GPS Announces Faculty and Staff Additions for 2024-25

While students don’t return to school until next week, our faculty and staff are hard at work this week finalizing syllabi, updating their classrooms, and preparing for an exciting new school year. We have enjoyed reconnecting with familiar faces and are pleased to announce the following new members of our faculty and staff for 2024-25:

Sara Barker will join the GPS community as an upper/middle school Spanish teacher. She brings extensive experience from teaching Spanish at institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Millennium School, Black Pine Circle School, and Carondelet High School from 2018 to 2023. Before her primary and secondary school teaching roles, Sara served for nine years as a language and culture facilitator with Peace Corps Peru, where she taught immersive Spanish classes to students ranging from recent college graduates to retirees with all levels of language proficiency. During her time with the Peace Corps, Sara authored a comprehensive grammar manual tailored for Peace Corps students, earning an award for innovation in 2017. Originally from Peru, Sara is a passionate and dedicated educator who prioritizes the student experience and shares her enthusiasm for the Spanish language. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and French translation and interpretation from the Women’s University of the Sacred Heart in Lima, and a master’s degree in educational management from the National University of Education Enrique Guzmán y Valle. Additionally, she earned a specialization diploma in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, certification as a Spanish examiner from Spain’s Instituto Cervantes, and accreditation as an official Spanish tester from the U.S. Peace Corps. Beyond her professional pursuits, Sara enjoys traveling, cooking Peruvian dishes, and hiking. Her relocation to Tennessee fulfills her dream of being closer to family and friends, many of whom live in Chattanooga.

Lauren DeLaughter joined the Development team this spring as Data Specialist. Lauren grew up in Savannah, Georgia, and earned a BA in mass communications from Georgia College & State University. She was charmed by Chattanooga while interning with WTCI, Chattanooga’s PBS affiliate. Lauren held roles in fundraising at various organizations and obtained an MEd in human development from Vanderbilt University.

Allison Engel has been named our new Director of Tennis & Racquets Sports after a national search led by McMahon Careers and The Finney Group. A graduate of James Madison University, Allison most recently organized and taught tennis and pickleball at Westwood Club, a prestigious, member-owned private racquet club in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to Westwood, she was the Director of Tennis at Lakeside Park Club, where she tripled member participation in three years and enjoyed creating memorable member events. A graduate of the CRSE program (Certified Racquet Sports Executive), she also holds certifications through USPTA (Tennis and Platform), PPR (Pickleball), PCR (Padel), and ITPA (Fitness). Prior to fully committing herself to a career in the tennis industry, Allison spent 10 years as a middle school Spanish teacher in Virginia. She is excited for her past career as an educator to merge with her more recent experiences as a tennis professional while filling this unique role at GPS. Allison is looking forward to working with Sue Bartlett, who will remain a part of the tennis program she built and grew as the Head Varsity Tennis Coach & Tennis Professional. Allison is also thrilled to work alongside coaches Sarah Evans Pagnani ’10 and Chad Winters, as they endeavor to provide the optimal racquet experience in a constantly evolving industry here in Chattanooga.

Shirah Foor will teach in our mathematics department in the upcoming school year. She holds a BS in mathematics with a Secondary Licensure from Bryan College (Dayton, Tennessee). Shirah has specialized in Algebra 1 within the Hamilton County Department of Education. During her teaching career, Shirah has led learning labs and was asked to assist with the assembly of the county's Algebra 1 curriculum guide. Previously, Shirah worked at Rhea County High School as a long-term substitute in a variety of math classes including statistics, geometry, Algebra 1, Bridge Math, and pre-calculus/trigonometry. Since moving into the greater Chattanooga area in the fall of 2020, Shirah has worked with A5 Chattanooga Volleyball Club, discovering a passion for pouring into the lives of young women with the goal of helping them discover the potential they possess.

