STEM at Foxcroft

STEM at Foxcroft

Inspiring girls to pursue 21st-century science, math, engineering, and tech skills

Inquiry
Discovery
Mastery

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In the 21st century, the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are critical. At Foxcroft, they are also fun. You might learn physics by coding a Sphero robot to move through a maze or improve your computer skills by creating an arcade game. Put on a hard hat and see how engineers, architects, and contractors build a new dorm. Program a drone in our STEM club.

Our STEM teachers are passionate about their subjects. They are also inspiring role models — our seven STEM teachers are women and two of them have doctorates. They bring energy and enthusiasm to your class with real-life applications, inquiry-based assignments, hands-on projects, and cool technology tools. These workshops, internships, seminars and presentations with STEM professionals will open your mind.

In and out of the classroom at Foxcroft, science, technology, engineering and math are inspiring!

STEM is for Girls!

Research shows that attending an all-girls school affects students’ interest and success in STEM fields. Here’s a look at graduates of independent girls’ schools as compared to girls who graduated from coed independent schools:

List of 4 items.

6x

more likely to
major in math,
science & technology
3x

more likely
to consider
engineering careers
10%

more confident
in their
computer ability
11%

more confident
in their
mathematical ability

At Foxcroft, more than 30 percent of recent graduates chose STEM fields as their majors in college.

– Betsy ’21

“I was interested in STEM before coming to Foxcroft, and my interest has only grown with all the opportunities available here.”

– Cathy McGehee, Head of School

“Our school is leading the way in STEM education for girls by encouraging our students in record numbers to participate in computer science.”

– Gabriela ’15, 2nd year Computer Science major

“At Foxcroft, I learned to speak my mind and value my own voice, giving me the strength to pursue an interest in a primarily male-dominated field.”

News

STEM Presents: Sandra Joyce Talks Cybersecurity
11/19/2021
by Helen V. ’23, Club Head of CyberPatriot

The CyberPatriot team partnered with the STEM Department to host our first STEM talk of the year, as part of the “STEM Presents” speaker series. On November 11, Ms. Sandra Joyce talked to a group of students who are interested in STEM and cybersecurity. Ms. Joyce is in the Air Force and currently serves as the EVP and Head of Global Intelligence at Mandiant. She spoke about her childhood and the impactful time she spent as an exchange student in the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program in Germany. She also shared about her own education and career journey in the cybersecurity field and her time in national security.
Read more >>
Goose Creek Family Festival — An EPIC Challenge
9/24/2021
By Julie Fisher, Fine Arts Department Chair

This past weekend, the Goose Creek Association (GCA) was finally able to host their Family Festival at the Aldie Mill. After having to postpone the event for a full year due to the pandemic, the GCA was able to safely celebrate the 50th anniversary of Goose Creek being designated as a Scenic River.

Back in 2020, the GCA partnered with our engineering class to design interactive displays to teach individuals from all age groups about how they can help preserve and protect Goose Creek, which runs through our campus. Our engineering course is designed to implement a curriculum developed by Purdue University known as EPICS, which stands for Engineering Projects in Community Service. Each semester, this class collaboratively designs a solution that solves a particular need in the community.
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Sharing Static Electricity Magic Tricks with Banneker Elementary Students
5/14/2021
From Kristine Varney, Director of STEM Education

For their final project, physics students were asked to demonstrate their understanding of static electricity. Using their knowledge of physics, students were asked to make a video demonstrating a static electricity magic trick then explain to the viewers both how to do the trick at home as well as the physics behind it. We definitely have some future YouTube and TikTok stars in our midst!
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Competitors "Code for Good" During Foxcroft’s 10th Annual STEM Challenge
2/26/2021
Run as a virtual event for the first time, Foxcroft’s 10th Annual STEM Challenge drew 48 middle school and 36 high school students from around the country and globe to compete for prizes on February 20. Designed for middle and high school girls, participants used their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math in challenges revolving around this year’s theme of “Code for Good.” This annual challenge showcases Foxcroft's innovative and appealing focus on the STEM fields and allows girls to develop collaborative skills working with others and gain confidence in fields so often dominated by boys.
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Foxcroft Earns Dual AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award
1/29/2021
Foxcroft has been recognized as one of two schools in Virginia and only 56 in the world to earn the prestigious College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in both AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) courses during the 2019-20 academic year.

This is the third academic year in a row that the School has received an AP Female Diversity Award. The two prior Awards were for AP CSA during the 2018-19 academic year and AP CSP for the 2017-18 academic year.
Read more >>

STEM at Foxcroft, in a glimpse

STEM at Foxcroft School
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Useful Links

Contact

List of 7 members.

Kristine Varney

Director of STEM Education

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A native Pennsylvanian, Kristine has taught and served as a teacher leader in a variety of school settings. Her passion for teaching developed as a student at Middlebury College, where she earned her B.A. in Physics. It was there, as one of only a handful of female physics majors, that she became committed to making physics and STEM accessible to all. Kristine has also earned an M.A. in Teaching from Duke University and an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education.

