Staff
Administration
Rod Stanton | Head of School
Rod joined The School in Rose Valley community in 2015 as Head of School. Prior to SRV, Rod worked at The Crefeld School, a small progressive school in Philadelphia, where he taught history for many years and was the Summer School Dean, before becoming Assistant Head of School. Rod holds a B.S. in Education from Saint Joseph’s University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University. He lives in Malvern with his wife, Lauren, and his two children, Lily and Bennett. Rod enjoys spending time with family, reading, collecting things, playing sports, and learning new songs on his guitar.
Nava Hall | Director of Business & Finance
nava@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Nava (she/her) has a Bachelor of Science in Policy Management and History from Carnegie Mellon University and degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University. Nava joined SRV in 2007.
Liia Richmond | Director of Auxiliary Programs
lrichmond@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Liia has been a dedicated member of the SRV community for 27 years, contributing in various roles. As an SRV alumna, former camp counselor, preschool teacher, current SRV parent and Director of Auxiliary Programs since 2021, she brings a wealth of experience to the team. Liia excels in project execution, marketing, and organizational development, and she is thrilled to be able to leverage her expertise for the benefit of the SRV community. SRV’s school and summer camp programs have been pivotal in her life, and she spearhead the next generation of camp and auxiliary programs for SRV. Liia holds a degree in gender studies from Scripps College and is passionate about childhood development and progressive education.
Dan Tracey | Facilities Manager
Dan brings many years of experience and a diverse range of skills to SRV as he manages all of our buildings and grounds. He is a graduate of Coatesville Area Vocational Technical School. Dan grew up on a farm, built his own house, and owned his own home improvement business before joining SRV. Dan is a skilled carpenter, plumber, electrician, roofer and landscaper.
When not tinkering around the house or school, Dan enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren. He is also very involved in the community where he volunteers with a number of different organizations. When he gets the chance to relax, Dan enjoys watching football and baseball.
Anne Lord | Administrative Assistant
Rory Mannion | Director of Enrollment Management
rorym@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Rory (she/her) has a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Education from the University of Rhode Island and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph’s University. She has worked in education in both teaching and administrative capacities for over 10 years. Rory joined SRV in 2019 and enjoys meeting new families and having the opportunity to share the magic of SRV everyday. When not at school, Rory likes to read, discover new restaurants, and be outdoors.
Carrie Miluski | Director of Community Engagement
carrie@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Carrie (she/her) is an alumna of SRV, and a current parent of two students. Carrie’s 20 year non-profit career has focused on supportive services for children and families. She has degrees from Bates College and the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Carrie loves connecting with SRV families, alumni, and others who have a shared passion for this one of a kind community.
Sunday Small | Director of Progressive Education
sunday@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Sunday (she/her) has loved The School in Rose Valley for almost her whole life, beginning when she was an SRV student as a child and continuing through when she joined the teaching staff and her sons became students and graduates. She is honored to take on an administrative role that allows her to support the entire faculty and program.
Sunday holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from Widener University, an M.Ed. in Education from Cabrini College, and PA teaching certification in Elementary Education. She has worked for decades with students in a variety of educational settings, from preschool through 6th grade.
Samantha Rubenstein | Manager of Auxiliary Programs
samantha@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Samantha holds a B.S. in Early Grades Preparation: Birth through 4th grade from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Samantha joined SRV in 2021. Samantha is grateful to have found a school where she can put children first, explore their natural curiosities, and do so in a nature-based environment. In her free time, Samantha enjoys traveling the country for live music, fitness/wellness practices, and is constantly looking for new ways to learn and grow!
Group Teachers
Ryan Loomis | Preschool Teacher & Preschool Program Leader
ryan@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Ryan (he/him) started working at SRV in 2020 and is thrilled to be part of the team of such talented educators. After ten years of working in Early Childhood Education in Seattle, WA he has returned to his home state of Pennsylvania to put down roots with his wife Abigail and welcomed the birth of his first child Abraham. He has a B.A.S in Early Childhood Education and a B.S. in Earth Science and blends evidence based practices with nurturing caregiving. He applies a variety of educational philosophies to his teaching techniques such as Reggio Emilia, RIE and emergent curriculum. When not elated in the classroom he enjoys bike rides, canoe trips, and traveling.
