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Faculty & Staff Directory

Faculty & Staff Directory

The faculty at Ransom Everglades is at the heart of school’s tradition of academic excellence. RE's teachers love the daily challenge of inspiring, engaging and nurturing students; the average length of service for Ransom Everglades faculty is 20 years. More than 75 percent of the faculty hold advanced degrees, and one in five holds a doctorate. Faculty members show their dedication by working with students before and after school, serving as club advisors and coaching sports teams.

Leadership Team

List of 12 members.

  • Photo of Stephanie Townsend

    Mrs. Stephanie Penny G Townsend 

    Head of School
    305-460-8865
  • Photo of John King

    Dr. John A King Jr. 

    Associate Head of School, History & Social Sciences Teacher
    305-460-8230
  • Photo of Richard Bernasco

    Mr. Richard Rick Bernasco 

    Chief Financial Officer
    305-460-8851
  • Photo of Corey Goff

    Mr. Corey Goff 

    Director of Athletics & Physical Education
    305-460-8837
  • Photo of Carla Hill

    Mrs. Carla Hill 

    Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement
    305-250-4215
  • Photo of Melanie Hoffmann

    Mrs. Melanie P Harnett Hoffmann 

    Director of Advancement
    305-460-8820
  • Photo of Linda Lawrence

    Mrs. Linda Lawrence 

    Chief Technology Officer
    305-460-8220
  • Photo of Rachel Rodriguez

    Mrs. Rachel Rodriguez 

    Head of the Middle School, English Teacher
    305-250-6873
  • Photo of Patricia Sasser

    Mrs. Patricia C. A. Sasser 

    Head of the Upper School
    305-460-8854
  • Photo of Amy Shipley

    Ms. Amy Shipley 

    Director of Communications
    305-460-8212
  • Photo of Lew Stival

    Mr. Lew Stival 

    Director of College Counseling
    305-460-8926
  • Photo of Amy Zichella

    Mrs. Amy S Sayfie Zichella 93

    Director of Admission and Enrollment Management
    305-250-6875

List of 1 items.

  • Faculty

    76%
    76% of faculty hold advanced degrees
    20% of faculty hold doctoral degrees

List of 1 items.

  • Faculty Tenure

    20
    20 years is the average faculty tenure at Ransom Everglades

Meet the Leaders

List of 2 items.

  • Stephanie "Penny" Townsend, Head of School

    Penny Townsend has served as the Head of School at Ransom Everglades since July 2014, bringing a visionary and creative approach to RE's programs and facilities along with core beliefs that emphasize global education, service-driven leadership, environmental stewardship, faculty excellence and community engagement. In her years at RE, she has already made her mark on the City of Miami as she has presided over the largest capital campaign – REinventing Excellence – in the school's history.
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  • John A. King, Jr., Associate Head of School

    John King is Associate Head of School and a faculty member in the History and Social Sciences department. Prior to coming to Ransom Everglades 21 years ago, he was Assistant Professor of History at Belmont University. At Ransom Everglades, he has held many positions, all the while teaching AP US History, and creating and teaching the AP World History, Latin American Studies Honors, and philosophy honors courses. Dr. King has been the Senior Class Academic Dean, the Senior Class Sponsor, Associate Director of College Counseling, and has coached several teams and served as a guest conductor in the performing arts department. Dr. King has also served as the Accreditation Coordinator for RE’s last two cycles of self-study and reaccreditation. He has served on several committees, including the Technology Committee and the Search Committee for the Head of School.

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Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Middle School • 2045 South Bayshore Drive • Tel: 305-250-6850
Upper School • 3575 Main Highway • Tel: 305-460-8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The mission of Ransom Everglades School is to provide an educational environment in which the pursuit of honor, academic excellence and intellectual growth is complemented by concern for the physical, cultural and character development of each student. The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.