Prior to coming to Foxcroft, Kristine taught physics and math in public schools in Brooklyn, NY, for six years and served as the Upper School Physics Teacher and Science Department Chair at the Emery/Weiner School in Houston, TX, for five years. She joined the Foxcroft faculty as the Director of STEM Education in 2018, bringing a collaborative, mission-driven approach to leadership and a student-centered, inquiry-based philosophy of teaching.

Interested in the intersection of music and physics, Kristine has taught several summer courses on the science of music. She currently sings with Voce Chamber Singers in Vienna, VA, and enjoys yoga and cooking in her spare time.
Meghen Tuttle

STEM, Wellness Education Coordinator, Dorm Parent

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Meghen Tuttle came to Foxcroft from her home city of Los Angeles, CA. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2002 from the University of Southern California in classical voice with a minor in neuroscience. While continuing her professional work as a classical musician, Meghen pursued a Ph.D. in neuroscience (2014) under the direction of Drs. Antonio and Hanna Damasio. Her doctoral studies at USC's Brain and Creativity Institute focused on the broad field of music neuroscience, culminating with her dissertation, entitled “Majoring in Music: How Conservatory Training Changes the Brain.”

It was during graduate school that Meghen found her passion for teaching, through 12 semesters of teaching labs and discussion sections for USC undergraduates, many guest lectures, and work as an education consultant. Meghen firmly believes that, while primary research is vital, communicating the relevancy of that research, both in an educational setting and outside of the ivory tower of academia, is absolutely critical if one hopes to make a difference in society.

Meghen joined the Foxcroft faculty in August 2014 and teaches Biology, AP Biology, and several electives in Neuroscience. In 2016, she added Wellness Education Coordinator to her portfolio and now also teaches the Freshman Wellness class; leads specialized Wellness seminars for New Girls, sophomores, juniors, and seniors; and identifies and brings in Wellness speakers for the community, among other things. Meghen organizes the annual Wellness Weekend and is constantly planning new Wellness offerings to further the development of this vibrant program.

She lives in Stuart Dormitory, where she serves as a dorm parent, with her husband Jay Tuttle, son Jack, and dog, King Louis XIV.
Katie Hergenreder

STEM, Animal Science Concentration Coordinator, Dorm Parent

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Katie Hergenreder worked as a private tutor, teaching assistant, and radiation oncology research assistant at the University of Maryland Medical Center before joining the Foxcroft faculty in 2016 to teach physics and math and run the Learning Center’s STEM Lab. She also teaches Animal Science and Equine Science as part of the Animal Science Concentration program which Katie developed and coordinates.

Katie’s STEM skills and interests include computer programming and robotics along with math and physics. She is also a Tae Kwon Do black belt and was a member of the University of Maryland's Equestrian Club, serving as the Director of Lessons. She earned her M.Ed. from Vanderbilt Peabody College in the summer of 2021.

Katie lives on campus, is a member of the Dillon Dorm team, and has a lovable yellow-lab mix dog named Khaki. She enjoys reading and riding her pony, Charlie, off campus.
Rylee Simmons

STEM, Dance Instructor, Dorm Parent

540-687-4303
Lindsay Anderson

STEM

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Lindsay Anderson grew up in a small coastal town in Rhode Island, where she developed a passion for the ocean. After receiving a B.S. in marine science and biology at The University of Tampa, she returned to Rhode Island to continue her studies of the ocean. Here she investigated human impacts on coastal environments, receiving M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. Following graduate school, Lindsay completed a postdoctoral fellowship at San Francisco State University and eventually became a grant-funded scientist.

Throughout her undergraduate and graduate education, post-doctoral fellowship, and science career, Lindsay spent much of her free time involved in outreach and education. Through local universities and non-profit organizations, she helped to spread the word about human impacts on coastal environments and encouraged people of all ages to build an appreciation of and a love for the ocean.

While the ocean is still Lindsay’s passion, this work helped Lindsay discover her true calling as a teacher. In 2014 Lindsay switched to teaching full-time, and prior to coming to Foxcroft, she has taught biology and physics at all girl’s Catholic schools in California and Houston.

Lindsay lives in Lodge with her husband Eric, son Everett, and dog Konza. The Anderson family loves to spend time outside and make their way to the ocean as often as possible.
Thanh Chau "Jade" Do

STEM

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Thanh Chau (Jade) Do joins the Foxcroft faculty in Fall 2021 as a Math teacher, Dorm parent in Orchard, and Robotics coach. A recent graduate of the University of Miami with degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, Jade spent the last year at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Miami, FL, teaching math and computer science, as well as co-supervising the underwater robotics club.

In her free time, Jade loves to learn about traditional culture and arts, as well as participating in community services.
James Sweeney

STEM Teacher

Math Science & Technology

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Engineering

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STEM

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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.

Foxcroft School, 22407 Foxhound Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 | Phone: 540.687.5555