Staff
Michele Burkhart
Michele has taught at West Ghent School for over 30 years and began the 2023-2024 school year as the new owner/Director. She started as the three-year-old teacher in 1991. She has also taught the four-year-old class. Michele continues her love of teaching as one of the teachers in the kindergarten/first grade class as well as her role as owner/director. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education. Michele is certified in New York State and the Commonwealth of Virginia to teach pre-school through sixth grade. Michele is also CPR, First Aid and PMAT trained. She is also trained in Fundations a Science of Reading based program by Wilson Language Training. Her children are both alumni of West Ghent School.
Tamatha Burton
Tamatha has taught at West Ghent School for five years. She has taught kindergarten and first grade, as well as four year olds. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mary Washington College and a Masters of Elementary Education from Old Dominion University. Prior to teaching at West Ghent School, she taught first grade and Reading Recovery at Western Branch Primary in Chesapeake, Virginia. She is also CPR, AMAT and First Aid trained. Tamatha is one of our teachers in the kindergarten/first grade class and assisting Michele as a Director of WGS.
Sharon Cook
Sharon has over 30 years of experience at West Ghent School. She has taught in the two and three year old classes. Sharon is an assistant in the two year old class. She has also done extended day. Sharon has completed over 30 credit hours towards Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also CPR, AMAT and First Aid trained.
Kelly Raia
Kelly is married and has three adult daughters. All of them attended West Ghent School. Life has come full circle for Kelly. She worked here from 1999-2015 and now she is back with us. She also ran the Alexander Baptist nursery for many years. Kelly was a teacher assistant at St. Patrick’s Catholic School as well as a nanny. Kelly now teaches the four year old class and art to the kindergarten/first grade class weekly. She is also CPR, AMAT and First Aid trained.
Elayna Raia
Elayna has completed her Child Development Certificate and is an alumni of WGS. She attended from the two year old class through first grade. Elayna is currently a teacher’s assistant in the two year old class and has been at WGS for several years. She is also CPR, AMAT, and First Aid trained.
Courtney Gillikin
Courtney began her teaching career in Richmond teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten. Ms. Courtney has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French and is a Registered Yoga teacher with a specialty in teaching children’s yoga. She has taught in various early childhood and elementary schools including Montessori, Jewish Community Center early childhood school, and West Ghent School’s Pre-K classroom. After taking time off to be with family and travel, Ms. Courtney rejoined the West Ghent School community in the 2022-2023 school year as the Pre-K class assistant. She is currently pursuing her Early Childhood Certificate and is CPR, Pmat, and First Aid certified. Courtney is the teacher for the three year old class.
Nicole Eagle
Nicole is joining West Ghent School as a four year old teacher. Nicole is from Norfolk and attended James Madison University where she earned her undergraduate degree and masters degree in elementary education PreK-6th. She taught in Norfolk Public Schools for five years in first and third grade. She is CPR, Pmat, and First Aid certified.
Gabby Molinaro
Gabby is a substitute at West Ghent School as a substitute teacher in 2022-2023. Gabby is CPR, Pmat, and First Aid certified.
Samantha Senters
Samantha spent 2 years as an assistant teacher at a Montessori Preschool during her time in Hawaii. She also worked as a substitute teacher in Cuba while attending college and working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education. Before entering the education profession, she worked as an all-star-cheerleading coach and tumbling instructor for ages 2 and up. Samantha is CPR, Pmat, and First Aid certified. She is a lead teacher in our two year old class.
Erika Irving
Erika is a lead in our two year old class. She joined us from the Norfolk YMCA child care team. Erika is certified in CPR and first aid.
Alyssa Orr
Alyssa is a lead teacher in our two year old class. She has BS in Education with a concentration in early childhood from Missouri State University. She is the mother of four children, and we are excited to have her join West Ghent School.
Cynthia Romero
Cynthia joins us from the YMCA childcare team. She is a navy spouse with a 2 year old son. Cynthia will be assisting in the two year old class. We are excited to have her join West Ghent School. She loves working with children and helping them learn and grow!
Wendy Nuzzo
Wendy will be joining the West Ghent School staff in 2023-2024 as our Office Manager. She has retired from the restaurant business after working for 25 years in the industry. Wendy is a member of St. Andrews Church and has three grandchildren. Zoe will be joining the 4 year olds in the fall.