6th Grade Team

Welcome to Gunston Middle School! I am excited to be the 6th grade counselor this year. I grew up in Fort Washington, MD, and moved to Arlington in middle school. After graduating from Washington-Liberty High School, I attended Virginia Commonwealth University and Capella University to study Psychology and School Counseling. Some of my favorite things are traveling, Italian food, and playing with my 4-year-old son. I look forward to advocating and supporting your students through their middle school years. Favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Greetings and Salutations! My name is Mr. Marcus A. Sherrod and this is my 21st year in education. Throughout my tenure as an educator, I have taught grades 2, 4, 5, and 6. I am a proud graduate of Hampton University, and I have dedicated my career to fostering a love of learning in my students by incorporating fun, engaging lessons. Growing up in the Philippines, I bring a unique perspective to the classroom, blending cultural insights with a passion for education. Now in my second year at Gunston, I am committed to creating and fostering an engaging and inclusive environment that encourages student growth and exploration. I enjoy sharing my love of music, travel and diverse cultures with my students, inspiring them to embrace the world around them.

Hola :-) I'm Elma Molina, and teach sixth grade Spanish Language Arts in the Immersion Program/Dual Language Program. I've been teaching for over 28 years and I still enjoy helping my students learn and improve their language skills in Spanish. I obtained my Bachelor's degree from The Catholic University of America and my Master's Degree from George Mason University. I have two adult daughters who also went through the Immersion Program in Arlington.

This is my 24th year of teaching, and I still love to do it!!! ; 0 )

3rd year teaching Math 6 at Gunston. Educational Psychology/Math. Cheerleading Coach. STEM after-school program leader.

This is Ms. Bridgers' 13th year teaching and 4th year at Gunston. In her spare time she likes to travel, cook and powerlift.

Hello! I'm Karla Kaplan Montante (or "Mrs. Kaplan"). I'm a Reading Specialist with a Master's degree in Reading Education from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor's degree from the College of William & Mary. I began my career teaching 2nd grade, and am now in my third year of teaching the amazing middle schoolers at Gunston! I am passionate about the science of reading, and firmly believe all students can become strong and confident readers. Outside of the classroom, I love spending time with my friends and family (including my 7-pound Yorkie). I also love trying out local restaurants and watching reality TV.

Ms. Pennell has been teaching at Gunston Middle School for four years. She was born in Arlington and is a graduate of George Mason University (twice). Her favorite genres are fantasy, science fiction, detective fiction and scary stories.

Greetings Gunston Family! My name is Dr. Charles Sexton and this is my 28th year in education. I am a proud graduate of Morgan State University (B.S.), Trinity Washington University (M.S.A), and Capella University (Ed.D). Throughout my tenure as an educator, I have taught grades 6 - 12 as well as at the collegiate level. In addition, I have written curriculum, been a math coach, and department lead. My goal as an educator is to develop the entire child by incorporating fun, engaging, and interactive lessons that utilize technology and incorporate the topics of interest of all the students. This is my third year at Gunston and I am committed to developing our students growth mindset, to become life-long leaners.

Teacher, history lover, rower, author, expert on Sears Kit-Homes, grower of hot peppers and other odd plants, aspiring Virginia gentleman.

Ms. VandenBussche has been teaching for over 25 years and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. This year marks her 2nd year at Gunston teaching 6th grade English Language Arts. Ms VandenBussche has an extensive educational background in English literature, art, composition studies, environmental science, special education and is also an autism & dyslexia specialist. Ms. VandenBussche holds a Post-graduate certificate in Behavior Intervention in Autism from Dartmouth University (BCBA), a Masters of Education in Secondary Education from University of Phoenix, a Masters of Composition Studies from University of Indiana East, a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Oakland University and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting from Wayne State University. Ms. VandenBussche loves teaching and puts her students first. Her creativity and eclectic learning environment create a classroom where students thrive and feel safe. In her spare time, Ms. V can be found living and hanging out in Historical Old Town Manassas with her boyfriend and their 2 dogs. Ms. VandenBussche is also an avid writer and is currently working on a children's book and a book on teaching.