Faculty & Staff | Independent School Nashville, TN

Angelica Marsh

Lower School Media Specialist, Technology Integrator, Math Coach

B.S., Child Development, Maryville College

Cody Marsh

Maintenance Technician

B.A., Business Administration and Management, Maryville College
B.S., Aerospace Administration, Middle Tennessee State University

Mary Martin

Assistant to the Head of School

B.B.A., Business Computer Information Systems, Hofstra University

Paige Maynor

Director of Marketing and Communicatiions

B.F.A., Graphic Design, Middle Tennessee State University

Will McCauley

Head Coach - MS Cross Country, Head Coach - Varsity/MS Boys Swimming

Sixth Grade English, Fifth & Sixth Grade Bible

B.A., English Writing with a Minor in Bible/Theology, Wheaton College
M.A., Teaching, Trevecca Nazarene University

Assistant Coach - MS Track & Field

Ken McDonald

Bus Fleet Manager

B.S., Penn State University

Ryan McDonald

Head Coach - Varsity/JV/MS Boys Soccer

Lower School Physical Education Teacher

B.S., University of Louisville

Assistant Coach - Varsity Girls Soccer

Jared Mendiola

Faculty Fellow

B.S., Biochemistry, Colorado College

Susannah Millar

Fourth Grade Teacher

B.A., Business Administration, Saint Leo University

Cecilia Moix

Upper School Spanish

B.S., Business Administration and Finance, Belmont University
M.Ed., Teaching with Spanish Licensure, Belmont University

Ivy Montgomery

Eighth Grade Physical Science, Middle School Robotics Coach

B.S., Biology, Virginia Tech University

Sarah Moore

Head Coach - Varsity Football Cheerleading, Head Coach - MS Basketball Cheerleading

Middle School Heart to Heart

B.S., Speech Language & Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona
M.Ed., Special Education, Lipscomb University

Assistant Coach - 5th/6th Track & Field

Jennifer Murphy

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., English & Education, Belmont University

Shannon Murphy

Middle & Upper School Technology Integrator and Media Specialist

B.S., Middle School Education, Missouri State University
M.A., Educational Technology, Webster University

Tara Murphy

Controller

B.S., Professional Accountancy & Management, Lipscomb University

Michelle Nelson

Fifth Grade Science

B.S., Education, Georgia State University

Lynn Nerderman

Pre-Kindergarten 3 Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood Education, Bowling Green State University

Meredith Oliff

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Education of Exceptional Students, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Orr

Assistant Coach

Kindergarten Teacher

B.S., Elementary Education, Sewanee: The University of the South
M.A., Early Childhood Education, Manhattanville College

Middle School Girls Lacrosse

Kris Palmerton

Director of Athletics

B.S., Physical Education, Auburn University
M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, University of West Georgia

Matt Perez

Assistant Coach

Upper School Mathematics

B.S.B.A., Operations and Supply Chain Management, Georgia Institute of Technology
M.Ed, Education, University of Notre Dame

MS Football & Varsity Baseball

Amanda Phelan

Third Grade Teacher

B.A., Psychology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
M.A.T., Elementary Education, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Tommy Phillips

Assistant Coach

Eighth Grade History

B.A., History, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A., Education, Lipcomb University

Middle School Baseball

Abby Pickney

Assistant Coach

Middle School Counselor

B.A., Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Lipscomb University

Varsity Girls Basketball

Ricky Pineda

Technology Help Desk

A.S., Information Systems, Columbia State Community College

Chrissy Potts

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Early Childhood Education, Middle Tennessee State University

Allison Rhodes

Pre-Kindergarten 4 Teacher

B.A, Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Julianne Robinson

Assistant Coach

Fourth Grade Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood Education, Auburn University
M.Ed., Reading Education, Vanderbilt University

Lower School Cross Country

Kristen Ross

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., English, Arizona State University

Amanda Rush

Director of Annual Giving

B.S., Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, University of Nebraska

James Salato

Head of Upper School

B.A., French, Vanderbilt University
M.Ed., Secondary Education and Teaching, Vanderbilt University
M.Ed., Independent School Leadership, Vanderbilt University

Ed Sanders

Associate Head Coach - Varsity Football

Middle School Physical Education

B.S., Psychology, Tennessee State University

Head Coach - MS Boys Basketball

Chad Sandford

AP World History

B.A., History, Saint Anselm College
M.A., History, William and Mary
Certificate, Bible and Applied Christianity, Fairwood Bible Institute

