Rockbridge County Public Schools has welcomed a large group of new teachers and staff for the 2025-26 school year, spanning every grade level and subject area.
At Maury River Middle School Garrett Huffman joins the faculty as a physical education teacher in his first year in the classroom. A Rockbridge native, Huffman also coaches the Rockbridge County High School golf team.
Matthew Heinrich, originally from Culpeper, begins his first year teaching seventh grade science after serving as a long-term substitute in Bedford County schools.
Joseph Salinetro, an educator from Pennsylvania who spent the past three years teaching and coaching wrestling in New Kent, will now work in special education, in addition to assisting with VMI’s wrestling team.
Shauna Burden, who has experience as a special education teacher and teacher’s assistant in California, Texas, and at MRMS, also joins the special education staff.
Brian Torrence, in his third year in education, will teach special education while continuing his work in the Rockbridge community as a teacher and business owner.
At Natural Bridge Elementary
Michelle Oehmke, a veteran teacher with more than a decade of experience in multiple grade levels, comes from Orange County Public Schools to teach fifth grade.
Amy Porterfield, a former public librarian and teacher’s assistant from the Buena Vista area, steps into the role of media specialist.
Kendall Oswald, a Southern Virginia University graduate originally from Albion, Mich., begins their first year teaching third grade after serving as a substitute in RCPS last year.
Maggie Moore, a Rockbridge native, is also a firstyear third grade teacher.
Tristan Ayers, another Rockbridge native, takes on first grade after working as a teacher’s assistant at both Natural Bridge and Central Elementary.
Courtney Overton, from Goochland County, will teach third grade after experience as a teacher’s assistant in Goochland and Rockbridge.
Kerry Blackburn, from Alleghany County, starts as a special educator after working as a teacher’s assistant and intern with RCPS since 2021.
At Mountain View Elementary
Hannah Bowling, a Rockbridge native, begins her first year teaching fourth grade.
At Central Elementary Dylan Thompson, from the Roanoke area, is a first-year special education teacher who previously worked as a teacher’s assistant in Botetourt County and will also help coach basketball at RCHS.
Brandon Cash, from the Middlebrook area, will teach fifth grade after serving as a teacher’s assistant in Augusta County.
Rebecca “Annie” Holland, a Rockbridge native, begins her third year as a school counselor after working in Roanoke City Schools.
At Rockbridge County High School Graceon Whitesell, in her third year of teaching, will lead business classes, in addition to coaching volleyball at MRMS.
Jennifer Havird, originally from Yokohama, Japan, and Portsmouth, brings more than a decade of experience in secondary English.
Christine Szarzynski, with more than 20 years of teaching experience — including previous time with RCPS — returns as an English teacher.
Judy Hensley, from Guilford, Maine, comes from Alleghany County, where she taught math for over 10 years and coached soccer.
Karen Swortzel, from Clifton Forge, has more than 30 years of experience teaching English at the secondary level and at Bridgewater College.
Anthony Marasco, the new athletic director, previously taught business at Harrisonburg City Schools for three years while coaching soccer and golf.
Daniel Shelton joins as a school counselor after two years in Fairfax County Public Schools.
Dalton Ragland, from Nelson County, becomes assistant principal after teaching history for five years. -Two new division-level staff members are also joining RCPS.
Cynthia Sparks, a local business owner with seven years of teaching experience in Rockbridge and Buena Vista, will serve as the division’s teacher support specialist, mentoring new educators.
Jocelyn Robbins, with more than 20 years in education and recent experience as a content specialist in Georgia’s Savannah-Chatham County schools, will be the student success strategist, working with teachers to develop strategies that enhance student learning.
