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.
Kent Raine
Music and Drama Teacher
This is Kent’s 15th 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).
Karyl Reynolds
Librarian
Karyl has worked as a teacher and librarian in Virginia schools from 1972 to 2007, and most recently as the school librarian at Jackson-Via Elementary with ElizaBeth McCay. Karyl has always enjoyed sharing her love of books and reading with students. After five years of retirement, during which she substitute taught, Karyl felt a desire to work with students again in her area of expertise. When the opportunity presented itself to become the Free Union librarian, she jumped at it. Karyl lives in Albemarle County with her husband Bill and her golden retriever Bailey. She and her husband love to travel and spend time with friends. Karyl especially enjoys reading books, walking with her dog, and taking photographs during her travels.
Melissa Ronayne
Second and Third Grade Assistant Teacher
Melissa received a BA in International Relations and French from UVa and an MEd (pre K-8) from Marymount University. Bringing a love of integrated curriculum and experiential learning to the classroom, she taught language arts and social studies to 5th and 6th graders until the birth of her first child. After working as the Communications Coordinator at Building Goodness Foundation, Melissa is returning to her first love: working with young children. All three Ronayne sons attended Free Union and have very fond memories of morning meetings, pizza days, lit logs, and Spring Fairs. In her spare time, Melissa loves dancing, reading, tennis and hiking.
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 completing a Master of Arts degree in instructional systems development at the University of Maryland. Before coming to Free Union, 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. We join together in congratulating her and Kyle on the birth of their baby girl!
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!
