Dr. Swett comes to Episcopal School of Nashville following four years as Assistant Principal at John Early Museum Magnet Middle School in North Nashville. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Principal at Lakeview Design Center Elementary School, and in roles of increasing responsibility as a Numeracy Coach, Dean of Students, and Dean of Instruction at Henry C. Maxwell Elementary School. After starting out as a fifth grade teacher at Dan Mills Elementary twenty five years ago, Dr. Swett was hired to become the first teacher of color at Ensworth School, where she taught 3rd grade and served as the Diversity Coordinator. Additionally, Dr. Swett serves as a Diversity, Equity & Intersectionality consultant to Middle Tennessee State University, College of Education, and as an adjunct Lecturer at Lipscomb University’s Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Swett earned a doctorate of education in Administration and Supervision, as well as Specialist and Master’s degrees in Administration and Supervision, all from Tennessee State University. Additionally, she earned her ESL endorsement and K-12 EL certification from Lipscomb University.
From her cover letter, Dr. Swett notes, “As a leader, I will use my notable leadership skills to provide a nurturing, warm, safe, exciting environment that celebrates students and prepares them for lifelong learning.” Dr. Swett describes herself first and foremost as a family-centered woman and has three adult children: Jalen is 28, lives in Portland Oregon and is successfully employed at Amazon. He was appointed to West Point as a cadet in 2013. Her daughter Justice is 26, United States Naval Academy graduate, Class of 2017. She is the Navigational Officer aboard the USS Sterett in San Diego, California. Her twin brother Jourdan is an Army veteran and is now a college athlete at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.
Grace Stansell graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2016 with a B.A. in Educational Studies. She began her teaching career at a preschool in Fayetteville, Arkansas and later relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where she taught at a Montessori school for three years. Grace relocated to Nashville in the summer of 2020 and began work with Preston Taylor Ministries as a reading teacher for kindergarten through second grade students. She worked as a Pre-K assistant at ESN for the past year and is excited to take on the role of Pre-K lead teacher. Grace is passionate about working with children and helping them develop. Grace lives in East Nashville with her husband, Jacob, and dog, Eloise.
Ann Walker graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2014 with a B.S. Degree in Collaborative Education. As a Nashville native, she returned home after graduation, and began her teaching career. For the past eight years, Ann Walker has taught Pre-K and is excited to be joining ESN for her ninth year! She is passionate about helping students become confident in who they are, while providing a safe, nurturing environment for them to do so. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and baking. Ann Walker lives in West Meade with her husband, Daniel, and their dog Hank.
Pre-Kindergarten Assistant and Aftercare Front Desk Attendant
Mary Douglas is originally from Norfolk, Virginia. She studied Environmental Arts and Humanities at Sewanee: The University of the South. During her time at Sewanee, she tutored children at the local elementary school. She has also taught preschool in Green Hills. She enjoys spending time outside and teaching children about the environment – specifically climate change. In her free time, she enjoys exercising with her roommates and exploring Nashville.
Pre-Kindergarten Assistant
Chloe Grosch graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Leadership. Chloe is a New Orleans native but began her teaching career at a preschool in Dallas. She has and will continue to integrate her love for the outdoors, gardening, and art into her educational curriculums. As the daughter of a lifetime educator, Chloe grew up assisting in a classroom and has continued to foster her love for children through tutoring and nannying for multiple families. She now resides in East Nashville with her fiancé and her golden retriever, Honeybee.
Katie joined ESN in the fall of 2017 as the PreK teacher. She has a BS from Vanderbilt University in Human Development and English and started her teaching career as a first grade teacher with Teach For America in 1991. Since then she has had over 25 years of experience teaching 3-6 year olds with the majority of her experience as a lead kindergarten teacher at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Memphis. As a child, Katie attended an Episcopal school for kindergarten through 6th grade and firmly believes in the mission of ESN to nurture the joy of learning and spirit of discovery in each of its students.
