To partner with parents in discipling our students to excellence, we must have excellent leadership and teachers.

The teachers at Ad Fontes are an exceptional team of academic professionals who love Christ, love their students, love each other and love their subjects.

At Ad Fontes, we commit to students and families to have Christian teachers and mentors who:

• Agree with the AFA Statement of Faith as demonstrated by life, word and deed
• Possess passion for learning, the gift of teaching and have a teachable heart
• Partner with parents in the education of their children
• Set an example of servant leadership, using Biblical principles to resolve disputes, speak to edify and encourage, and work as members of an academic team
• Love children and bring a desire to instruct and discipline in a manner which encourages academic and personal excellence

Lower School Faculty

Christy O’Hara
Kindergarten
Mrs. Christian Lynch O’Hara graduated from Villa Julie College with a B.A. in liberal arts and technology, and a minor in math, science, and education. She attended Loyola College working on her masters in mathematics before her move to Virginia. Her experience has been in both public education, as well as private Christian education. She has two children both of whom will be attending Ad Fontes Academy. She attends Purcellville Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her family, reading and visiting with friends. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Anne Ritchey
First Grade
Miss Anne Ritchey graduated summa cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 2007 with a degree in politics. She taught and developed curriculum for fourth and fifth grades at a classical Christian school in Vienna, and has worked as a personal tutor for students ranging in ages from elementary to high school. She attends Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington and enjoys reading, writing, dancing, and going to school as a student or a teacher. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Deneen Popp
Second Grade
Mrs. Deneen Popp graduated from Westfield State College in 1997 with degrees in elementary education as well as liberal arts. Her Massachusetts teacher certification extends from kindergarten through grade six. Deneen has had experience teaching all grade levels in public and private school settings. Previous to AFA, she was a music teacher at a classical Christian school in Massachusetts educating kindergarteners through grade eight in music theory, history, and voice. Deneen and her family attend Grace Church of Gainesville. This is her third year at Ad Fontes.

Julie Forrest
Third Grade
Mrs. Julie Forrest is a graduate of Grove City College in Pennsylvania with a degree in elementary education. She taught second grade for four years in a Christian school in Birmingham, Alabama. Since moving to Virginia she has taught for three years in a preschool and classically homeschooled her two daughters. She is actively involved with the children’s ministry in her church. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Richard Chenette
Fourth Grade
Mr. Richard Chenette previously served as the headmaster of Ad Fontes Academy from 2000-2003. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Chenette served as the headmaster of Tall Oaks Classical School in Hockessin, Delaware. Mr. Chenette earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Citadel and an M.S. in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School while completing a career with the Navy. His off duty pursuits include caring for his wife and seven children, coordinating the Sunday School program at his local church, and participating in the Centreville Toastmaster Club. This is his eleventh year at Ad Fontes

Mary Virginia Shefferly
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Mary Virginia Shefferly graduated in 2008 from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in history and French, and a minor in classical studies. Mary Virginia attends McLean Presbyterian Church and has a love for ancient history, swimming, singing, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. This is her second year teaching fifth grade at Ad Fontes.

Janet Cooper
4th and 5th Latin
Mrs. Janet Cooper leads the K-5th grade program. She founded and served as Principal of Covenant Christian Academy, classical Christian school in southwest Virginia for two years, while teaching Latin and Grammar to 4th-6th grade and teaching Ancient History and Literature, Math, Grammar and Composition to 7th and 8th grade. She homeschooled her children following a classical approach for 6 years and she taught first grade for four years at Ad Fontes before becoming principal in 2009. Janet holds an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Oxford College at Emory University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Tutorial Studies with a concentration in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. She also took an intensive course in Greek at the University of Chicago. Janet is married to Peter and has three children: Prentice (an AFA graduate), Ezra and Emma. This is her sixth year at Ad Fontes.

