- Message from the Head of School
- The SRV Model
- Mission/Philosophy
- Faculty/Staff
- SRV in Brief
- Board of Trustees
- School Environment
- Diversity
- Community Impact
- Directions
- SRV By the Numbers
- Symposium
Our Teachers
Classroom Teachers
2-Day Preschool Lead Teacher – Kim Schmucki joined the SRV staff in January 2004. Kim has an MA in art therapy from Hahnemann University and a BS in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. Kim worked as an art therapist in the Dade County School district in Miami, Florida gaining experience in working with children from different cultures. She has worked in a number of hospital settings and especially appreciated working with children in the pediatric oncology unit at Children's Hospital. Kim's professional interests include children's artwork and incorporating music into the preschool classroom.
Kim has two children who are current SRV students. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, singing and biking.
Service & Partnership Learning Coordinator, 2 Day & 3 Day Preschool Assistant, Library Assistant – Robin Lasersohn has taught at SRV since 1997, and has the unusual experience of having worked in every grade level here. Before coming to SRV Robin taught math at Stratford Friends School in a special education setting, tutored teenagers in a recovery program, owned and operated a coffeehouse, and worked as a community organizer in Chester. She graduated from Swarthmore College with a special major in Education and Social Change. Robin serves as a contributing editor to the progressive education journal, Schools. Her professional interests include children's literature, multiculturalism, and service learning. She is active in the local peace movement and the progressive homeschooling community. She enjoys reading and nature. Robin has 2 daughters who graduated from SRV in 2005 and 2007.
3-Day Preschool Lead Teacher – Molly Wing-Berman brings a rich and creative background to her preschool teaching. She is an accomplished artist and experienced teacher. Most recently she was the art teacher at Media Providence Friends School. Molly went to Oberlin College and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Molly's two daughters, Hannah and Leah, are SRV alums. Molly's creative stamp is seen all over the SRV campus – including the floor in Grace's foyer which she did with Kathy McCarron. She is a gardener, paper maker, felt maker, and loves to draw, paint and do pottery (her father is a master potter). She and her family live across the creek with a menagerie of animals including their 4 corgies.
5-Day Preschool Lead Teacher – Maureen McHugh has taught at both SRV and our summer camp for almost ten years. She has her BS from Cabrini College and was the Director of Today's Child and Cassoria Learning Center. She also taught Kindergarten at Cassoria. In addition, Maureen has worked for the Philadelphia Head Start program. Her professional interests are play therapy, working on furthering her education and publishing her book. Maureen loves to travel, listen to music, refinish furniture and explore history museums. Her daughters Vaughn and Avery, keep her busy as well!
5-Day Preschool Assistant Teacher – Jessica Hawthorne assists in the 5-day Preschool. Jessica recently earned her Masters degree in Instruction and Curriculum. She is an artist, a massage therapist/esthetician, and is also co-owner, with her husband, of a restaurant.
Kindergarten Co-Teacher – Ann Suchecki has taught in the kindergarten since 1999. She has her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Mount St. Joseph and her Master of Art from University of Louisville. Before coming to SRV, Annie was an artist in residence at 3 city elementary schools in Chester and she worked as an assistant in second grade special education in the Upper Darby School District. Annie also teaches at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, teaching pottery courses for adults, children's art classes and "art for homeschoolers." Annie is active in the local art community, past president of the Potters Guild of Wallingford, and she exhibits her work both locally and nationally. She is the mother of two boys. Annie takes computer courses, participates in the National Council for the Education in the Ceramic Arts and participates in many national and international workshops in pottery. Her passion for literature is her favorite hobby.
Spanish Teacher and Kindergarten Co-Teacher – Barbara Walsh comes to SRV after spending two years teaching at the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and six years teaching in the state of New Jersey. Barbara received her teaching credentials through Kean University after receiving her Bachelor of Science at the University of Wyoming. Aside from her love of music, Barbara is fluent in Spanish, loves animals and the outdoors.