Mary Carter graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed in Applied Child Studies from Vanderbilt University. Her graduate studies focused on curriculum design in free-choice learning environments in settings like the Nashville Zoo and the Adventure Science Center. She was a research assistant for a mathematical research intervention with noted educational researchers at Vanderbilt and enjoyed working for Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth coordinating programs for gifted elementary elementary students. Mary was a faculty member at Oak Hill School for seven years and spent two years as Assistant Director of the First Presbyterian Early Preschool. Overall, she has taught for 14 years in a wide range of age groups spanning from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. Kindergarten is a true passion for Mary who enjoys all the milestones children celebrate during their Kindergarten school year. Mary lives in East Nashville with her husband, two children, and their Westie dog, Winston.
Molly is delighted to join the Episcopal School of Nashville as an assistant in the kindergarten classes.
Molly was born and raised in Mississippi and after graduating from University of MS with a BAE in
Elementary Education, she headed to Pacific Northwest to make it her home. Since those early days as
an educator, she has made children a major focus of her life’s work. She is a for-ever learner and is
excited to offer her educational experience and her love for children to ESN. Her educational
background includes classroom teaching in private and public school and serving as an academic
administrative leader in virtual schools in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Washington and Tennessee. For the last
8 years, Molly has worked in Montessori schools as a development manager and a development
assistant for Children’s Institute in Portland, OR. She holds a Masters in Instructional Technology (AIU)
and a Masters in School Administration & Leadership (Carson-Newman University).
Molly is a strong advocate of healthy living, fresh air, fresh food and counting her blessings. She can
never get quite enough of hiking and exploring the wilderness. She has two, lovely grownup daughters
and their husbands, a cherished grandson and a bundle of good friends and close family to be thankful for.
Life is good.
Katie Ayres is our first grade teacher here at Episcopal School of Nashville. This school is special to her particularly because she grew up in the Episcopal School community in Memphis. Upon receiving her B.A. in Psychology and minor in studio art, Katie moved to New York where she received a Master’s in Childhood Education and Special Education at New York University. After graduating, Katie worked at Mary McDowell Friends School (a school specifically for students with learning disabilities) as a 4th grade co-teacher in Brooklyn, NY. In this role, Katie worked to differentiate content for individual student needs, maintain a positive environment, and promote strong emotional and social learning alongside academic subjects. She is passionate about instilling curiosity and creativity and strengthening meaningful relationships within the classroom through a student-centered approach to learning. Katie enjoys painting, reading, cooking, and hanging out with friends in her free time!
Jazmin Adams, known as Ms. Jazz, was born and raised here in Nashville, TN, where she did all of her grade school education years, graduating from Hume Fogg Academic High School in Downtown Nashville. She is currently pursuing a BS in Early Childhood Education at Middle Tennessee State University, where she serves as the President of Raiders for Young Children. She is heavily involved in her community through her church, Ephesian Primitive Baptist Church, where she serves as the Director of Interpretive Expression, Assistant Director of Music (in training), and Director of the Youth Ministry, while pursuing a path in Evangelism and Youth Ministry. Jazz got on the path of education by following her calling to lead the way for the youth, in all aspects. She teaches, mentors, and supports the youth with everything in her! She serves as a substitute teacher here at Episcopal School of Nashville, where she found a place to spread her wings. God is Love, and Jazz Loves Everyone!
In 2020 Renee Norris joined the Episcopal School of Nashville as our lead second grade teacher. Prior to that she worked at Oak Hill School as a second grade teacher and at Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal school as both a first grade teacher and senior kindergarten assistant. Her educational experiences have given her the skills necessary to individualize and differentiate instruction, facilitate innovative activities, and nurture the students as a whole. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys being on the lake, reading, and traveling.