Cheryl Hughes
Music Teacher
Mrs. Cheryl Hughes graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Christian
University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She has 32 years of experience serving as a choral music teacher and church music director in the U.S., Okinawa, and Germany. Most recently, she has been the youth choir director at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, and sang with the Master Chorale of Washington. She is also an accomplished concert vocalist, having performed as soprano soloist in numerous productions which included pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Bach, and Verdi. Mrs. Hughes has trained in the Kodaly method, and is pursuing Kodaly certification. Mrs. Hughes and her husband Rob have four children; the youngest, Colin, is a junior at AFA. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Christine Raymond
Lower School Art
In addition to teaching art at AFA, Mrs. Christine Raymond is an artist and a gallery manager of Creative Brush Studios in Old Town Manassas where she teaches art classes to children ages 6 to 13. As the daughter of an accomplished artist, she was practically born with a paint brush in her hand and was mentored as an artist from a very young age. She has a passion for teaching children to appreciate art and helping them discover their gifts. Currently she is pursuing a degree in fine arts from George Mason University. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Upper School Faculty

Suzanya DeAngelo
Sixth Grade
Mrs. Suzanya DeAngelo has taught middle school music theory and Science at classical Christian schools. She has homeschooled her children several years using the classical method and curriculum. She received her associate’s degree in science from Northern Virginia Community College in May of 2008, Magna Cum Laude, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Janice Faulkner
Literature and Rhetoric
Miss Janice Faulkner holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hillsdale College and attended two outstanding classical Christian schools for High School. She has served as an assistant at the U.S. Department of Education since the summer of 2006 in the Office of the Secretary and in the Office of Postsecondary Education on the National Security Language Initiative. She is very excited to work with her students to share a love for good literature, history, writing and the important ideas that shape these subjects and our society. This is her third year at Ad Fontes Academy.

Jeanette Faulkner
Literature and Rhetoric
Mrs. Jeanette Faulkner is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a BA in Liberal Arts/Journalism. She taught in two ACCS schools in Texas for seven years. The Faulkners participated in a classical, Christian home school co-op two years before that in the Spokane, Washington/Moscow, Idaho area. She has taught Latin, Logic and Journalism, Medieval Humanities and coached Mock Trial teams. She is married to Joe and has three grown children and one daughter at Ad Fontes. This is her fourth year at Ad Fontes.

Kerry Lockhart
Bible and 7th Grade lead teacher
Mr. Kerry Lockhart brings diverse experience and a strong call to teaching to AFA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Indiana University, a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law and a Master of Art in Christian leadership from Liberty University. He brings experience as a litigation attorney and teacher. This is his third year at Ad Fontes.

David Mathwin
History
Mr. David Mathwin is the most senior member of the faculty, having taught at Ad Fontes for eleven years. Mr. Mathwin teaches History for upper school students and has also taught Bible. He and his wife Linda live in Centreville with their three children, Jack, AJ, and Keris. A long time resident of the D.C. area, he is an avid fan of Maryland Terrapins basketball. In years past, Dave brought his love for basketball as a coach for AFA’s boy’s basketball and girl’s varsity basketball. Mr. Mathwin has a B.A. in History from Grove City College and an M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary. Mr. David Mathwin is the most senior member of the faculty, having taught at Ad Fontes for eleven years. Mr. Mathwin teaches History for upper school students and has also taught Bible. He and his wife Linda live in Centreville with their three children, Jack, AJ, and Keris. A long time resident of the D.C. area, he is an avid fan of Maryland Terrapins basketball. In years past, Dave brought his love for basketball as a coach for AFA’s boy’s basketball and girl’s varsity basketball. Mr. Mathwin has a B.A. in History from Grove City College and an M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary.

On my classroom: “History is filled with fascinating people and bizarre events, and so I hope that classroom visitors would hear a good story or two. More importantly, however, I hope that visitors would hear the question ‘Why?’ asked over and over again. Why does geography influence politics? Why did Spain decline as a world power in the 17th century? Many other such questions could come to mind. If History is one thing after another, if we never stop to analyze, if we never stop to think that we ourselves cannot escape History, then our students are poorly served.”

