Staff Directory
Head of School
Kay Mason
Kay Mason, M.Ed., is St. Andrew’s 8th Head of School. Kay served as Head of Lower School at Columbus Academy in Columbus, OH and most recently as the Head of Lower School at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, LA. She holds her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Vanderbilt University and her Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University. Kay is excited to bring all of these experiences and skills to St. Andrew’s School.
Kay and her husband, Vince, have two daughters. Mycah is a Kindergarten teacher in Ohio, and Gabrielle is a recent graduate of University of Kentucky Law School. Kay and Vince moved to Richmond with their 13-year old cockapoo, Nikey.
Lower School Director
Hannah Barr
Hannah joined St. Andrew’s School in 2023, drawn by the school’s mission and focus on whole-child programming. She believes that St. Andrew’s commitment to intellectual engagement, physical well-being, creative expression, and emotional awareness is truly something special.
Hannah holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Elementary Education from SUNY Brockport, and received her Master of Science in Childhood Education and Special Education from Touro College. She taught first, second, and fourth grade in New York City, before transitioning into School Leadership, where, for two years prior to joining St. Andrew’s School, she worked as a Program Manager, assisting in evaluating student performance across 45 schools and liaising directly with the Chief Learning Officer to illustrate opportunities for improving the ELA and Math programs.
In her spare time, Hannah enjoys reading and going for walks with her husband, her dog, and her son.
Operations Officer
Eric Elliott
Eric came to St. Andrew’s School in 2019. As Operations Officer, he is excited about supporting the School’s mission by ensuring that students, staff, faculty, and the community have a safe and worry-free environment in which to learn, work, and grow. Eric has a Masters in Library Science from Indiana University and, prior to coming to St. Andrew’s, was Vice President of Operations for a transportation startup and managed a retail center for a growing automotive remarketing company. Outside of St. Andrew’s, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife and son, and getting outdoors.
Director of Advancement for Community Engagement
Shelley Thompson
Shelley joined St. Andrew’s School in 2023, and was excited to become a part of the incredible things happening at the school. After visiting the school years prior, she fell in love with the energy of the children and staff, and was eager to jump at the chance to become a part of the community. Shelley holds a BS degree from James Madison University, and brings over 20 years of experience in the Richmond non-profit community, primarily in youth development programming, and most recently in Advancement.
In her spare time, Shelley enjoys various hobbies, such as building legos, Zumba, and spending time with her 7 year old daughter, Carrington.
Advancement Assistant for Community Engagement
Brittney Dandridge
Brittney joined the SAS team as Advancement Assistant for Community Engagement during the 2023-2024 school year. As a former early childhood educator and DEI advocate, she was drawn to the school’s mission of creating educational equity and fell in love the minute she walked in the door! Brittney has an educational background in Early Childhood Development and joins us from the YMCA of Greater Richmond where she has spent the past six years in various leadership roles.
In her free time, Brittney enjoys reading, watching Golden Girls reruns, teaching Zumba and volunteering with the Junior League of Richmond where she has been a member for the past seven years.
Advancement Assistant for Strategic Initiatives
Katy Stockdon
Katy came to St. Andrew’s School in 2022, and is thrilled to have found a work environment that reflects her values and is cultivating positivity in the community. She joins the team from her previous role as Development Aide to the VCU School of Dentistry, where she provided support to the advancement team, contributed to special events, and maintained social media.
Born and raised in Richmond, Katy is proud to be a part of an institution that is enriching the community that she has loved all her life. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing digital art, singing with a local chamber choir, and spending time with her boyfriend and two cats.
Director of Admissions and Graduate Support
Linwood Johnson
Linwood Johnson joined St. Andrew’s School to pursue his passion for equity in education and providing opportunities to Richmond’s young learners. He is a Richmond, Virginia native and earned a B.S. in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University. Before coming to St. Andrew’s School, Linwood was an undergraduate admissions counselor for Virginia Commonwealth University. He also worked for a non-profit as a college success manager, working to provide scholarships and other support to first-generation college students. Linwood has a passion for music, culture, and community service, and recently taught a hip-hop history course at Virginia Union University. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Director of Instruction
Kathy Tappen
Kathy came to St. Andrew’s School in 2012, and was drawn to the school’s commitment to providing a whole child, progressive education. She still remembers the welcoming warmth she felt just by walking into the school filled with children who were so obviously loving school. Kathy has served in many roles at St. Andrew’s – including a second grade teacher, STEAM teacher, and Director of Instructional Technology & Curriculum. Before coming to St. Andrew’s, she worked in the advertising industry in NYC and LA before settling down in Richmond. Kathy earned her B.A. from Southern Methodist University and M.T. from Mary Baldwin University.
Some of her hobbies include cooking, reading, SCUBA diving, and F1 racing – watching, not driving!
Director of Social Emotional Learning & Culture
Tiffany Olds
Tiffany came to St. Andrew’s School in 2022 as the Director of Social Emotional Learning and Culture. She was drawn to the school’s whole child approach to learning that includes a focus on wellbeing both mentally and physically. This aligned with Tiffany’s passion and commitment to social justice, education, and mental health.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education with a minor in Nonprofit Management and her Masters Degree in Social Work with a certificate in School Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She has worked as a youth program director, behavioral specialist, and school social worker in the Greater Richmond area.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.
Manager of Wellness and Nutrition
Ronnika Fenner
Chef Ronni graduated from Johnson and Wales University in 1997. Since graduating culinary school, Chef Ronni has worked in many different areas of the industry ranging from fine dining to teaching children and adult cooking classes. Chef Ronni has found a home at St. Andrew’s School and considers this opportunity one of the biggest highlights of her career.
School Nurse
Kathy Eastham
Kathy joined St. Andrew’s in 2021 and as the School Nurse, is excited in her role to help keep the St. Andrew’s community healthy. She is a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in healthcare management including leadership positions in a rural hospital, a university tertiary care center, and a major health insurance company. At the same time, she was the spouse of a Head of School, and lived and experienced independent school education as a spouse, parent, and volunteer, in both day and boarding environments, for students from Pre-K to grade 12. Most recently, she has worked with the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) Commonwealth Coordinated Care Program, providing care coordination services for high-risk members.
In her spare time, Kathy and her husband love to take the train to DC and NYC, spend time with family, bike on the Capital Trail, and kayak on the Rappahannock River.
Front Office Coordinator
Caitlin Sneed
Caitlin came to St. Andrew’s in 2021 as the Front Office Coordinator. She was drawn to the school because its mission and values align with her personal outlook on life. After graduating from CNU with a BA in Theater, Caitlin spent about 8 years in various types of learning environments for children of all ages—from infants to elementary-aged youth. In her spare time, Caitlin can be found competing in trivia events with her husband or curled up watching Disney movies with her cats.
School Chaplain
The Rev. Peyton Williams
Peyton joined St. Andrew’s in summer of 2023, and was drawn to the school and church’s commitment to “throw[ing] open the doors of the Church to the presence of Christ in our community.” She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A., with majors in Religious Studies and Psychology. After a fellowship at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Peyton earned her M. Div. from Vanderbilt University, before working for three years as Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Peyton recently graduated from Yale University with a Master of Sacred Theology and was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on July 1, 2023.
In her spare time, Peyton enjoys walking quietly in the woods, spending time at the river with friends, running, and hiking, often with her dog Henley. She also enjoys spending time with family, making music, and dancing, having trained and performed with the Richmond ballet.
Make a Difference
Every dollar raised is invested in fulfilling our mission to transform lives by providing quality, progressive education to children.
DONATE NOWGet Involved
St. Andrew's School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
EXPLORE MORE