Welcome New Faculty and Staff!

Hello, my name is Byron Taylor and I’m the new Early Learning Kinetic Wellness teacher and Varsity Boys basketball Head Coach at the Galloway School! 

• Graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Business

• Graduated from the University of North Florida with a Master’s in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Athletic Administration

• Former College Basketball Coach at the University of North Florida & James Madison University

• Business Education Teacher at Alexander High School & Case High School

• Middle School Physical Education teacher at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School

• My Deidra, and I have two children; Harlow (6) & Braylen (4)

Hi! My name is Casey Key, and I am so excited to be a part of the Galloway community this year! This will be my 18th year as an educator - time flies! I began my career by teaching first grade for 12 years in Dekalb County. While I truly loved my years with the first graders, I found my niche five years ago when I began teaching fourth grade. Fourth grade is magical, and I cannot wait to be a part of it at Galloway! I hold a BS in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston, and a Master of Education in Early Childhood from Georgia State University, as well as a Gifted Endorsement. I live in Decatur with my two daughters, Caroline and Harper, my husband, Justin, and our wild and sweet dog, Grace. I am originally from North Carolina, and love to get back there (especially the NC coast!) every chance I can to visit my family and friends. 

I am so excited to be back at Galloway, where I have the opportunity to blend my love for the school, as well as my passion for supporting students and faculty!  After having taught at Galloway for 8 years, I left to pursue my master's degree from Wake Forest University, where I earned an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  Since then, I have been in private practice specializing in working with children and their families both individually and in group settings.  I earned my undergraduate degree from Trinity College with a major in Psychology.]

When I am not working, I love to spend time outside with my three children, husband, and dog.  I also love to bake and am always up for any board game!

My name is Mandy Whitfield and I am so excited to be at Galloway this year. I have taught for 22 years and 19 of those years were exclusively with third graders. My passion is math, but I love reading too! I can’t wait to see the tremendous amount of learning that is going to take place this year. I am going to foster an environment where your child feels safe, accepted and confident. I will always encourage your child to do his/her best and challenge them to strive for excellence. I know they can do it!  

A little bit of background information about myself…I grew up in Spring, TX, which is a suburb north of Houston. I went to The University of Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development with a specialization in math. Hook’ Em Horns! I later added my gifted endorsement and I have taught a wide range of students throughout my career. I taught for 12 years in Texas and I just completed my 10th year here in Georgia. While all of my years of teaching have been in the public school setting, I am thrilled for this new adventure in the independent school world. 

My husband Jeff and I just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary! We have two beautiful children named Ashlyn and Liam. Ashlyn is a senior this year while my son Liam is starting middle school. They definitely keep us busy.   

Some of my favorite things to do are playing soccer, watching Liam play soccer, going hiking in the mountains, spending time with my family and reading. I love a good psychological thriller!

Hello! My name is Maggie Christenberry, and I am so excited to be a part of the Galloway family! I grew up in Birmingham, AL, but graduated high school from Alliance Academy International School in Quito, Ecuador. Afterwards, I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montevallo. I taught in Birmingham, AL for 4 years in both urban and rural school districts before moving to Georgia and teaching in Snellville for the last 2 years. I got married to my fantastic husband last year, and we have 2 dogs, Millie and Stella. We love traveling and hiking!

Hello, my name is Maggie Silliman. I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2015 - Go Dawgs! This will be my 8th year teaching. I've spent the last 4 years teaching 4th grade and before that I taught abroad in Spain and Thailand for 2 years. When I'm not in the classroom, I love to travel, read, and spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy new challenges, so I'm looking forward to an exciting year in 1st grade!

I am excited to teach at Galloway this fall and get to know this welcoming, open-minded and nurturing community. I am a confirmed polyglot, francophile, and lifelong learner. Through my experience studying languages and living in other countries I have gained a love of language and culture that I look forward to sharing in the classroom. Galloway supports a strong, communicative language program and offers many pathways to connect students to learning and the world. I'm looking forward to being part of the school community this fall.

It is an honor to become a member of the Galloway academic team! I am so impressed with the Galloway vision intertwining critical thinking and social emotional learning. I look forward to an amazing year of discoveries and STEAM investigations with my 5th grade scientists!