Rebecca Moll is native Texan and graduate of TCU where she earned a degree in Early Childhood/Special Education. After graduation, Becca taught special education in Fort Worth and first grade in Atlanta, GA. She was voted Teacher of the Year in 2008 and selected for the Klingenstein Summer Fellowship through Columbia University in 2009. With the collaboration of Westminster Schools and the Glen Institute, Becca has developed first grade curriculum that supports community service learning. She has been on the founding team of charter schools in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Nashville. Along the way,
Becca earned her master from Kennesaw State University and served as a literacy specialist, grade level chair, and RTI/Special Education Coordinator. In 2020, Becca received a Blue Ribbon Teaching Award from Metro Nashville Public Schools. She has loved teaching third grade for the last two years at ESN. Becca lives in East Nashville with her husband, two dogs, and little girl. She loves lazy Sundays and reading a good page turner.
Tasia Lewis, a Nashville native, has worked and served in the childcare industry for seven years and has always appreciated working with children. Tasia began her career with New Life Learning Academy in 2012, serving in the role of directing the preschool activities and assisting with providing daycare instruction to ensure full compliance with state policies and procedures. She was also afforded the opportunity of working in the Welcome Center for the YMCA, where she enjoyed greeting and interacting with children of all ages.
Lauren Nathanson, an eight-year resident of East Nashville, has been teaching for seven years. Last year was her first at ESN as the fourth grade teacher. Prior to ESN, she taught fifth grade at St. Joseph School in Madison, TN and Gifted Education in the Tuscaloosa County Schools. Lauren has a Master’s in Gifted Education from the University of Alabama and also holds a degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana State University. Lauren believes her job as a teacher is to provide students with skills to successfully explore areas of personal interest within the topics studied so that they may form a deeper connection to their learning. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, supporting and loving the community of East Nashville, and serving on the Vanderbilt Children’s Bereavement Committee.
Henry is a Nashville native who returned to his hometown after graduating from Stanford University with a B.S. in Symbolic Systems. After working in tech for 3 years, he joined Episcopal School in 2021 to teach computer programming, as well as assist in 5th grade education and aftercare. Outside of school activities, Henry plays piano and bass for musical groups around town.
Tyree Jordan is from Florida. He obtained a B.A. in Philosophy at FSU. He has lived in North Florida, New Orleans and Luanda, Angola and has been a teacher for 12 years. Tyree is working on an M.Ed. in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies at Peabody here in Nashville. Tyree and his wife have two children. He loves many things including reading, cooking, and Jesus.
Kristin Paine joins Episcopal School of Nashville as the Middle School English and Language Arts teacher. She has worked for the last eight years as a 9th grade English teacher at The Ensworth School, and prior to that she taught in the humanities department for three years at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana. She holds a B.A. in English Literature and History from Brown University, an M.P.P. from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education, and a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. A licensed attorney, she spent three years practicing law for a Nashville non-profit firm before feeling called back to the classroom in 2014. Her educational philosophy is rooted in creating a nurturing environment where students feel seen, celebrated, and encouraged to be curious and invested learners. Outside of the classroom, Kristin enjoys running, hiking, reading, and traveling to new places, both in the States and abroad. A onetime resident of East Nashville, she now resides in Bordeaux with her husband and two dogs.
Michael relocated to Nashville with his family in 2018 to serve as the COO of The Peach Truck. Prior to this, Michael served as a middle school science teacher at Stanley British Primary School in Denver, CO, where he also taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade as a mentor teacher in a multi-age classroom. Before Stanley, Michael served as the head of mathematics and taught 4th-8th grade math at St. Thomas Choir School in New York City, was a mathematics fellow at Eagle Rock High School in Estes Park, and taught abroad while obtaining his M.Ed. from Framingham State University. Michael is a joyful, lifelong learner who loves being a part of a community of students, faculty, and families who share common goals and are striving to become their best selves.