1st & 2nd Grade (Primary Circle) Lead Teacher – Nita Singh started working at SRV in 2001. Nita has a BA in psychology, M.Ed. in special education from the University of Delaware and is certified in Pennsylvania. She has worked as a preschool teacher at Kinder Care and the Delaware County Head Start Program. At the Overbrook School for the Blind she worked with visually impaired and other special needs preschool children. Nita has also worked with autistic children through the Delaware County Easter Seals Society. Nita thoroughly enjoys teaching early childhood pre-reading and reading skills, as well as making children aware of different countries and cultures. When she is not busy raising twin sons, SRV alumni Anup and Sanj, Nita enjoys reading fiction, pottery, jogging, traveling and cooking.
1st Grade (Primary Circle) Teacher – Karyn Robinson Payton holds a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from Temple University and a Master of Art in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University. She holds Pennsylvania certification in Early Childhood Education (preschool-3rd grade) as well as an out-of-state certification in Early Childhood Special Education. Karyn began her career teaching young children with developmental disabilities and delays. She has worked as a second grade assistant teacher at Friends Select School in Philadelphia.
As an SRV alumna, Karyn is honored to be a member of the faculty. She knew she wanted to be an educator from a very young age. Her professional interests include children's literature, teaching reading and math, and adapting curriculum for diverse learning styles. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family – husband, Lee, who teaches at William Penn Charter School, and children, Savannah and Davis who both attend SRV.
Third & Fourth Grade (Middle Circle) Lead Teacher – Gloria Bonsall-Shepard grew up with no thoughts of becoming a teacher. While studying about the natural environment as an undergraduate, she become fascinated with questions about how people learn and change. After completing a degree in Environmental Education from the University of Michigan, Gloria spent several years as an environmental educator leading caving expeditions, facilitating group problem-solving, helping kids through a low-ropes course, and teaching environmental science. She was thrilled to find her way to SRV and new opportunities to work with groups of children for much longer periods as SRV's science teacher. During that time, she also pursued her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Cabrini College.
After taking five years off to give a good start to sons Julian and Skye, she returned to SRV as the Lead 3 day preschool teacher. This provided deep opportunities to explore emergent literacy and socialization. In 2005, she returned to full time teaching as a Lead teacher in the Main Circle. Her main professional interest is in learning as a tool for personal and social transformation . Personal interests include reading, the great outdoors, and hanging out with her family and their dog.
Third and Fourth (Middle Circle) Grade Assistant Teacher – Erin Thack has a BS 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 was a reading specialist/librarian in the Chester Upland School District as well as a kindergarten teacher in the Rose Tree Media School District. In these various capacities Erin has tutored small groups in reading and math, collaborated with classroom teachers, been part of the Instruction Learning Support Team, maintained the library/media center, and supervised practicum students. Erin has two young children, Julia and Christian who both attend SRV. In her spare time Erin likes to take tap dancing class, garden, go to flea markets and spend time with her family. Erin grew up in Rose Valley and even babysat former SRV students – the Finkbeiners.
Fifth and Sixth Grade (Oldest Group) Lead Teacher – Meg de Moll most recently joined the SRV staff in 1999 as an Oldest Group teacher. Meg also taught at SRV early in her teaching career and helped run the camp for 15 years. Before returning to SRV, Meg taught 5th and 6th grades at Lansdowne Friends. Meg received her BA from Bennington College in literature doing her thesis on King Lear. She is interested in teaching social studies through Drama, Literature and Art and has developed a strong math curriculum for the Oldest Group. Meg's personal interests include art, family and traveling.
Specials Teachers
Art – Kathy McCarron is an award winning fiber artist who loves to work with clay, make books, create mosaics and felt. She has a degree in recreation management from Algonquin College. Her creative mark can be seen throughout the school, most notably in the etched concrete floor in Grace's foyer that she did with Molly Wing-Berman. Kathy has taught both art and special needs students in public, parochial and independent schools. She was part of SRV's preschool team for many years before taking over the art program.