Clay Francis joins our humanities department this fall after teaching social science courses at Hutchison School in Memphis, Tennessee, for nearly a decade. For the past five years, he also served as the chair of their upper school history and social sciences department. Clay worked at the Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies for over 15 years in various roles and led the program as the Associate Director from 2019–22. The Tennessee Geographic Alliance named him the 2015 Geography Teacher of the Year, and Clay has been a two-time National Endowment for the Humanities summer scholar. He holds a BA in Spanish and political science from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, and an MS in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Pascale Haug joins GPS as a math teacher after serving for six years in Hamilton County Schools. Her time has been spent serving students in high-needs schools where she achieved TVAAS level-5 status at both Brainerd High School and The Howard School. Her innovative instructional strategies elevate student learning and positioned her as a leader within her district. She served on the County Textbook Committee to help select a new curriculum for the 2023-24 school year and helped to create district curriculum guides for Algebra II. In her most recent position, she served as a Multi-Classroom Leader (MCL), where she modeled high quality instruction in her classroom, worked with residents to build their teaching pedagogy, and coached members of her team. In addition to her work in the classroom, she has made connections with The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Funded by the National Science Foundation, she has worked with professors at the university to support the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program. Serving first as a participant and then later as a Project Based Learning Instructor, working with teachers is a passion of hers. Pascale is an alum of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated with her degree in Applied Mathematics: STEM Education. Pascale lives in Chattanooga with her fiancé and enjoys riding her bike, rock-climbing, hiking, reading, gardening, and playing board games with friends. She looks forward to engaging the students at GPS and continuing on the journey of being a lifelong learner.

Mary Kathryn Levy has begun her role as our new Director of Development. having previously served as the Director of Philanthropy at United Way of Greater Chattanooga, where she worked closely with major and individual donors. She has firsthand experience connecting donors to their passions through philanthropic giving and engagement. Prior to moving to Chattanooga in 2019, Mary Kathryn held development and fundraising roles at Vogel Alcove in Dallas, Texas, at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and at Mobile Baykeeper in Mobile, Alabama. Throughout her career, Mary Kathryn has demonstrated a passion for creating positive social impact and building strong relationships within her community. Her dedication to philanthropy and community engagement continues to drive meaningful change and inspire those around her. She attended St. Paul’s Episcopal School, an independent coed school in Mobile, Alabama, and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Auburn University. Mary Kathryn serves as a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters and on the Coalition Growth Committee for Voices for a Safer Tennessee.

Laura McIntyre joined GPS as our Associate Athletic Director for Operations, Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Coach Mac comes to GPS from the college athletics arena, as both a player and coach. While a student at Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania), she played both field hockey and lacrosse for four years, winning the NCAA Division III Lacrosse National Championship her senior year as goalie under the leadership of Carol Cantele, a nationally recognized lacrosse coach. Most recently, Mac served as the inaugural Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at California Lutheran University, where she built their program in a market in which the sport is viewed as nontraditional. In 2024, she was named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and served as the NCAA Compliance Officer, working with over 500 student-athletes in 22 varsity sports. In addition to building on the success of GPS’s lacrosse program, Mac will support the day-to-day operation of the school’s athletic program.

Kara Rogers joins GPS as a middle school STEM teacher after 15 years in middle-grade education with Hamilton County Schools. For the past three years, she served as an instructional coach, supporting teachers and working with students in grades six through eight in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in all academic subjects. For 12 years, prior to serving as an instructional coach, she taught a variety of middle-grade subjects at Normal Park Museum Magnet School including math, science, American History, World History, and STEM. During her time at Normal Park, she also spent four years as the Upper School Museum Liaison, coordinating the magnet school’s signature programs such as weekly learning expeditions and quarterly student exhibit nights for grades 4-8. Kara holds a Master of Education in School Leadership from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland - College Park with a BS in secondary education and a BA in government and politics, as a member of the Honors College and while receiving the university’s President’s Scholarship.