Ms. Nathali Patino is an experienced ESL teacher of 27 plus years. She has traveled and taught in several countries. Her teaching experiences span across continents to students of all ages and all geographies. She uses various teaching strategies to help students reach their potential. She believes having fun in her class is a key component to student success and is a huge part of her methodology. She is a passionate “foodie” & a world traveler. She is fluent in Spanish and can greet others in 11 different languages.
Angel is a Nashville native, with deep roots in the East Nashville community. A booklover since a very young age, Angel realized she wanted to pursue a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science while volunteering in the library of the local elementary school her children attended. Passionate about literacy, Angel’s main goal as a librarian is to curate an interesting, diverse collection of books that will inspire a lifelong love of reading in all the students at ESN. She lives in East Nashville with her two sons, two dogs and a cat she rescued from ESN’s original campus!
Carol Netter Stix has over twenty years of experience teaching art to children (grades K-8) in her own studio and at Saint Peter’s Parochial School in Olney, Maryland, where she developed an art program that was praised and recognized when the school received its first National Blue Ribbon Award. Carol has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Maryland. A versatile artist, Carol co-founded and developed a successful after-school art and summer camp program in Maryland. She has a passion for pen and ink drawing, mixed media, and acrylic painting, but enjoys all kinds of mediums used in art.
Carol grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, and has lived in Paris, San Francisco, and the Maryland/DC area; she moved to Nashville in July 2018 to be closer to her children and granddaughter. Ben is a drummer and owns the BeHive in East Nashville; Katie is an interior designer at Anderson Design Group in Nashville. Carol loves encouraging children to explore the visual arts and different mediums as a means to discovering individual creative interests and talent. She is happy to being part of ESN’s continued growth as she builds an exciting educational art curriculum!
Sarah Bronchetti was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She moved to Nashville in 2015 to further her education at Vanderbilt University, receiving a Bachelor of Music (2019) and a Master of Education (2020) in Voice Performance and Choral/General Music Education. In the fall of 2020, she became the founding Music Director at the Episcopal School of Nashville. Sarah also serves as an Adjunct Teaching Artist and Assistant Director of the Blair Children’s Chorus at Vanderbilt University. In that role, she primarily works with 1st grade through 5th grade, teaching the fundamentals of vocal technique and ensemble singing. Sarah is dedicated to developing the skills and confidence of young musicians. She believes all students are innately musical, and can explore, create, and collaborate in a nurturing musical environment. Sarah resides in Nashville with her rescue dog, Hunter. She has many passions outside the classroom, including hiking, reading, and singing with the Nashville Symphony Chorus.
Katherine Phipps is profoundly grateful to have been on the yoga path for nearly a decade; yoga informs nearly every aspect of her life. She was born in Indiana, then moved to New York City to pursue a photography degree at Pratt Institute, which she completed in 2015. She wandered into a yoga class in the gym in 2013 and completely fell in love. She has been teaching yoga asana, meditation, philosophy and lifestyle in studios, athletic clubs, and privately since she was first certified in 2017. Her yogic education was primarily in New York; she has also travelled to Europe and India to practice with her teachers. She has lived in Franklin, TN, since 2020. She studies in a lineage called Jivamukti, which means Liberated in Life. Connecting to God through yoga & meditation has brought so much peace and healing to Katherine‘s life and she feels blessed to share these practices with others, especially the students at ESN, to help them discover how to joyfully navigate the ups and downs of life from a young age. Her method of teaching is both playful and precise, skillfully offering support, challenge, as well as space for inquiry and expression to help students discover their own strength, confidence, compassion, grace, happiness, wisdom, and ultimately, inner light. For Katherine, yoga practice is much more than physical postures and she seeks to translate profound spiritual principles to share them with others in an uncomplicated way. She is joyfully vegan and enjoys cooking, spending time with her fiancé and mini golden-doodle Bevely, traveling, and of course, practicing yoga.