Melanie Clark-Graham | Preschool Teacher
mclark@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Melanie holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education and an M.Ed. in Educational Foundations. She focused on incorporating more play into early childhood education classrooms in graduate school. Melanie spent eight years teaching kindergarten and special education in Hawaii. Upon leaving Hawaii, she moved to Thailand, where she spent the last five years teaching preschool in Reggio Emilia-inspired and emergent play-based international schools. Melanie has a multi-generational history with SRV and a deep love of progressive education.
Maureen McHugh | Preschool Teacher
maureen@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Maureen has been teaching at SRV for more than 2 decades. Before becoming a lead teacher here, she worked in a variety of early childhood settings serving diverse populations where she developed her passion for progressive education. As she acquired, practiced, and refined her progressive practices her experiences affirmed her convictions regarding the validity of the importance that children be heard, respected and given hands on opportunity to explore and develop their own understandings of their world (with appropriate and nurturing guidance, of course). Maureen received her BS from Cabrini University.
Erin Thack | Preschool Teacher
erin@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Erin (she/her) has a B.S. in Education from Temple University and a M.Ed in Education from Saint Joseph’s University. She holds a preschool through 8th grade certification in Pennsylvania as well as her certification in reading. Erin has worked in the Rose Tree Media School District as well as the Chester Upland School District before coming to SRV. This is her eighteenth year at Rose Valley.
Erin has two children, both of whom are SRV alumni and currently attend Syracuse University. In her spare time, Erin likes to take tap dancing class, go to flea markets, and spend time with her family and friends. She is passionate about protecting childhood and giving children the time and space to explore and understand their worlds.
Rebecca Zimmerman | Preschool Teacher
rebecca@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Rebecca (she/her) fell in love with working with children while studying early childhood education at Temple University. Her teaching experiences include being a children’s educator at the Wagner Free Institute of Science and an early childhood science teacher at Friends’ Central School. Rebecca is elated to be joining the preschool circle team at SRV. In the classroom, Rebecca intertwines her personal passions of nature, harmony, and creativity with a teaching pedagogy rooted in exploration, responsiveness, and playfulness. She lives in Media and enjoys going to the farmers market, cooking, and swimming with her Golden Retriever, Hudson.
Jarrod Green | Kindergarten Teacher
jarrod@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Jarrod is delighted to be joining the SRV community in 2024, as both a teacher and a parent!
Jarrod has been an early childhood educator for more than two decades, with roles including preschool teacher, parent coach, teacher trainer, administrator, college teacher of early childhood education, author, and more. Most recently he spent six years as the director of the Children’s Community School, a preschool in West Philadelphia that shares many values and practices with SRV. He’s published a number of articles in early childhood journals, and wrote the book I’m OK! Building Resilience through Physical Play (Redleaf Press). He holds a masters in early childhood education from San Francisco State University, as well as a bachelor’s in theater from Brown University.
Jarrod lives in West Philly with his kids Alix and Noah (who will be coming to SRV), his wife Amelia, and his very old dog Watson. When he’s not teaching (and, let’s be real, sometimes when he is teaching) Jarrod enjoys making music, baking and cooking, and telling dad jokes that mortify his children.
Kate McCabe | Primary Circle (1st and 2nd Grades) Teacher
kate@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Having graduated from Rutgers University New Brunswick with a B.A. in Art History and minor in Anthropology, Kate believed she was on the path to a career in arts administration. After ten plus years working in childcare she realized that nothing makes her happier than teaching and aiding children through their every day moments of learning and growth. Happily, Kate completed her Masters in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum at Drexel University in 2020 and is certified in early childhood education, kindergarten through fourth grade. In her free time Kate is most likely to be found spending time with her closest friends, exploring in nature, and practicing guitar.
O’Brien Carlson | Middle Circle (3rd & 4th Grades) Teacher & Elementary Program Leader
obrien@theschoolinrosevalley.org
O’Brien holds a B.A. in Psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and an M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. She is K-6 certified in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. O’Brien began her teaching career abroad, where she taught English as a second language to Kindergartners in Bangkok, Thailand. It was there that O’Brien realized she wanted to continue her career as an educator back in the U.S. Prior to joining SRV, O’Brien taught fourth grade at Germantown Friends School. There, she was also able to coach middle and upper school students in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. In her free time, O’Brien enjoys playing a variety of sports, completing DIY projects, spending time with family and traveling.
