Head of School, Faculty, Staff
Faculty
Qasarah Bey
Community Problem Solving
It would be difficult to find a better match for our Community Problem Solving class than Ms. Bey. She comes to Seven Hills with a wealth of education and experience around the issues presented in forming and maintaining communities, and she stands ready to bring these fully to bear in the classroom. Qasarah has a rich background in youth leadership and ministry, coordinating a variety of youth programs in Richmond churches and managing their daily operations. Most recently, Ms. Bey designed and implemented innovative programs for youth and adults through her company, Legacy Consulting. Qasarah holds degrees in social work from Norfolk State University and VCU, as well as a Master of Divinity Degree from Virginia Union University.
Kirk Candler
US History I
Kirk brings a rich body of experience that will greatly benefit the history program at Seven Hills. Mr. Candler joins our faculty from the corporate world, where he worked most recently in business development for BB&T Bank. Kirk also served as a long term substitute at Holton Elementary, which gave him solid experience with a diverse range of students at various grade levels. His time at Holton affirmed Kirk in his long-held desire to teach, and sparked in him an appreciation for the role of the teacher and the value of individualized attention in the classroom. Kirk’s love of history and of teaching is a natural fit for Seven Hills. He holds a degree in Political Science from Emory & Henry College.
Leroy Craddock
Music
Seven Hills is very fortunate to have Mr. Craddock in our midst this year. His expertise as a music director and his prowess as a musician are widely known in Richmond. Mr. Craddock currently serves as a Core Musician for the Ezibu Muntu Dance Company and the Elegba Folklore Society. He is also Music Director for the Taaluma Drum and Dance Company in Richmond. Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Craddock was a Special Guest Instructor at the Mayor’s Youth Academy, where he instructed students on the history and techniques of West African music in a performance-oriented program. Mr. Craddock has studied under Master Drummers Baba Olumide Gilbert, Famadou Kanate, and AtibaRorie.
Valerie Cranmer
Japanese
Ms. Cranmer’s training at Marine Officer Candidate School will serve her well as she begins her tenure at Seven Hills. Valerie has long wished to be a teacher, and she is eager to bring her deep passion for Japan and the Japanese language into the classroom. Ms. Cranmer played lacrosse for Colorado College and served as a camp counselor for four summers at the Crystal Lake Camps in Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for curriculum development and implementation as well as supervision of campers. We welcome Ms. Cranmer’s leadership skills and her commitment to learning to our faculty. Valerie holds a degree in history and Asian studies from Colorado College.
Kati hoke
Mathematics
Katie Hoke joins us for her second year at Seven Hills. She comes to us with an Architectural background and a passion for Mathematics. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art & Design where she also received a Masters of Architecture. Katie’s interest in math education is founded on a deep commitment to applied mathematics and to the constructive potentials math offers. Her service during the summer months as a camp counselor will serve her well at Seven Hills. For her, the river is a perfect place to have math class.
Becky Huddleston
Assistant to the Head of School
Becky brings a wide range of administrative and management skills to her position at Seven Hills. With a background in big and small business, Becky is a welcome addition to our administrative staff. Ms. Huddleston worked for fourteen years as an executive assistant at Reilly Mortgage Group in Washington D.C. before moving to Arizona, where she helped manage the Timan Land Company. Becky loves the environment at Seven Hills, particularly the close relationships that faculty and staff have formed in preparation for the year. She was clear in coming here that she wanted to be in a place where she would make a difference, and she is excited at the opportunities provided at Seven Hills to be active in the student’s lives. Becky holds a degree in psychology from George Mason University.
Wiley Hunnicutt
Future Problem Solving; Assistant Head for Lower Program
Wiley comes to Seven Hills with a deep commitment to teaching in a place that focuses intently on the emotional lives of students. Wiley has abundant experience instructing middle schoolers, having taught English for the last 10 years at Tuckahoe Middle School and Byrd Middle School in Richmond. Among Wiley’s many awards and achievements, she received the 2010 Henrico 21 Innovative Teaching Award and served as Chair of the English Department at Byrd Middle School. Ms. Hunnicutt’s experience as a white water raft guide will undoubtedly make her an asset to our roster on River Days. She holds a degrees in English from James Madison University and VCU
Tom O'Keefe
Visual Arts
We welcome Tom to Seven Hills for his second year. As a big brother to one of our first graduates, Tom is quite familiar with the philosophical approach of Seven Hills and inspired by its commitment to the arts. Most recently, Tom served on the faculty at Trinity Episcopal High School where he taught Documentary Film and History of American Cinema classes. Tom holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In addition to film, Tom is experienced in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and graphics arts and design. Already, Tom has hit the ground running with ideas on how art might link the work of our students across the curriculum to deepen and widen the learning experience. It is particularly exciting to add photography and film to the visual arts program at Seven Hills.
