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540-684-3989 info@thesummitva.org

Julian Malcolm – Headmaster
Instructor of History
jmalcolm@thesummitva.org
BA History, University of Mary Washington
MTS Biotechnology and Ethics, Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Catholic University of America.
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Patrick Looby – Dean of Academics
Instructor of Theology and Mathematics
plooby@thesummitva.org
BA, Philosophy and Theology, Wadhams Hall Seminary College
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Zach Candler – Instructor of Mathematics and Theology
zcandler@thesummitva.org
BS in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Mathematics, Virginia Tech
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Shannon Pepe – Instructor of Literature, Senior Thesis advisor
spepe@thesummitva.org
BA English Literature, University of Buffalo
MA Liberal Arts, St. John’s College
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John Piescik – Instructor of Latin and Theology
jpiescik@thesummitva.org
BA Theology and Philosophy, Franciscan University of Steubenville
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Amy Reese – Instructor of Biology
areese@thesummitva.org
BS in Pre-Med Biology, University of Mary Washington
MS, Virginia Tech
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James Stanley – Instructor of History and Greek
jstanley@thesummitva.org
BA in English Literature, University of Wisconsin
MTS in Theology, John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies at the Catholic University of America
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Mary Brand – Math Instructor
mbrand@thesummitva.org
B.A. in Philosophy, minors in Mathematics and Theology, Christendom College
M.A., Theological Studies, Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College
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Patrick Clark – Humanities Instructor
pclark@thesummitva.org
BA, Theatre & BA, History, Virginia Commonwealth University
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Sarah McBride – Theology and Humanities Instructor
smcbride@thesummitva.org
BA, Theology, Ave Maria University
MA, Theology, Ave Maria University
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Julian Malcolm

Julian moved to Fredericksburg, VA to attend college at the University of Mary Washington where he received his BA, History in 1997.

Prior to founding the Summit Academy he enjoyed a career managing military and intelligence business for several Silicon Valley technology companies. Mr. Malcolm has also helped start and grow multiple successful private businesses throughout Central Virginia.

He currently serves as President, BOD for a local Women’s Shelter. He has taught CCD as well as various theology, literature, and history classes. In 2015 he received a MTS, Biotechnology, and Ethics from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, CUA. He and his wife have been married for twenty-two years and have 8 children.

Years at The Summit: 4 Years

Patrick Looby

Patrick grew up in Northern NY and after high school, he entered Wadhams Hall Seminary where he received his degree in Philosophy and Theology in 1996.

After Seminary he worked in youth ministry and curriculum development for the Dioceses of Albany and Ogdensburg, NY.  In 2000 he and his wife Shannon moved to Texas where he worked as the Assistant Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Dallas, and eventually as the Director of Campus Ministry and Theology teacher for Ursuline Academy of Dallas, a private, all-girls, Catholic high school.  A desire to move closer to family led them to Virginia where he taught at Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Virginia Beach, and for the past 8 years at St. Patrick School in Fredericksburg.  In addition to teaching there, Mr. Looby continues to lead retreats and theology talks for several parishes and schools, as well as for diocesan events like Theology on Tap.  He and his wife Shannon have been married for 19 years and have 6 children.

Years at The Summit: 4 Years

Zach Candler

Zach joins the faculty at The Summit after a ten-year career with Lockheed Martin as a spacecraft engineer, most of which he spent supporting NASA’s Orion program. During this time, Zach also began graduate studies at the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO while also working serving in parish ministries as the High School Youth Group Leader at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Lakewood, CO. Prior to joining The Summit, Zach and his family, spent a year in Waco, TX working on a farm with World Hunger Relief, where he gained hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture while continuing his work with young people and managing various on-site immersion programs with Christian youth groups.

An engineer who is also a lover of Catholic theology, literature, and the liberal arts, as a well a burgeoning farmer who can demonstrate the skills of rabbit processing, Zach may be the quintessential Renaissance Man. He relates that what attracted him to his new position is that it is apparent that “The Summit Academy is a school committed to a pedagogy that makes evident the harmony between faith and reason and that goes beyond just imparting knowledge to its students but also seeks to instill wisdom, wonder, and virtue in them.” Zach will be teaching Algebra I, Pre-Calculus, Calculus and New Testament as well as assisting with the development of The Summit’s outdoors program.

Zach graduated with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics minor from Virginia Tech in 2008.

