Leadership, Faculty & Staff

• • Johns Hopkins University, MAT, Elementary Education
• • Gettysburg College, B.A., Psychology

Erin Holden is a seasoned educator and professional development expert leading Springdale Preparatory School as it opens its lower school program. She is leading the implementation of a project-based curriculum with assessment based on authentic observation of children engaged in play and exploration. She is implementing proven educational tools based on research and best practices and approaches teaching and learning at Springdale with that innovation at the forefront. She aims to fully engage families in their child's education and experience from the moment they join the Springdale program. Before joining Springdale Preparatory, Holden served as a professional development network trainer for Teaching Strategies, LLC, in Bethesda, Maryland. She filled several roles within the curriculum publishing company over a 12-year period. She also served as a classroom teacher and teacher assistant in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and at independent schools in Trenton, New Jersey, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Holden brings extensive experience in professional development, coaching and mentoring to Springdale’s teachers, coaches and administrators, and will lead the school’s in-service training program.

• • University of West Florida, Master of Science, Educational Leadership
• • Troy State University, Bachelor of Science, Business Management
• • Wallace Junior College, Associate of Arts, Juvenile Delinquency

Tyrone Johnson is an experienced independent school dean who has served upper and middle independent schools. For 17 years, he held a variety of positions at Whitefield Academy in Mableton, Georgia. As dean of students, he managed upper school disciplinary programs, monitored academic enhancement programs and mentored male students as a form of discipleship. He also interviewed and trained new teachers in classroom management and provided leadership and direction for the upper school advisory system. He oversaw the honor council for the upper school and coordinated all academic support details for student athletes. In addition, Johnson served Whitefield as the head varsity boys basketball head coach, and he serves as Springdale Preparatory School’s inaugural boys basketball coach this fall. For Whitefield, he was program director of the upper school and middle school basketball programs. He developed and implemented training programs for assistant coaches and players, managed team schedules and budgets and prepared players for post-secondary competition. Johnson also served as assistant athletic director, and coordinated all basketball department activities including eligibility compliance, administrative support, and physical education department management. Among Johnson’s most recent coaching accomplishments are Region 6A Coach of the Year in 2017, Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Final Four in 2015 and 2016, state runner up in 2014, and in 2012, GHSA state champions, Georgia Sports Writer Coach of the Year and Marietta Daily Journal Coach of the Year.

• • 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

Jill Krebs, Ph.D., an experienced academic counselor and program director who has published educational journal articles and ethnography, will serve as dean of Curriculum and Instruction beginning July 1. Krebs has spent more than 10 years in the educational arena, as instructor, learning specialist, academic counselor, program coordinator and director of various programs at several colleges on the East Coast. She looks forward to guiding the student population at Springdale as they learn and grow through their experiences, successes and failures, and prepare themselves to tackle life’s challenges as adults in our demanding and changing world.

• • University of Houston, Executive MBA
• • Price Waterhouse School of Business, Vevey, Switzerland
• • Gettysburg College, BA, Business Administration

D. Arthur Seibel is a seasoned business leader experienced in guiding corporate operations, strategic planning, expansion planning and executive management for a variety of organizations. His reputation is based on his creative and compliant approach to financial management both domestically and overseas. He has served in a variety of executive management positions for firms in industries ranging from banking, manufacturing, clothing, investment management and consulting. He holds board leadership and fellowship credentials from the National Association of Corporate Directors, is a certified public accountant through the Maryland State Board of Public Accountancy, and a certified financial planner through the CFP Board.

• • Loyola College, M.Ed., Educational Management and Supervision
• • Kenyon College, BA, Liberal Arts/Psychology

Glenn Singer has extensive experience in the leadership and advancement of independent schools, including expertise in managing a multi-faceted admissions process from inquiry to application to testing to admissions decisions. He builds strong relationships with parents, administration, and students, as witnessed in his multiple roles throughout his 25-plus years working in independent schools. He has served leadership positions in development, admissions and as Assistant Head of School, and looks forward to welcoming Springdale’s first students this fall, as well as building long-term relationships with students and their families.

School 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.

• • Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Sociology
• • Human Resources Certification Institute – Senior in Professional Human Resources
• • Society for Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional

Danna L. Blum is a human resources leader with a strong record of achievement in a wide range of HR areas including benefits and compensation, policies and procedures, recruitment and development, performance management, employee relations, legal compliance and conflict resolution. For more than 20 years, she has worked closely with executive management on strategic initiatives in order to further corporate goals in a variety of settings. Most recently, she served as HR project lead for Change, Inc., where she configured, implemented and managed HR systems and provided HR management support in employee relations, benefit administration and training. She served The Arc of Carroll County as director of human resources for eight years, directing staff recruiting, employee relations, EEO and Worker’s Compensation. Blum holds senior level certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), and serves on the board of directors of the Carroll County SHRM, currently as president.

