Faculty & Staff Directory

List of 12 members.

• 

  Mrs. Stephanie Penny Townsend 

  Head of School

  305-460-8865
• 

  Dr. John King Jr. 

  Associate Head of School, History & Social Sciences Teacher

  305-460-8230
• 

  Mr. Geoffrey Geoff Bennett 

  Chief Financial Officer

  305-460-8851

  Bio

  I assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer at Ransom Everglades after arriving from the San Francisco Waldorf School, where I served as Director of Finance and Operations after beginning my tenure at the school as a member of the board of trustees and chair of the finance committee. Before shifting to independent schools, I spent 30 years in investment banking, predominantly in Asia, where I lived for more than five years. A graduate of Deerfield Academy, an independent school in Massachusetts, I earned a BA in English from Kenyon College in Ohio, and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. My wife Cindy and I have four children and two Labrador Retrievers.
• 

  Mr. Terry Giffen 

  Acting Director of College Counseling
• 

  Mr. Corey Goff 

  Director of Athletics & Physical Education

  305-460-8837

  Bio

  As Director of Athletics and Physical Education, I work with an exceptional team of faculty members and coaches who deliver our unique PE curriculum and facilitate opportunities for our students in 24 different sports. Before joining the Ransom Everglades community in 2018, I served as Executive Director of Athletics at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology/education at Susquehanna University where I played football and served as captain of the baseball team for two years. My master’s in Educational Psychology was conferred by The University at Albany. During my career I have taught middle school and high school science, coached high school and college football and baseball and served on non-profit boards. My wife, Lauren, is an attorney and we have two sons who are students at RE, Collin ’24 and Michael ’26. Go Raiders!
• 

  Mr. Wendell Graham 74

  Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement

  305-460-8889

  Bio

  As Director of Inclusion and Community Outreach, I am responsible for our efforts to maintain a welcoming environment where every member of the school community can live, study and work at their highest level of creativity and productivity. I practiced law for 38 years, serving as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, arbitrator, mediator and county court judge. I graduated from Ransom School in 1974, received my BA from Columbia University, and JD from the University of Miami School of Law. I love music, fishing, and the outdoors. My wife runs a non-profit for children aging out of foster care. We have one child in college, and the others are adults working in the armed services, arts and retail, and education.
• 

  Mrs. Melanie Harnett Hoffmann 

  Director of Advancement

  305-460-8820

  Bio

  As Director of Advancement at Ransom Everglades School, I oversee the school's fundraising efforts as well as alumni and parent engagement. I previously served as the Assistant Head of School and Director of External Affairs at Vermont Academy for two years and, for 13 years, worked as Director of Institutional Advancement at The Pingry School, a K-12 day school in New Jersey. I began my fundraising career at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. I attended Hollins College in Roanoke, Va., where I received my BA in Art History and German, and I received my master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. My husband, Arthur, and I have two sons, William and Nicholas '27, and live in Coconut Grove.
• 

  Mrs. Linda Lawrence 

  Chief Technology Officer

  305-460-8220

  Bio

  As Chief Technology Officer, I develop and implement technical strategies that support a robust multi-campus computing infrastructure and promote best practices for student success, campus safety, business optimization and informed decision-making. Prior to joining the Ransom Everglades community, I was the Director of Technology Development and Chair of Applied Technology at Metairie Park Country Day School. During my early career, I designed data solutions and network infrastructures supporting oil and gas exploration and production. A New Orleans native, I earned a Master of Science in computer science from Tulane University and graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana Tech University with a BS in computer science. My husband, Chris, is a radiologist and we have three children: Jeffrey, a general surgery resident; Gary, a real estate investment banking professional; and Kelsey, a special effects artist.
• 

  Mrs. Patricia C. A. Sasser 

  Head of the Upper School

  305-460-8854

  Bio

  As Head of the Upper School since 2019, I am proud to serve a community that lives its mission every day and is always striving for excellence. I previously served as an upperclassmen dean at the Loomis Chaffee School; an assistant dean for residential life and major gifts officer at The Madeira School; and an Emmy award-winning associate producer at ESPN. Serving the community is important to me and I am blessed to be able to do so through my membership in the Junior League of Miami, the South Miami Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I am a proud graduate of the University of Virginia where I earned my bachelor's degree in English Literature and African-American Studies. I earned my master's degree in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University. When I am not working, I love going to the beach and to the movies with my husband, Wyatt, and son, Pierce.
• 

  Ms. Amy Shipley 

  Director of Communications

  305-460-8212

  Bio

  After 25 years in journalism, I joined Ransom Everglades in December 2015 as Director of Communications, a position that gives me the privilege of sharing the great work that goes on at RE, and ensuring that the school's community members feel informed and connected. Prior to my arrival at Ransom Everglades, I spent 15 years at The Washington Post, where I covered international sports and the Olympics. I also worked as an investigative reporter at the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, and the beat writer for the Miami Heat and then-Florida Marlins at the Miami Herald. I received a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University and, surely to the relief of my professors there, I have never worked in that realm. I love serving at Plymouth Congregational Church and am happiest when sipping wine from St. Estephe in Bordeaux. I am the proud mother of Sabrina '22.
• 

  Ms. Karen Thompson 

  Interim Head of the Middle School

  305-460-8824
• 

  Mrs. Amy Sayfie Zichella 93

  Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

  305-250-6875

  Bio

  As Director of Admission and Enrollment Management, it is my privilege to oversee the admission and financial aid processes of my alma mater. An alumna from the Class of 1993, my middle and high school years at Ransom Everglades provided me not only a great education but also access to an incredible alumni network and — I can't resist mentioning — a state championship in volleyball. I returned to RE in 2002 as an English teacher, admission officer and coach (volleyball, basketball and track). I am proud to have served on the national Board of Directors of the Enrollment Management Association for six years and remain very involved in this organization. I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University with a double major in English and Education and a minor in Spanish. When not at RE, I can usually be found enjoying all that our beautiful city has to offer with my husband Eric and our two daughters, Abigail and Ava.