John Elmore
Head of School
John Elmore's career spans more than three decades in independent schools. He served as Head of School at The O'Neal School in North Carolina for eleven years before coming to WCDS in 2024. Mr. Elmore started his career as a science and mathematics teacher at the Hewitt School in New York City before becoming Director of College Counseling, the same role he held at University Liggett School in Michigan. He has held several key leadership roles including Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of School at Trinity School of Midland, Texas, and Head of Upper School and Director of Studies at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut. John holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Grinnell College in Iowa and a master's degree in religion and ethics from Yale University.
Faculty
WCDS teachers know their students and push each to succeed in a caring, stimulating environment. Every teacher challenges students to question, research, write, and speak in a reflective manner appropriate to their level of development. Teachers wear many hats, coaching teams, sponsoring afterschool activities and clubs, and giving their all to the school. All teachers and staff are expected to embrace the school’s mission of striving for personal and academic excellence.
Sylvie Blank
Pre-Kindergarten
BA, Sancta Maria College of Social Pedagogy,
Bruchsal, Germany
AA, Gustav von Schmoller
College of Business, Heilbronn, Germany
Welby Griffin
Seventh & Eighth Grade, Latin, Grammar/Composition
AB, Bryn Mawr College
WCDS Alumna, 1995
Amanda Hoffman
Learning Specialist
BA, English
MA, Teaching, Mary Baldwin
AA, Nursing, LFCC
MEd, James Madison University
Nicholas Kardis
Brian Dotzler
AP Language & Composition, World Geography
BS, The Citadel
BA, University of Maryland
MA, St. Mary's University
MA, Sam Houston State University
Stuart Ginsberg
AP US Government, Upper School History, Science, Grade 6
BA, Williams College
JD, Georgetown School of Law
DMD, University of Pennsylvania
Gustavo Tisera
Jeannette Miranda-Gould
Spanish
BFA, SF Academy of Art
MLA Spanish Certification,
George Mason University
Ann Pankow
Dual Enrollment and AP Environmental Science, Chemistry, Forensics, Earth Science, Physical Science
BS, University of Maryland
MEd, Penn State
MS, Virginia Tech
Brian Beres
Biology
Science, Grades 4/5
Math, Grades 5/6
BS, University of Virginia
PhD, Arizona State University
JuLong Zhao
AP Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Economics
BS, University of London & Singapore University of Social Sciences
MS, Texas A&M University
Bryan Burk
AP Statistics, Algebra & Geometry, Engineering Design
BS, Ohio State University
MS, Colorado State University
bburk@wcdsva.org
Elizabeth Monseur
AP US History
BS, James Madison University
MEd, George Mason University
Post Graduate, American Military University
Mimi Ginsberg
Kerrie Mullany
Julia Carney
Librarian, LS Enrichment Specialist
BA, Goucher College
MEd, Loyola University Maryland
jcarney@wcdsva.org