Bobby Pragada | Middle Circle Assistant
Danielle Mercurio | Oldest Group (5th & 6th Grades) Teacher
danielle@
Danielle (she/her) is delighted to be part of the teaching staff at The School in Rose Valley. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Child Development, and, while there, immersed herself in her classes and experiential teaching opportunities, including a student teaching position in Cambridge, England. Upon graduation, Danielle moved to Colorado, where she taught Preschool and Kindergarten, while taking graduate courses in special education at the University of Denver. Danielle also gained valuable experience working for an outdoor education nonprofit organization in Boulder, CO. In addition to furthering her exploration of education, Colorado provided a playground of opportunities for Danielle to challenge herself physically with skiing, rock climbing and yoga. Danielle relocated to Pennsylvania where she completed a Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Cabrini College while working in Watershed, a progressive program at Radnor Middle School. She then went on to teach Kindergarten, Third, and Fifth grades in the West Chester Area School District before returning to Radnor to teach in another of the Middle School’s progressive programs called Soundings. Throughout this time, Danielle maintained a passion for and dedicated yoga practice and went on to earn her 200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in 2010 at Dig Yoga in Lambertville, NJ and subsequently gained experience teaching yoga in studios in Philadelphia and Ardmore. Additionally, she established yoga clubs in the schools where she taught for both staff and students. Danielle is currently working towards her 500 Hour Yoga Teacher certification through Yoga Medicine. When Danielle is not happily inverted or back-bending on her yoga mat, she can be found outside rewilding her family’s yard, tending to her native plants or observing the wildlife they sustain, immersed in some creative endeavor, hiking, kayaking or reading.
Tiffany Merrick | Preschool Assistant
tiffany@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Tiffany joined SRV in 2020 as a classroom assistant and lead SRV summer camp counselor. Tiffany discovered SRV through her time nannying attending students and immediately noticed how wonderful the community was. Tiffany loves the outdoors and sharing in the joy of new discoveries with young children. Her favorite SRV activities include Creek Walks to Bamboo Island and Rock Beach, finding “sea glass”, and discovering fish eggs and other life in Ridley Creek. When not at school, Tiffany is at home with her son, making space to enjoy music and one another.
Jeannine Mackey | Preschool Assistant
jeannine@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Jeannine (she/her) initially started her career as a social worker after receiving her B.A. in Social Work at Penn State University. She fell in love with teaching young children and has developed this passion at Holy Trinity Nursery School and other local institutions.
As a mother of five adult children, Jeannine enjoys traveling and experiencing new things. When she’s not on the road, some of her favorite hobbies are baking, knitting, crocheting and volunteering for a good cause. In the winter you can find her with a craft project and watching a Hallmark movie.
Marissa Brophy | Preschool Assistant
marissa@
Marissa Brophy (she/her), an SRV Alumna, has been part of this incredible community since 2012! In 2022, she became an SRV parent when her daughter, Wavy, joined YG. Now, she’s thrilled to embrace a new role in the community as a Preschool Assistant Teacher, creating a positive and inclusive space. After graduating from Drexel University, Marissa and Wavy had a fantastic summer exploring the ocean, Bamboo Island, and camping! As Fall approaches, her heart is full of gratitude and excitement to connect with all of you!
Mari Ann Bartley | Preschool Assistant & Summer Camp Program Manager
mariann@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Mari Ann Bartley (affectionately known as Mrs. B) has been in education in many ways since 1976 when she founded Mari Ann Jackson’s School of Dance. She continued teaching, choreographing, and producing dance productions for the next 22 years. During those years she also enjoyed teaching kindergarten at the Kids’ Place and teaching organization skills at Strath Haven Middle School.
Mrs. B joined the SRV Summer Camp family as a specialist counselor and then assisted the Summer Camp Director. Tapping into the skills acquired at the Philadelphia School of Performing Arts and University of the Arts, Mrs. B directed the Julian Krinsky Performing Arts Camp for several years.
