Faculty & Staff

Sara Mizener joins us as our new Kindergarten Enrichment teacher. Full bio coming soon.

Hayden Kebles returns for her third year with Ambleside and her second year teaching Second Grade. Mrs. Kebles earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Liberty University, writing two since-published articles. At her church, Hayden has enjoyed working with children as a Sunday School teacher and as an ESL teacher. She discovered the Charlotte Mason pedagogical philosophy on her own, which led her to join a Charlotte Mason reading group and, most recently, apply to work here at Ambleside. She served as an Assistant Teacher and Librarian during her first year at Ambleside, last year becoming the full-time Second Grade teacher. She is excited to continue that role this year.

Tori Dean teaches our Fourth Grade class again this year. Ms. Dean graduated from James Madison University with both a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She received a Charlotte Mason education throughout her childhood, and her mother has mentored many homeschooling families in Mason’s education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. She previously taught 2nd grade and 5th grade at Floris Elementary School in Herndon, Virginia.  

Rebecca Hobbs continues in her second year with Ambleside as our 5th Grade Teacher. With over ten years of experience in classical and Christian education, Ms. Hobbs brings a deep love for literature, theology, and Charlotte Mason’s ideas. She has taught across a variety of grades, led faculty development, and directed student plays. A graduate of Patrick Henry College, she is currently pursuing her M.A. at St. John’s College.

Mr. Jackson Tolbert is excited to be joining Ambleside this year as the Sixth Grade classroom teacher. A 2026 Classical Liberal Arts graduate of Patrick Henry College, he is passionate about beauty, goodness, truth and cultivating wonder and enthusiastic learning in himself and his students. He interned as the middle school physical science teacher at Providence Preparatory Academy and served as a summer counselor at Deerfoot Lodge. Homeschooled on a small farm in the North Carolina mountains, he also loves animals, the outdoors, and anything creative, although he especially enjoys singing and playing over five instruments including his favorite, the hammer dulcimer.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Caroline Chubb is a 2026 graduate from Western Kentucky University. In college, Ms. Chubb studied Spanish and psychology with a concentration in health sciences. She previously worked as a Nursing Assistant at an Assisted Living Facility where she first discovered her love for the biological sciences and having faith-based interactions with people. She loves language learning, painting, drawing, doing ceramics, and anything else involving the arts! This fall, Caroline will be teaching Spanish and assistant teaching to Kindergarten through Third Grade students.

Eileen Hughes is returning to Ambleside this year to teach Spanish for grades Four through Eight. She has enjoyed many years of teaching in various settings, including private and public schools as well as homeschool programs. Mrs. Hughes earned her degree in Spanish education from the University of Maryland. While an undergraduate student she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. As a teacher Mrs. Hughes had the opportunity to participate in a teacher exchange program in Toluca, Mexico.  She has also written curriculum and testing materials for a variety of settings. When not in the classroom, Mrs. Hughes enjoys spending time with her husband and five children.

Josiah Depaoli is happy to be returning to Ambleside in the role of PE teacher. As an Eagle Scout, Mr. Depaoli is excited to be able to help students grow in virtue and physical skills within the overall method of "Living Education” laid out by Charlotte Mason. As a Christian he is delighted to do so in a community that seeks to do all things as working for the Lord.

Vanessa Shinbara joins the Ambleside staff as the Algebra 1 teacher after many years supporting the community as a parent and substitute teacher. Most recently, Vanessa taught Algebra 1 and Physics for 3 years at Evergreen Christian School in Leesburg. Prior to leaving the workforce to start her family, she worked for over 7 years as an engineer at Northrop Grumman. Mrs. Shinbara received her B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois. She is the mother of two current Ambleside students and one Ambleside graduate.

Elizabeth Cheng is a 2026 graduate of Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, VA, with a major in Environmental Science and Stewardship and a minor in Music, where she was concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra and active Chorale member. Originally from Long Island, NY, she was homeschooled from K-12th grade and was a Teacher’s Assistant at Alley Pond Environmental Center for two summers. Ms. Cheng enjoys playing violin in collaboration with others and teaching students of various ages, and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Violin Performance. She is excited to join Ambleside as an Assistant Teacher and to build up the next generation through Charlotte Mason's Living Education.

Ms. Mary Bailey is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at Liberty University. She previously worked alongside teachers and students as an Educational Assistant in the elementary grades of a Christian hybrid school. In that role, she gained experience supporting classroom learning in partnership with parents, teachers, and administrators. Ms. Bailey values Christian education and seeks to help students know and love truth as they engage with the world around them. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, rowing, and spending time outdoors.  

Viktoria Hunyadi returns this year as our Director of Admissions and Marketing. She was born and raised in Hungary and moved to the United States 23 years ago. She started her profession in the travel and hospitality industry and worked internationally for over a decade. She has been living in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children, the younger of which attended Ambleside. After she completed her Master's Degree in Christian Education at Dallas Theological Seminary, she pursued her passion serving in children ministry at McLean Bible Church as the Director of Children's Ministry and then teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools as a substitute teacher. Viktoria loves meeting prospective families and spreading awareness in the community about Ambleside and our unique, Christ-centered, Living Education. 

Noemi Caison serves as Director of Instruction for K-8 and Special Subjects. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in English and Secondary Education from Manhattanville University, Mrs. Caison taught second grade at Ambleside for four years. In subsequent years, while primarily staying at home with her young children, Mrs. Caison fulfilled a variety of roles at Ambleside, including teaching Handwork schoolwide remotely during the pandemic, teaching Art for an extended maternity leave, and helping out with various Shakespeare plays. She is delighted to be back full time coaching and supporting classroom teachers as they seek to implement Charlotte Mason's philosophy faithfully each day.

Dorothy Carroll continues as Executive Assistant. Mrs. Carroll received a B.A. in English Literature with Certification in Secondary English Education from James Madison University, and a graduate certificate in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. While in seminary, she worked as the copy-editor for Missiology, the quarterly journal for the American Society of Missiology. Just prior to joining the staff at Ambleside, she taught English to refugees and immigrants with For the Nations DC. She also taught high school English and worked for several years as a freelance copy-editor. Mrs. Carroll enjoys serving at church, where her husband Tim is a pastor. Together, they have led several short-term missions, and she takes great joy in her role as a worship leader. They have two daughters, who both attend Ambleside. 

Emily Smith returns this year as our receptionist. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Political Science and has four children, all of whom attend Ambleside. While homeschooling her children, Mrs. Smith learned about and implemented Charlotte Mason’s teaching philosophy and she has grown in her knowledge through working at the school. She and her husband are long-time teachers in their church's children's ministry. Her previous experience also includes working at Christian summer camps and as a Scheduler on Capitol Hill.