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Faculty & Staff

We believe boys thrive with excellent teachers with whom they believe they have strong relationships. Our students generally have the same few teachers for four years, and we get to know them well. We also believe we can best build character and genuine empathy in boys through a small community that knows your son. With a caring and dedicated faculty, the character lessons at our school tend to make profound and lasting impressions.

Dr. Charles Skipper

Dr. Charles Skipper is the former Head of School. He came 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

Leo Connally is the former Assistant Head of School. 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

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

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

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.

Marynn Dause

Marynn Dause teaches English for 7th and 8th grade. She graduated with her B.A. and M.A.Ed. from the College of William and Mary. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and serves as Past President of the Virginia Association of Teachers of English; prior to that she served five years on the advisory board for the Virginia Student Councils’ Association. She has taught middle and high school students at all levels in Virginia for ten years. She has also worked as a professional developer, tutor, and university supervisor. She currently studies as a doctoral student at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development and is over the moon about teaching at Field School. Marynn has a cat named Emily Dickinson and a rescued Basenji named Slipper. She is married to the wonderful Stephen Dause. Their son Xavier came home to stay in 2016. On the weekends, Marynn enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, knitting, and sipping espresso.

 

Amalia Gelpi

Amalia Gelpi teaches Spanish for 7th and 8th grade. She is a recent graduate from Swarthmore College (B.A. in Ethnomusicology) and William and Mary (M.A. Social Studies Education). Her academic interests include continental philosophy, Taoism, and jazz theories of harmony. She is a native Spanish speaker who loves sharing her culture with students through music, dance, and film. Outside the classroom, Amalia enjoys spending time outdoors, dancing ballet, and playing piano.

Pedro Jacuinde

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.

Peter Maeder

Peter Maeder teaches Latin for 5th and 6th grade. He was born and raised in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of Skidmore College where he received his B.A in Classics and Economics. In his free time, Peter is an avid reader, writer, and runner. He also enjoys taking long walks around the neighborhood with his cat, Otis Redding.

Tracy Kunkel

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

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.

Taylor Moore

Taylor Moore teaches 5th thru 8th grade Math. In his hometown of Kent County, MD, Taylor taught at the high school and middle school level and assisted with the technology coordination for the middle school. He received a B.A. in Economics from Washington College in 2016 and a M.S. in Recreation and Sports Science from Ohio University in 2019. Along with teaching, he previously coached both baseball and wrestling at the high school varsity level. In his free time, Taylor enjoys going home to Maryland to attend both Orioles and Ravens games.

Maureen Periello 

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.

Carrie Anne Pinson

Carrie Anne Pinson teaches Science for 5th and 6th grade. She is a graduate of Gannon University where she earned a B.S.Degree in Science, Education/Special Education K-12. In addition to earning a degree, she played collegiate level soccer for 4 years. She has almost 20 years of teaching experience, including high school and middle school English, Math, Science, AVID and Special Education. She is passionate about teaching children by fostering a growth mindset and developing their curiosity and creativity, especially in middle school boys. Most recently she served as an Instructional Coach for Albemarle County Public Schools. She and her husband, Eddie, have two children and the highest maintenance Golden Retriever, Harry. She enjoys coaching soccer, interior design, photography, chalk painting, reading, hiking, biking and all things outdoors.

Alice Riccabona

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

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.

Joe Smith

Joe Smith teaches History for 5th and 6th grade. Originally from Bedford County, Virginia, he received his B.A. in History and M.S.Ed from Old Dominion University in 2013 and 2017, respectively.  While in Hampton Roads, he worked in libraries, archives, and museums throughout the region.  Before coming to Field School, he taught government and history for 4 years at the middle and high school levels. He has also assisted with multiple research projects, co-authored multiple papers, and presented at both state and national conferences.  Joe is interested in almost everything outdoors including backpacking, archery, paddling, and travelling with his wife, Kristen, and their dog, Indy. 

Xavier Taylor

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

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.

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