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

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

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

 

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”.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!)