Faculty and Staff
Dr. Deatrice Swett
Pre-K – 8th Principal
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.
Ann Walker Huttchson
Pre-K Teacher
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.
Mindy Shaver
Pre-K Teacher
Mindy Shaver graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1996 with a B.A. in Psychology. After receiving her B.A., she worked at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis with children aged 4-17 with behavioral health challenges. She received her M.Ed in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt in 2000. She has worked as a preschool teacher/Kindergarten teacher for over 20 years teaching children ages 3-6 years old. She has experience working in Montessori, play-based, and Reggio-Emilia environments. She has taught in private and public school settings and taught children with a wide range of abilities ranging from special needs to gifted. In her free time, she loves walking and hiking, playing with her two dogs, spending time with her family, and traveling.
Isabel Webb
Pre-K Assistant
Isabel Webb graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Lipscomb University in 2021. Since graduating, she has fallen in love with teaching. She started out by teaching drama, including the aftercare drama program at ESN. She could not be more thrilled to be assistant teaching full-time with the pre-kindergartners. She grew up doing children’s theatre, and has a passion for nurturing young minds and making sure every child feels safe and seen. She lives in West Nashville, and loves to read, sing, and play ukulele in her free time.
Katie Donald
Early Childhood Division Lead
Kindergarten Teacher
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
Kindergarten Teacher
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.
Megan Collins
First Grade Teacher
Prior to moving to Nashville, Megan was a kindergarten teacher and team leader at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California for eight years. She earned a B.F.A. in Art History and a Master’s in teaching elementary education from the University of South Florida. Actively involved in education for over a decade, she has taught several elementary grade levels in public and private institutions. She has also worked one-on-one with children with mental and physical disabilities at a non-profit organization. A lifelong learner, Megan seeks out a vast array of professional development on the topics of social activism, children learning with nature, literacy, and neuroscience. She incorporates her love of music, artwork and historical artifacts into the classroom, encouraging children to discover new ways of looking at the world around them. Megan enjoys swimming, bike rides with her husband and young daughter, watercolor painting, and playing music.
Jill Flanagan
First Grade Assistant
Jill Flanagan moved to the Nashville area two years ago, from New Jersey. She has been married to her husband Mike for 24 years. They have three sons, aged 11,16, and 20. Jill started her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher. She has also taught second grade, as well as teaching Special Education classes for 6th-8th grade students. Jill enjoys spending time with her family, exploring Nashville, antiquing, interior design, and reading. She is very excited to be part of the ESN community.
Renee Norris
Lower School Division Lead
Second Grade Teacher
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.
Ashley Carr
Second Grade Assistant
Ashley Carr grew up in Spring Hill, TN. She has worked as a writing tutor, an astrophysics copyeditor, a camp counselor, a Montessori substitute, an illustrator and a grocery store manager. From the time Ashley was eight years old, she has always had the desire to teach so she is very excited to be joining ESN as the Second Grade Assistant, Ashley loves kittens, museums, exploring the natural world, making things, reading, and working with people of all ages. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
Becca Moll
Third Grade Teacher
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
Third and Fourth Grade Assistant
After School Athletics Coordinator
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
Fourth Grade Teacher
Lauren Nathanson, a nine-year resident of East Nashville, has been teaching for eight years. 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 two sons, supporting and loving the community of East Nashville, and saying “Hello!” to any animal that she passes!
Rachel Harley
Fifth Grade Teacher
Rachel is excited to join the ESN team in the 2023-2024 school year. She has an Elementary Education degree from Elmhurst College with a minor in English and Reading Instruction. Rachel has a special passion for English that she explored in her semester abroad at Oxford University studying Medieval and Renaissance literature.
She started her teaching career in the Chicago Corp of Teach for America, and after finishing her TFA commitment moved to Nashville in 2015. Since moving, Rachel has worked as a 5th grade teacher in East Nashville, receiving the Blue Ribbon Teacher Award in 2022, and was a member of two school teams that received TN Rewards School status. Additionally, Rachel was featured in “Teach Like a Champion 3.0″ in 2021 and twice in the Teach Like a Champion blog.