I am beginning my 11th year of teaching science. I LOVE horses! I completed my Master’s in Science Education while working full time and being mom to two young kiddos. My first job out of college was at a botanical garden. At 25, I threw caution into the wind and became a fight attendant with Delta for 9 years. Yes, I saw the world! I have 4 cats.  See you soon my dear scientists and science parents :)

Dr. Jennifer Parrott has over 15 years of teaching experience and teaches classes in both literature and multimodal writing and communication. She has a B.A. in English from Furman University, an M.A. in English from DePaul University, and a Ph.D. in English from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Prior to joining the faculty at Galloway, she has worked at Georgia Tech, Bucknell University, and, most recently, Clayton State University. When she's not teaching, she is reading, traveling with her family, or hanging out with her pets. She's excited to join the community of engaged teachers and learners at Galloway and to explore foundational material in new ways.

Hi! My name is Melissa Thornton. As a proud Galloway grad, I feel so lucky to be returning to Upper Learning this fall to substitute teach 11th grade English. After graduating from Wesleyan University in May of 2020, I was grateful for the opportunity to assistant teach freshman English at Galloway that October. While at Wesleyan, I tutored in the Writing Center and helped students of all ages with a wide variety of assignments––from papers for freshman English seminars to senior theses in Government––as well as researched course materials as a teaching assistant for a new English course on the essay genre. I cannot wait to bring all I've learned from these experiences into the classroom to prepare students who are about to embark on their own college journeys––and to set them up for success both in their senior year and beyond!

'm Lesley Ford! Born and raised in the charming city of Huntsville, AL I pursued my passion for knowledge and hold a Degree in Science from UMC. In 1994, my adventurous spirit led me to Atlanta, where I continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young athletes and cherish the experiences life brought my way. For the past two plus decades, I've dedicated my career to nurturing and inspiring young minds through my work with children. My coaching journey has taken me through the exciting worlds of volleyball and basketball where I've mentored and trained talented athletes in both club & school settings. With a memorable three-year stint at AJA as coach and Director of Athletics, I've had the privilege of shaping sports programs and creating lasting memories.

Beyond my professional life, I find immense joy in being a parent to three wonderful children who bring boundless happiness to my days and my amazing relationships with Bruce. In my downtime, I proudly support the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves, as my heart remains loyal to both teams. When I'm not on the court, you can often find me basking in the sun at the beach, enjoying the serenity of the waves.

Dr. William Arnold is thrilled to bring his 2+ decades of experience in independent education to Galloway as UL Technology & Innovation Teacher. Both he and his wife are Nashville natives, and his family has loved recently moving to Atlanta and becoming part of the local community.

He holds a BA in English Literature from The University of the South, Sewanee, where he was also an Emergency Medical Technician on the student-run volunteer service, and he holds both an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and an Ed.D. in Leadership & Learning in Organizations from Peabody College, Vanderbilt. He loves all things technology, all things music, all things nature, and all things teaching.

Having taught mathematics, ELA, science, and technology courses in a wide variety of independent school settings from upper-elementary to high-school, Dr. Arnold has a bevy of experiences and wisdom to bring to the IDEA Lab. His teaching passions include challenging students to observe and question, to find resources and define their workflow, and to push the boundaries of their learning through self-discovery and perseverance

When a chance to join the Galloway Admissions team came to my attention, I welcomed the opportunity with open arms. As a current parent, an alumni parent, and an active school volunteer, I have grown to love the unique facets of our school community and can speak first-hand about the benefits of a Galloway education. 

I am a proud Florida Gator with a BS in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Public Health (MPH, Community Health and Epidemiology). My previous work experience began in juvenile justice and community programming with a particular interest in youth/adolescent violence prevention and suicide prevention. I also worked as the Educational Coordinator within the Vanderbilt School of Medicine's Continuing Medical Education department. 

I am beyond excited to join the Galloway staff as Admissions Coordinator and look forward to sharing my appreciation of our school community with all prospective families. When not busy with our awesome Admissions team, I can be found visiting the UK to see my college kiddo, attending dance conventions and competitions throughout the year to cheer on my rising G'way junior, and hanging out at home with my husband, Rob (who also volunteers as an attorney coach for the Galloway Mock Trial team). I hope all of the familiar faces from the Snack Shoppe will drop by my office and say hello! Now you'll find me in Gresham instead of Chaddick! 

