Welcome to Our Newest Staff Members! Sixteen New Additions Come to Us with a Wealth Of

Welcome to our newest staff members! Sixteen new additions come to us with a wealth of education and expertise, and add to our wonderful staff and community at Chesterbrook.

New to Kindergarten is Instructional Aide Anne Himelfarb, who was a Cafeteria Manager for 18 years in FCPS. Previously she worked at Chesterbrook United Methodist Church’s Aftercare Program and the Potomac School Summer Camp. Her love of working with children lead her to the classroom and she feels fortunate to be a part of the team.

Our new Third Grade teacher, Lyndsay Kilberg, is back in the DC area from Williamsburg, VA, where she taught Third Grade and received her Master’s of Elementary Education. Originally a Baltimore native and University of Maryland graduate, she is happy to be close to her hometown and looking forward to a great year.

In the Fourth Grade, we welcome Kassandra Teske who comes to us from McNair Elementary in Fairfax County.

Fifth Grade has two new teachers, both from Pennsylvania: Lora Smith and Megan Spangler. Lora joins us from a private school in Pittsburgh. Megan graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from Lock Haven University, with additional certifications in Math and Social Studies. She has been teaching Middle School math in Alexandria for the past two years and is excited to be back in Elementary Education.

Teacher Jacqlene Pelletier is our newest addition to the Sixth Grade. She comes to us all the way from Harrisonburg, PA, with her two Golden Retrievers. She says she is happy to be here and “looks forward to many years to come!”

Our Special Education Staff welcomes Teachers Stacey Wei and Barbara Gaver, and Instructional Aides Jessica Montana and Rhonda Singleton. Stacey has been in Special Education for 10 years and joined us last February after maternity leave. She has three children, the oldest of whom will be a student at Chesterbrook next year. Barbara holds degrees in both General Education and Special Education and has worked for FCPS for 14 years. She and her husband live in the neighborhood and were Chesterbrook Parents for 12 years! Jessica recently graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She says being at Chesterbrook “feels like being part of a family”. Rhonda comes to us from Fairfax County Department of Family Services. She has several years experience in Early Childhood Education and looks forward to meeting everyone.

New Librarian Sabrina Buckley has 14 years of experience as a Fairfax County Teacher Librarian and tell us, “my favorite part of being at Chesterbrook is the sense of community and the inspiration I get from students and teacher.” Meredith Swift, our Resource Teacher, joined us last year for the second semester and we are happy to have her back. Wendy Hockersmith, our new Reading Specialist, has 11 years experience teaching on many levels. She is a Doctoral Candidate at George Washington University and hold Master’s degrees in Special Education and School Library Media, with an additional Reading Specialist Endorsement. Wendy loves the “unique, caring character of Chesterbrook and the vitality of the staff and its students.”

Sarina Harris is our new Art Teacher and joins us here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She also is an instructor at Waples Mill Elementary in Oakton.

Our Music Department welcomes back Andrew Gekoskie, who was our new Music Teacher last year. This is his first year of having all general music students; he had general music and assisted with the strings department last year. Mary Huber, who teaches Strings with Mrs. Blitch’s Orchestra. Mary started playing violin when she was 6 years old and was inspired to play by her mother, also a violinist. She has played for audiences in North Carolina, Texas, New York City, and several locations in England.

And last, but not least, we say hello to our new Second Band Director, Cara Vernon. Mrs. Vernon is in her 10th year of teaching and is thrilled to be returning to her roots in Fairfax County. After completing her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and her Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Mrs. Vernon taught Middle School Band in Texas for 6 years. After having her two daughters, she wanted to return home to Northern Virginia to be closer to family. Mrs. Vernon has been at “The Potomac School” in McLean for the last 3 years teaching beginning band and is looking forward to making music with our students. She also assists at Greenbrier West and Oak Hill.