As a new mom, she is excited to transition to ESN and be a part of a community that fosters joy for learning, authentic community, faith, and discovery! She shares her East Nashville home with her husband, a fellow-educator at Republic High School, her one year old daughter, and her dog Gigi. Outside of school you can find her voraciously reading, traveling, cooking, taking photos, walking or biking at Shelby, and spending cherished time with family!
Cameron Duroe
Middle School English Language Arts and Speech/Debate Elective Teacher
Cameron grew up in northwestern Wisconsin and earned his bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. He moved to Nashville six years ago to begin his teaching career. Cameron comes to us from FCA in Franklin, TN where he taught middle school English and Speech at FCA in Franklin, TN. He is excited to join ESN as the middle school ELA teacher.
Cameron is an experienced educator, specializing in communications, literacy, and public speaking. He has a strong background in creating and adapting curriculum, planning individual lessons and training, and communicating with students, families and colleagues. He is passionate about helping students explore the joy of reading, writing, and finding their voice. Cameron fosters an inclusive, joyful, and meaningful learning environment where all students are valued and respected.
He lives in East Nashville and enjoys hiking, traveling, and basketball.
Jennifer Haile
Middle School History and Mock Trial Teacher
Jennifer Haile is a native of Louisville, KY. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish from Spelman College, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and a diploma from Yale University’s Campaign School. She has served as an adjunct professor at several institutions and departments, including the political science department at the University of Memphis. Jennifer currently consults with Lindamood-Bell Reading Center in Brentwood, TN and has taught middle school social studies, in the Nashville area, extensively. In 2022, Jennifer was honored to run in the first bipartisan school board race in Williamson County. She also serves on multiple boards and committees dedicated to education and community improvement. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, teaching Zumba/hip-hop dance classes and trying new cuisines. Jennifer resides in Franklin, TN with her teen daughter, Iman.
Avery Humphrey-Davis
Middle School Science Teacher
Avery Humphrey-Davis is a veteran educator coming to Episcopal School of Nashville from the Metro Nashville Public School District. During his five year tenure where he has served in a myriad of positions (academic and athletic) all anchored around steam and minority scholar development. Mr. Humphrey-Davis is a Native of the Greater Nashville area graduating from Brentwood High School. Upon completion he attended and graduated with professional degrees from Fisk University (2017) with a Bachelors of Biology; and from Vanderbilt University (2019) with a Masters in Secondary education with a concentration in science. During that time Mr. Humphrey-Davis has also gained valuable experience directing minority STEAM & martial-arts after school/summer programs throughout the North and East Nashville communities. Mr. Humphrey-Davis is passionate about growing the next generation of scholars by helping them develop their strengths. Mr. Humphrey-Davis lives in the Bordeaux area of Northwestern Nashville and is excited to join the ESN school community.
Matt Ryan
Middle School Math and STEM Elective
Matt is a highly qualified educator with experience teaching at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Discipleship Ministry, and a Masters in Education. He has experience teaching advanced mathematics, advanced science, MS math and HS math. He is a trained educator with experience in a variety of areas, including mathematics, advanced mathematics, integrated science, discipleship and leadership development. He enjoys various activities with his students including quiz bowl, chess, math team, service learning projects and student government. He is a lifelong learner and is always trying to learn new skills to improve his pedagogy.
Henry Ingram
Fifth Grade Assistant, 3rd – 8th Coding and Aftercare Tutor
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.
Nathali Patino
PK-8th Spanish Teacher
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 Funk
Librarian
Aftercare Coordinator
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!
Hannah Meyers
Director of Music
Hannah is thrilled to take on the role of music director as ESN. She is also the Children’s and Youth Choir Director at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel on the Vanderbilt campus. Additionally, Hannah is a founding member and lead vocalist for The Bittersweets (Compass Records). Hannah studied music and vocal performance at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and earned her elementary teaching license in her native S.F. Bay Area. She later earned her Masters and Montessori Certification at Belmont University and studied music education at Lipscomb. Prior to joining the ESN community, Hannah served many years as a lead teacher as well as the art and Spanish teacher at a local Montessori school. In her free time Hannah enjoys running and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband have two young boys and can often be found in the family section at NSC games.
Carol Stix
Art Director
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!
