Commonwealth Parenting Board 2010

Elizabeth Mason Horsley , President
Attorney, Williams Mullen

Richard L. Bennett, M.D.
Pediatrician, St. Mary’s Hospital
Richmond Community Hospital

Leslie Davis Blackwell
Media/PR Communications

Kit Bredrup
Community Volunteer

Carter Bryan
Community Volunteer

Dana Marie Buchanan, M.D.

Anesthesiologist, Community Volunteer

Anne Chewning
Community Volunteer

Debbie Glasser, Ph. D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Founder, NewsforParents.org

Tim Harris, CPA
Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, PC

Clare Lancaster
Chief Financial Officer,
Lancaster Corporation

Jean McGraw
Chief Operating Officer,
Central Virginia Health Network

Dave Menges
Head of Lower School,

St. Christopher’s School

Denise Miller
Chair, Regional Drug Free Alliance

Joseph R. Rudisill
Director, Planning & Project Managment
Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital

Lisa Schaffner
Public Relations & Marketing Director
UNOS

Kelly Stuart, M.D., M.P.H.

Neonatologist,
Commonwealth Neonatology

T. Evan Williams
Principle, Atlantic Leasing Associates, LLC

Jennifer Yeager
Marketing and Communications Manager
Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc.

Susan Brown, M. Ed.
Family Educator Liasion

Commonwealth Parenting Staff

Liz Pearce, M. Ed.
Executive Director

Initially a special education teacher, Liz began conducting parent education classes in 1990. Her experience includes special needs children, foster families, school advocacy and therapeutic case management. Liz received her Bachelors Degree in Human Development and her Masters Degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She became Executive Director at Commonwealth Parenting in 2004.

Linda Brauer
Director of Programs

Lydia Brugh
Program Assistant

Marcie Fleming
Business Assistant

Family Educators

Jim Astrove
Jim has a 25 year teaching career in both Henrico County public schools and private schools. His expertise includes cyber safety, computer science and technology education. He currently serves as the Director of Technology and Middle School Coordinator for St. Catherine’s School.

Susan Brown
In addition to a masters degree in Developmental Psychology, Susan holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Psychology. She has worked extensively in the field of child development and parent education, as a teacher and private school director. She has 30 years experience as a parent educator.

Lynne Edwards
Lynne has been providing consultations, clinical assessments and counseling to parents and families for the past 15 years. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Amie Elmore

Amie’s experience includes teaching kindergarten, leading divorce recovery groups, group counseling and one-on-one
parental counseling. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Cedarville University in Ohio, and her Master’s Degree in Counseling, from George Fox University in Oregon.

Suzanne Hanky
Suzanne holds degrees in Special Education and Psychology. She was a Special Education teacher of profoundly handicapped students in the Chesterfield Public School System. Suzanne has been a Family Educator for over 10 years.

Michelle Johnston
Michelle has worked as aFamily Educator for over 10 years. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and a M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Michelle has worked as a school counselor in Henrico County Schools and at The Steward School.

Chanie Jordan
Chanie holds an M. Ed.  in Education and has over 30 years of experience working with a wide variety of families. She teaches court-mandated parenting classes and has expertise with single parents, families in rural populations and incarcerated parents.  Chanie owns her own business, Jordan’s Quest, in addition to teaching classes for Commonwealth Parenting.

Valerie McAllister
Valerie has over 15 years in the Human Services field, and is certified to teach the Strengthening Families Parenting Curriculum. She has worked with the City of Richmond with families and youth programs. She also developed the curriculum “Know Thy Self” a program for building self-esteem and cultural awareness for African American youth.

Carolyn Myers
Carolyn has extensive experience with educational diagnostic testing to determine specific learning difficulties and dyslexia. Carolyn holds an M. Ed. from the University of Virginia. Her areas of expertise and certification are in: Special Learning Disabilities K-12, Elementary Education, Pre-School Handicapped, and extensive courses in the area of gifted education.

Susan Taylor
Susan has a Bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, N.C. in child and family studies as well as an M. S. with honors in child and family studies from the University of Tennessee. She has a wealth of experience both as a preschool teacher and Early Childhood Specialist/Trainer.

Merna Wilson

Merna has been employed by the City of Richmond as a Truancy Case Manager, an Administrative Program Coordinator, and a Youth Services Coordinator. She has extensive experience facilitating parent groups, developing new programs for youth, and working with families to ensure school attendance.