8th Grade Team

Hi everyone! My name is Ms. Mitchell and I am very excited to be a Gunston Hornet. I have worked in education for almost 8 years and have a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters in Education in School Counseling K-12 from George Mason University. This school year will be my 5th year as a School Counselor and I can’t wait to begin working with the Gunston community. I have lived in the Arlington area for several years and grew up in Fairfax, VA. In my free time I enjoy watching shows on Bravo, running, working on puzzles, traveling and spending time with my friends and family. Favorite Quote: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

Hi! My name is Ms. Kristen Paonessa. The students call me Ms. Pao (pay-oh), for short. This is my 3rd year teaching at Gunston Middle School, but my 13th year teaching overall. I have a B.A. in International Affairs & Economics from Northeastern University and a M.S. in Secondary Education from Johns Hopkins University. In 2018, I earned my certification in K-12 Special Education. My goal is to provide all students, especially those with learning exceptionalities, a pathway to access grade level content in preparation for high school & beyond. When I leave GMS, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our 1 year old son, and our Doberman/Pyrenees dog.

Hi, I'm Ms. Valen, and this is my 3rd year teaching World Geography at Gunston! Born and raised in New Jersey, I earned my BA in Education and History from the University of Miami, and my MA in Politics and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. I am certified to teach Social Studies, Special Education, Reading, and ESOL. As a result, I take a holistic approach to teaching geography, embracing flexibility in meeting the needs of my diverse learners. I emphasize teaching social studies thinking skills and hold my students to high expectations as they navigate this high school credit course. I am also excited to be presenting my work at this year's NCSS conference!

This is Mrs. Lisa Pentland's 17th year of teaching and 6th year at Gunston Middle School. Before moving to Virginia, she taught in Pennsylvania mostly around the Pittsburgh area for 11 years. She has 2 daughters, a husband, and 2 cats. She loves indoor and outdoor cycling and hiking in nature. Mrs. Lisa Pentland graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania's Honors Program with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education and a Masters of Education with a Reading Specialist Concentration. She has teaching certifications in Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle School Science, and Middle School Math.