Teachers
Our teachers are here because of their love of teaching and dedication to the GWCS community. Master teachers lead core courses and a wide array of electives with an innovative spin. We focus on authentic learning, writing across the curriculum and lively discussion and debate. We avoid busy work and isolating tasks.
Our faculty teach students to do their best work by motivating and challenging them while remaining compassionate and approachable.
Ms. Alexa Warden - Director
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Ms. Warden was born into an educational community: her parents were teachers and administrators at the McLaren School in upstate New York , where one of her passions was early evident (her first word was “Doggie”). She grew up in Northern Virginia and attended George Mason University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies.
Mr. Richard Goldie - Assistant Director
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Dawn sees me shooting jump shots--
running with children a third of my age.
Morning greats me with another fresh reading;
the U.S. Constitution never fails to amaze me.
at break i drink Pepsi,
i don’t have to stay young--
i have to stay energized!
Mr. Michael Mallonee - Dean of Students
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Mr. Mallonee was born on Halloween eve in Crusherton, VA. On his first day of school, he told his mom he was an 'outside person' and didn't want to go to school. Reports differ on whether or not he ever did go to school unless you count West Virginia University or George Mason University. He has worked as a counselor for schools for his whole career including Accotink Academy where he became head behavior crisis counselor.
Ms. Cassie Sinichko - Administrative Director
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Ms. Sinichko was born and raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh , PA. She has two younger brothers and mom and dad who all still live in Pennsylvania . Mrs. Sinichko graduated from Principia College in Elsah , IL with degrees in Elementary Education and Sociology. The first five years out of college were spent in Colorado where she met her husband, worked for a Youth Organization and as Asst. Director for a Child Development Center.
Ms. Lisa Bowen
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Ms. Bowen has been a Woodbridge , VA native for her entire life. A graduate of Hilton High School and George Mason University , Ms. Bowen is currently enrolled in the Masters program in Education at GMU. In addition to teaching Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Art, Ms. Bowen is the keeper of the Ronald McDonald House flame, and creates backdrops for GW's school plays.
Mr. Timothy Connelly
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Mr. Connelly was born right outside of Detroit, Michigan (Go Lions!) and then quickly moved on to Sweden, Thailand and Germany. He finally settled back in the states where he went to The College of William and Mary for a BA in History and then Virginia Tech for his MA in Education.
Dr. Caroline Cox
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Dr. Cox grew up in Arlington and graduated from H.B. Woodlawn Secondary school . She studied theater at Boston University for a year, and then wound up in California and graduated from UCLA with a BS in Astrophysics. She received her MS and PhD in Astronomy from the University of Michigan , followed by research and teaching at the University of Virginia for a few years. She has been at GWCS since 2000.
Ms. Jordana Eisen
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Ms. Eisen has loved art and making things for as long as she can remember. Ms. Eisen grew up in Fairfax, VA and completed a Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in Printmaking at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C. (Across the street from the White House.)
Mr. Gary Lindner
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Mr. Lindner was born in DC and raised in Kensington, MD. Following high school he studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Stanford University (in California, in Paris, France and in Vienna, Austria), with a 2-year church mission in between, earning a BA in French Literature and a MA in Education...
Mr. Daniel Pereira
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Mr. Pereira was born in the hometown of Robert Louis Stevenson. He grew up where Ken Kesey attended college, and then spent a year living next to a house formerly inhabited by Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. He went to high school in the town Judy Blume wrote about in a book which is currently 8th on the list of most-banned books in America...
Ms. Wendi Shumard
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Ms. Shumard was born and raised in Southern Ohio where she first discovered her love of literature. After studying abroad during high school in Eupen, Belgium, she decided to pursue her love of literature at the university level.
Mr. Alejandro Torres
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Mr. Torres was born in Santiago, Chile. Two of his older siblings as well as his father are also educators. He must have developed his interest in social science and language early on, because at age 8 he started his own "household newspaper", which he filled with stories about family pets, the comings and goings of various relatives, and reports on the weather.
Mr. Michael Vanya
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coming soon... stay tuned!
Jimmy the Dog
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My name is Jimmy. I am a very tall, very chill, black American Labrador Retriever and I am the son of two ESPN champions! My birthday is April 15, 2005.
