Prior to working at TKS Marc served as the Practicum Coordinator for the Department Special-Education at the University of Virginia and assisted in advising undergraduates enrolled in the Department  of Special-Education while in graduate school. While continuing his education in Administration and Supervision at UVA he taught continuing education classes in Northern Virginia. After leaving the University he owned and operated an antique restoration business for over 15 years specializing in both furniture, brass and copper and architectural renovations. Monticello and Ash Lawn were among some of his more notable patrons.

“Having been connected to TKS for many years, I was always moved by the mission and vision the school. My work in education and owning a small business provided me with a unique skill set to embark on becoming the Headmaster of Keswick School. I can proudly say that because of our size and the quality of our staff, our community continues to provide the academic, behavioral and social skills necessary for our boys to succeed in their life’s journey.”

Outside of work,  Marc and Bella, his Animal Assisted Therapy dog, are employees of UVA hospital and spend Sunday mornings providing therapy to children admitted to pediatrics.

“A keen eye for detail, a passion for his work with children, their families and a dedicated staff and a vision for the future contributes to the well-respected educator and person that defines Marc Columbus.”

Jody started her teaching career at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Clinic as special education teacher in a Baltimore city school before moving and enrolling in her graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh. Jody taught full-time for two years at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in both in-patient and residential settings during her graduate study years. Upon receiving her masters degree in School Administrative and Policy Studies, Jody and her husband moved to Northern Virginia where she taught high school special education and later served as a the principal for the summer and night school programs in Prince William County Schools before joining the academic team at TKS in 2013. She moved into her current assistant head of school position for the ’18-’19 school year.

“The immersive, therapeutic, and educational environment at TKS is incredibly effective in supporting diagnostically complex students and their families in developing and sustaining life-long change. It’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of such an effective, caring, and committed community of professionals.”

Outside of work, Jody enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying recreational outdoor activities, reading, and scouring industrial salvage and antique stores for unique finds in her attempt to be like Joanna Gaines.

Upon completing her PhD at the University Virginia, Deborah served as the Assistant Director of the Center for Survey Research at UVa. Additionally, she works with Independent Educational Services conducting employee engagement surveys with Independent Schools such as Keswick School. Deborah is also part of the General Faculty of the University and teaches a course on Organizational Behavior. Six years ago, Deborah developed a unique consulting position to teach stewardship and development with religious organizations. This work gave her an opportunity to put into practice an understanding of generosity, abundance, giving, and stewarding all that has been entrusted into our care. In addition to this expertise, Deborah brings a wide variety of organizational and financial development skills to TKS.

“As Keswick School continues to grow as a nonprofit organization, it is a privilege for me to help the staff, the parents, and the students share the stories of how lives have been changed because of the mission of this school. I welcome opportunities to share my professional strengths in this new culture and environment.”

Deborah loves to travel both within this country and abroad. One of her favorite ways to relax is taking a good book and finding some water to sit by especially at sunrise and sunset. Deborah has a personal goal of walking four miles a day. When time allows, she enjoys playing handbells and delivering Meals on Wheels.

In high school, Terru tutored special needs elementary school children at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. In college, she worked at a halfway house for adults with mental illness and also at the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“I came to TKS fresh out of college and newly married. Even back then I could tell this was a place where lives were changed for the better. Starting as a teacher, to Program Coordinator and Director, I have had the opportunity to work with so many families who needed to feel that there was hope for their son. I am the keeper of the historic journey of this unique and very special place. I remember families from many years past and still have relationships with the Educational  Consultants who referred these boys.”

Aside from traveling, cooking and reading, Terry’s favorite past time is spending time with her adult children, Jillian and Cole,  her grandson, Wade, and her dog, Mika.

Gene earned a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. He then went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Mary Baldwin College. Gene wrote his Master’s thesis on Mindfulness as a Special Education tool.

