Coaches

Stephanie joined Van Ness during the 2019-2020 school year. She started teaching 13 years ago in Atlanta through Teach for America. Since then, Stephanie has taught K-5 as a founding teacher at Excel Academy, at dual language schools, and a turnaround school in the District. Throughout Stephanie’s teaching career, Stephanie has served as a member of the Chancellor’s Teacher Cabinet, Flamboyan Home Visit Trainer, Teaching for Change Telling Stories Participant, and Girls on the Run Coach. Stephanie believes in developing strong relationships with families while fostering independence and critical thinking within her students. Stephanie holds a BA in Psychology and Government and Law from Lafayette College and MA in Early Childhood Education from American University. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys biking, gardening, and cooking.

Coach Cara joined Van Ness as a consultant in 2019. She became a full time Otter in 2020 when she was hired as the Van Ness Math Coach. Before joining Van Ness, Cara received her Bachelors in Elementary Education at The University of Dayton. She then moved to San Diego, where she worked as a middle school math and science teacher and math coach in for 15 years. During that time, she received a Masters in Math, Science, and Technology in Education. In 2013, she was recruited by a London based company to journey to England and coach teachers in Project Based Learning. She returned to her childhood home in the DMV in 2018 to be closer to family. When she's not helping Van Ness staff and students embrace and love math education, she can be found exploring local restaurants, traveling, spending time with family, and being a dog mom.