🎉 Staff Spotlight: Meet Mr. Matthew Everett! 🎉
We’re kicking off our new staff introductions with someone who’s ready to bring the magic to Room 5—please welcome Mr. Matthew Everett, our new 5th Grade Reading, Writing, and Word Study teacher! 📚✏️
Mr. Everett is most excited to dive into the year by connecting with students, collaborating with staff and families, and helping every learner reach their full potential. His mission? To make learning FUN—and he’s got the inspiration to back it up! As a student, he had amazing teachers who brought lessons to life, and now he’s paying it forward.
Outside of school, Mr. Everett’s world revolves around his wife McKenna and their adorable young son, Jameson. (Fun fact: Jameson's middle name is Presley—yes, that Presley. Elvis runs deep in this household.) Whether it’s family time or a Toy Story marathon—Jameson’s current obsession—you’ll usually find the Everetts soaking up the moments together.
When he’s not chasing after Jameson or grading papers, Mr. Everett is on the hunt through antique malls and vintage shops for 80s and 90s pop culture treasures. His collection of movies, vinyl records, and POP! figures is impressive enough to be its own museum wing. 🕹️🎞️🎶
He’s also an animal lover, sharing his home with a golden retriever named Simba and two cats—Luna and Boots.
If he could hop on a plane tomorrow, he’d be Italy-bound—ready to take in the history, the culture, and as much pasta as he can politely eat. 🇮🇹🍝 His favorite subject growing up was science, but he also has a deep love for history and often finds creative ways to weave it into his lessons.
Theme song? 🎵 You’ve Got a Friend in Me—a perfect fit for his kind, dependable nature and the reality of raising a Toy Story superfan. Karaoke favorite? Suspicious Minds by Elvis, of course. He’s a lifelong fan.
And if you’re wondering which fictional school he’d teach at—look no further than Ms. Frizzle’s classroom. He’d gladly hop on the Magic School Bus and co-chaperone one of those legendary field trips. 🚍✨
We’re so lucky to have Mr. Everett (and by extension, his amazing family) join the Rock Creek crew. Welcome aboard, Mr. Everett—you’ve already got a friend in us! 💙
🎉 Staff Spotlight: Meet Ms. Madisyn Vandegriffe! 🎉
Rock Creek is gaining a math-loving, early-rising, beach-dreaming teacher this year—please welcome Ms. Madisyn Vandegriffe, our new 5th Grade Math, Science, and Social Studies teacher! 🧮🌎🔬
Madisyn is most excited to meet new people and dive into the subjects she’s most passionate about. Her journey into teaching started with an unforgettable 5th grade math teacher—someone who believed in her, challenged her, and made learning feel exciting. (Spoiler alert: She plans to do the same for her students!)
When she’s not teaching, you’ll find Madisyn up at 4:30 AM (yes, really!) headed to the gym. She’s definitely an early bird—but one with a soft side for snacks like Gushers, which still bring back childhood memories.
She shares her home with her cat, Sadie, and—cat lovers, rejoice—she’s a full-on feline fan. 😻
If she could travel anywhere tomorrow, she’d be relaxing on the beaches of Cape Cod or Maine, lobster roll in hand, soaking up the sea breeze and coastal charm. 🦞🌊
We’re thrilled to have Ms. Vandegriffe joining the Rock Creek family. With her passion, positivity, and dedication to helping students thrive, we know she’s going to make a huge impact.
Welcome aboard, Madisyn—we're so glad you're here! 💙
🎉 Staff Spotlight: Meet Ms. Libby Schuman! 🎉
Rock Creek is welcoming a brand-new face to 5th grade—please give a big cheer for Ms. Libby Schuman, our new Math, Science, and Social Studies teacher! 📚🔬🌎
Ms. Schuman is stepping into her very first year of teaching, and she couldn’t be more excited to meet her students, grow alongside her teammates, and dive headfirst into the Rock Creek community. Her passion for teaching started early—she’s always admired her teachers and knew she wanted to be someone who makes a lasting impact on kids’ lives.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Schuman is all about sunshine, splashing, and snuggly dogs. 🐾 She spends her summers coaching her neighborhood swim team and enjoys quality time with family and friends. She’s also the proud dog mom of three pups: a black lab named Hank, and two beagles, Gus and George. (That trio sounds like its own sitcom!)
Her favorite teacher growing up? Her 2nd grade teacher, who—believe it or not—tap-danced on tables after tests. That kind of energy is exactly the vibe we love here.