• • Cal State at Fresno, Master of Science, Clinical Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling
• • Bennett College for Women, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

For more than 15 years, Michaela King has advocated for children and adults in a variety of situations of need. As a social worker for Fresno County Child Welfare, King advocated for abused and neglected children. She also served as a rehabilitation counselor for an adult facility in Novato, California, and a youth counselor in Floral City, Florida. She has a passion for helping individuals better themselves through reflective insight and confidence in personal strengths and abilities.

After gaining experience as a chef and manager in many different venues along the East Coast, David Luscher joins Springdale Preparatory School as lead chef. His goal is to develop a culinary program that uses fresh ingredients and offers creative and healthy menu options that excites students, parents, and faculty. Luscher’s food service career spans school culinary management and restaurant executive chef experience. Prior to joining Springdale Prep, he spent more than seven years with Metz Culinary Management, where he assisted in developing the company’s food standards and received multiple awards.  He was chef and manager at the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a private, college preparatory day school for students from pre-K to grade 12.  He implemented many new programs, including a food composting program and a salsa garden where students were able to grow, cook, and eat their own produce.  His success there resulted in a promotion to general manager at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania.  He redesigned the culinary program by introducing new menus and cooking stations, and implementing a “cooking from scratch” approach.  After many years in school services, Luscher was offered the executive chef position at The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center and joined Centerplate, a recognized leader in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he was the executive chef and member of the Sodexo team at McDaniel College. He is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York.  Luscher worked for two renowned restaurants in Orlando, Florida. Victoria and Albert’s, one of 57 restaurants in the United States rated four-star and five-diamond, and the California Grill was rated Zagat’s #1 restaurant for more than 10 years. He also launched a successful personal chef company while in Orlando.

As director of institutional advancement, Neal Roop is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive institutional advancement programs, including annual fund, corporate and foundation relations, major gifts and gift planning, endowments, capital campaigns, and alumni and constituent relations efforts. Roop works closely with the Carroll Community Foundation to supplement tuition for students in Carroll County through the Supporting Potential Scholars Fund and generate funds to support future construction on the New Windsor school campus. Roop joined Springdale Preparatory School in July 2017 in an administrative capacity. Previously, he served in an administrative capacity with the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Corporation, an organization that promotes, advocates for and represents the interests of the volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical service of Carroll County. He supported organization officers and members and acted as a liaison for the organization to the Carroll County government and performed strategic planning and auditing functions for the organization. In addition, he managed injury reporting and coordination and claim verification with insurance companies. Also, he developed and implemented new and existing programs, regulations and policies in accordance with best practices. Previously, Roop served for eight years as a manager for the Carroll Area Transit System, which provides human services transportation to all persons with disabilities, low income and seniors who need specialized services above what is available through the county’s public service provider. Roop currently is serving for his 9th year as mayor of New Windsor, serving as the town representative and advocate. In this capacity, he supervises financial decisions, future locality planning and public relations. He is a member of Leadership Carroll through the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, holds PennSCORE Master Trainer Certification through PennTRAIN-PennSCORE and is an advanced Public Information Officer (PIO) through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Chris Wooden joins Springdale as the head varsity baseball coach, bringing with him years of experience as both a former college, high school and travel player. Most recently, he served as travel team coach and varsity high school assistant coach. With proven success as an individual skills coach to players of multiple ages, Wooden is dedicated building a strong, competitive baseball program that not only advances team members athletically, but also develops character both on and off the field. Building individual skills, fostering team mentality, and teaching game strategy are important aspects of the program he runs. His belief that participation in high school athletics teaches valuable life lessons, such as leadership and respect, drives him to help players learn from the wins as well as the losses and to uphold Springdale’s values of respect, lifelong learning, and innovation. Wooden is a Level 1 Accredited Interscholastic Coach as well as a Level 2 Certified Interscholastic Coach through the National Federation of State High School Associations.

• • Cornell University, MBA
• • University of Maryland College Park, Master of Science, Chemistry
• • Peking University (Bejing, China), Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

As Dual Diploma Program director, Yuan collaborates with Head of School Graham and Dean Krebs to ensure that Dual Diploma Program students from the World Foreign Language School (WFLS) in Shanghai, China, engage in a comprehensive American cultural experience while completing completing summer curricular requirements at Springdale Preparatory School. Additionally, Yuan leads all aspects of WFLS student care and safety during each cohort's stay at SPS. Beginning in Summer 2018, cohorts of students from World Foreign Language School in Shanghai, China will take Springdale Preparatory School courses in New Windsor. In subsequent summers, WFLS students who have satisfied SPS Dual Diploma Program requirements, will be awarded a Springdale Preparatory School diploma and their Chinese International Baccalaureate certificate in a unique Shanghai ceremony.