Welcome and Introduction: Foxcroft's New Employees

Jackie Montero-Sharpe, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, joined us on July 1. Before joining Foxcroft, she served as the Director of Enrollment Management and the Director of International Enrollment at Fork Union Military Academy. Mrs. Montero-Sharpe has a B.A. in Spanish Literature from Sweet Briar College and lives with her husband in Kents Store, VA. 

Dr. Sara Johnson, Assistant Head of School, joined us August 1. Dr. Johnson previously served as the Head of School at The Renaissance School in Charlottesville, VA. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana State University, a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Ph.D. in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Johnson resides on campus with her husband Nic, daughter Mila (a new Foxcroft junior), and her son Kai (who will be a senior at Highland).

Nia Dowling ’22 returns to campus as the Administrative Assistant for the Academic and Admissions Offices, officially joining the Foxcroft team on August 10. Ms. Dowling graduated from William & Mary in May and is very excited to return to the Foxcroft community. She resides on campus and joins the dorm team in Orchard, where she previously served as a whip and head prefect when she was a Foxcroft student. 

Dr. Carrie Gauchat joins us as a STEM teacher for physics. With more than 20 years of experience teaching science and the Physics First model, Dr. Gauchat has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Belmont University, a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Materials Science from Vanderbilt University, and earned her Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University. She joins us from California, where she taught at both Carondelet High School and Las Positas College. Dr. Gauchat is excited to be back closer to her family in Nashville. She resides on campus and will serve on the Dillon dorm team. 

Ashley Clendenen, STEM teacher for math, joins us from the Oak Hill School in Herndon, VA. Ms. Clendenen has taught and tutored physics and math and was a Camp Director and Coding & Robotics Instructor and Camp Counselor at Space Adventure Camp, VASFA. Ms. Clendenen earned her B.S. in Math and Applied Physics from Pacific Lutheran University, and her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Ms. Clendenen resides in Ranson, WV, and joins the dorm team in Stuart. 

Austin Morgan is our new History teacher who joins us from Cheyenne, WY. With a B.A. in Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of Wyoming and a J.D. in Criminal & Constitutional Law from Georgetown University, Mr. Morgan has spent time working in law offices in Chicago and Washington, DC, and taught in high school and at the University of Wyoming. Mr. Morgan resides on campus and will be part of the Stuart dorm team. 

Zoe Zollinger joins us as our new School Counselor. Ms. Zollinger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Virginia and Maryland with experience supporting adolescents and young adults. She is skilled in crisis intervention, social-emotional development, and collaborative care with a passion for helping students build resilience, self-awareness, and healthy coping skills. Ms. Zollinger holds a B.S. in Communication/Public Relations from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. She resides in Leesburg.

During New Faculty/Staff Orientation, additional faculty and staff members who joined the team last year were also involved, including Director of the Equestrian Center Merrily Quincoces, Director of the Mars STEAM Building Dr. Christine de Denus, School Store Coordinator and Business Office Assistant Katie Bentz, and Accountant Anna Stevens, building upon their own Foxcroft experiences from the spring semester. In addition to continuing as the Director of the Mars STEAM Building, Dr. de Denus will also teach chemistry this year.