Brandon L. Wooley was born and raised in Austin, Texas where he received his elementary through high school education. He then furthered his studies to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Wiley College, “Home of the Great Debaters” in Marshall, Texas. During his collegiate experience, Brandon served in many leadership positions such as Campus Class President, Residential Life President, a Student Ambassador, a Wiley College Pathway Pastoral Intern, a Presidential and Dean Scholastic Scholar, a member of the world-renown A Capella Choir, President of “Y.D.C” (Young Disciples for Christ) Campus Ministry, and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He also served honorably as the very FIRST Mister Wiley College since its founding in 1873. Currently, he is a candidate for a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Black Religion and Cultural Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Brandon says what keeps him going is Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the plans I have for you”, says the Lord, “plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and future.”
The Rev. Richard Wineland grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Central Pennsylvania, near the railroad city of Altoona. He studied at Penn State University and Goshen College in Indiana, graduating with honors with a bachelor’s degree in Music. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Mennonite Theological Seminary in Indiana in 1993 and is celebrating 26 years in ordained ministry this year. Richard served as a Mennonite pastor for 10 years prior to becoming an Episcopal priest, leading congregations in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Tennessee. He was also the founding Executive Director of the Community Music School of Goshen College, in Indiana, in 2000.
Presently, Richard is a staff priest at Christ Church Cathedral Nashville, and at St. Augustine’s Chapel at Vanderbilt University. He also teaches music and middle school history one day a week at One Tree Montessori School here in the city. He currently serves on the National Executive Councils of two church-wide ministries: the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, and Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Nashville NAACP, and is a member of the Beloved Community Commission for Racial Reconciliation of the Diocese of Tennessee. As a volunteer he has been deeply involved in a number of activist social change agencies throughout the course of his ministry, including Habitat for Humanity, the Nashville Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program, and World Relief.
Richard completed three years of graduate study in school and educational psychology at Andrew’s University, Michigan, and in 2023 will be receiving a Doctor of Ministry degree from Bexley Seabury Episcopal Seminary in Chicago. He is lifelong singer and musician, a published composer, and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry House and on national television. Richard has also been for several seasons an enthusiastic member of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, singing First Tenor. He has had some success as a writer, having a number of articles published in academic journals and denomination-wide publications over the past 20 years.
Richard is married to Lee Armstrong, a musician, poet, and registered nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, and together they have seven adult children, scattered from Texas to New York City. The Winelands live in Brentwood.
Originally from New York City she graduated from Kenyon College in 1984 with a degree in History and English. In the early 1990’s Caroline was introduced to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an international and ecumenical religious formation for children based on a shared experience of the contemplation and enjoyment of God. Since then she has started an atrium, been an active Sunday morning formation leader, and completed training Levels I, II, and III to better guide the children. At Christ Episcopal School in Louisiana she was lay chaplain and religious formation leader for the lower school, here in Nashville she was director of Children’s Formation at Christ Church Cathedral and is in the process of becoming a trainer of adults.
Caroline and her husband John have lived in E Nashville since moving to TN in 2006. They are the parents of three adult children who are all products of Episcopal schools. In her spare time Caroline likes to read, cook, and garden.
Anna Combs is excited to join Episcopal School of Nashville as our new Learning Specialist and Testing Coordinator. She grew up in Cincinnati Ohio, and went to school at the University of Dayton where she received her Bachelors degree in Middle Childhood Education. Recently, she finished her Masters degree and received her Reading Specialist license. She is moving to the area with her fiancé Aabesh and dog Ginny after working on the south side of Chicago for the last six years. In her time at her previous school she stepped into a variety of different roles including a classroom teacher, an ESL Specialist, and a school administrator. In her role on the leadership team she built systems for support and intervention for all K-8 students, led the staff in data-informed instruction, and coordinated school-wide testing. In her free time she likes to read, box, bake, and spend time with her friends and family.
