About Orchard House
2007-2008 Faculty and Staff
Nancy W. Davies is Orchard House's Head of School. She holds a B.S. from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C. and an M.Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Throughout her life, Ms. Davies has served in volunteer capacities that affect children: as an editor and writer, on Boards, as a speaker, fundraiser and as the founder of Orchard House School. She has created, with the help of many people, a learning community where a diverse student body of girls thrives.
Robin Arthur holds a B.S. degree in mathematics from North Carolina State University. She started dancing when she was four years old and enjoys sharing both of those passions with Orchard House as a math and dance teacher. Ms. Arthur also performs, choreographs, and directs for theatres both locally and regionally.
Rejoining the staff of Orchard House School after a four-year hiatus, Michelle Bair has taken on the task of assisting Melody Imburg in the Admissions Office as well as various other projects throughout the school. She is currently in the process of completing her B.S. coursework with a specialization in Health and Physical Education. Michelle is also very active in the local field hockey community. During her first stint with OHS, she spent two seasons coaching both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Currently, she coaches at Maggie Walker Governor’s School during the fall, trains Olympic hopefuls with the U.S. Field Hockey Association’s Futures Program during the spring and organizes teams of local middle school and high school players to compete in a statewide tournament during the summer. When she is not working, studying, or developing athletes, Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her family. “I am very excited about coming back and having the opportunity to be involved with such a wonderful community of individuals,” says Michelle of her return to Orchard House.
Diana Donnelly serves as administrative assistant to the Head of School and school registrar, and works closely with Janine Russo in high school admissions. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and an M.A. in Religion and an M.S.W. from the Catholic University of America. Diana also works part-time as an in-home family counselor with United Methodist Family Services.
Karen Evans is the Business Manager at Orchard House School. She has a B.S. in Finance from VCU with over 25 years of experience in the business community. In her free time she enjoys reading, knitting, family, and good friends.
Diane Ferguson teaches seventh and eighth grade Spanish at Orchard House. When not teaching Spanish, Ms. Ferguson serves as the Director of Financial Aid and works in the Orchard House business office. She holds a B.A. in Spanish Language, Culture, and Society from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in Teaching Spanish from the University of South Carolina. Ms. Ferguson enjoys teaching Spanish, volunteering with FURS (Friends United with the Richmond Shelter, a non-profit dog adoption group), and spending time with her family, including her husband, their two daughters, and their three shelter-rescued beagles.
Eighth grade homeroom history teacher Taylor Hollander has a background in collective bargaining and labor relations. He has published articles in the field of labor policy and continues to review scholarly works on history. Mr. Hollander holds a B.A. in History from McGill University, Master's degrees from Cornell and Binghamton University, and a Ph.D. in Twentieth Century U.S. History from Binghamton. He is a contributing writer to World History for Us All, a web-based, model curriculum for world history. To build on the scientific underpinnings of the school, Mr. Hollander is currently investigating the connections between brain research and education.
Suzi Horner holds a B.S. degree from Madison College and an M.Ed. from James Madison University. She is the former Director of the Bureau of Health Education for the Virginia State Department of Health. Ms. Horner has taught human sexuality and first aid at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. In addition to teaching health and physical education at Orchard House, Ms. Horner is the school's certified and licensed bus driver.
A parent of two Orchard House graduates, Melody Imburg serves as Orchard House's Admissions Director, Technology Director, and she teaches computer and technology. Ms. Imburg holds a B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University and an A.A.S. from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in legal assisting. She has extensive computer and technology skills, including database management, and she is always willing to learn and try new things.
With a B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University, Elizabeth Lafoon teaches English and serves as Orchard House's Front Office and Building Manager, as well as the Parent Board Liaison. Previously, she was employed by G.E. Lighting as a trainer in conflict resolution and customer service. She has sung with the a capella ensemble, Impromptu, for over 13 years and her church choir for more than 23 years.
Martha Ann Jones teaches English, leadership, and music at Orchard House. She holds a B.A. from Duke University, where she completed the Hart Leadership program. She is currently completing an M.A. in Literature at Virginia Commonwealth University. Amongst her pursued passions are her active membership in Dachshund Rescue North America, and membership on the Board of Encore Richmond Shakespeare Theatre. She is a published reviewer of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ontario Opera companies, is the Director of Music at the Church of the Holy Comforter, and is the Director of the a capella ensemble, Impromptu.
Lois Love teaches science in all four grades at Orchard House. She holds both her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Love is an amateur naturalist, has studied biology in the Galapagos Islands through Texas A & M University, and she enjoys reading crime novels.
As the Orchard House staff member responsible for researching and writing grants, Gwen Mason has an active political career, elected to City Council in Roanoke, Virginia in May 2006. She holds a B.A. from Smith College and an M.P.A. from the University of Virginia. Ms. Mason is the proud sister of Head of School, Nancy W. Davies.
Cathy Pelnik teaches Algebra I at Orchard House School. Ms. Pelnik received a B.S. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from the University of Rhode Island. In her down time she enjoys hiking, running, and cycling.
Ashley Racine teaches Latin in all four grades at Orchard House and holds a B.A. degree in Classics with a concentration in Classical Civilization from Mary Washington College. Ms. Racine is the beaming mother of a daughter.
"She's been a performer since she was a child," a Richmond newspaper wrote of Janine Russo, drama and math teacher at Orchard House. Ms. Russo holds B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Each summer, she returns to Luther Memorial School, where she leads a summer drama program of singing and dancing and "learning the theater inside and out." Starring in local plays in Richmond during the school year, including The Full Monty and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Ms. Russo has over ten years of training in acting, directing, stage voice and speech, dialects for the stage, stage movement, physical acting, and auditioning.
Martha Tyler is Orchard House School’s former Business Manager and current Coordinator of Development and Strategic Initiatives. An additional well-loved responsibility is teaching health classes. Ms. Tyler has clinical nursing experience in the area of women’s healthcare in both hospital and outpatient settings. She has a B.A. in religious studies from Indiana University, a B.S.N. from Case Western Reserve University, and an M.P.H. from the Medical College of Virginia.
Doug Welch teaches mathematics in all four grades and serves as the fifth grade homeroom teacher. He is also Orchard House's Athletics Director and club soccer coach. Mr. Welch holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and he has over sixteen years of experience as an educator in private schools.
Rachel Sawan White teaches art and graphic design at Orchard House. She holds a B.F.A. from Loughborough University School of Art and Design. Ms. White is a professional artist represented by galleries nationwide. She also teaches and lectures with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