Jay Parker
History of Science (Bridge); Global Studies; Bridge Director
Mr. Parker’s deep connection with the outdoors and his solid experience as a teacher will make him a great addition to the faculty at Seven Hills. For the last seven years, Mr. Parker has taught at William Fox Elementary School in Richmond, and he knew of Seven Hills through his students who are alumni and currently here. Jay brings a deep commitment to the power of nature and its impact on young lives. For over ten years he has spent his summers leading 10 – 12 year old boys on wilderness canoe trips in Northern Ontario. Jay is also an accomplished carpenter, who looks to use his skills in woodworking to enhance the Bridge curriculum. Jay earned his bachelors degree at Hampden Sydney College and a Masters in Teaching from Mary Baldwin College.
Christopher R. Prior
US History II; Comparative Civics and Economics; Community Problem Solving; Assistant Head for Upper Program
Chris begins his seventh year teaching at Seven Hills School. From his earliest days contemplating career options, Mr. Prior wanted to be a teacher. Even while practicing law for four years, Chris wanted to teach. Upon completing a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in Philosophy and German at Washington and Lee University, Chris earned a Juris Doctor (Order of Barristers) from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Prior earned a Regional Semi-Finalist and Second Place Brief in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team. While at Dickinson School of Law, Chris served as Class Representative for the Honor Code Committee. We look forward to his continuing involvement with the Honor Council at Seven Hills. Mr. Prior’s work in both federal and state government and in both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government equip him to teach from a sound knowledge of history and government. In addition, Chris competed in Track and Field at the collegiate level, and he looks forward to introducing track and field opportunities to our students.
Jeff Roberts
Assistant to the Head for Development
After five years as a fundraising consultant with the Sheridan Group in Arlington, Virginia, Jeff was eager to get back to his roots in the world of education. Jeff brings over 20 years of development experience to Seven Hills, and we are excited at all the possibilities his presence here offers. Mr. Roberts has wide experience as a development director in school settings at both the university and secondary levels, including his tenure at Benedictine High School where he headed up a major capital campaign. Jeff is clear that central to his mission here are the close connections he intends to make with teachers and students in achieving the school’s development goals. Mr. Roberts holds a degree from Old Dominion University.
Dagan Rowe
Language Arts
We are pleased to welcome Dagan to the Seven Hills faculty. Since 2000, Dagan has taught English at Appomattox Regional Governors School in Petersburg, where he was well known by many Seven Hills alumni. In addition to teaching at ARGS, Dagan was an accomplished basketball and tennis coach, who led his teams to district and regional championships. Dagan’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and the support and encouragement he shows students has garnered him recognition in the classroom and in his roles as a teaching pro on the tennis court and as an assistant at the Carolina Writer’s Workshop. Dagan holds a degree from Wingate University and has completed graduate coursework in education at Virginia State University.
Peter Santos
Physical Education; Summer Camp Coordinator
It is a pleasure to add Pete Santos to the Seven Hills faculty this year. Pete’s strong background in organization and management will be a great asset to our PE program and our summer camps. Pete is a natural coach who places high value on teaching to the skills and abilities of each student and seeing the gifts that each boy brings. He comes to us from Hanover Academy, where he has coached and taught PE for the last two years. Pete has solid experience directing youth sports programs and summer camps at the Weinstein JCC and the North Richmond YMCA, and we are eager to see him take lead of summer camps at Seven Hills. Mr. Santos has a bachelors degree from Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in Sports Leadership from VCU.
Richard Vinson
Latin, Language Arts
Richard Vinson is entering his fourth year at Seven Hills. In addition to teaching Latin and Language Arts, Richard launched an after-school tutoring center. We are pleased that additional academic support can be available to students through one of our very own teachers. Richard is a magna cum laude graduate of Davidson College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion. During his time at Davidson, he served first as staff writer and then editor-in-chief of the campus news weekly. Throughout his educational career, Richard has completed extensive work in foreign language studies. He has achieved high fluency levels in German, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and he is working to add Swahili, Italian, and ancient Egyptian to his list. Richard completed a Master of Divinity at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond where he also served on a curriculum writing team. An avid traveler, Richard includes Italy, France, The Netherlands, and Kenya among his favorite places to see.
Rick Zamjohn
History of Science (6); Life Science; Earth Science
Rick comes to Seven Hills with a wealth of experience as a teacher and a great love of science and nature. His colleagues have remarked more than once on all the “cool stuff” in Mr. Zamjohn’s classroom, and no doubt the boys will be the beneficiaries of his experience with labs and experiments, and his eagerness to figure out how things work. Most recently, Rick was a science and shop teacher at Northstar Academy in Richmond. He has taught the full range of science classes, from general science to physics and chemistry, at both the middle school and high school levels. Rick is also a devoted woodworker, and we look forward to letting him loose in the shop. Mr. Zamjohn holds a degree from Virginia Tech and has completed coursework at James Madison University, University of Richmond, and VCU.