Mrs. B enjoyed 14 years working as a therapeutic clinician at Child Guidance Resource Center, Afternoons Teacher at SRV, and Director of Vacation Care and Mini Camps here at SRV.
Presently, Mrs. has joined the preschool team and is program manager for SRV Camp.
Mrs. B was honored in 1976 with the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts scholarship for dance. In February of 2019, she was awarded The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Commitment of Excellence in Education award by Governor Tom Wolf.
Abby Hevesy | Preschool Assistant
abby@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Abby has a degree in Art History from Towson University. Prior to joining the SRV team, she taught English to preschool through sixth grade students in Spain and worked in children’s education at a museum in Ireland. In her free time Abby likes making artwork, running, and hiking.
Silvio Navarro | Kindergarten Teacher
silvio@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Silvio has worked in a variety of roles since graduating from The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Education in 2012. He has taught as an Environmental Educator both in and out of Philadelphia Area schools, working with diverse age groups and communities. He has also worked as a third-grade classroom teacher at an Environmental-based Charter School in Philadelphia. Silvio started working at The School in Rose Valley in 2013 and has taught as a classroom teacher in the Middle Circle and Oldest Group classrooms, and has worked with Early Childhood/Early Elementary aged children regularly in school and during Summer Camp as the Nature Counselor. In every role Silvio brings his passion for sustainability, music and art into the mix, from songwriting to community activism. Silvio lives in Media, PA with his family and often rides his bicycle to work!
Tracy Duryea | Primary Circle (1st & 2nd Grades) Teacher
tracy@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Tracy holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Salisbury University and an M.S.Ed from Saint Joseph’s University. Prior to SRV, Tracy has taught Pre-Kindergarten at a Nursery School in Flourtown, First Grade in Baltimore, MD, and Kindergarten at a Charter School in Philadelphia. She enjoys incorporating music, movement, and art into the classroom whenever possible. Tracy is thrilled to continue to collaborate with the Primary Circle students and families to create a wonderful year! In addition to teaching at SRV, Tracy loves to run along the Schuylkill River, spend time with family and friends, cheer on Philly sports teams, and explore new restaurants.
Amanda Smith | Middle Circle (3rd & 4th Grades) Teacher
amanda@
Amanda (she/her) received a BS in Elementary Education from Millersville University and an MA in Curriculum and Teaching from The Teachers College at Columbia University. She has taught in a variety of schools including Trinity Church Preschool, The Calhoun School, and The Blue Oak School. In her personal time, Amanda enjoys baking, cooking, hiking, traveling, and time with her family.
Anna Pritchard | Oldest Group (5th & 6th Grades) Teacher
anna@theschoolinrosevalley.org
A native of West Philadelphia, I grew up chasing trolleys and challenging neighbors to skid mark-making contests with our Huffy bikes. Experiencing first hand the vast discrepancy in schooling available to local families sparked a passion for learning about education policy and eventually teaching. I attended Warren Wilson College, a small work college in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I was able to experience the value of learning with our hearts and hands as well as our heads. From there, I worked on trail crews, organic goat farms, and had many more adventures before obtaining my Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. I am now married to my wonderful husband, Cliff, and have two young sons, CJ and Khalil. CJ loves trucks and jumping off of things and Khalil mostly loves food and banging on things. I am an avid lover of the outdoors and am working my way back into marathon mode. I am also incredibly excited to begin developing our learning community as we work together to create a fantastic year for the Oldest Group students and families.
Specials Teachers
Mike Nowell | Woodshop Teacher
mike@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Mike (he/him) started teaching at SRV in 1982. The grandchild of a former SRV teacher, son of an alumnus and an alumnus himself, Mike had little hope of escaping the community he loves. Returning to the school as a volunteer while taking undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania, Mike worked hard to make himself indispensable. Positions in the Afternoons and Camp programs, substituting, and co-teaching gave Mike the opportunity to teach subjects that ensure his status as a very active learner and afford him some sense of job security. (Marrying the former schoolmate who would become Assistant Principal didn’t hurt either).
