Governance

Oversight of Grace Episcopal Day School has been delegated by the Grace Church Vestry to a 17-member Board of Governors that meets monthly. Board members include current and former parents, Grace Church members, and members from the community at-large. Standing Board committees include: Buildings and Grounds, Development, Inclusion, Finance, Planning, and Trustees. From time to time, additional task forces or workgroups are also formed to focus on specific issues.

 

Grace Episcopal Day School Board of Governors
Member Profiles
2010-2011

Hedrick Belin, Chair

Hedrick Belin is President of Potomac Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting water quality in the Potomac River watershed. His professional experience includes over 15 years of nonprofit fundraising, mobilizing grassroots advocates, formulating public policy, partnering with public agencies, and developing conservation programs. Hedrick received his undergraduate degree in History from Yale University and his MPA from George Washington University. He is the father of two Grace students.

Karen Smith, Vice Chair

Karen Smith is the primary care provider for her two children, a GEDS alumna and a current student. A Certified Public Accountant, her professional experience includes serving as an accounting manager at both Carefirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, and as an auditor with KPMG Peat Marwick. Karen’s areas of professional expertise include financial planning, budget, and analysis. Her volunteer experience includes serving as GEDS PTO Chair as well as Treasurer of the organization. She received her undergraduate degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia.

Kevin Broome is the primary care provider for his two children, a GEDS alumnus and a current student. His professional experience includes serving as Manager of Postal Affairs for both Amtrak and US Airways where he was responsible for overseeing capital planning and budgets. Kevin is also President of the Boys and Girls Club in University Park, Maryland and a former Chair of the GEDS PTO. He received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of the District of Columbia and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

George Cato is the Controller for the American Israel Education Foundation, a charitable organization affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He has more than 10 years experience in non-profit financial management, accounting, auditing, and financial planning. George is a member of Grace Episcopal Church and a member of its Buildings and Grounds Committee. He is also a member of the board of Booker T. Washington Public Charter School for the Technical Arts in Washington, DC. George received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Morehouse College and an MBA in Finance from Clark Atlanta University. He has two sons, an alumnus of the St. Albans School for Boys and a current St Albans student.

Barbara Diggs-Brown is an associate professor and associate dean emeritus at American University. She directs the design and implementation of social marketing initiatives for various nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies and has more than 25 years’ experience in strategic planning, audience research and communication strategies, qualitative research, and media relations. Barbara is a prominent national researcher on the use of social marketing and communication campaigns to effect social change, and she has authored and coauthored a number of books. Barbara is the mother of two Grace alumna.

Jill Feasley is Director of Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park, a social service agency providing low-cost meals to seniors. Her professional experience includes policy analysis for the US Senate Subcommittee on Aging and supervising research-related projects for the Institute of Medicine. Jill’s volunteer experience includes extensive work with youth, seniors, and AIDS and cancer patients, as well as political organizing. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Cornell University and her MSW from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. A former GEDS PTO Chair, Jill is the mother of a GEDS alumna and a current student.

Mary Monahan is a Partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, where her practice primarily focuses on representation of large corporate taxpayers in complex federal tax audit and litigation matters. She received her JD from the George Washington University National Law Center, where she was an Articles Editor of The George Washington Law Review. She received her undergraduate degree in Government, cum laude, from Georgetown University. A former PTO and Spring Auction Chair, Mary is the mother of five children, a GEDS alumna and four current students.

Kerby Parker is Chief Executive Officer of Quality Technology, Inc., an information technology consulting firm based in Landover, Maryland. He also chairs the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, St. Paul’s College, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Maryland’s Board of Directors. Kerby received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration and M.A. in Administration and Supervision from the University of the District of Columbia. His children currently attend Grace.

Heather Reid is the primary care provider for her child, a current Grace student. A specialist in information technology (IT) systems, she worked for 10 years for international banking firms in Miami, Florida before becoming a housewife and eventually moving to the D.C. area. In her last professional position, Heather managed the IT department for Royal Bank of Canada’s Miami office. She has also taught basic and intermediate courses in various software applications. Born in Jamaica, Heather received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science from Florida International University.

Walker Simpson owns Creative Concrete, a company specializing in decorative concrete installations for residential and commercial clients. Having worked in collaboration with general contractors and architectural and design firms, he has expertise in facility enhancement and construction processes and procedures. Walker also possesses knowledge in marketing, personnel management, and other aspects of business ownership and operations. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, having concentrated in Economics and Spanish. Walker is the parent of three children, two alumni and a current student.

Ex-Officio

Helen Marter, Interim Head of School, comes to Grace with 38 years experience as a highly respected educator and independent school administrator.  Her most recent positions include Interim Head of School at The Agnes Irwin School in Pennsylvania and Head of School at the Laurel School in Ohio, where she served for more than 12 years.   Helen’s experience also includes an impressive 18 years at the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia where she served in many capacities, including teacher, coach, Associate Director of Admissions, College Advisor, Dean of Students and Co-Principal for the Upper School.  Her educational philosophy is rooted in collaboration and mentoring, shared values and goals, and embracing different perspectives.  She is also a fine athlete and for several years after college was a member of the USA Field Hockey Team.  Helen holds a BA and MA in Education from Temple University.

Rev. Bruce McPherson, Interim Rector, is a vocational Interim Minister who has served churches in the Diocese of Maryland, Washington, and Virginia over the past 10 years. Most recently, he served at Holy Trinity Church in Bowie, and before that St. Andrew’s Church in College Park. Bruce has also served as Director of Liturgy at the Washington National Cathedral. Prior to taking up the call to ordained ministry, he was Executive Vice President of Bank of America. Bruce also serves as President of The Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Orphans in Maryland and is a Trustee of the Middendorf Foundation in addition to serving on a number of committees in the Diocese of Maryland. He lives in Annapolis with his wife who is also ordained, serving as Rector of Epiphany Church in Odenton. Together they have three children and four grandchildren.

Matt Hardwick, Vestry Representative

Wynett Isley, Vestry Representative