Leadership, Faculty & Staff
Facilitators at Springdale Preparatory School are hired to guide students to learn through inquiry and experience. They are not traditional teachers; they facilitate the learning process, offering direction, supervision, resources and experience to help students find their way and build on each and every educational and experiential encounter.
Our facilitators enable students to teach themselves, a skill that will guide them throughout their lifetime of learning. They learn to take an opportunity and build on it, to find value in every success and failure and use those lessons to take their study to the next level.
We hire gifted experts in industry, language, the arts and education, individuals who will propel Springdale students to think critically and innovatively in their studies. Additionally, they will encourage mindfulness, an integral part of the educational landscape at Springdale. Our students are well rounded and well prepared to be valued members of the workforce following their study at Springdale and wherever their future path leads.
Johnny Graham
HEAD OF SCHOOL/CEO
- The George Washington University, MA, Educational Leadership
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, BA, History and Afro-American Studies
An experienced educational leader, Johnny Graham joined Springdale Preparatory School in July 2016 as its founding head of school. His diligent efforts are focused on building one of the area’s top boarding schools known around the globe for academic excellence and life preparedness. A boarding school alum himself, Mr. Graham has spent over 20 years immersed in independent school education with roles ranging from Residential Life Director, Summer Programs Director, Varsity Head Basketball Coach and History Department Chair to Dean of Students, Associate Head of School, and Head of School during his service at Christ School (Arden, NC), McCallie School (Chattanooga, TN), The Westminster Schools (Atlanta, GA) and Brandon Hall School (Atlanta, GA). At Springdale Preparatory School, Mr. Graham aims to provide a setting where students will demonstrate growth in academic environments, interpersonal communications, and life skills.
Springdale Preparatory School Leadership
-
Dean of Curriculum and Instruction- • Drew University, Ph.D., University and Religion Program, Sociology of Religion Concentration
- • Towson University, Master of Science, Women’s Studies, Women in an International Context Concentration
- • Western Maryland College (McDaniel College), Bachelor of Arts, Women’s Studies and German
Dean of Residential Life & International Services- • Warner University, MS, Management
- • Monroe College, BS, Business Administration
Chief Operating Officer- • University of Houston, Executive MBA
- • Price Waterhouse School of Business, Vevey, Switzerland
- • Gettysburg College, BA, Business Administration
Admissions Director- • Loyola College, M.Ed., Educational Management and Supervision
- • Kenyon College, BA, Liberal Arts/Psychology
Springdale Preparatory School Faculty
-
World Languages FacilitatorAileen Chun, Ph.D., is the founding World Languages facilitator at Springdale Preparatory School. She leads the development of the World Language program including initial coursework in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, and Chinese, in addition to bringing Arabic to Springdale Prep in 2019. Following high school, she studied abroad in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Russia, England, and China. Chun is known for her work throughout China and Europe in assessment and articulation for multilingual strategies, bilingual/immersion education, and learning differences/special education. She has conducted research in comparative linguistics, literature, and languages. Chun also has specialized in language translation and instruction in the international legal sector. She is a certified instructor for English as a Second Language, AP French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, and International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) courses. Bilingual in Chinese and English, she is also a professional vocalist and thespian.
Arts Learning Facilitator, Academic Office AssistantKrisha Davis joins us as our Administrative Assistant and learning facilitator in the Arts. A working artist, she has served in a variety of artistic capacities for local companies and used media as diverse as computer programs, foam core, insulation foam, cement, plaster, resin and lacquers, wood, and pvc. Her artistic expertise is evident in the projects she has coordinated for her classes, incorporating several artists and genres to integrate artistic skills with cultural understanding among her students. She emphasizes interdisciplinary learning through her approach to teaching art as well as through collaborations with colleagues in various disciplines. Davis also has experience tutoring a variety of subjects in a school setting, including Science, Math, Latin, Geography, History, English, and Art. She has managerial experience and also teaches fitness, motivating her students and creating results in their fitness level and diet.
History Learning FacilitatorMaxon Kasumba is a learning facilitator in the humanities, providing instruction in both history and English. He comes to Springdale Preparatory School from the Boston area, where he served as the history department chairman and soccer coach at a college prep school. He has extensive experience in teaching U.S. history, world history, Rwandan history and religious studies both domestically and internationally. For over nine years, Maxon has worked as a curriculum content specialist contracted by the Government of Rwanda, designing lesson plans and digital content material for middle and uppers school in Rwanda. In addition, he has served as dorm parent and coach at independent schools on the East Coast and abroad. Kasumba earned his instructional training from Makerere University Kampala in Uganda. He is keen to build mentoring relationships with students and to integrate hands-on learning experiences into the classroom, and is committed to tapping outside interests in a variety of areas including athletics, drama, dance, music, photography, robotics, student government and debate teams. He is extremely delighted to be a member of Springdale Preparatory School.
