About Us

Governance

Since its founding in 1976, Oakcrest School has benefited from strong, stable leadership. There have been seven Heads of School in Oakcrest history, and each of these visionary women has been faithful to the Oakcrest mission. 

    • Mrs. Christie Keuchel, Head of School

As the Head of School, Mrs. Christie Keuchel continues the legacy of visionary women entrusted with the Oakcrest mission of educating young women of intellect, faith, and character.

List of 3 items.

  • Her Education

    Mrs. Keuchel holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration from St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Keuchel has also earned her New York State Teachers Certification. 

  • Her Experience

    Mrs. Keuchel joined the Oakcrest faculty in 2007 and until 2020 served in a variety of roles including Theology teacher, Director of Middle School and Upper School, Dean of Students, and Associate Head of School for Students. Before returning to Oakcrest as Interim Head of School in 2023, Mrs. Keuchel worked to provide support to a classical liberal arts school in the Catholic tradition in Rochester, New York, as well as lead a capital campaign for a non-profit in Northern Virginia. 

  • Her Passion

    With more than 20 years as a teacher, mentor, and administrator in schools, Mrs. Keuchel is passionate about molding girls into young women of virtue who are equipped to positively impact their families and communities. She enjoys being part of a school with strong roots and vibrant traditions. Christie and her husband, Frank, enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially in the beautiful outdoors. 
Oakcrest School Heads Throughout the Years

1976-1979 Patricia O'Donovan 
1979-1984 Diane Hunter 
1984-1988 Biruta Meirans 
1988-1990 Ellen Cavanagh 
1990-2001 Barbara Falk 
2001-2012 Ellen Cavanagh 
2012-2023 Dr. Mary T. Ortiz
2023-present Christie Keuchel

    • Patricia O'Donovan, first Head of Oakcrest School

    • Head of School Emerita Mary T. Ortiz (center) with members of the Board of Trustees and founding teacher Phyllis Savino (left) and founding parent and staff member Mary O'Keeffe (3rd from right).

    • Trustees Ellen Cavanagh, Lorrainne Anderson and Germana Mitchell after the memorial Mass for Helena Metzger on May 6, 2022.

Board of Trustees

List of 6 items.

  • Beatriz López Bonetti

    Beatriz López Bonetti is an Assistant Professor of Marketing and the Marketing Director at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America. She is also a Media Fellow with the Institute for Human Ecology (IHE).
     
    She joined The Catholic University of America in 2011 to help launch the M.A. degrees in Integral Economic Development Management and Policy, providing leadership and direction as Program Director. In 2013, she became the Director of Public Relations for the newly formed Busch School of Business. In this capacity, she led the school's overall strategy for branding, communications, media outreach, marketing, and event planning in support of its unique mission in service to the economy and the human person. She joined the marketing faculty in 2018. Her research focuses on aesthetics, morality, healthy consumption, organizational innovation and creativity, and consumer well-being. 
     
    Dr. Bonetti holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Universidad Tecnológica del Centro (Venezuela), a Master of Science in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in Business from Virginia Tech. She lives in Maryland with her husband and seven young children.

  • Ellen Cavanagh

    Ellen holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Syracuse University and a Masters in Education Administration from Boston College.  After teaching for several years in the public schools in Rhode Island, she moved to Boston and while finishing her Masters joined the group of educators who helped found Montrose School.  Having served there for the first four years as Assistant Head of School, she then moved to Washington DC, to teach and eventually become the Head of Oakcrest.  The next twenty-four years were given to serving both Montrose and Oakcrest as Head of School.

  • Germana Mitchell (Julie (Mitchell '90) Newlands and Mary '11 )

    Germana emigrated from Italy with her parents and two siblings in 1960 at eleven years of age.  She came with her family to the Washington D.C. area and has lived there ever since. Following her graduation from the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Home Economics, she worked with the architectural firm of Orofino, Kilsheimer and Ellenbogen as a space planner.  She would later start her own firm, DBS Design (Donnelly, Biondi and Schneider).  The firm provided architectural, landscape design and interior design services.  Shortly after her marriage to Gerard Ellsworth Mitchell, Germana became a stay-at-home mother and homemaker.  She and her husband have nine children and 15 grandchildren.  Their two daughters, Julie (Mitchell ‘90) Newlands and Mary ‘11, attended Oakcrest School.  Germana has served on the Board of Trustees of Oakcrest School and on the Board of the Foundation for Social and Cultural Advancement, a nonprofit organization committed to helping girls and women around the world live with dignity and build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

  • Kathleen McGarry, President

    Kathy holds a graduate degree in the Sciences of Education.  She has worked in promoting and developing various educational programs for young women in Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington and now Houston.  She has served on the Oakcrest Board of Trustees since 2002.