Jourdan Swett
Structured Play Teacher and Aftercare Coordinator
Jourdan Swett is a Nashville native who graduated from The Ensworth School in 2013. While attending Ensworth High School he played 12 seasons of high school sports. During his tenure at EHS he achieved 6 state championships. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army for four years while stationed in Hawaii. After retiring from the United States Army, he became a student athlete at Ashland University in Ohio. He was a football team captain for the Ashland Eagles for two years and is a 2022 graduate with a degree in Business Finance.
Jourdan is excited to join the ESN community and looks forward to working alongside his colleagues and with students and families.
The Rev. Richard Wineland
Chaplain and Middle School Religion Teacher
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.
Anna Combs
Learning Specialist and Testing Coordinator
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.
Jazmin Adams
Pre-K -8th Substitute and Aftercare
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!
“My Mission is to Leave a Footprint Today, for the Future of Tomorrow. I must be the light that Guides Someone Else to their Miracle.”
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Staff
Maggie Chafee
Development Associate
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 Development Associate hat on, Maggie enjoys playing music with local artists around town, reading, and snuggling up with her cat, Beatrice.
Kristen Englert
Front Desk Manager
Kristen grew up just down the road in Atlanta, GA. She graduated with a degree in fine art from UNC Asheville in 2012, and moved to Nashville in 2016. She spends her time outside of ESN playing music around the country under the name Kristen Englenz. Fun fact: in 2009, Kristen won an international bird call imitation competition. A self-proclaimed “ornithusiast,” she loves sharing her passion for birds with others through her online series Caterwauling With Kristen. CWK is a family-friendly show on birds, the sounds they make, and the people who love them.
Frank Decesare
Maintenance Technician
Frank comes to us from the First Church of Nashville and Oak Hill School serving as a Maintenance Technician. His work background includes custodial, facility maintenance, grounds maintenance, working with electrical systems such as fire alarms and security, and IT work. Some of Frank’s interests outside of work are going to local music events, spending time in the city exploring, as well as being outside in nature going on hikes, camping and fishing. Originally from New Jersey, Frank is new to the city of Nashville and is looking forward to growing a career and helping out with any of the needs that the staff and facilities have here at Episcopal School of Nashville.
Hadassah Bird
Staff Accountant and Office Manager
Hadassah Bird has called Nashville home since 2008, when she moved here to start a small business and a family. After working as an entrepreneur for many years, Hadassah founded a youth theater company in 2018, which has brought drama programming to several homeschool programs, organizations, and private schools (including ESN) over the last 5 years. Hadassah is also an ESN parent, and is thrilled to support the work of this school as a member of the staff. In her spare time, Hadassah can be found writing plays and novels, taking long walks in Nashville’s many beautiful parks, and playing board games with her three children.
LaTerra Davis
Director of Admissions
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.
Jason Indorato
Director of Business and Operations
Jason comes to the Episcopal School of Nashville following seven years serving as the Director of Operations at First Presbyterian Church of Nashville. While at FPC he headed all operations including Security, Facilities, Recreation, IT, Food Services, and all contracted services, served on many committees, as well as acted as a liaison for Oak Hill School. With over seventeen years of experience in multifaceted facilities, security, and business operations management roles, Jason is excited to bring his knowledge and expertise to the team at ESN. Originally from New Jersey, Jason moved to Nashville in 2016 via NYC where he managed luxury high rise condominium buildings and acted as the property management company’s new build consultant. Jason attended the Stephen L Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College in their Project Management and Facilities Management programs, as well as Harvard Business School online in their Business Accounting program. He has earned and holds many professional licenses, certifications, and certificates through the New York City Fire Department, the National Recreation and Park Association, the National Swimming Pool Foundation, and the International Facility Management Association, as well as many more. Jason and his family are now happily located in East Nashville since 2017. He is married to Kristin, a small business owner and a full-time mom. They have a wonderfully adventurous son named Hudson who is in first grade at ESN, a brand-new baby boy named Flint, a cat named Dandelion, and a dog named Arya. Fun Facts: Jason is also a folk/Americana musician, he loves working with wood, and he loves to cook.
Karen Barlow Parrish
Director of Development and Communications
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.”