Meghan Smith joins the GPS community this fall as a middle school science teacher while Katye Couch will be taking her expertise to the upper school. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in biology from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Meghan began her teaching career at Chattanooga Christian School as the lower school STEM teacher. While there, she collaborated with the STEM leadership to strengthen the lower school robotics program. In 2020, Meghan and her husband, Caleb, moved to Johnson City, Tennessee. For four years, Meghan continued her commitment to STEM by teaching courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, and middle school life science at Providence Academy, while simultaneously earning her MAT in Secondary Science Education from East Tennessee State University. To introduce students to the hands-on application of science and inspire future careers, Meghan, once again, served in the robotics and technology program at Providence Academy. Meghan was also selected and served as the Chair of the Science Department since 2022. In addition to her career in education, Meghan has led and mentored small groups of high school girls and college-aged women for the past 10 years. She also served as the assistant coach for the varsity girls soccer team at Providence Academy. Her passion to inspire young women to reach their fullest potential drives her commitment inside and outside the classroom. Meghan and her husband welcomed their daughter, Harper, in October 2022, and they are very excited to move back to Chattanooga to be near family and friends.

Jenny Snyder joined the GPS faculty second semester as a Spanish teacher. A lifelong Chattanoogan, Jenny earned a BA in Spanish from Wheaton College (Illinois) before earning two master's degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary (Georgia). Jenny taught Spanish at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge and at Chattanooga Christian School, where she was known for her creative and compassionate approach to teaching language and for making strong connections with her students.

Che Sokol joins the GPS community as a French teacher, while also potentially contributing to the efforts of our English department. After earning her BA in English literature and French language from UTC’s Brock Scholars Program, Che spent a year teaching at both university-prep and vocational high schools near Avignon, France. Since 2015, Che has worked as a Graduate Instructor, teaching French language courses with a focus on Francophone world cultures, in addition to Global Cinema, Beginner Arabic, and surveys of important women in World Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2019, she received UNC-Chapel Hill’s Diane R. Leonard Award for Outstanding Foreign Language Teaching. Then she worked as a lecturer at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, where she also served as an international internship advisor and coordinated interdisciplinary conversation classes centered on YA literature and pop culture. Che will complete her PhD in English and comparative literature from UNC-Chapel Hill with certificates in film studies and women’s studies this summer.

After a national search in partnership with The Finney Group, Allie Tennyson has been appointed as Director of Athletics and Strategic Partnerships. Allie comes to us from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, where she served as Director of Athletics at the largest coeducational private high school in the state. Her responsibilities included the management of 19 head coaches, 36 assistant coaches, and seven full-time staff members. She also served as the district president of TAPPS 1-6A, where she oversaw and managed all compliance issues, worked closely with leadership at district schools on concepts of sportsmanship and fair play, and oversaw the management and distribution of district schedules and playoff structures. Prior to her role at Bishop Lynch, Allie worked in wellness, communications, and admission at Ursuline Academy of Dallas, an independent all-girls school and her alma mater, where she coached soccer and led the Bears to two consecutive TAPPS Division I State Soccer Championships. She holds a Master’s of Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and public relations from The Pennsylvania State University, where she also competed on their nationally ranked women’s soccer team.

Ben Wagner joins the GPS team this fall as the Technical Theater Director and Theater Manager. He worked as the Technical Theater Director at The Prairie School in Racine, Wisconsin, for three years. For the last two years, Ben served as Technical Director and Production Manager at the Pam Miller Arts Center in Lexington, Kentucky, and he also served as the Interim Technical Director at Georgetown College in Kentucky. In these varied roles, he's worked on some cool projects, from creating mechanical stages to working on local crews for Bob Dylan to lighting an aerial circus and just about everything in between. During his first year of teaching, he and his students were contenders for and winners of regional awards in several areas of technical theater, where he realized that helping others discover that magic and develop their talents was even more gratifying than getting to be backstage as in-house lighting support for John Cougar Mellencamp. Ben holds a BA in neuroscience and theatre from Transylvania University (Lexington, Kentucky).

Tommy Younce joined our housekeeping team this year. He is a member of the afternoon crew and will primarily handle our flooring needs. Tommy comes to us from CH Camper Co., where he built campers and performed welding, roofing, and woodwork.