Lisa Schaad

Head Coach

Assistant Athletic Director

B.S., Healthcare Administration, Western Kentucky University

Varsity/JV Volleyball

Christopher Schmoke

Assistant Coach

Dean of Student Life, Upper School Science

B.S., Secondary Education, Northern Michigan University

Varsity Football

Kristin Schmoke

Assistant Director of Extended Care

B.A., Elementary Education, Hillsdale College
M.A., Education, Grand Valley State University

Carly Schneider

English I, English II (H) Teacher, Interim Coordinator

B.A., English, Stanford University
M.A., English, Stanford University
M.A., Dallas Theological Seminary

Beth Seeley

Middle School ASPIRE Coordinator

B.S., History, Lambuth University
M.Ed., Mild/Moderate Learning Disabilities, Vanderbilt University

Suzanne Seneker

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Exercise Physiology, Mississippi State University
M.S., Communication Disorders, Tennessee State University

Kaylee Shackleford

Assistant Coach - 5th/6th Girls Basketball

Upper School Counseling, Middle School Aspire

B.A., Psychology, Union University
M.A., Counseling, Trevecca Nazarene University

Head Coach - MS Softball

Brian Shaffrey

Communications Coordinator

B.A., Media Studies, Business, Auburn University

Nikki Simpson

Director of Alumni Relations

B.A., Communications Theory and Research, Business Administration, Indiana State University

Holly Sizemore

Fourth Grade Teacher

B.A., Elementary Education, University of Florida
M.S., Reading Education, Nova Southeastern University

Terri Snider

Lower School Administrative Assistant

B.S., Elementary Education, Middle Tennessee State University

Becky Speck

Middle School Spanish

B.A., English & Spanish, Middle Tennessee State University

Andrew Stacy

English II (H), English III, Fictional Worlds Teacher

B.A., English, Tennessee Technological University
M.A., English, University of Memphis

Kyle Strazzeri

Assistant Coach

US Geometry Teacher

B.A., History, University of California, Davis
M.A., Education, Pepperdine University

Varsity Football

Ben Suitt

Upper School English, Yearbook Advisor

B.S., Business Administration, Wake Forest
M.T., Theology, Emory University
Ph.D., Religious Studies, Boston University

Katie Sullivan

Lower School Art Teacher

B.A., Studio Art, Art History, & Italian, The University of Alabama
M.A., K-12 Art Education, University of Florida

Meg Takahashi

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., Communications and Journalism, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Christina Theodoru

US Algebra II (H), Geometry (H), Director of Service Life

B.A., English, Lipscomb University
M.A., English Literature, Belmont University

Brodrick Thomas

Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion

B.S., Business Administration, Auburn University
M.B.A., Organizational Leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University

Cindy Thornton

Head Coach

Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Middle & Upper School Art Education, Eighth Grade Chair

B.S., Art Education, Middle Tennessee State University
M.A., Educational Leadership and Administration, Middle Tennessee State University
M.Ed., Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision, Trevecca Nazarene University
Ed.D., Leadership and Professional Practice, Trevecca Nazarene University

Lower School Cross Country

Katie Trokey

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., K-12 Art Education, Maryville University of St. Louis

Jodi Troutt

Administrative Assistant to Dean Academic Studies

B.A., Commercial Vocal Music, Belmont University

Laura Turner

Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations

B.S., Accounting, University of Kentucky
M.Acct., Accounting, University of Tennessee

Kim Turpin

Business Office Assistant

Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Courtney Tyree

Kindergarten Teacher

B.S, Psychology & Elementary Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., Teacher Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Paris Varnier

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.M., Jazz Studies, University of North Texas

Clare Walker

Second Grade Teacher

B.A., Early Childhood Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Shanitra Walters

Advancement Database Manager

B.A., Accounting, Tennessee State University
M.B.A, Business Administration, Vanderbilt University

Maggie Waxter

Head Coach

Middle School Athletics Director

B.S., Psychology, Washington and Lee University
M.A., Sports Administration, West Virginia University

Varsity Girls Lacrosse

Kate Webber

Head Coach

Heart to Heart

B.A., Public Relations, University of Tennessee
M.A.T., Special Education, Liberty University

Varsity Basketball Cheerleading, Middle School Football Cheerleading

James Weeks

Upper School Science & Innovation, Upper School Robotics Head Coach, Director of the FRA Innovation & Biotechnology Lab

B.S., Neuroscience & Molecular Biology, Tulane University
Ph.D., Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University

Brooke West

Lower School Nurse

B.A., Neuroscience & Religion, Wake Forest University
B.S.N., Nursing, Belmont University

Rick West

Head of Lower School

B.S.Ed., Secondary Education Social Studies, Samford University
M.Ed., Educational Leadership, Tennessee State University
Ed.D., Learning Organizations and Strategic Change, Lipscomb University