I am delighted to join the Galloway community as the new Assistant Director of Admissions. I come to Galloway as a native New Yorker from Queens, where I was the Director of Enrollment and Strategic Planning and also the Director of Secondary School Placement at a K-8 project-based school from 2020 to 2023. Before that, I was the Director of Admissions at The Goddard School and have worked in college admissions for a short time.

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Public Relations, Advertising, and Communication. Soon I will be pursuing my Master of Education at Vanderbilt Peabody College, specializing in Independent School Leadership. New York will always be home, but I can't wait to embrace all things Galloway and the greater Atlanta area. I love trying different restaurants with my husband, personal finance and investing, going to Basketball games, traveling, and cuddling with my four-legged daughter, Mimi, a toy poodle. Lastly, Ice Coffee is my love language! 

David has over 18 years of experience in independent schools in a wide variety of roles - as a founding chair of a four-year high school entrepreneurial leadership program; in the classroom teaching entrepreneurship, economics, and history; in the athletic arena coaching basketball and football; in advancement working with admissions and communications; and in his most recent position as an upper learning principal.

A Nashville, Tenn., native, David attended the University of Mississippi, where he earned a B.A. in journalism with a minor in history and a M.B.A. while at Ole Miss, David played football and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He also earned a M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. In his free time he enjoys live music, traveling, the outdoors, and sporting events. 

Hey! My name is Gillian, and I am really looking forward to joining the Galloway community as the Inclusive Teaching and Learning Specialist. I am coming from Singapore where I taught First Grade at the Singapore American School. Prior to that, I taught in 3rd grade in a public school in the Seattle area. My education background is in Psychology and Elementary Education, and I have a Masters degree in Teaching Multilingual Learners. I am hoping to use this knowledge, coupled with my experience, to support inclusivity work at Galloway! My free time consists of singing in the community choir, watching reality TV, and eating my way around Atlanta.

I cannot believe how lucky I am to join the Galloway School community as the Director of Encore & Summer Programs. Most recently, I am a graduate instructor at Georgia State University for the College of Nursing and Health Professional Services where I teach Communication and Intercultural Diversity. Formerly, I served as the associate director of educational programs at Shanghai American School where I oversaw all taught curriculum PreK to grade 12 while ensuring access for all students. Prior to this I have also been fortunate to be an assistant principal in both high school and middle school. I’ve taught students from age three through grade 10, and they have all trained me in various ways. Working with students and collaborating to create a joyful, engaging environment for all to thrive motivates and inspires me.

After taking a two-year break to work on my doctorate in advanced educational leadership and care for my son, I’m eager to jump into the Galloway community! When I’m not working, you can find me paddle boarding or hiking with my pup, Maisy, or cooking up something in the kitchen.

Dr. Tiffany Simpkins Russell is a mother, author, advocate, and educator!  She comes to Galloway with over 20 years of teaching and training experience as a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner in independent schools, higher education, and corporate areas.  

A lifelong learner, Tiffany received her BA and MA in African American Studies from Temple University, and she holds a doctorate in Educational Policy Studies/Social Foundations of Education from Georgia State University.  Tiffany lives in the Atlanta area with her husband Jason and their two children, Miles and Olivia! When she is not at a soccer game with her kids, Tiffany enjoys throwing pottery, doing anything artistic, and exploring new Atlanta restaurants.

Vanessa Munroe is new to the business office, but not new to The Galloway School. As an avid volunteer, she has led several committees with the Parents Association. Vanessa has a passion for giving back and is motivated by the MLK quote, "What are you doing to help others?" In her new  role she works primarily with Finances and Human Resources and will support other special projects with Development and Communications in the business office. 

Vanessa has a B.A. in journalism with a concentration in television news. Her education led her to enjoy working in the sports and news department for the ABC affiliate in Atlanta as well as corporate business and healthcare industries. Vanessa looks forward to bringing all of her knowledge and experience to the business office.

In her free time, Vanessa loves traveling, reading good books, and attending sporting events especially at The Galloway School.