Dr. Jan Schultz
Math and Science
Dr. Jan Schultz has her B.S. in Molecular Biology, her M.A. in Veterinary Science, and her Ph.D. in Human Pathology and Laboratory Science from The University of Wisconsin, Madison. She served as a teaching assistant in the Pathology class for four years. This is her sixth year at Ad Fontes where she teaches Biology, Geometry, and Anatomy & Physiology.

Susan Smith
Math and Science
Mrs. Susan Smith has a Bachelors degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Education from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has taught Math in the public school and has extensive teaching experience in a home school setting. This is her third year at Ad Fontes.

Al Popp
Hermeneutics, Pre-Calculus
Mr. Al Popp leads the 6th to 12th grade program including teaching three High School courses. Al served for seven years as Headmaster at Jonathan Edwards Academy, a classical Christian school in Massachusetts. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an Aerospace Engineer Major and completed his undergraduate degree as a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Classics. He also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Regents University. Al hails from western Massachusetts and is married to Deneen and has three children: Jonah, Sarah and Ethan.  This is his third year at Ad Fontes.

Kim Bollen
Art Teacher
Mrs. Kim Bollen is a continual student in the School of Life, with concentrated studies in Christian Living, Family Life and Art History.  She has a passion for Art and those who make it.  She has traveled the world visiting both important galleries and obscure ones, she has read extensively through the years and thoroughly enjoys introducing students to Artists and their Works.  Kim is the mother of four children Rebecca, an AFA grad from the Class of 2000, David, an AFA grad from the Class of 2002, Catherine, a 2010 graduate from New Saint Andrews College, and Michelle who is a senior at AFA.  Kim and her husband Mike are the founders of Ad Fontes Academy.

Christa Geno
Drama
Mrs. Christa Geno is a producer/partner with City Gates Productions, LLC that she co-founded to make quality faith based films. City Gates, currently in pre-production for their debut release, is the next level progression in her eight year run in the film industry. Christa has worked as a professional actress in a variety of settings, including as a journalist in the Universal Pictures release, “State of Play.” For the past two years she has taught Drama and directed stage productions.  Also, this past year she produced the film “Line of Regret” featuring AFA students as the stars. She has ten years of musical stage work with elementary children combined with her three years of experience as a storyteller for a children’s church program. This is her third year at Ad Fontes.

Cheryl Hughes
Music Teacher
Mrs. Cheryl Hughes graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She has 32 years of experience serving as a choral music teacher and church music director in the U.S., Okinawa, and Germany. Most recently, she has been the youth choir director at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, and sang with the Master Chorale of Washington. She is also an accomplished concert vocalist, having performed as soprano soloist in numerous productions which included pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Bach, and Verdi. Mrs. Hughes has trained in the Kodaly method, and is pursuing Kodaly certification. Mrs. Hughes and her husband Rob have four children; the youngest, Colin, is a junior at AFA. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Administrative Staff

Debra Davis
Upper School Office Manager
Mrs. Debra Davis graduated from Cameron University with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. She received a Bachelor of Science at Phillips University in Pre-Speech and Hearing Disorders, and an M.A. at the University of Tulsa in Audiology. She is a registered nurse who also has experience in the fields of sports, Bible study leadership, and homeschooling. She and her husband David, along with their family, are members of Immanuel Bible Church. They have two children: a daughter who is a college sophomore and a son, Michael, who is a senior at Ad Fontes Academy. This is her second year at Ad Fontes.

Lori Henry
Athletic Director
Lower School Office Manager
Mrs. Lori Henry is the Athletic Director and Lower School Office Manager for Ad Fontes Academy.  For the past four years she was the Athletic Director at a local Christian school and served on the NVIAC conference board for five years.  Prior to this, she was a stockbroker for 14 years being licensed with the New York and American Stock Exchanges and the NASD/NASDAQ.  She has taught Microsoft Office applications and keyboarding for over 10 years to elementary and middle school students.  She is a lifelong resident of Fairfax where she resides with her husband Bob and son, Eric, who is a junior at George Mason University.  She and her family are members of Fair Oaks Church where she serves in the nursery.