Summer Professional Development for Faculty, Staff, and Administrators

NAIS Institute for New Heads

In July, Head of School Dr. Lisa Kaenzig attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Institute for New Heads in Atlanta, GA. Drawing from a national perspective, this Institute gives incoming and second-year Heads “the knowledge of seasoned heads, the understanding and support of fellow new heads, and the tools to thrive as a leader.” Upon her completion of the Institute, Dr. Kaenzig reflected, “I am very excited to take all that I have learned back to the remarkable Foxcroft School community!”

Institutes, Conferences, and Workshops

Multiple faculty, staff, and administrators attended various institutes, conferences, and workshops to enhance their skills and understanding in a variety of topics. From reading and scoring AP exams and completing online coursework to traveling abroad to Taiwan, Canada, and Anguilla to strengthen curriculum, programs, and partnerships, the professional development activities were vast and varied:

• Director of The Innovation Lab and History teacher Alex Northrup traveled to Taiwan to participate in the "Taiwan: Layers of History & Identity" Summer Study Tour, which is sponsored by the Program for Teaching East Asia, the Five College Center for East Asian Studies, and the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia.
• Director of STEAM Education and STEM Department Chair Dr. Lindsay Anderson attended the Chesapeake Bay Climate Institute and participated in several online programs.
• History Department Chair Stephanie Young ’00 participated in the College Board AP Reading and scored the AP World History Exam. 
• STEM teacher Amina Hussein attended the Mathematics and Computer Science AP Summer Institute. 
• STEM teacher Hazal Mohammed attended the online 2025 Conceptual Physics Institute, virtually attended the AP Summer Institute at the University of Central Florida, and assisted the College Board with AP Reading and scoring the AP Physics Exam.
• STEM teacher Dr. James Sweeney attended the AP Summer Institute for Calculus BC.
• French teacher Alex Barrett traveled to Canada for a five-week immersive French course in Québec City, Québec.
• Latin teacher Megan Barrett attended the American Classical League Annual Conference and AP Latin Summer Institute. 
• English teacher Becca Paulisch attended Folger Shakespeare Library’s Summer Academy 2025: “The Magic of Macbeth” in Washington, DC.
• English and History teacher Patti Mora ’95 completed two online programs offered through Facing History. 
• Dean of Inclusive Excellence Ranata Davis was a presenter at the VAIS Teaching and Learning Institute and attended several online programs offered by Facing History.
• Dean of Academics and English Department Chair Steve McCarty completed an online course through the Association for Academic Leaders.
• Members of the Office of Student Life — Dean of Students Jodi Campbell, Associate Dean of Residential Life Annette Meinheit, and Associate Dean of Student Experience Catherine Massar attended the Stanley King Institute in Colorado.
• From the Admission Office, Director of Admission, Access, and Inclusion Krystyna Martin attended the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP) Institute in Bethesda, MD. Director of International Student Services and Recruitment Kate Tomaskovic and Enrollment Coordinator and Athletic Liaison Larisa Bierman ’20 attended The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Summer Institute for Admissions in Farmington, CT. Tomaskovic also participated in the NAIS Institute on Intercultural Dialogue in Washington, DC.
• Members of the Communications and Marketing Department — Director of Communications and Marketing Bethany Stotler, Assistant Director of Publications and Storytelling Christine McCrehin, and Digital Media Specialist Ginny Riley — attended Finalsite University in Orlando, FL, where Stotler co-presented two sessions.

Sharing Expertise & Building Partnerships

Some of our faculty and staff members shared their expertise while building connections with independent school colleagues and community partners:

• Director of Enrollment Management and Community Engagement Trey Adams and Senior Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid Rhea Hyatt traveled to Chatham Hall, another all-girls boarding school in Virginia, to network with their Admission team and continue developing a VAIS boarding schools Admission cohort.
• Hyatt also joined Athletic Director Michelle Woodruff to visit the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) as Foxcroft expands its partnership with the ATA to create pathways for learning, leadership, and service.

Lifelong Learning

Sophia Griswold, known to students as "Nurse Sophia," graduated in June with a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, from Purdue Global Online in Indiana.