Commonwealth Parenting Board 2009

Dan Cunningham,CPA , President 
President
Mark It Plus

Geri Allen, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Integrated Therapy Services

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

Tracey Deal, MD
Pediatrician, Pediatric Associates,
Bon Secours Richmond Health System

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

Elizabeth Mason Horsley
Attorney,  Williams Mullen

Clare Lancaster
Chief Financial Officer,
Lancaster Corporation

Bonnie Makdad, M.D.
Chief of Neonatology,
Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Jean McGraw
Chief Operating Officer,
Central Virginia Health Network

Dave Menges
Head of Lower School,

St. Christopher's School

Denise Miller
Community Volunteer

Lisa Schaffner
Public Relations & Marketing Director
UNOS

Bonnie Shelor
Senior Vice President for Human Resources, Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Karen Spine
Community Volunteer

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

Neonatologist,
Commonwealth Neonatology

T. Evan Williams
Principle, Atlantic Leasing Associates, LLC

Susan Brown,
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 both her Bachelors Degree in Human Development and her Masters Degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She began working at Commonwealth Parenting in 2003 and became Executive Director in 2004.

Linda Brauer
Director of Programs

Marcie Fleming
Business Assistant

Gena Borda
Program Assistant

Family Educators

Allison Anderson
Allison earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Relations / Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Allison worked for 10 years in the Chesterfield County School System as an Elementary Guidance Counselor, and as a preschool teacher.

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.

Jesselyn Jackson
Jesselyn is an educator for the Richmond City Health Department, working with teen pregnancy prevention. She has a degree in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, is a former child care director and is a certified Infant Massage instructor.

Michelle Johnston
Michelle has worked as a Family 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.

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.

Cecile Myers
Cecile is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in psychology. She is a certified instructor of infant message and pre- and post-natal Pilates.Cecile has been a Family Educator for over 8 years and teaches teen parents infant and toddler care.

Susan Taylor
Susan has a Bachelor’s degree form 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 Service Coordinator. She has extensive experience facilitating parent
groups, developing new programs for youth, and working with families to ensure school attendance.