Our Staff

Our professional educators are focused on assisting families during the early years. We provide a Christian atmosphere of love that comes from our own personal relationship with God. With two teachers assigned to each classroom, our staff members meet the requirements established by the School Advisory Committee of Plymouth Haven Baptist Church. These requirements include the love of young children, experience teaching or caring for young children and training in the developmental education of young children. All lead teachers have 4-year degrees and many staff members have advanced degrees.

Staff members participate in professional development classes, both individually and as a team. This includes CPR, First Aid, PMAT and 16 hours of early childhood education training annually. Most importantly, the staff is committed to a loving God, in whom and through each child becomes aware of his or her self worth and a realization of the worth of others.

Leigh Pond

Director

Leigh Pond became the director of PHCS in 2024. She first came to PHCS as a parent in 2016 and all of Leigh’s three children have attended PHCS. Leigh was born and raised in Alexandria and holds a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College and a Master’s in Education from Marymount University. Leigh has taught for over 10 years and has management experience.

Sue Murphy

Administrative Assistant

Sue Murphy joined PHCS in the fall of 2014 as the Administrative Assistant. Sue has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University. Sue worked for many years as a chemical engineer before switching gears and working as a writer and editor for a print publication as she raised her four children. She is the mother of three sons and a daughter. Sue has many years of experience working with children in her children’s classrooms and as a teacher of religious education at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. She is excited to be a part of the wonderful staff of Plymouth Haven Christian School and enjoys working with all of the parents.

Alison Beresford

2’s Assistant Teacher

Alison Beresford first came to PHCS as a parent in 2024 and joined as the assistant to the Bears class in 2025. Alison has been a Registered Nurse in the UK since 2002, serving for 15 years in the UK’s Royal Air Force. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Care and is working towards a master’s degree in Pre-Hospital Care and Public Health. During her nurse training Alison worked in childcare for 4 years and once registered, maintained a specialty of nursing that combined children and adult care. In addition, upon leaving the military she managed several teams of school nurses that involved children’s health and development for ages 3 to 18 years. She moved from the UK to the United States in 2022 with her active-duty military husband, elementary school age daughter and son who attends PHCS. Alison is thoroughly looking forward to joining the PHCS community, utilising her skills to support the Bears class and the wider team.

Mary Drotos

3’s Lead Teacher

Mary Drotos is a lead 3's teacher. She began working at PHCS in 2012. She is a graduate of Radford University and an Alexandria native, where she currently lives with her husband and four children. She enjoys taking walks and watching movies.

Edane Lee

PreK Assistant

Edane was born in Washington, D.C. and spent most of her childhood in Maryland. She knew by the time she was in third grade that she wanted to work with children. She enjoyed taking child development classes in high school and was able to intern in an afterschool program. Edane was then offered her first job at that program and her career was launched in 1985. She pursued an Early Childhood Development Degree and graduated in 2005. Edane really enjoys working with children because she loves learning right along with them. Edane is blessed with a loving husband named Tom and two beautiful amazing daughters, Cami and Amber.

Sumrall Morgan

Kindergarten Assistant

Sumrall Morgan joined PHCS as a parent in 2020 and as a teacher in 2023. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in English and Psychology and a master’s in English. In addition, she is a San Diego State University Teachers Program graduate and earned her Clear Secondary Teaching Credential from the University of California, San Diego. She served as the Education Director for a K-8 Humane Education program in San Diego and taught high school English, Drama, and Psychology. Since moving to the Fort Hunt area with her family in 2019, Sumrall has enjoyed volunteering with Stratford Recreation Association and exploring the area. She is excited to be a part of the PHCS community!

Courtney Nelson

3’s Assistant

Courtney has a background in art education and a degree in dental hygiene. She worked with children in a pediatric dental practice for 6 years before she and her husband had three children of their own. She taught a variety of classes at Fort Belvoir co-op for two years. Courtney is originally from North Carolina, and has happily called Alexandria “home” since 2019. She enjoys camping with her family and taking road trips!

Joy Pachucki

PreK Assistant

Joy Pachucki joined PHCS in 2025 and is the assistant in the Monkeys Junior Kindergarten class. Joy was born and raised in Pennsylvania and has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. Joy is an avid volunteer in her community and a proud Army spouse. Joy and her husband have four children and reside in the Stratford Landing community.

Lindsay Rukenbrod

PreK Lead Teacher

Lindsay joined the PHCS staff in 2024 after frequently substitute teaching during the prior school year. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Finance and International Business from James Madison University and a Master’s degree in Marine Science from UNC Wilmington. Her son Luke graduated from PHCS’s Junior Kindergarten in 2024.

Pam Scherer

PreK Lead Teacher

Pam Scherer joined PHCS in 2013 as the assistant in the 2’s classroom and is currently a lead teacher in the Monkey’s Junior Kindergarten class. She holds a bachelor’s degree in childhood education from the University of Maryland. Previously, she taught in the Prince George’s County school system for 16 years. Her assignments included teaching 3rd and 4th grade students for several years before moving to a position where she taught literature to K – 8 students for the remainder of her career. She took a break from teaching to raise her son and daughter and has lived in the Riverside Gardens community since 2001.

Arseli Strohecker

PreK Lead Teacher

Arseli joined the PHCS staff at the beginning of 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Texas A&M University and has enjoyed teaching in Texas, England, Japan and now Virginia. She is a proud military spouse and loves to travel with her husband and son, try new food and meet new people. She is so happy to be a part of the PHCS community and work with the Hedgehogs class.

Megan Thomson

Lead Teacher, 2’s

Megan loves working with preschool age children and was excited to join PHCS in 2022. She grew up in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University. She moved to Washington D.C. after college to work on Capitol Hill. Megan discovered her passion for teaching after staying home with her own sons. She has taught preschool since 2016. Megan lives in Hollin Hall with her family.

Mindy Traveria

PreK Lead Teacher

Mindy Traveria became the Owls teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. She has a bachelor’s degree in Allied Health and a Master’s degree in Health Education from Texas A&M University and is a Licensed Practical Nurse. Mindy’s family is a military family since 2011, and has three lovely children. Mindy joined PHCS as a parent in 2023. She is excited to be teaching again and also staying close to her youngest, who attends PHCS.

Kim Vogel

3’s Assistant

Kim was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Her husband, Nate, is in the Air Force. They have been married since 2016. Kim has two sons, Eddy and Ryan, who keep life fun and busy. As a family, they love spending time outdoors – boating, swimming, and playing or watching basketball together.

Annette Weichlein

Kindergarten Teacher

Annette joined PHCS in 2025 as the lead teacher for the Busy Bees’ Kindergarten class. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in International Relations and Spanish and a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. She is a career-switcher who came into teaching as a second career, after raising her three beautiful daughters Julia, Emily, and Anna. She taught middle school social studies for three years at Carl Sandburg Middle School followed by two years in a Pre-K classroom. She loves working with children and is very excited to be a part of the PHCS community.

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