Kathy is an avid outdoors woman. She and her husband backpack, camp, whitewater raft, and sail across the globe. When not busy renovating her old Victorian house or making tiles, she gardens, cooks, travels and hikes with her dog.
Music – Jodie Brown has been SRV's music teacher since 1996 and a professional musician since 1974. In addition to performing professionally most of her life, she has directed music for dinner theatre and played the piano for many musicals. She has been a piano teacher since 1975, and a preschool music teacher since 1994. Jodie has her BME from Louisiana State University as well as many post-graduate and graduate credits. Jodie's mission as a teacher is to find and bring out the musician in all children. She utilizes Edwin Gordan's "music learning theory," Orff and Kodaly methodologies, and the many discoveries she's made in her years of teaching.
Jodie has three teenage children. They are all involved in music and are often seen at SRV performing with their mom for special events. Jodie's interests include retired racing greyhounds (she has 2), gardening and cooking.
Shop, Sports & Computer Network Administrator – Mike Nowell 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.
Science – Dawn Knipmeyer
has a Master of Arts in Education (Environmental Education) from Arcadia University and a BS in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College. She holds a preschool through 8th grade certification in Pennsylvania. Dawn stays current in the education world by going to seminars, workshops and classes. For personal enjoyment she loves to mountain bike, backpack, camp, garden and do just about anything outdoors. She also enjoys baking and reading. She volunteers once a week at the Schuykill Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. She has two dogs named Piper and Chloe and a cat named Felix.
Susan McCarter is our part-time reading specialist. Susan has a Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina and is certified in the Stratford Friends Multi-Sensory Reading Instruction Program, an Orton-Gillingham based approach to teaching reading. Susan spent ten years as a classroom teacher and has tutored in reading for the past four years.
Crystal Gloistein, Technology Integration Coordinator is an SRV alum whose family has taught or been students at SRV for many years. After attending Prescott College in Arizona, Crystal moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she met her husband Mateo before moving back east. Crystal is thrilled that her 2 sons have been students and campers at SRV, which was a large part of the pull to resettle in Media.
Naturally, having been raised in the SRV philosophy, Crystal is a creative, conscientious lover of animals, nature, people and the arts. She enjoys working with her hands and attributes that to her love of Shop at SRV as a child. Crystal has a learn-as-needed approach to life and problem-solving, which has been a valuable asset in a multitude of areas including child-rearing, home improvement projects and technology. Crystal has worked with independent authors & artists, doctors & holistic practitioners and non-profit organizations; planning and implementing systems & events, editing & designing print media, and creating & maintaining websites.
Administration
Lauren de Moll is the Interim Head of School for the 2009-10 school year. Lauren received her BA from Bennington College in history. She began working at SRV at the Afternoons, Pre-day and Summer Camp programs when still in high school, and has worked at SRV full time since 1980. She has taught for more than 10 years, and was lead teacher in Kindergarten/First Grade, Second/Third/Fourth Grade, and Fifth/Sixth Grade classrooms. She has worked in the administration for 17 years. Her non-SRV jobs have included working for an environmental publication in Portland, Oregon and an environmental lobby group in Washington, DC.
Lauren is an SRV alumna; she has been a student under or worked for seven of the school's nine previous Principals or Heads. Her family has been connected with SRV since the mid-50's, and her husband's family (she is married to Michael Nowell, who also works at SRV) has been here since the early 1930's. Their son, Luke, is a fourth-generation SRV'er!
Lauren is passionate about The School in Rose Valley, and has dedicated her career to preserving SRV's traditions where appropriate, and facilitating its development where needed. She is deeply interested in progressive education and teaching, in general, and preserving childhood and supporting families in particular. She is also the school's unofficial chief archivist and "institutional memory." Lauren's personal interests include history, genealogy, reading, gardening and music.