Rick Wright is proud to join the amazing team at ESN, helping with repairs and maintenance around the school’s campus. He lives very nearby in Lockeland Springs with his incredible wife and their two kids who are students right here at ESN! Rick is a full time residential REALTOR, a sometimes film/TV music composer, and has experience in private music school oversight, property management, teaching, and coffee, as well as a degree from Boston-based Berklee College of Music. He has made homes in seven cities (Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston, LA, Seattle, D.C., Nashville) and is honored to be of service wherever he is needed.
Emely Zelaya is from Honduras, where she attended Holy Family Bilingual School which is an Episcopal School. She graduated from UNITEC in Honduras with a degree in finance and then relocated to Nashville to pursue her education. She received her MBA in 2022 from Belmont University. Emely is excited to be a part of our team as the Development and Communications Intern. She has previously worked as a Kindergarten teacher assistant and a customer service agent. Additionally, Emely completed a consulting externship with the Young Leaders Council in Nashville. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her cat Snowy.
Anne Louise Cranwell has lived in East Nashville for 8 years and is the parent of 2 ESN students. She earned her Master of Arts degree in women’s history from Sarah Lawrence College and has worked as a teacher, coach and fitness instructor. Anne Louise is the president of ESN’s parent association and is thrilled to be part of ESN’s staff. In her free time, she enjoys playing outside, seeing live music and supporting Nashville’s professional soccer team.
Maggie Chafee is a long time resident of East Nashville and has been with Episcopal School of Nashville since the spring of 2022. She has worked in database management and marketing with local performing arts non profits, including the Nashville Symphony and Nashville Ballet. Maggie thrives in streamlining processes, creative problem solving, and technology management. Maggie holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Belmont University. When she is not have her ESN Office Manager hat on, Maggie enjoys playing music with local artists around town, reading, and snuggling up with her cat, Beatrice.
Mr. Greenlee is our new Director of Facilities and Security. He served as Director of Facilities and Transportation for 18 years at Harding Academy, has owned his own maintenance and landscaping companies, and worked with Vanderbilt University Police Department for 6 years. We are excited for Mr. Greenlee to share his knowledge and expertise with us.
LaTerra Davis is a Nashville native and has been with ESN since it opened its doors in 2012. LaTerra graduated from Tennessee State University with a B.S. in Health Care Administration and Planning. She has been in the position of Director of Admissions for two years. Before that, LaTerra was the Director of the Aftercare Programs and a Pre-K Assistant. LaTerra has worked and served in the childcare industry for over seven years. She has been an East Nashville nanny, where she cared for children six weeks to 13 years old. In 2013, she was a YMCA after-school counselor at Smyrna Elementary. LaTerra also worked at the Margret Maddox YMCA in Yplay, the teen center, and the Preschool. LaTerra has a passion for children which is evident by the way she makes sure that the children have fun in a safe environment.
Karen joined Episcopal School of Nashville as the Director of Development and Communications in August, 2021. She is a native Texan and lifelong Episcopalian. Karen holds a B.A. in Communications from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In Washington D.C., Karen worked for Speaker of the House, Jim Wright, Congressman Pete Geren and Congressman Chet Edwards in Communications, Systems Management and as a Legislative Aide. She has also worked for many years as a fundraiser for numerous local, statewide and national political campaigns. Karen worked for the non-profit Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County in Public Relations and Marketing and served as the Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Historic Southside, Inc., in Fort Worth, TX. Karen was the Digital Media and Communications Specialist for PATE Rehabilitation, Inc., a brain injury rehabilitation center in Dallas, Texas, before moving to Tennessee in 2016 to be the Director of Communications, in addition to fundraising and alumni relations for Camp Nakanawa for Girls in Crossville Tennessee. Karen is passionate about building strong foundations for children and is thrilled to be able to contribute to ESN’s mission of “nurturing the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery in each of its students.” Karen has one daughter, Maggie, who recently moved to Washington, D.C. after teaching in Memphis, TN the last four years for “Teach for America.” Karen lives in East Nashville where you will see her out and about in the neighborhood with Bella, her canine “sidekick.”