If she could hop on a plane tomorrow, she’d be soaking up the sights (and sunshine) in Greece—from Athens to Santorini to Mykonos. 🏛️🏖️
She’s an early bird by nature and needs her morning coffee like students need recess—non-negotiable. ☕️
We are so lucky to have Ms. Schuman launching her teaching career right here at Rock Creek. With her heart, humor, and high energy, we know she’s going to do amazing things.
Welcome to the team, Libby—you’re already making waves! 💙
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Meet Ms. Paige Fitton! 🌟
We’re welcoming an energetic and passionate new face to 4th grade this year—say hello to Ms. Paige Fitton, who’s living her dream of having her very own classroom at Rock Creek! 🎉📚
Teaching has always been Paige’s calling. From the time she was young, she knew the classroom was where she belonged. Her greatest joy? Watching students grow—not just academically, but socially and emotionally. That drive to make a positive impact shines in everything she does.
Before joining us, Ms. Fitton spent years as a competitive cheerleader and coach—and yes, she can still do the splits and a few flips! 🤸♀️ Her passion for cheer continues to inspire her to uplift and motivate others, both on and off the mat.
ELA was her favorite subject as a student, especially for the way books opened up new worlds and gave her space to express herself. It’s no surprise her personal theme song is “Pocketful of Sunshine”—a nod to both her outlook on life and the nickname her parents gave her as a kid. ☀️💛
When she’s not in the classroom, she dreams of relaxing with her family on a sunny beach—fun, laughter, and zero stress required. 🏖️👨👩👧👦
Though she’s not naturally a morning person (10 a.m. is her sweet spot), Ms. Fitton has trained herself to rise early—because when you love what you do, even mornings can feel magical.
Welcome to Rock Creek, Paige—we’re so lucky to have your sunshine joining our school family! 💙
🎉 Staff Spotlight: Welcome Mrs. Mackenzie Beckham! 🎉
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Mackenzie Beckham, our new Technology Teacher at Rock Creek! Coming to us from Forest Park Elementary, Mrs. Beckham has already proven herself to be a tech-savvy powerhouse, and now she’s here to not only educate students—but support staff, too! 💻🚀
From the start, education was in her DNA. Inspired by her mom’s impact as an educator and a 5th grade teacher who made learning unforgettable, Mrs. Beckham brings heart, energy, and passion to everything she does.
When she’s not navigating digital learning, she’s out exploring the world, soaking up the outdoors, or reminiscing about her days racing go-karts and playing college softball! 🏁🥎 And yes—her dog Bella keeps her on her toes too. 🐶
If teleportation were a thing, she'd be off to Australia to hang out with kangaroos and soak in the scenery. And when the car becomes a karaoke stage, you’ll catch her belting out Taylor Swift or Shania Twain like it’s a sold-out tour. 🎤✨
Her dream fictional teaching post? Hogwarts, naturally—because what better way to combine technology, magic, and imagination?
We’re so lucky to have Mrs. Beckham joining the Rock Creek family. Welcome aboard! 💙🦉
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Welcome Mrs. Ashley Medina! 🌟
Rock Creek is thrilled to welcome Mrs. Ashley Medina to our 2nd grade team! She’s coming to us from JL Mudd with 11 years of experience, a heart for students, and a serious passion for Leader in Me. Let’s just say… we scored big. 🦉✨
Mrs. Medina comes from a family full of educators—so it’s no surprise she felt called to the classroom. Whether she’s organizing like a pro, building readers and writers, or working on a magical classroom culture, she’s all in.
Her favorite sidekick? That would be Winnie, her 100-lb white lab who loves shoes almost as much as Ashley loves Diet Mountain Dew (spoiler: her Stanley usually contains soda, not water—hydration goals, but make it fizzy). 🐶🥤👟
When she's not teaching, you might find her baking, traveling, going to concerts, or hitting up Target. And if she had a plane ticket to anywhere? She’s headed straight to Coronado Island in December, watching navy jets zip across the sky while ice skating on the beach. Epic, indeed.
Mrs. Medina is a 4AM early bird, fueled by caffeine and purpose, ready to shine each day for her students. And yes—if she could teach anywhere fictional, it’d be Hogwarts. Rock Creek may not have house elves, but we do have a little magic brewing in second grade. 🧙♀️📚
Welcome, Ashley—we're so excited you’re here!