Laurie Grant, Director of Institutional Advancement,Laurie Grant, Director of Institutional Advancement, brings over twenty five years of development and marketing experience to the SRV administrative team. She has worked for a variety of local non-profits in the cultural and education worlds including: The Miquon School, The Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, WHYY Inc., and NetworkArts. She launched a parenting publication, Parents Express in 1989, and held several positions with major advertising firms in both Philadelphia and NYC. Laurie has also served on the boards of several local organizations. A native of Connecticut and a graduate of the University of Michigan, Laurie and her family have lived in Rose Valley for 10 years. She has two sons, unfortunately too old to attend SRV, Harrison a freshman in law school and Fletcher, a freshman in college. When not busy working or spending time with her family, Laurie enjoys competitive tennis, traveling, reading and running and gardening.
Nava Hall, Institutional Advancement Manager, has a Bachelor of Science in Policy Management and History from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters of Liberal Arts from the University Of Pennsylvania. Nava is a skilled data base manager, writer, and collections manager. Prior to joining SRV in July of 2007, Nava managed a small classical architecture office in Center City and before that was museum administrator at the Mütter Museum.
Nava is keenly interested in Philadelphia history and has spent several years as an historical guide at Christ Church Burial Ground where Benjamin Franklin is buried. She moved to Philadelphia five years ago to go back to school after living for many years in Traverse City, Michigan. She lives in downtown Philadelphia for easy access to Old City, the orchestra, and theaters.
Kj Weist, Office Manager, Kj has an Associate's Degree from Delaware County Community College and has many years of experience as an office and administrative assistant. She has worked in the graphics and design area as well as the medical field in a variety of positions including optometry and surgical technology.
The greatest joys in her life are her two teenage daughters, Alyssa and Carmen. She has been very active in her children's schooling, serving on their school PTO Board along with other community projects. Kj enjoys reading, going to the beach, making candles, home projects and animals of all types.
Susie Metrick is SRV's School Psychologist and chair of the Learning Support Team. She has earned her doctorate and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist as well as a certified School Psychologist. She attended Oberlin College for her undergraduate degree. Susie also provides testing and consultation for children in a group private practice.
Susie lives in the distant town of Phoenixville with her husband, Sean, and their two young sons, Keenan and Noah. She enjoys going on excursions and exploring the outdoors with her children, as well as reading, hiking/walking, and playing sports when on her own.
Dan Tracey 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.
Dan the Man with his preschool buddies.
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.
Maria Rice current SRV board member, alum and mother of three boys; Jesse, 6th grade, Gabriel, 3rd grade, and Evan, in preschool. Maria studied theatre and art history at Sarah Laurence College and received her master's in interior design from Drexel University. After living and working for 10 years in New York City in the design world, she relocated back to the area for her children to attend SRV. Her pasttimes are varied, but travel, camping with family, any sports or activity with water and reading are favorites and oh yeah, cooking of course....
Mary Gordon, Director of Afternoons Program, has worked in the Afternoons program since 1995. She's worked in independent schools in Philadelphia and both of her children attended preschool at The School in Rose Valley. Mary is an accomplished fine artist and has a BFA from the University of Texas and a Masters Degree from Tyler School of Art. She is also a co-founder of Heron Gallery and Studios, an artists' cooperative in Rockdale, PA. Mary's passions are painting, travel, the outdoors and children.
Mary K. Miluski is the Executive Director of Summer Camp. She has worked at SRV since 1996, running camp and previously as a member of the administrative team. Mary K. received her AB from Brown University and her JD from Boston University School of Law. Before joining SRV, Mary K. practiced law for 12 years in Providence, Boston and Philadelphia as a civil litigator. She maintains her license to practice law and takes various workshops related to her work at SRV. Mary K.'s son graduated from SRV in 2000, and is now living and working in St. Augustine, Fl. Her personal interests include the beach, swimming, walking, gardening, reading, spending time with her family and her too-many dogs.