Mike has taught Shop and Sports at SRV for many years and moved from teaching Computer Science to installing and maintaining the school’s growing network when the campus computer count topped 60 in 2002. In his free time, Mike likes to keep abreast of current advances in science and technology, plumb the shallows of Western philosophy, play a variety of musical instruments poorly and spend time with his wife, Lauren and son, Luke, a third generation SRV Nowell.
Peter Delaplane | Music Teacher
peter@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Peter (he/him) is a seasoned performer and music educator. He has performed as an accompanist and soloist for The Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, The Wilmington Guitar Society, The Ambler Choral Society, The Anachrusis Women’s Choir, and The Aspen Music Festival. He earned his B.A. in English Literature from Kenyon College, and a Masters in music performance from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He served as a faculty member of Settlement Music School, and has taught music at Friends Select and Abington Friends Schools. He is the founder and musical director of The Rock Garden, a music program for aspiring musicians of all ages (www.rockgardenmusic.org). In addition to playing classical and fingerstyle guitar, Peter enjoys playing in his folk rock band Sweet 66, and recording and producing in his home studio.
Paul Rule | Science & Garden Teacher
paul@
Paul was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and has lived in Delaware County for most of his life. After graduating from Gettysburg College as a history teacher, Paul served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador. Charged with nutrition, sanitation, and community health, Paul began working on farms implementing agroforestry production methods. Paul returned to the U.S. and studied international sustainable agriculture and Latin America at Cornell University. Paul has taught in public school districts and abroad for over five years. When Paul is not thinking about curriculum innovations or working in the classroom, he enjoys working in community gardens and on farms. His passion is helping growers integrate trees into their farms so they can produce more using natural fertilization and pest control methods.
Nick Harrison | Wellness Teacher
nick@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Nick (he/him) is a passionate and dedicated educator with a mission to empower individuals to live their best lives through a balanced and holistic approach to health. His approach to teaching is inclusive and compassionate, as every individual’s journey is unique and should be tailored to their needs. Previously, Nick worked at Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, New Jersey, serving as a 3rd-grade Assistant/Health and Wellness Teacher for the past six years. He graduated from Lake Forest College in Illinois with a B.A. in Communications.
Courtney Seltzer | Art Teacher
courtneys@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Courtney (she/her) graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in Psychology and went on to get her Masters in Education from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, where she explored her passion for art, education, and special needs learners in a variety of settings. She taught for 4 years as the art teacher at Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School in West Chester before joining SRV in 2019.
Courtney lives in Newtown Square with her family in an old farmhouse that was built in 1722, which they are slowly restoring. In addition to teaching at SRV, Courtney is the owner and creator at Fox & Snail, a shop of handmade goods for children, and she sells her work on Etsy and at local art and craft fairs. She also paints the backdrop for the Rose Valley Folk Variety Show every year and teaches art classes at the Rose Valley Swim and Tennis Club. She loves drawing and painting most of all, but is always exploring new art media and creating murals, stuffed animals, clothing, and other projects with her children.
Jessica O'Brien | Spanish Teacher
jessica@theschoolinrosevalley.org
A proven leader as a marketing account manager for Sunoco for 11+ years, Jessica has placed her past corporate business acumen, and extraordinary relationship-building skills, towards building a career in teaching. As a yoga elementary teacher in the Red Clay district, she incorporated mindfulness in her teaching through a Yoga Alliance teacher certification from Little Flower in NYC.
Her degree from Saint Joseph’s University in International Relations and History, coupled with Spanish-speaking semesters abroad —where she built lifelong friendships, uniquely qualifies Jessica to creatively engage students to use Spanish speaking in a broad spectrum of cultural activity.
In her personal time, she enjoys quality time with her two children, teaches yoga, mindfulness and volunteers with local nonprofit organizations.
Nora Quinn | Theater Teacher
nquinn@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Nora (she/her) first joined SRV in 2019 as a parent and, shortly thereafter, joined the staff. She brings over 25 years of experience in arts and education. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Penn State University and a Master of Arts from Villanova University.
Before joining SRV, Nora was the Director of Theatre Programs at the National Constitution Center. While at the museum, she created award-winning programs for K-12, professional development workshops and classroom resources on arts integration for teachers, and partnership programs with Philadelphia theatres, including Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Nora taught Theatre Arts at Arcadia University for almost a decade and has lectured at Drexel, West Chester, CCP, and UArts. She continues to participate actively in Philadelphia’s professional theatre community as a designer and producer.
