Faculty & Staff

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all students, parents, and visitors. We are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant and innovative school community. From administrators to custodial staff, everyone works tirelessly to ensure that our school operates smoothly and efficiently, enabling students to focus on their education and personal growth.

Lynnhaven's faculty and staff come to us with their own stories and diverse experiences. They are here to guide you along your journey through high school with a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and passion for creating engaging and dynamic learning experiences.  We understand that education is a collaborative effort between the school, parents, and the wider community and we value the strong partnerships we have built with parents and the support they provide to our students. Together, we strive to create a positive and inclusive school culture that celebrates diversity, fosters mutual respect, and encourages open communication. We are confident that with our collective efforts, we can inspire and empower our students to achieve their goals and become successful global citizens and we look forward to embarking on this incredible journey of learning and growth together.

Warmest regards,

Ms. Bernadett Carter
Interim-Head of School

Over her 20 plus years in the education arena, Mrs. Carter most recently served 5 years as an adjunct instructor at John Tyler Community College. She has also worked for Rappahannock Community College as an instructor, and Richmond and Henrico County Schools. Mrs. Carter graduated summa cum laude from Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Math, and a Masters of Science in Math Education. In her spare time, she enjoys attending her children's activities, reading, and participating in various church organizations. 

Mrs. LeMaster has over a decade of combined higher education and private school admissions leadership experience. She is an alumnus of Radford University having earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. She completed graduate work and received a Master of Science in Community and College Counseling from Longwood University. Mrs. LeMaster leads all admission and college counseling initiatives at Lynnhaven. ​She is a strong believer that education comes in all forms, which is in step with our school’s founding principles and values.

Mr. Gary moved to Richmond after retiring from fifteen years as an English and social studies teacher (and fencing coach) for the New York City Department of Education. He also  worked as an adjunct professor, teaching college English and history courses at various colleges.  Gary’s educational credentials include a BA in writing from Michigan State University, MA in Popular Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, coursework completed towards the PhD in US History from SUNY Stonybrook, and education courses for NYS certification from CW Post/LIU.

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Mr. Liddiard comes to Lynnhaven School from a diverse and varied background, including experiences working for a US Senator and co-owning a French bakery. For the past 15 years he has worked in the field of public history and education, most recently as a civics teacher for Chesterfield County and an adjunct history professor for the Virginia Community College System. Previous work includes the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the Library of Virginia, and Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation where he focused on inquiry and primary source learning. Mr. Liddiard received both his BA and MA in American History from VCU, with concentrations in 20th century American history, public history, and history education. Originally from Utah, he has made Virginia his home for nearly 40 years. During his free time he enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Katie, daughters, Vera and Cora, and their blue heeler, Kiwi. 

Autumn Fesperman is a professional artist with experience in K-12 education with Goochland Co. Public Schools. She has a BFA
in Communication Arts & Design and Art Education from VCU as
well as a MFA - Illustration from the University of Hartford. Growing up in a military family, Mrs. Fesperman has called many places home, but Richmond has been where she spent most of her adult life with her four children, husband, and two cats. Autumn is a professional freelance illustrator and is passionate about inspiring students to create art and hone their inner abilities to express themselves through various mediums.

Brittany has spent nearly a decade as an educator creating interdisciplinary, student-led learning experiences in schools, after-school programs, and summer camps. She has taught traditional STEM classes as well as innovative, project-based courses in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Her work is rooted in the belief that educational institutions are microcosms of a democratic society and should support students to be informed, engaged citizens. Most recently, she served as the K-12 Programs Manager for Touchstones Discussion Project, where she ran professional development and supported schools in building inclusive discussion-based classrooms. Brittany holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she supported Dr. Karen Mapp’s research on school-family partnerships. She also holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech. When not in schools, she enjoys building up her microfarm, reading, yoga, and spending as much free time as possible outdoors with her husband and dog.  

Dr. Kelly Carter Merrill (Trey ‘26) is a professor of nonprofit studies at the University of Richmond and communication studies at Randolph-Macon College. Through Gray Areas Consulting, Kelly is a speaker, trainer, and professional facilitator of difficult conversations about communication, diversity and inclusion, leadership, and self-discovery. Kelly has over 25 years of experience as a faculty, staff, and administrator. Professionally, she has authored five book chapters, five research journal articles, and countless national and international presentations (and personally, she authored a memoir available on Amazon). Kelly has worked with national projects such as Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, Ben Franklin Circles, and the White Ally Toolkit and international projects like Toward an Inclusive Peace through Initiatives of Change, Caux Switzerland. Locally, Kelly has served on three nonprofit boards – Side by Side (LGBT youth center), Ashland Museum, and Circles-Ashland (a poverty resolution organization). Kelly lives in Hanover County, where she is engaged as a community activist and organizer.