Galilee Christian School Teaching Teams
Monkeys, Fireflies, Busy Bees, Sharks, Puffer fish and Frogs...oh my!
The preschool teaching teams are a group of dedicated educators who bring joy, love, and learning to their students every day. Most of all, the teachers at Galilee truly love what they do and have the best time which translates to an excellent experience for every child.
Monkeys 2's Teachers: Susan Reese and Summer Petrilli
Susan Reese (pictured left).
I have been teaching for 14 years and this is my 5th year at Galilee. I have lived with my husband, Todd, in Countryside for 26 years, and grew up in Fairfax. I have three children. My son is 24 and finishing up at GMU next fall. My twin girls are seniors at Virginia Tech, and George Mason University. We also have a cat, named Polly. I am passionate about teaching, especially 2's and 3's! I promise I will do my best to help your child succeed and give them as many reasons to love coming to school as I can. If you have any questions, need advice, a sounding board, or a shoulder to cry on, I am here for you and your child. Don’t worry if your child is not potty-trained, I don’t expect it and I am not afraid of changing diapers or potty training. I'm excited for another great year of preschool!
Summer Petrilli (pictured right).
This is my second year as a teaching assistant at Galilee and I am so excited to be helping our littlest friends in the Monkeys class learn and grow. I spent my childhood in Asia and Africa and have been to almost 50 countries! My favorite place in the world is Cape Town, South Africa, where I went to high school and where my husband and I got married. I graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology with a master's degree in clinical psychology and have spent the last 20+ years as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in early intervention. I have three kiddos and two large labradors. My youngest will be a Puffer fish this year. I love to swim, read, diy at home, quilt, and especially to travel. I can't wait to see what our little monkeys can accomplish!
Fireflies 3's Teachers: Maggie Ferri and Amy Messick
Maggie Ferri (pictured right).
I’m a mom to two beautiful little ones who attended this school and I’m super excited about working with your kids! I was the Assistant Teacher in the PK 5's class last year and I loved it so much, I'll be the lead teacher for the Fireflies. Before that, I was a stay-at-home mom for the last six years. I grew up locally and attended high school and college in Northern Virginia. When I'm not at preschool or with my kids, I love to relax with long walks, reading and puzzles! I am so excited to see all that this school year will bring and seeing all the little fireflies learn and grow!
Amy Messick (pictured left).
I grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended Fordham University. I met my husband in Atlanta, and together we lived in several places around the country before we settled in Virginia.
We have four wonderful children - a daughter who is a Junior at Penn State, another daughter who just started her Freshman year at University of Alabama, a 16-year-old son who is playing Junior hockey in Boston, and a 13-year-old daughter who loves cheer. Our home is also full of pets, including two cats, a bearded dragon and a hamster! I love to read, play tennis, and am always happiest at the beach.​ I look forward to watching these little minds learn, grow, and discover something new every day!
Busy Bees 3's Teachers: Alison Bransford and Erin Farmer
Alison Bransford (pictured left).
I am so excited to be teaching the Busy Bees 3’s class at Galilee! This is my second year as a five-day teacher, after previously teaching two days a week and working as a substitute. Before entering early childhood education, I spent over 20 years in the information technology field. After starting a family, I was blessed to stay home with our children and care for several others—an experience that helped me discover my true passion for working with children. My husband and I have a daughter, a son, and an Aussiedoodle named Bea. Outside the classroom, I enjoy tennis, cheering on the Nationals, and spending time with family and friends.
Erin Farmer (pictured right).
I’ve been an Assistant Teacher at Galilee for about 8 years…I took a brief hiatus to get my Real Estate License and realized preschool is WAY more fun. I have 3 kids - a Senior and Freshman at Potomac and a 7th Grader at River Bend. My husband is a USMC Veteran and a World Class Master Mechanic. I have always loved working with children. I also have a fun side business, The Cupcake Farmer. When I’m not at the school, driving the Galilee Bus, or baking cupcakes I’m BUSY with my kids' sports, out on the river or tending to my mini farm. Currently I’m at 35 Chickens, 5 Ducks, 4 Quail, 2 Dogs, 2 Cats, 2 Bunnies, 2 Gerbils and a Parrot because, why not? I love sharing the chickens, ducks and quail with the students at Galilee each spring.
PK4 Sharks Teachers: Christi Hendershot and Susan Benham
Christi Hendershot (pictured right).
I am a New York native and love all things NY, especially the Yankees and Knicks! I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park (Go Terps!) with a degree in English. This is my 8th year teaching at Galilee and it brings me so much joy! I have three sons and a labradoodle named Thor. My oldest is a VT graduate who lives and works in Arlington. My middle son attends IU (Go Hoosiers!) and my youngest is at the UMD (Go Terps!) The fellas continue to keep me busy and give me a deep appreciation for the joy and wonder of preschool! What I love most about teaching preschool is hearing all that little learners have to share and helping them to treat others with kindness and empathy. In my free time, I love to read, watch sports, and travel!
Susan Benham (pictured left).
This will be my 6th year teaching at Galilee. I am excited to be with the Sharks class again this year. I have also experienced this wonderful preschool as a parent. My 6th grade twin daughters attended Galilee when they were little. In addition to the twins I also have an older daughter who is a junior at Potomac Falls. I graduated from the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) with a degree in Art History & Archeology. I love all things art and discovery and the Annual Art Show is my absolute favorite preschool event. Outside of preschool I enjoy reading, watching my girls play field hockey, and visiting museums and art galleries.
PK5 Puffer Fish Teachers: Leigh Pappalardo and Sarah Doubleday
Leigh Pappalardo (pictured right).
This is my 15th year teaching preschool and it gets better each and every year! I received my degree in psychology from the College of William and Mary where I met my husband Tom. We are busy weekend road warriors enjoying D.C. where our oldest son lives and then beach time visiting our college Senior at UNCW! When we’re not on the road, we’re entertaining our labradoodle, Parker! I am proud to be a teacher at Galilee and to share my love of learning about the world through play with my students. My favorite part of the week is Geography Friday when we take imaginative journeys around the world. Aside from curious preschoolers, my favorite things are books, birds, and college mascots!
Sarah Doubleday (pictured left).
This is my first year teaching at Galilee, and I am so excited to join the team! My son attended Galilee for three years, and now my daughter will be here with me, but in a different classroom. Before my daughter was born, I was a high school math teacher for nine years. I am looking forward to incorporating math-centered activities this year - maybe they’ll even leave this year knowing some Algebra 2! On the weekends, my family cheers for the Hokies on Saturday and the Steelers on Sunday. I enjoy reading, running, walking my dog Jojo, and spending time with my family. I’m looking forward to an awesome year with your kids!
Full Day Frog Teachers: Yelena Yakobson and Susan Benham
Yelena Yakobson (pictured right).
I am from Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. I graduated from Kyrgyzstan Medical School with a degree in pediatrics. This is my 5th year at Galilee and 2nd year with the Full Day Frogs. My oldest daughter graduated from UVA and relocated for a job in Boston. My youngest is a junior at Virginia Tech. I have labradoodle named Tucker, who is 6-years-old. I love teaching and learning, and it's exciting to open a new world of knowledge with kids. I love to see them gain confidence and it's so rewarding to observe how much they grow and develop throughout the year. When I'm not enjoying my Full Day Frog friends, I love to read, hike, and cook. I also love to learn something new -- this year it’s knitting!
Susan Benham (pictured left).
This will be my 6th year teaching at Galilee. In additional to the Sharks class, I'm excited to add Full Day Frogs to my day!