SRV’s progressive pedagogy inspires Nora; she believes every day is a new opportunity to learn at all ages. She believes Theatre education in schools encourages physical, artistic, mental, personal, and social development; builds self-confidence, imagination, empathy & tolerance, collaboration, and teamwork; and improves skills in language and memory; communication, aesthetic appreciation, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and leadership. Theatre education has been proven to enhance students’ confidence in their academic abilities and provide unique opportunities for the expression of learning in all subject areas. Nora is excited to partner with parents, students, and the SRV faculty to integrate theatre into the SRV curriculum.
When not at school, Nora enjoys hiking and kayaking with her husband and daughter, volunteering in the community, and discovering new children’s literature.
Program Support
Susan McCarter | Learning Specialist
susan@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Susan has been teaching at The School in Rose Valley for fifteen years. Her position started as part-time, but now she is on campus teaching every day. In addition, she taught at the Pre-K and Kindergarten levels for nine years at the beginning of her career. She has a Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina and has completed extensive coursework in Reading Support programs. She has been trained in the following Orton-Gillingham-based programs: Take Flight; Stratford Friends Multi-Sensory Reading Instruction Program; Wilson Fundations; Adolescent Literacy Program; the classic Orton-Gillingham program; and a new approach to teaching literacy skills – Structured Word Inquiry. She is nationally certified by ALTA – the Academic Language Therapist Association and by the International Dyslexia Association. Susan loves the magic that happens when children learn to read – especially if it has been a challenge in any way for the students. When not teaching, Susan thoroughly enjoys the peace of the outdoors – especially near lakes or rivers, reading extensively and doing needlepoint. Susan is thrilled to have found The School in Rose Valley, it’s wonderful students and staff, and it’s beautiful campus.
Hilary Leifsen | Farm-to-Fork Kitchen Manager
hilary@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Hilary joined SRV in 2022 and has a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University and an MES in Sustainability from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining SRV, Hilary worked at Vela Restaurant in Doylestown and, before that, in IKEA’s Food Logistics Services department. In her spare time Hilary enjoys going on long walks in the Wissahickon with her fiancé and their two dogs, experimenting with new recipes, and watching and playing sports.
Coryn Voce | Coordinator of Social-Emotional Support
coryn@theschoolinrosevalley.
Coryn holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy, and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Educator, and Registered Yoga Instructor. She believes supporting the whole child is the best path to student learning. This entails building a foundation of safety and care in the learning environment while fostering and appreciating each child’s unique interests. She loves relaxing with her husband (Anthony) and two cats (Blu & Zoey), traveling, hiking, practicing yoga, and meditating in her free time. New to Delaware County, she is a foodie, always grateful for restaurant recommendations.
Brenna Haase | Kitchen Assistant
brenna@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Brenna joined SRV in 2022. She has a Bachelors degree in Fine art from Pratt Institute. Before joining SRV, Brenna worked for seven years at Whole Foods market in their prepared foods department doing catering and food preparation. When Brenna is not at SRV, she also works at QVC as a set stylist. In her free time, Brenna enjoys gardening, painting, cooking, and going to farmers markets.
Kristina Gomez | Learning Specialist
kristina@theschoolinrosevalley.org
Kristina has been working at SRV since 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from University of California at Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Multicultural Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico. She is certified PK-5th grade in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Prior to joining SRV, Kristina taught elementary school for 6 years in Albuquerque, NM. During her time in Albuquerque, she was the math and science leader for her school for 3 years. She has a passion for multisensory learning, particularly as it applies to developing math skills. Kristina is a parent to two SRV alumni. When not at school, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, reading, and hiking.
Laurie Sherman | Coordinator of Learning Support
laurieesherman@theschoolinr
Laurie holds a B.A. in Communicative Disorders and an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology. She has nearly two decades of experience working with children inside and outside speech-language pathology. She loves helping children in the community with each other and has a depth of experience leading teams. Laurie is an avid hiker who is most fulfilled when helping a child’s love of nature and learning coalesce into an authentic moment of discovery.
