About VHA

We believe that two elements of Vint Hill Academy set us apart from other tutoring companies - our highly qualified team, and our innovative and integrated use of 21st century technology in everything we do. This combination of experienced educators employing cutting-edge technology provides our students with a uniquely powerful learning opportunity.

Team

The VHA team is comprised of only the most highly qualified teachers in the region. Founded by former college writing center coordinators with experience teaching in Virginia’s public and private schools, VHA’s staff focuses on empowering today’s learners using cutting edge technology and instructional techniques.

Nancy Martin, M.A.
Nancy holds a Master’s in Business Communication from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota and a B.A. in English and Business Management from Central College in Pella, Iowa. She has spent 20+ years teaching English Composition, Literature, Business Writing, Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Critical Thinking, and ESL at the college, secondary and middle school levels. While teaching at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, she was Associate Director of the writing center, and received the Board of Regents Outstanding Faculty Award in 1999. Also in 1999, she co-authored “A Chronicle of Family Camaraderie”, published in Iowa Heritage Illustrated. In addition to Waldorf College, she has taught at Des Moines Area Community College, Northern Virginia Community College and most recently, at Wakefield School in The Plains, VA.

Laura Kane, M.A.
Laura holds an M.A. (Scholae Studiorum Superiorum) in English from Georgetown University and a B.A. in English (with Distinction) from the University of Virginia, where she was an Echols Scholar and earned Intermediate Honors. While at Georgetown, Laura served as a Course Assistant for undergraduate English courses and as a Writing Center Coordinator and tutor. After gaining valuable professional writing experience at AOL and US News & World Report, and a brief period spent tutoring and teaching special education students, Laura spent four years in the classroom as a secondary English teacher, first for Fairfax County Public Schools and later for Wakefield School in The Plains, Virginia. She holds a Virginia Post-Graduate Professional license to teach Secondary English. She is also trained to teach International Baccalaureate (IB) English courses, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Secondary English Education at George Mason University. Laura is a product of both Fauquier and Fairfax County Public Schools, including the selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST), where she was a National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar, and member of the National Honor Society.

Paula J. Bowen, M.A., Associate Instructor
Paula holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in Spanish from George Mason University. Currently an instructor at Lord Fairfax Community College, she has over nine years of experience teaching Spanish to Middle School and High School students in both public and private schools, most recently at Wakefield School in The Plains, Virginia She has also taught at Northern Virginia Community College. Paula also has many years of experience planning student trips to Spain where her students have put their Spanish skills to good use!

Carol Davis, Associate Instructor
A math tutor for over 20 years, Carol has worked with students of pre-algebra, algebra I, algebra II, trigonometry, geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus. She holds a B.A. with honors from Alvernia College, and taught full-time as a math teacher in Pennsylvania for six years. A lifelong learner, Carol continues to hone her math skills with coursework at Lord Fairfax Community College.

Elizabeth Foster, Associate Instructor
Elizabeth holds a B.A. with a double major in English and Classical Civilization from the University of Mary Washington and is currently working on a Masters of Education at the University of Virginia. She has pursued additional graduate level coursework in International Commerce and Policy at George Mason University. Elizabeth has worked with and advised freshman, transfer, and study abroad students at institutions both in the U.S. and abroad. She has presented at conferences on college level advising, and has dedicated her professional life to cultivating the interests and talents of others. She also possesses extensive computer and technology experience, and enjoys working with students of all ages - in subjects ranging from Algebra I to Advanced English.

Joel Haspel, Associate Instructor
Joel holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science and Religious Studies (with High Distinction) from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols Scholar and earned Intermediate Honors. After spending time as a software programmer and consultant, Joel has founded and operated several software companies and marketing consulting firms in the Washington, DC area. In addition to his interests in marketing and technology, Joel has a focus on education, and received training as a tutor at C2 Education. Joel attended Fairfax County Public Schools, including the selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST), where he was a National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar, and member of the National Honor Society.

Professional Development
Our teachers maintain a high degree of involvement in their fields of study and expertise, attending conferences, participating in online forums, and pursuing advanced degrees, including the following activities:

• Completed training in Level 1 of the Barton Reading & Spelling System, 2010
• Attended “What’s Next? The Adolescent in Montessori” conference, 2010, Flint Hill VA
• Completed “Developing Accuracy and Fluency” course from Neuhaus Education, 2010
• Master of Education Coursework at George Mason University, 2010
• Attended Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Annual Conference 2008, Richmond VA
• Attended VAIS Technology Conference 2008, Richmond VA
• Attended National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Technology Conference 2008, Indianapolis IN
• Attended Northern Virginia Writing Project’s Bernadette Mulholland Glaze Language and Learning Conference 2007, Fairfax VA
• Attended “Teaching A Foreign Language to Students With Learning Differences” at The Lab School, 2007, Washington DC
• Attended NCTE Annual Conference 2006, Nashville, TN
• Received International Baccalaureate Training, 2006, Albuquerque, NM
• Membership in NCTE
• Membership in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

Technology

Today’s learners are digital natives. Having grown up in a world of computers, cell phones, text messages, and iPods, they are out of their comfort zone interacting with books, pencils and pens, and paper. Forcing students to use only these “traditional” media actually has a negative impact on their learning.

Furthermore, digital technology becomes more important every day, as literacy changes in the 21st century. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) recently released a new definition of literacy, including the following statement: “Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the twenty-first century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies—from reading online newspapers to participating in virtual classrooms—are multiple, dynamic, and malleable.”

VHA recognizes this reality, and therefore strives to incorporate 21st century technology into the learning process at every step. Tools such as blogs, instant messaging, video conferencing, document sharing, and digital collaboration are all tightly integrated into VHA’s learning methods, both in-studio and online.

With parent/guardian permission, students who receive ongoing literacy instruction from VHA will be provided with blogs in order to promote writing fluency and self-assessment and in order to receive between-session feedback from their instructors. Students requiring assistance with literacy tasks between studio sessions will be able to email, share documents with, and chat with their instructors via Google Applications.

In addition to improving their traditional academic skills, VHA students will quickly become proficient in the art of digital collaboration, building skills that will make them valuable contributors in a variety of post-secondary-school environments.

Other Services

In addition to tutoring, test preparation, and college essays, VHA also provides a variety of education and language-related services. These services include resume counseling and job search assistance, test proctoring, manuscript editing, and more. Please contact us directly with any questions about these services.