Experienced educators join High School
Allison Van Konynenburg returns to USN as Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning. Taking on additional responsibilities this academic year, Justin Fitzpatrick is now Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs and Laura Snow is the High School Academic Operations Manager.
Compiled by Chai Reddy, Head of High School
Allison Van Konynenburg, Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning, is returning from her year away, during which she earned a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. Van Konynenburg will be focusing on faculty support & growth, supporting academic initiatives, and partnering with department chairs on their department goals. She will continue to teach math, to the delight of many students who had her as a teacher in the past.
Emily McDonald, Associate Director of College Counseling, grew up in a rural town in southeastern Pennsylvania before moving to Nashville in 2016 to join Teach For America. She was a captain of her college cross country and track teams. After four years teaching English, college prep, and electives, she became the founding director of college access and success at Intrepid College Prep’s high school, Independence Academy, where she also served as the Assistant Principal. Outside of work, McDonald enjoys exercising, spending time with her two dogs, and exploring Nashville with her husband. In 2025, she was awarded with the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Rising Star award.
High School Science Teacher Morgan Moore was born in West Virginia, but soon after moved to the Nashville area, which she calls her home. She has a BS in Biology from Middle Tennessee State University with a minor in secondary education, and a Master of Science in Public Health from East Tennessee State University. She spent a few years in El Paso, Texas before returning to the Nashville area. As the child of an educator, teaching was something that was in her sights at an early age. She has primarily taught high school but did teach middle school science last year. Moore will also be helping our Debate program, bringing her previous experience to the program. She has a son who is starting second grade this year.
High School Science Teacher Christopher Schmoke is joining the Science Department where he is teaching Physics and Chemistry. He has been in education for 30 years and has served in a number of roles such as Dean of Students, Department Chair, and Summer School Director. He also has an accomplished coaching background with many athletic teams, including serving as a Head Coach for football and track. He is from Michigan and started teaching there before spending 15 years in the Pasadena area and a few years at Franklin Road Academy. He is the father of four, 2 of whom are in high school. One of the attributes that stood out in reference calls about Schmoke was that many described him as an educator that all students sought out as their person; not just the athletes or science kids or any other single paradigm.
High School Science Teacher Christopher Schmoke is joining the Science Department where he is teaching Physics and Chemistry. He has been in education for 30 years and has served in a number of roles such as Dean of Students, Department Chair, and Summer School Director. He also has an accomplished coaching background with many athletic teams, including serving as a Head Coach for football and track. He is from Michigan and started teaching there before spending 15 years in the Pasadena area and a few years at Franklin Road Academy. He is the father of four, 2 of whom are in high school. One of the attributes that stood out in reference calls about Schmoke was that many described him as an educator that all students sought out as their person; not just the athletes or science kids or any other single paradigm.
C.J. Sentell is teaching High School Philosophy. Along with philosophy, Sentell maintains a “side hustle” as the CEO of the Nashville Food Project, where he has been in the role since 2021. He is a philosopher and “food-focused social entrepreneur,” serving in previous roles that involved developing sustainable food practices for the communities he lived in. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Arkansas, CJ earned his doctorate of philosophy from Vanderbilt University. He has two kids and a number of cows, as he owns and operates a grass-fed cattle concern in the Ozarks.
High School History Teacher William Krause is originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, and later moved to Baltimore, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Johns Hopkins University. This summer, he finished his doctoral work at Vanderbilt University, focusing on intellectual and cultural history, political economy, and history of science since the 1890s. He has taught at Vanderbilt and worked at Vanderbilt’s Writing Studio, along with a number of other research experiences, one of which involved spending time contacting many dead authors regarding their work to compile into a repository of out-of-print books. He enjoys reading fiction, swimming, and exploring Nashville’s food scene.
High School Mathematics Teacher Maynard Reed spent the first half of his career in the U.S. Navy serving in various positions while stationed in the Philippines, South Korea, and a variety of East Asian countries. He has landed a fixed-wing aircraft on an aircraft carrier and ultimately retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain. He was helping his kids with their activities and co-curricular programs when his wife told him he should think about getting into teaching. He already had a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of Tennessee, Knoxville but returned to school for a Master of Arts in Math and then earned a doctorate in Mathematics Education. Reed has taught middle school, high school, and college math during this second career experience. He likes doing math in his free time. His mom did her student teaching in Home Economics in the Main Building when the school was known as Peabody Demonstration School.
Justin Fitzpatrick will be serving as the Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs this year. He will oversee the academic systems in the high school, leading reviews around academic balance, working with High School Academic Operations Manager Laura Snow and students on their schedules, and coordinating the academic program. He continues teaching High School math.
Justin Fitzpatrick will be serving as the Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs this year. He will oversee the academic systems in the high school, leading reviews around academic balance, working with High School Academic Operations Manager Laura Snow and students on their schedules, and coordinating the academic program. He continues teaching High School math.
Laura Snow will be the High School Academic Operations Manager. She will oversee the creation of the master schedule, student schedules, and the academic calendar, and will continue to serve as the information hub for all things related to the High School.
Interested in getting to know others new to USN? Meet new Middle School faculty here. Meet new Lower School faculty here. Meet new staff here.
Interested in getting to know others new to USN? Meet new Middle School faculty here. Meet new Lower School faculty here. Meet new staff here.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Experienced educators join High School
Allison Van Konynenburg returns to USN as Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning. Taking on additional responsibilities this academic year, Justin Fitzpatrick is now Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs and Laura Snow is the High School Academic Operations Manager.Read More -
Lower School welcomes new faculty for 2026-2027
Please join us in welcoming to USN: LS Spanish Teacher Connor Mitchell, LS Music Teacher Marisa Frank, LS Learning Support Specialist MacKenzie Grant, Fourth Grade Teacher Alexis Novotny, Second Grade Teachers Cara Bishop and Lindsay Moates, First Grade Teachers Marisa Depke and Molly Roth '10, and Kindergarten Teacher Ellen Haber '00. Also, Naturalist Carrie Riley transitions to LS from the HS Science Department.Read More -
Middle School welcomes learning specialist
Learning Specialist Rachel Harley has over a decade in middle school education. Her office is located in room 1171 on the first floor of the Gordon Wing, in the former Middle School conference room.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.