Westchester Announces Faculty and Administrative Staff Updates

January 15th 2023

Westchester Country Day School announced several faculty and staff updates for the current school year, as well as the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

The school has welcomed the following new and returning faculty and staff members:

Mrs. Taylor Stanley joined WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. She teaches Spanish 1 and 2 Honors as well as eighth grade Spanish. She is in her fifth year of teaching and has experience teaching both Spanish and social studies at the middle and high school levels. Stanley has bachelor's degrees from Marshall University in social studies secondary education, Spanish education and Spanish. She and her husband have a 9-month-old child.

Mrs. Taylor Stanley joined WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. She teaches Spanish 1 and 2 Honors as well as eighth grade Spanish. She is in her fifth year of teaching and has experience teaching both Spanish and social studies at the middle and high school levels. Stanley has bachelor's degrees from Marshall University in social studies secondary education, Spanish education and Spanish. She and her husband have a 9-month-old child.

Mrs. Susan Fagg returned to WCDS as director of development. She has been involved at Westchester for more than 24 years as both a parent and staff member. Most recently, she has directed the school’s Annual Fund giving for the current school year. Previously, she worked at Westchester for many years, serving in several roles including assistant director of development, special events and parent engagement. In addition to her fundraising experience, Fagg serves on the board of United Way of Greater High Point and Good Friends of High Point.

Mrs. Susan Fagg returned to WCDS as director of development. She has been involved at Westchester for more than 24 years as both a parent and staff member. Most recently, she has directed the school’s Annual Fund giving for the current school year. Previously, she worked at Westchester for many years, serving in several roles including assistant director of development, special events and parent engagement. In addition to her fundraising experience, Fagg serves on the board of United Way of Greater High Point and Good Friends of High Point.

Mrs. Vicki Sloop returned to WCDS to finish the year teaching fifth grade. She has more than 30 years of experience in education. Before retiring from WCDS in 2021, she taught fifth grade language arts for 10 years prior to moving to the Middle School, where she taught English-language arts for three years. She has a plethora of experience and knowledge in middle grades education and is very familiar with the WCDS fifth grade curriculum, having taught as a team with fifth grade teacher Ashley Reid previously.

Mrs. Vicki Sloop returned to WCDS to finish the year teaching fifth grade. She has more than 30 years of experience in education. Before retiring from WCDS in 2021, she taught fifth grade language arts for 10 years prior to moving to the Middle School, where she taught English-language arts for three years. She has a plethora of experience and knowledge in middle grades education and is very familiar with the WCDS fifth grade curriculum, having taught as a team with fifth grade teacher Ashley Reid previously.

The following staff members are changing or adding to their positions:

Mrs. Amy Caputa is becoming the library media specialist. She has been teaching fifth grade at WCDS since 2018. Before coming to Westchester, Caputa was a library media coordinator in Randolph County Schools for 17 years. She also taught middle grades English-language arts and social studies during her 30-year career in public schools. She holds a master's degree in library science and information studies from UNC-Greensboro along with a Bachelor of Science in elementary and middle grades education with a minor in K-12 developmental reading from James Madison University.

Mrs. Amy Caputa is becoming the library media specialist. She has been teaching fifth grade at WCDS since 2018. Before coming to Westchester, Caputa was a library media coordinator in Randolph County Schools for 17 years. She also taught middle grades English-language arts and social studies during her 30-year career in public schools. She holds a master's degree in library science and information studies from UNC-Greensboro along with a Bachelor of Science in elementary and middle grades education with a minor in K-12 developmental reading from James Madison University.

Mrs. Kerie Beth Scott, director of admissions, is adding director of advancement to her title. She will be working with Director of Development Susan Fagg on fundraising, specifically the Westchester Forward capital campaign as well as leading the Advancement Team, which includes admissions, development, marketing and communications, alumni affairs and parent engagement.

Ms. Emma Ruggery has been named head of Middle School beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. She is currently the assistant head of Middle School and has been teaching Middle School science at Westchester since 2018. In addition, she has served as assistant director, director and choreographer for several musical performances and is in her third season as the Middle School Cheer coach. She has served on the faculty leadership team, co-led the Better Together learning team, and most recently has been leading the STEAM learning team. Ruggery has a Bachelor of Science in biology from Juniata College and a Master of Arts of Teaching in middle school education from Mary Baldwin University. Outside of school, she is active in the Junior League of High Point, where she serves as co-chair of the new member committee.

Ms. Emma Ruggery has been named head of Middle School beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. She is currently the assistant head of Middle School and has been teaching Middle School science at Westchester since 2018. In addition, she has served as assistant director, director and choreographer for several musical performances and is in her third season as the Middle School Cheer coach. She has served on the faculty leadership team, co-led the Better Together learning team, and most recently has been leading the STEAM learning team. Ruggery has a Bachelor of Science in biology from Juniata College and a Master of Arts of Teaching in middle school education from Mary Baldwin University. Outside of school, she is active in the Junior League of High Point, where she serves as co-chair of the new member committee.

Mrs. Vanessa Sullens has been named assistant head of Middle School beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. She has been teaching history and English in the Middle School for two years. Prior to coming to Westchester, she taught at Wesleyan Academy for nine years. Sullens has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, special education and elementary education and a Master of Arts in educational psychology. She holds certifications in N.C. Elementary Education K-6, Cross Categorical K-12, Pre-K/K Add On, and ACSI Elementary Teaching Standard Certification.

Mrs. Vanessa Sullens has been named assistant head of Middle School beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. She has been teaching history and English in the Middle School for two years. Prior to coming to Westchester, she taught at Wesleyan Academy for nine years. Sullens has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, special education and elementary education and a Master of Arts in educational psychology. She holds certifications in N.C. Elementary Education K-6, Cross Categorical K-12, Pre-K/K Add On, and ACSI Elementary Teaching Standard Certification.

Mrs. Allison Albert has been named director of college guidance beginning in fall 2024. She will begin working with Mrs. Raegan Atkinson throughout the admissions season during the upcoming school year. Mrs. Albert has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher across divisions, with 17 of those years here at Westchester. In addition to teaching Upper School English, she has served in several leadership capacities, including accreditation coordinator, Humanities department chair, senior speech coordinator, chair of multiple learning teams, and member of the Academic Affairs Committee and Faculty Leadership Team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UNC-Wilmington and a Master of Education in English education from UNC-Greensboro.

Mrs. Allison Albert has been named director of college guidance beginning in fall 2024. She will begin working with Mrs. Raegan Atkinson throughout the admissions season during the upcoming school year. Mrs. Albert has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher across divisions, with 17 of those years here at Westchester. In addition to teaching Upper School English, she has served in several leadership capacities, including accreditation coordinator, Humanities department chair, senior speech coordinator, chair of multiple learning teams, and member of the Academic Affairs Committee and Faculty Leadership Team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UNC-Wilmington and a Master of Education in English education from UNC-Greensboro.