Staff Directory
Belkis Aponte
Grade 1 Teacher
baponte@geds.org
B.A., Elementary Education, Interamerican University,
Rio Piedras (Puerto Rico)
At Grace Since 2016
Christine Comas
Director of Innovation; Science & Technology Teacher; Grade 4 Associate
ccomas@geds.org
B.A., Environmental Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
M.Ed., Elementary Education, Arcadia University
At Grace Since 2010
Elizabeth Cosby
Grade 2 Associate
B.A., English and Educational Studies, Dickinson College
M.Ed., Elementary Education, The George Washington University
ecosby@geds.org
At Grace Since 2020
Jennifer Danish
Head of School
jdanish@geds.org
B.A., Philosophy, Bryn Mawr
M.A., English, Middlebury College
At Grace Since 2016
Emily Gould
Art Teacher
B.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago
egould@geds.org
At Grace Since 2017
Jennifer Hamilton
Preschool/Prekindergarten Teacher
jhamilton@geds.org
B.S., Family Studies, University of Maryland
At Grace Since 1999
Gavin Hymes
Spanish Teacher (K-5)
ghymes@geds.org
B.A., English / B.A., Spanish, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Ed. M., Teaching and Curriculum, Harvard University
At Grace Since 2010
Kate Kelliher
Grade 2 Teacher
kkelliher@geds.org
B.A., American Culture, University of Michigan
M.P.P., Georgetown University
At Grace Since 2016
Katelyn Labarre
Grade 3 Teacher
klabarre@geds.org
B.S., Elementary Education, Westfield State University
At Grace Since 2019
Melissa Lafionatis
Director of Learning Support
mlafionatis@geds.org
B.S., Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles, University of Kentucky
M.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, James Madison University
At Grace Since 2018
Luigi LaPietra
Grade 5 Teacher
Llapietra@geds.org
B.A., English, Johns Hopkins University
M.A.T., Elementary Education, Johns Hopkins University
At Grace Since 2012
Marisa Martucci
PE: Yoga and Mindfulness
mmartucci@geds.org
B.A., Early Childhood Education, Normal Nro 1 Alicia Moreau de Justo (Argentina)
At Grace Since 2004
Mariano Mazza
Kindergarten Assistant
mmazza@geds.org
A.A., Teaching (Early Childhood/Special Education), Montgomery College
At Grace Since 2013
Amanda Mendez
Music and Movement
amendez@geds.org
B.A., Theater Performance, University of Maryland
90 Hour ECE Certification, Montgomery College
At Grace Since 2020
Jeanna Meyer
Kindergarten Teacher
jmeyer@geds.org
B.A., Child Development, Maryville College
At Grace Since 2020
Noelle McHugh
Executive Assistant
nmchugh@geds.org
B.A., History, Davidson College
At Grace Since 2015
Jason Murphy
Grade 4 Teacher
jmurphy@geds.org
B.S., University of Maryland Global College
A.S., Mathematics, Montgomery College
At Grace Since 2020
Kathleen Murray
Director of Advancement
kmurray@geds.org
B.A., English, Case Western Reserve University
At Grace Since 2014
Shalonda Newman
Grade 5 Assistant
snewman@geds.org
At Grace Since 2015
Karen O'Connor-Floman
Assistant Head for Enrollment, Variable Tuition, and Communications
karen@geds.org
B.A., English, Presbyterian College
M.Phil., Anglo-Irish Literature, Trinity College Dublin
Ph.D., English, The George Washington University
At Grace Since 2016
Linda Range
Business Manager
lrange@geds.org
B.B.A., The George Washington University
At Grace Since 2013
Chris Saffour
Preschool/Prekindergarten Assistant
csaffour@geds.org
At Grace Since 2014
Renee Stewart
School Counselor
rstewart@geds.org
B.A., English, Trinity University DC
MSW, Howard University School of Social Work
At Grace Since 2019
Susan Thon
School Chaplain
sthon@geds.org
A.B., Cornell University
J.D., Cornell University Law School
M.Div., General Theological Seminary
At Grace Since 2017
Sue Whitaker
Academic Assistant; Grade 1 Associate
swhitaker@geds.org
A.S., Physical Education, Acadia University (Canada)
At Grace Since 2017
Pam Yarrington
Assistant Head for Academics
pyarrington@geds.org
B.S., Early Childhood Education, University of Maryland
At Grace Since 2010