This school year, Maggie Walker hired eight new faculty members in a wide variety of departments. Welcome to all our new teachers!

In the language department, Ms. Madeline Paturel, the new French teacher, is teaching French II, French IV, and AP French this year. This is Paturel’s sixth year as an educator, having previously taught at Clover Hill High School. When asked about why she wanted to work at Maggie Walker, Paturel said, “The school is so lucky to not only have some of the best kids around, but such a positive working environment. My passion for teaching has been renewed in just a few short weeks.” This year, Paturel is also the Baking Club faculty sponsor, where she says they will be driving the philanthropic capabilities of the club with new opportunities. Since joining Maggie Walker, Paturel said her overall impression of the school has been “overwhelmingly positive.” Paturel continued, “Every staff member I’ve met has been kind and helpful, and every student I’ve had in class has been hardworking and engaged.” Paturel goes on to explain that “teaching is a two way street,” and at Maggie Walker, students’ effort in class has been overwhelming, but the work Paturel gets to put in for the students has been incredibly rewarding.

Another language teacher, Ms. Alecia Nichols, joined Maggie Walker this year as a Spanish teacher. With a background in linguistics and its psychosocial aspects, Nichols has taught Spanish in both high schools and colleges, and has co-authored research in second language acquisition. Nichols is a Maggie Walker alumna, saying, “I knew there would be no better place to teach than at Maggie Walker. This place and these people have always felt like home.” Nichols mentioned that she was very excited for Fall Fest this year, as it is her ten-year reunion, and she “can’t wait to see old friends and classmates again!” When asked about her impressions since joining the faculty, Nichols said, “It is surreal being on ‘the other side of the desk’ as a teacher.” She continued on about Maggie Walker, adding that “the faculty and staff have been very welcoming, and the students have been a dream.”

In the social studies department, Mr. Kyle Rogers was welcomed as a new faculty member. Inspired to become an educator because of his grandmother, who taught for forty years, Rogers has previously taught U.S. and World History at both Varina High School and Deep Run High School. Rogers wanted to teach at Maggie Walker because of the “outstanding students, who are not only smart, but inquisitive, diligent, and committed to succeeding in their studies.” Rogers earned his master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and thus “grew to love the Richmond community,” adding to the appeal of teaching at Maggie Walker. This year, Rogers says that he is excited to “get to know [his] classes and colleagues better.” He is looking forward to “learning all [he] can from the veteran Maggie Walker educators,” so that he can “improve [his] pedagogy in order to serve students better.” Rogers said that his “students inspire [him] everyday with their knowledge, passion, and insightful questions.” He concluded, “I’m very much enjoying the valuable challenge of keeping up with the students, and Maggie Walker has already started to feel like a professional home.”

The science department has taken on quite a few new faculty members this year. Mr. Drew Austen joined Maggie Walker as a physics teacher, and has previously taught AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and Geometry at Deep Run High School, Glen Allen High School, and Godwin High School. Austen has also previously taught at the International School of Belgrade in Serbia, and holds a master’s degree in physics from Virginia Commonwealth University. Austen wanted to teach at Maggie Walker, as he “most enjoys teaching students who are highly academically gifted,” and he enjoys “showing these students just how much further they can really push their ability to think critically and reason analytically.” This year, Austen is very excited about the possibility of having “students get a perfect score on the AP Physics exam.” Austen has come to love Maggie Walker, saying “every single aspect about the school has either been the same or better than any previous schools [he] has taught at.” Austen concluded by saying “it’s wonderful to work with such academically talented students and see them really pushing themselves to reach new levels of critical thinking.”

Another science department addition, Mr. Brandon Gooss, was also brought on as a physics teacher. Previously, he taught at Highland Springs High School and Tucker High School before being deployed to Kuwait with the Army Reserves. After returning from Kuwait, Gooss taught at Deep Run High School before joining the Maggie Walker faculty this year. Gooss is still currently serving with the USAR as a member of the 359th Transportation Battalion. When asked of the appeal to working at Maggie Walker, Gooss referenced the praise the school had received from other teachers, and stated, “The idea of teaching in an environment in which students have genuine interest in learning along with the drive to do well is the wish of most educators.” This year, Gooss is excited to “work with a new group of students and teachers.” Since joining the Maggie Walker faculty, Gooss has been impressed with the independence of students and said that “the staff has been excellent to work with.”

The last science department addition this year, Mr. David D’Urbino, teaches chemistry. He previously taught at Clover Hill High School, and earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. D’Urbino has quickly come to love the “culture of respect and eagerness to learn that permeates at Maggie Walker.” This year, D’Urbino is excited to enjoy Fall fest, as well as other cultural events, as he “loves the multicultural focus of the school.” Since joining the Maggie Walker faculty, D’Urbino has noticed and noted that “this school and the student body have been extremely welcoming and have made [him] feel right at home.”

In the counseling department, Maggie Walker has brought on two new faculty members. Ms. Kelly Ndayizigiye has joined as the new freshman counselor. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from James Madison University and a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University’s counselor education program. Ndayizigiye is very excited to “learn about all the freshman’s interests and how they find their place at Maggie Walker,” as well as finding her own voice here. Since joining the Maggie Walker faculty, Ndayizigiye has enjoyed just how “lovely and welcoming” everyone is.

This year, the counseling department also welcomed a new social worker, Ms. Erin Ortiz. Ortiz is an alumna of Maggie Walker, having graduated in the class of 2006. In 2009, she graduated from the University of Virginia, where she studied psychology and American Sign Language. Later, at Gallaudet University, Ortiz pursued social work and continued her sign language studies. She previously worked for a nonprofit organization at Oliver Hill Court before transferring to Henrico County Public Schools, where she served as a social worker. For Ortiz, one appeal to working at Maggie Walker was “going from three schools with seventy-two programs to one building.” She was also excited by the prospect of “coming home,” as well as “getting more time off in the summer and having a much greater work-life balance,” as she is currently expecting her first child. This year, Ortiz is excited “to feel truly a part of a real community,” at Maggie Walker.

We wish all our new faculty members a warm welcome!