“I was drawn to this field because I really enjoy working with children and enjoy the satisfaction of being a part of the growth process. I have stayed in this field because it requires us to constantly be examining ourselves in order to be of service to others. The students have taught me way more than I have taught them.”

Gene loves to be outdoors. He is married with three children and they spend much of their time together traveling in an RV, hiking, biking, and kayaking. Gene is also an enthusiastic sports fan. He cheers for the Washington Capitals, Washington Football Team, and all the University of Virginia teams.

Jennifer went to the University of Virginia where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She taught students with emotional disabilities in Fairfax County, VA, where she taught seventh grade at Burke Center, a public day school in Burke, VA., and launched a satellite program for students with emotional disabilities at Oak Hill Elementary School in Herndon, VA. Jennifer also held the role of Director of Education at Lafayette School & Treatment Center in Charlottesville, Virginia prior to joining the Keswick School community in 2015.

“I was ready to return to full-time employment after being a stay-at-home mom to my three children for several years. I knew that I wanted to be a part of the TKS community on the day I visited for the first time and observed staff and students treating each other with mutual kindness and respect, openly supporting one another across campus. As a parent, I have seen the impact a skilled and dedicated teacher has on a student and his family. As an educator, I am honored to be a part of this community that believes in our students and works tirelessly support their success.”

Outside of TKS, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and TKS facility dog, Nitro.

John started work at New Dominion School in 1994 after graduating from Wake Forest University. He worked there for four and a half years before leaving to help found The Discovery School. He worked at The Discovery School for twenty-two years as a Program Director and Director. He took on more of an ownership role in the program in 2014 and remained involved in the group programming while also handling admissions, marketing, facilitating recovery meetings, and running a parent-support group.

“I have known about the work being done at TKS for awhile, and am honored to be on such a quality team. I enjoy the parallel process of helping others overcome life’s hurdles while learning more about myself. I also enjoy working in the human service field and the challenges that come with it.”

John spends most of his free time with his wife Laura, his three children Lily, Luke and Ella, and dogs Charley and Jake. Together they enjoy living close to the James River and spending time on the water. John also stays involved in coaching youth sports and sits on the Board of two local non-profits.

Melissa started working at TKS after graduating from college. She had previously worked doing psychological research contributing to longitudinal studies focused on early-detection for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Virginia Tech and UVA and running summer camps for a local country club. Melissa started at TKS as a Teacher’s Aide and then was a Dorm Counselor for two years. She left TKS for a few years to go to graduate school and focused on clinical interventions within educational settings. After graduate school, Melissa worked as a clinician doing intensive in-home, outpatient and mental health support services at a local counseling agency working with children and families. She also worked at an early-intervention center serving children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, regulatory and sensory processing disorders, and language impairment. In 2013, she returned to TKS to work in Admissions alongside Terry Columbus.

“I enjoy being part of a community that is committed to helping children and their families. It is amazing to see a child develop during their time here.”

Outside of TKS, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, Alex, and son, Harper, playing with their dog, River, traveling, playing soccer, reading, cooking and baking.

Prior to working at TKS, Tom worked as a summer camp counselor for five summers at Camp Overlook in the Shenandoah Valley. After spending several years as part of the TKS residential team, Tom returned to school at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Tom returned to JMU to earn his master’s degree in psychological sciences with a concentration in behavior analysis. After completing graduate school, Tom became Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and received a license to practice behavior analysis in Virginia. Tom then went on to work for a brief period in public schools, supporting students with special needs across 10 schools.

“I started working at TKS when I was quite young, but I had already felt the calling to work with children, especially those with special needs. After only a short time, I realized that TKS was like nowhere else in the world. Over time it has become my professional home. The care and support that was given to me and that we, as a staff, provide for our students and their families has always filled me with a sense of pride and passion. I would not be the professional I am today were it not for the TKS community.”

When he isn’t at work, Tom enjoys traveling, especially to Disney World. he also enjoys spending time at home with his husband and their dogs. While at home, Tom likes to bake and enjoy the outdoors.