New teacher spotlight

As a 2011 graduate of CHS, physical education teacher Nawal Africano is trying to get a fresh and new start after school has gone back in-person. She is a fitness coach and a field hockey coach when she is not teaching.  How did your high school experience at CHS influence you to teach here? I have had lots of different experiences to influence me. I had great relationships with my teachers when ...

Although math teacher Marwa Ali did not originally intend to become a teacher, she found herself as one of the latest members of the school staff this year. After working for her father's company, Ali quickly realized that was not the path for her. She now teaches algebra 1, algebra 2 and pre-calculus.  When did you start teaching?  I started first as a mechanical engineer. To be honest, I wasn’t meant to be an engineer...

After teaching elementary school students last year, special education teacher Mae Basl has entered the new realm of high school. Her transition to CHS this year has made a big impact in her life.  Why did you decide to teach at Chantilly? I got a degree in psychology, and after that, I just wanted to figure out how I wanted to work and what environment I wanted to work in. I definitely want ...

As the mother of several CHS graduates and the wife of a former CHS volleyball coach, Cynthia Belsky is not entirely new to the school. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley and has a humanities field degree with a concentration on equity. Was there a moment in your life that made you decide you wanted to be a teacher? I’m a career switcher, so I worked in IT for many years, but I wanted...

With a Ph.D. in biology,  this is Peter Bouwman’s first time teaching at the high school level. He has been teaching since he was a graduate student and he went to Florida State University to study for his Ph.D. and after teaching at the undergrad level. He has been substituting for the last couple years  at South Lakes High School and Westfield High School.  Why did you choose to teach biolo...

After working in a hospital and teaching at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), health science teacher Jennifer Callahan has now moved her expertise to the Academy at Chantilly. Although working at the Academy is completely different from working in a hospital, Callahan has adjusted without trouble. How did you get interested in medical professions? When I was younger, I used to babys...

Inspired by his own high school experience, Tanner DeCrapio aspires to help students succeed as a physics and engineering math teacher himself. He used to live in Erie, Pennsylvania before moving to teach at Chantilly. Where did you go to college? I went to college at Pennsylvania State University where I got my bachelors and masters in architectural engineering. Then, I went to a different coll...

After traveling and teaching various languages in Europe, Africa and more, French teacher JoEllen Delamatta landed at Chantilly. How are you feeling about Chantilly so far? I like it a lot. I’m learning something new every day about different habits and traditions. I’m really excited about going to the [first football game]; I have students that are going to be singing and playing [there].  ...

As an instructional/office assistant in the special education department, Elizabeth Escobar decided to join the school due to a change in interests after taking a teaching course in college. What makes you interested in working in the special education field? Every day the work is different, and interactions with kind parents and students make it interesting. Now, I’m trying out the office...

After tenures on Capitol Hill, the Justice Department and the State Department, Kristen Fennel arrived at CHS as one of two special education chairs.  Where are you from? I grew up here and in Minnesota. I lived here until about the end of seventh grade and then I was in Minnesota from eighth to 12th grade, and then I moved back here because of my dad’s job. He worked for the House of Repre...

An avid reader, English teacher Laura Guilmartin has a plethora of favorite authors and books she reads throughout the year. After getting her master degree in 2015, she was a teacher for seven years at Justice High School before transitioning to CHS. How is the transition coming back from virtual learning? Seeing people one-on-one has just been wonderful. It's really great to actually get to hear...

Joining the math department this year, Debbie Kim will be teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2 Honors, and Algebra Functions and Data Analysis (AFDA). AFDA is a transition class primarily for students who took geometry and are going into Algebra 2. She has been teaching in Fairfax County for 15 years and taught at Frost Middle School before coming to Chantilly. Why do you teach? I love teaching because ...

After recently moving back to America, Teresa King has come to join the Chantilly family as a special education English teacher.  Where were you before you came to Chantilly?  I came from Yokosuka, Japan. I was a military spouse, and we spent about 14 years overseas. While living in Japan I got into education, and have been working in education for the past seven years.  Was there anyth...

Former general instructor for the Alexandria Sheriff's Office, Phillip Leger is starting his first year of teaching at CHS as the new criminal justice teacher. Why did you choose to work at CHS? I just looked for jobs in Fairfax County Public Schools and I saw a criminal justice teaching job at CHS, so I applied. I also have a friend who was a teacher here in the special education department. ...

After attending high school and college in Romania, math teacher Veronica Moldoveanu came to America after she finished college to do advanced studies at the University of Maryland.  Why did you choose to be a teacher at CHS? I decided to be a teacher a long time ago. I am an engineer by education, but I switched to teaching math in 2004. When I got married and moved to Virginia, I taught at ...

From attending Lake Braddock High School to teaching at Robinson Secondary School, Angela Moon is no stranger to the Northern Virginia area. This fall, she started her first year in-person at CHS as a special education social studies teacher, having previously joined midway through last year. How did you get into teaching? I had a couple jobs beforehand that related really heavily to teaching...

In her 13th year of nursing, Aminian Ramissa joined multiple Fairfax County Public Schools as a public nurse, one of them being Chantilly High School (CHS). She is honored to be serving CHS right now and really enjoys the experience. What is your favorite aspect about the school? I love the fact that CHS is the largest high school in the county. I also love [the fact] that it has a variety of re...

Along with coaching girls varsity basketball, Josh Regan is a ninth-grade math teacher. Regan started his teaching career in 2003 at Potomac High School. He feels CHS is a really good place to teach and is thankful for his fellow staff and students. Why did you decide to be a teacher? I got into teaching because I knew I wanted to coach basketball, but I also knew that I couldn’t just be a s...

Previously a math teacher at Northern Virginia Community College, William Ruffle now teaches  at CHS. Ruffle has always had a passion for teaching whether it was tutoring classmates while working as a soccer coach in North Carolina or teaching kids in New Jersey. What inspired you to become a teacher? When I went to college, I was a math major and I always enjoyed helping my classmates. I als...

New to FCPS, school counselor Sarah Snyder came to the CHS staff to help out in Subschool 2. Snyder used to work at Arlington for 5 years before coming to FCPS. What made you choose the career path of a counselor? I actually started off thinking I wanted to be a physical therapist. Then, I realized that my whole life I had already performed a sort of counseling role a little bit with my friends, ...

One of two social workers at the school, Nick Thayer, is passionate about community service and helping those who have experienced injustice. His office is located in Subschool 5.  What do your responsibilities include? My day looks different every day. A lot of it might be counseling kids if they're in crisis or setting up regular counseling hours with students who are eligible. I also facilitate...