Robotics & Engineering FacilitatorDavid Magaha serves as Springdale Preparatory School’s robotics and engineering specialist. Magaha brings to SPS a Master’s degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University and more than 20 years of experience as a software engineer. He will work to establish the school’s robotics program to include academic instruction and the development of a competitive robotics team, which will compete locally, nationally and internationally.
English Learning FacilitatorKathryn Nichols has served as a seasoned instructor at all educational levels in the homeschool, public and private sector in Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties in Maryland since 1987. She has taught grammar, composition, and literature at the elementary and secondary levels; drama at the high school level; and writing at the college level. An experienced educator, Ms. Nichols incorporates a myriad of strategies to promote student learning and skill-building. Nichols focuses on elevating individual achievement and preparing students for real-world situations, emphasizing a team approach to education by drawing from the strengths and expertise of students, families, faculty, and staff. She believes in strengthening character by investing in students through extracurricular activities and mentor relationships. Nichols earned her master of liberal arts degree from McDaniel College and her undergraduate degree in English and communications from nearby York College of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she volunteers for several local organizations, including Helping Up MIssion, National Association of Caterers, the Taylor Foundation, and Samaritan's Purse.
Science Learning FacilitatorEmily Russell is Springdale Preparatory School’s Science learning facilitator. A dedicated teacher with a proven track record filled with commendations, Russell is known for creative lesson plans, instructional best practices, interactive instruction and experiential learning facilitation. She has experience at multiple grade levels and with many areas in the field of science. She applies this experience to the various projects and topics she leads in her classroom. An innovative thinker, Russell creates interdisciplinary opportunities for her students, including internships, elective courses, and special projects. Russell works collaboratively with colleagues to design unique educational experiences for her students. She serves as mentor for student organizations such as the Animal Club and has pushed herself to become an expert in various areas of student interest, such as minicars, in order to facilitate relevant and interesting learning experiences.
Mathematics FacilitatorSobia Zia brings an interdisciplinary approach to mathematics at Springdale Preparatory School. She collaborates with learning facilitators in other areas to create cross-curricular projects for our students. Zia has experience working with students with learning differences, scaffolding their learning so that they can make step-by-step progress toward learning goals. . Zia received her Master’s degree in statistics at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Springdale Preparatory School Staff
-
School NurseSchool Nurse Carrie Bednarski is focused on the holistic well-being of every child or adult at Springdale Preparatory School. This is defined as treating the "whole person" with mind and body integrated. She aims to promote student health and optimal development as well as academic success through health education, prevention, and awareness programming. Grounded in ethical and evidence based practice, Bednarski strives to provide coordination between staff, parents, and the child. Bednarski has completed nursing practicums in the areas of wound care, hospice care, family birthing, and at the Carroll Community Health Department. Her experience varies from medical surgical nursing with telemetry at Carroll County Hospital to subacute rehabilitation at Lorien Healthcare in Taneytown, and the respiratory ventilation at Lorien Healthcare in Mt. Airy. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in nursing from Stevenson University and is a licensed Registered Nurse through the Maryland Department of Health.
Lead ChefWith a background in childhood nutrition spanning more than 20 years, Kay Davis has designed a program for Springdale Preparatory School that promotes healthy eating as a key component in a student’s learning. In parallel with the mission, vision and values of Springdale Prep, Davis’ healthy, clean menu teaches students lifestyle habits that will sustain lifelong health and learning. Menus at SPS include locally sourced, unprocessed foods that are low sugar and low sodium and without Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Meals follow the USDA My Plate guidelines. Most recently, Davis served as a restaurant management and culinary arts instructor for a state facility. She developed the restaurant management and culinary arts program designed to prepare students for future culinary careers.
Physical Plant DirectorGerald Karn, a seasoned facilities and maintenance professional with more than 40 years of experience serving the mid-Atlantic area, serves as physical plant director for Springdale Preparatory School.
Director of Counseling Services- • Cal State at Fresno, Master of Science, Clinical Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling
- • Bennett College for Women, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Student Services CoordinatorNeal Roop supports the school administration as the conduit in meeting student needs. He connects students with a variety of services and administrators in such areas as counseling, instruction, residential life and athletics, and he assist students with challenges, helping them develop an action plan to address issues.
Dual Diploma Program Director- • Cornell University, MBA
- • University of Maryland College Park, Master of Science, Chemistry
- • Peking University (Bejing, China), Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
RESPECT. LIFELONG LEARNING. INNOVATION.