photo Julia Grossman
Name: John Reaves
Position/Subject: 10th grade English
College attended: Virginia Commonwealth University
Years teaching: This is my very first year!
Hometown: Richmond – I’m a 2007 Eagle.
Favorite subject as a kid: English
Hobbies: Filmmaking, going to the dog park, gardening, and tech decking (finger skateboards; I’m too old to skateboard for real.)
Favorite book: Either “Perfume” by Patrick Suskind or “The Passion” by Jeanette Winterson. It’s hard to choose because both have really cool, dark plots featuring historical aspects and magical realism.
Favorite movie: “That Thing You Do!”, a 1960s rock’n’roll romcom, or something from the French New Wave. Too many to name!
What is an interesting fact about you? I lived in New York City for four years, where I met my wife.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: Spend time outside before you do your homework every day.
Name: Eric Hilton
photo Julia Grossman
Position/Subject: 9th grade health and physical education
College attended: North Greenville University
Years teaching: 16
Hometown: Kershaw, S.C.
Favorite subject as a kid: Math
Hobbies: Hanging out with my family, coaching, and an occasional round of golf
Favorite book: “The Heart of Leadership” by Mark Miller
Favorite movie: “Cars 3”
What is an interesting fact about you? I am the son-in-law of Penny Stevens, who is also a health and physical education teacher at Godwin.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” – Billy Graham
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Julia A. Malak
Position/Subject: Algebra II and Research Analytics II
College attended: Virginia Commonwealth University
Years teaching: 13
Hometown: Hampshire, ILL.
Favorite subject as a kid: Math
Hobbies: Gardening, reading, and cross-stitching
Favorite book: “Time Enough for Love” by Robert Heinlein and/or “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield
Favorite movie: “Lethal Weapon 3”
What is an interesting fact about you? I spent two weeks at NASA’s Langley Research Center participating in their MODSIM Teacher Institute.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: ”Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa
photo courtesy Cynthia Schoonover
Name: Cynthia Schoonover
Position/Subject: Latin
College attended: Westhampton College of the University of Richmond
Years teaching: 27
Hometown: Richmond
Favorite subject as a kid: English
Hobbies: Sewing, crafts, reading, and motorcycling
Favorite book: “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe” by Fannie Flagg
Favorite movie: “Fried Green Tomatoes”
What is an interesting fact about you? I got my M3 motorcycle endorsement this summer, so now I am learning to ride my Harley Tri-glide (trike).
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: Be yourself and do your best.
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Kelly Ostrom
Position/Subject: Center for Medical Sciences Director teaching Medical Biology and Honors Biology
College attended: Virginia Commonwealth University
Years teaching: 20
Hometown: Manasass
Favorite subject as a kid: Science
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, which usually means watching them play volleyball
Favorite book: “The Notebook” or anything by Nicholas Sparks
Favorite movie: “The Sound of Music”
What is an interesting fact about you? I like to kickbox.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: Think like a proton and stay positive.
Name: Suzanne Stockman
photo Julia Grossman
Position/Subject: Librarian
College attended: Old Dominion, William and Mary, and Longwood University
Years teaching: 26
Hometown: Suffolk
Favorite subject as a kid: History
Hobbies: Reading, traveling, and hiking
Favorite book: “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
Favorite movie: “The Princess Bride”
What is an interesting fact about you? I saw the eclipse in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: “You are stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” – Dr. Suess
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Todd Coolidge
Position/Subject: Theatre arts teacher/director
College attended: Allegheny College (History), SUNY Geneseo (Teaching), and NYU (Theatre)
Years teaching: 20+
Hometown: Dennisville, N.J.
Favorite subject as a kid: History
Hobbies: Reading, hiking, and traveling
Favorite book: “The Razor’s Edge” by W. Somerset Maugham
Favorite movie: Depends on my mood! “The Graduate”, “Waiting for Guffman”, “The Princess Bride”, and anything with Spencer Tracy
What is an interesting fact about you? I once had a conversation with Matt Damon about donuts.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” – John Keating, “Dead Poets Society”.
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Shari R. Beazley
Position/Subject: Art
College attended: Virginia Commonwealth University
Years teaching: 20
Hometown: Bowling Green
Favorite subject as a kid: Art
Hobbies: Crafts, painting, and refinishing furniture
Favorite book: “Little Women” by Lousia May Alcott
Favorite movie: “Top Gun”
What is an interesting fact about you? I have taught every grade level.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: Begin each day as a new beginning.
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Glen J. Mott
Position/Subject: Algebra 1 and AFDA
College attended: SUNY Potsdam and Longwood University
Years teaching: 12
Hometown: Waterloo, N.Y.
Favorite subject as a kid: Math
Hobbies: Playing sports (volleyball, football, bowling)
Favorite book: “Wheel of Time”, a series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Favorite movie: “Dead Poet’s Society”
What is an interesting fact about you? My entire school district (K-12) was smaller than Godwin High School (9-12).
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: There is no try, only do.
photo Julia Grossman
Name: Maria Villarroel Burruss
Position/Subject: Department leader, and Spanish III and IV
College attended: Universidad Católica Boliviana and Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Years teaching: Seven
Hometown: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Favorite subject as a kid: Psychology
Hobbies: Sleeping, Netflix, traveling, and reading young adult novels
Favorite book: “Papillon” by Henri Charriere
Favorite movie: Many
What is an interesting fact about you? I was on the National Volleyball team in my country for 13 years.
Advice to students for the 2017-18 year: Si se puede! (Yes you can!)
