Middlesex County Public Schools welcomes new teachers and staff members for the 2019-20 school year that begins Tuesday, September 3.
Middlesex High School
Teachers and staff members new to Middlesex High School include Jaimie Ashburn, who will teach biology and anatomy/physiology. Ashburn holds a dual bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology, and a master’s in biology with a certification in emerging and infectious diseases. A native of White Stone, Ashburn enjoys traveling somewhere new every year.
Jim Phillips will teach math. He holds a degree in secondary education mathematics from Clarion University. He is a native of Pennsylvania and is an accomplished cook. He and his wife Sarah have five children, ages 21, 19, 13, 8 and 8 months.
Terri Konstantinou will teach English and holds a bachelor’s degree from UVA-Wise (2015), and a master’s degree in English literature from Old Dominion University (2017). “An interesting fact about me is that I am half Greek, which explains my last name. I am so excited to begin working at Middlesex High School!”
Nanda Belby will teach band, choir, and guitar. The Virginia Beach native is a graduate of James Madison University. “This past year, I marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the Marching Royal Dukes!” She is married to Nicholas Belby.
St. Clare Walker
Kelly Lloyd will teach art at SCW. She holds a degree in art and a master’s in education from Salisbury University and Wilmington University. She is moving to Middlesex from Delaware. “I grew up on the Eastern Shore near the Maryland and Delaware beaches. My town was split between two states, I lived in Maryland and went to high school in Delaware.” This is her 8th year of teaching.
Alisa Henrich will be a special education teacher. She holds a bachelor’s in marine biology from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and a master’s in special education with emphasis on multi-categorical with an autism endorsement from West Virginia University, Morgantown. She moved here after living in Martinsburg, West Virginia, for 21 years. She is a native of Pennsylvania.
Henrich comes from a family of educators. Her father, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were all involved in education. Teaching is her second career. She started out as an environmental chemist. She has three children, Alex, 28, Michaela, 24, and Olivia, 22. Her husband Rick works in West Point.
Sharon Schwarzmann, a Richmond native, will teach sixth grade math. She holds a bachelor’s in sociology and elementary education from Mary Washington and a master’s of education in administration and supervision from University of Richmond. She and her husband John have two adult children—Maggie is in her third year of Medical School, and Gates is finishing his last semester at VCU.
“I am an avid football and basketball fan. You will often find me with my family at college games around Virginia!” she said.
Mark Hall will teach seventh grade math. He holds a degree in religious studies from the University of Virginia. A Middlesex native, Hall is moving back from Akron, Ohio. “I enjoy making movies and writing books in my spare time. I have been writing full-length stories since third grade and making films since sixth grade.”
Middlesex Elementary
Shelby Kellar is a special education teacher who holds a degree in special education general curriculum K-12 with elementary education emphasis from Old Dominion University. She moved to Jamaica in Middlesex County from Port Haywood in Mathews. She is married to Dylan Kellar. “I’ve loved the performing arts since I was a child and have participated in several plays and dance shows and competitions,” she said.
Lowery Van Buskirk, will teach fifth grade math and science. Buskirk holds a master’s in education from Old Dominion University. She is from Virginia Beach. She and her husband Daniel have two children, Peter, 21, and Grace, 19. “My long last name is Dutch and means ‘one from the church in the woods.’ ”
Laura Shoup will teach fifth grade English language arts and social studies. She holds a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction from Averett University and an undergraduate degree in elementary education from The State University of New York. She lives in West Point with her husband William and their 12-year-old son. She was raised in southern Indiana on a small “hobby farm” and she likes to share her personal narratives about life on the farm with her students during writing class.
Jamie Keller, a Wisconsin native, will teach English as a second language (ESL). Keller holds a bachelor’s in elementary education and a minor in ESL. “I’m a big sports fan. I always cheer for the Packers, UW Badgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. I also love to play softball.”
Nicole Nuske will teach fifth grade. She holds a degree in early childhood and special education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. She is moving from Pittsburgh. “I have taught students in Mexico, Sweden, and Africa!” she said.
Bonnie Wells will be the school nurse. She holds a nursing degree from John Tyler Community College. She lived in Chesterfield 10 years and moved to Middlesex from Costa Rica after living there 6 years. She and her husband Aaron have two children, Vincent, 11, and Veronica, 9. “I served for 6 years in the Air Force National Guard working in medical logistics and lived in Costa Rica for 6 years working in medical clinics and working with youth.”
Administration and Division-wide
Jeanne Norris will be a speech pathologist. She holds a master’s in speech pathology from the University of Virginia. She is a Gloucester native who has a twin sibling. She and her husband Ryan have a 3-year-old daughter.
Kathleen Vélez will be director of special education and federal programs. She holds a special education degree from The College of Saint Rose, a master’s in education from Old Dominion University and a degree in educational specialist from Regent University. “I have been in the education field for 26 years and this is the third state I have worked in. The interesting fact is that I am not even military affiliated and I have moved four times in the 26 years.” She grew up in upstate New York and resides in Williamsburg.
She is married to José Vélez and they have two adult children, Alisha, 26, and Bobby, 24.
Marcia Williams, who attended The Hill Institute secretarial school, will be an administrative assistant. She moved to Middlesex three years ago. Her fiance is Jeff Watters who works for Lazer Clean at MES. She has three daughters, Stephanie, 30, Amanda, 28, and Jaclyn, 25. “I’ve renovated three homes and designed and subcontracted the building of my last home in New Jersey,” she said.