Years at The Summit: 2 Years

Shannon Pepe

Shannon Pepe graduated from the University at Buffalo with a BA in English Literature in 2010, after which she continued her studies in English at the University of Vermont. She received her MA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in 2016. The majority of Shannon Pepe’s teaching career has been spent in either Classical or Catholic schools. She also spent time in 2010 at University of Vermont where she taught freshman composition. After eight years as an educator, she will realize a long-felt desire this Fall as she continues her work teaching in a school that is both Classical and Catholic.
While studying chemistry as an undergrad Mrs. Pepe was captivated by literature. It was through literature that she rediscovered her Catholic faith. She has dedicated her career to studying and teaching the Great Books and cultivating in students a receptivity to truth, goodness, and beauty through dialectic. Prior to joining The Summit, Shannon spent four years in Dallas, TX at the Cambridge School.

Shannon Pepe’s writing has been published in the Voegelin View:

https://voegelinview.com/joy-eternal-recurrence-unexpected-comedy-thomas-manns-joseph-brothers/

and The Imaginative Conservative:

http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2017/09/restoring-poetic-vision-myopic-age-shannon-pepe.html.

Mrs. Pepe teaches all four levels of Literature courses at The Summit, and leads the Senior Thesis Program.

Years at the Summit: 2 Years

John Piescik

John Piescik is himself a product of classical secondary education, having graduated high school from Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, VA. He graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in both theology and philosophy. He returned to his native Virginia with a passion for both theology and for his future spouse, Kathryn with whom he is now happily married for three years with three children. During their engagement, he continued his Theology studies, taking graduate courses at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington,  D.C and working as a substitute teacher for the Arlington Diocese. Mr. Piescik teaches Latin courses for all grade levels, as well as New Testament course. In addition to his classroom experience, Mr. Piescik is also a talented actor, singer, and public speaker. He assists in the development of the Summit’s commitment to promoting the fine Arts by organizing events for the school community to perform drama and music.

Years at The Summit: 4 Years

Amy Reese

Amy Reese will be teaching The Summit’s Dual Enrollment Biology courses this year. She has juggled a variety of roles as a professional scientist, analyst, riding instructor, home school educator and active member at St. Anthony Catholic Church in King George.  In previous positions Amy has employed her skills in handling radioactive isotopes, working with rare tumors and other tissues types, and working with live laboratory animals. This work has seen her employed as a research assistance at Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Pathology Department, teaching molecular biology courses to undergraduates at Virginia Tech and finally, serving as an analyst at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center in Dahlgren. She will be teaching Biology 101 and 102 this year.

Amy graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Premed Biology degree and received her Master of Science from Virginia Tech.

Here are examples of Amy’s work:

 

Years at The Summit: 2 Years

James Stanley

James Stanley studied English literature at the University of Wisconsin and theology at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies at the Catholic University of America, where he earned his master’s degree and completed coursework for his doctorate. While continuing work on his dissertation treating of the thought of the English Catholic historian, Christopher Dawson, he is continuing his teaching career at Summit Academy with a primary focus on history and Greek. Mr. Stanley and his wife, Jane, have been married nine years and have four children.

Mr. Stanley’s writing has been published in the Humanum Review Journal:

https://humanumreview.com/articles/esolen-destroying-the-imagination-of-your-child

Years at The Summit: 3 Years

Mary Brand

Mary Brand has dedicated her life to Catholic education. She brings well over fifteen years of experience, having taught at The Oakcrest School, Bishop O’Connell, St. Anne’s Belfield, The American School in Switzerland, and Chelsea Academy. Mary has helped establish the Singapore Math curriculum at The Summit’s middle school and will also be working to continue developing our Harkness Math in the upper school. She and her husband Jonathan, who is also a lifelong educator, have five children.

Patrick Clark

Prior to joining The Summit, Patrick Clark taught in Stafford, Chesterfield, and Richmond Public Schools. He also cultivated his love of American History by working as a park ranger in National Battlefield Park System. Mr. Clark paused teaching to serve an extended two-year stint in Honduras with the Missioners of Christ.

When pressed on the point, Mr. Clark refuses to adjudicate on “The Beatles or Rolling Stones” debate. Finding the controversy ridiculous, he insists that the title of ‘greatest all-time band’ resides securely with The Kinks.

Sarah McBride

Sarah studied Theology at Ave Maria University. During her time at AMU, she was involved with the women’s soccer program as a player and coach. She has experience working with middle and high school students in the parish, school, and camp settings, and she is excited to continue working with youth at the Summit Academy.