Faculty & Staff

Dr. Charles Skipper comes to Field School with over 24 years of experience as a Head of School, here in Central Virginia at Miller School, nationally (at Spartanburg Day School in SC and Episcopal School of Acadiana in LA) and internationally at some of the world’s most esteemed American Schools (American School San Salvador, in El Salvador, TASIS, in Lugano, Switzerland, and Robert College, in Istanbul, Turkey). Dr. Skipper began his career in education as a teacher (History and Government) and coach at Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, Virginia, moving on the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he served from 1984-1995 as teacher, coach, dorm head, and as Chair of the History Department and Dean of the Faculty. An honors graduate in History of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Skipper holds M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Moreover, Dr. Skipper has been the recipient of teaching awards and fellowships, has held adjunct teaching positions at teachers’ colleges both nationally and internationally, is a recognized authority on school accreditation processes, has launched a number of important national and international educational initiatives, and has published essays in professional journals on topics from the fields of leadership, educational administration, and philosophy.

Leo Connally is the Assistant Head of School  and teaches English. He has a B.A. and a M.T. from Virginia Commonwealth University, a M.A. in English from Middlebury, and an Ed.M in Private School Leadership from Columbia University.  Prior to coming to Field School, he taught for four years at St. Anne’s-Belfield. Among his past volunteer activities, Leo worked with the Boys and Girls Club’s Cycling Challenge where he recruited new riders. At Field School, he coaches soccer, and created our swimming and mountain biking programs, as well as our popular Blue-Silver House competition. He joined Field School in 2012.

Betsy Albro teaches Math.  She graduated from Virginia Tech. She has over 40 years of teaching experience at Field School, St. Anne’s-Belfield School and Ashley Hall. Community service has played an important role in her life in both her private life and her role as a teacher. She lives in Ivy with her husband Tom and her son Trevor.  She has taught at Field School since 2014.

Lianne Campbell is our strings teacher.  She studied with Estella Frankel, Sylvia Ahramjian, Barbara Westphal and Dr. Benson Headley, and has been teaching strings for over 27 years.  While in Delaware, she was part of the faculty of the Wilmington Music School for ten years along with having her own studio.  In addition to soloing with a number of orchestras, Ms. Campbell has extensive orchestral and chamber music experience and performs with the Virginia Consort, the Oratorio Society and other local orchestras.  Currently Principal Second Violin with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, she is also a certified Suzuki teacher with a violin studio in Crozet.

Patrick Critzer is the school Chef. Patrick enjoys cooking in a variety of styles using local and organic ingredients. Patrick brings a wide food background to the lunch program at Field School. Patrick and his wife Freedom enjoy traveling and eating in far off places.

Pedro Jacuinde is starting his first year at Field School. Pedro teaches History and Spanish. He received his B.A. in Social Studies and minor in Educational Studies from Ferrum College. His experience in education involves 100 hours of internship work in grades sixth through eighth. His hobbies involve running, hiking, and playing soccer.

Tracy Kunkel is the school Administrator. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a B.A. in Political Science. Her professional experience includes political campaigning, federal investigative work, hotel sales and marketing, fundraising and non-profit work. She has also spent a great deal of time doing volunteer work as she traveled the globe with her husband and family, most recently in Rota, Spain. She and her husband Mike have three children. She joined the school in 2011.

Adie Pettitt is the Business Manager. She has a B.A. in Art History and Classical Studies from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA. Adie has a background in Montessori education both in the classroom and as an administrator. Before coming to Field School in 2015, she was an administrator at University Montessori School where she served as Assistant Director for five years. She has lived in Charlottesville for twenty years now and has two children with her husband Damon.

Maureen Periello teaches Science and Latin. Maureen has a B.A. from U.Mass. and an M.Ed. from Lesley College. She taught at the all-boys Delbarton School, and has coached soccer, swim, and baseball teams. Since 2006, she has been the owner and director of the Albemarle Girls Field Hockey and Lacrosse League. She and her husband Bo have four children and they live in Charlottesville.  Maureen joined the Field School faculty in 2015.

Alice Riccabona teaches Algebra.  She has been teaching mathematics at Field School since 2019.  Her official teaching career includes five prior years of experience in Virginia and Stafford and Albemarle counties, teaching middle school math and science.  She has also tutored and taught homeschool mathematics regularly over the last 20 years.  She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, concentrating in Science and Mathematics, and later received her MS in Management Information Systems from the University of Virginia.  In Alice’s free time, she volunteers with the Charlottesville Babe Ruth League as the Information Officer to assist with providing recreational baseball opportunities to all interested 13 to 16-year-olds in the Charlottesville community.  Her interests include watching sports, camping, gardening, and spending time with her husband, two sons (both Field School attendees), and furry children.

Darrell Rose is a percussionist, painter, and Charlottesville institution, Darrell Rose is renowned for teaching many thousands of children over a long career as an adjunct to a long list of public and private schools in Virginia. As a drummer, he is an Artist in Residence for the Virginia Commission for the Arts and performs in many rock, jazz, african, latin, and reggae configurations. He toured and recorded extensively with Corey Harris, The Wailers, Greg Howard, his own International Counselors, Matthew Willner, The Wonderband (with Houston Ross and Johnny Gilmore), the Dave Matthews Band and Jamal Millner. We are honored to have Darrell working as a drumming teacher.

Xavier Taylor is a local performer and singing teacher of everything from classical to rock. He is originally from Maryland and studied voice at New England Conservatory. Currently he works as the choir director at Field School, as well as at DMR.

Todd Barnett is the Founder and served as Head of School from 2007-2020.  He has 30 years of teaching experience at Landon School, Woodberry Forest School, Grand River Academy, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, and the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the longtime owner and director of Blue Ridge Field Camp in Ivy.  Todd and his wife Meredith Montague have four children and live in Charlottesville.