  • Brenda Royden (Michelle '02 and Suzanne '07)

    In 2019, Brenda Royden started AudioTorches, LLC, a professional audiobook recording company with a focus on spiritual reading books.  Brenda retired from her work as a federal government contractor in 2013.    
     
    Brenda has served on the Board of Directors for the Yuma Center since 2016 and a rotation as president of the board in 2021.  She is the Coordinator for the Yuma program “Women 60 and Beyond” which she created in order to reach the spiritual, professional, and personal needs of women in that age group.  Brenda served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Women’s Advancement from 2008 to 2015. 
     
    Brenda holds a master’s degree in communications from Bangkok University and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Mary Baldwin College.  
     
    She is married to Barry Royden (former member of Oakcrest’s Board of Directors) and they have six children, including two Oakcrest graduates - Michelle (’02) and Suzanne (’07) - and three grandchildren.  Brenda lived many years abroad while supporting Barry’s foreign service career and raising their children.

  • Theresa (Currano '93) Talavera (Eliana '17 and Maite '21)

    Theresa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Romance Languages from the University of Maryland at College Park. She taught French and Spanish at Oakcrest from 1997-99.  A mother of ten children, Theresa leads a vibrant Mothers’ Group which she founded at her parish in 2001. She has also assisted her husband in running his small business since 2004. She served as President of the Board of Clevemont from 2005-2022.  From 2006-2011 Theresa volunteered on the Gala Committee for Divine Mercy Care, and since 2011 has been a key member of the Oakcrest Gala team, chairing the Auction Acquisitions Committee.  She is also an active member of the Oakcrest Alumnae Association. Her daughters Eliana ('17) and Maite ('21) are both Oakcrest graduates. Theresa is currently homeschooling her younger children.

Board of Directors

List of 8 items.

  • Michele (Casey '99) Bueno

    Michele is the first alumna to serve as President of the Board and the second alumna to serve on the Board of Directors. She holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Smith College, and a Bachelor of Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College. Her career has led her to work with several government contractors in the Washington, D.C. area and she currently works as an engineer. Michele recently completed a Master's degree in Theological Studies at the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. 

  • Jan Hein Cremers (Mary '27, Sophia '30))

    Jan-Hein has been working in portfolio management for over 15 years, leading teams that research and implement investment models trading public securities, including equities and derivatives. He started his career in Boston doing research in behavioral finance for large asset managers. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics from MIT and a PhD in physics from Harvard University. Jan-Hein is married to Sandy, who is a practicing ophthalmologist. They have six children.

  • Gary Hale (Rebekah '11, Kathryn '16, Meg '18, Anna '19, Brigid '21)

    Gary is currently CEO of Mpathic, LLC. and has over 25 years of leadership experience in technology companies such as UUNET Technologies, MCI, NetApp, and Amazon Web Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Virginia Tech. Gary and his wife, Jennifer, are the happy parents of nine children and four grandchildren. 

  • Christie Keuchel, Head of School

    Christie Keuchel holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration from St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and administrator, Mrs. Christie Keuchel returns to the Oakcrest community as Interim Head of School. From 2007 to 2020, Mrs. Keuchel served in various roles at Oakcrest from Associate Head of School for Students, Dean of Students, Director of Upper School, Director of Middle School, and Theology teacher. Most recently, Mrs. Keuchel supported a classical liberal arts school in the Catholic tradition in her hometown of Rochester, New York, also leading a capital campaign for a non-profit in Northern Virginia.

  • Phil O'Beirne (Charlotte '24, Maeve '28)

    Phil O'Beirne is an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C. Phil holds a bachelor's degree in History from Princeton University and a J.D. cum laude, from Notre Dame Law School. Phil previously served for five years on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate, including a deployment to Kandahar Afghanistan in 2009-2010 with the 82nd Airborne Division. He and his wife Kathleen have five children. 

  • Shelly Pelletier (Emma '19)

    Shelly holds a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville University. She had the privilege of working for the Honorable Henry Hyde at the House Judiciary Committee. She has served as the Coordinator for the Women's Discipleship at Arlington Baptist Church since 2009. Over the last eighteen years, she has served in a wide variety of volunteer positions at the schools her children have attended. Shelly has been on the Board of the Oakcrest Parent Association for six years, most recently as its Chair. 

  • Lucia Percovich (Carolina '25)

  • Meg White (Adele '22, Mary Cathleen '25, Monica '27)

    Meg holds a Juris Doctor from George Mason University's School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of Dallas. Meg spent time on the Hill and at a think tank before going to law school. She is the proud wife of an Army veteran and was honored to serve on the Department of Defense's Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Meg was fortunate to spend most of her junior year of high school at Oakcrest and considers herself an alumna of sorts. Her family's move out of the metro area cut her time at Oakcrest short but her parents returned to DC later and her two younger sisters are Oakcrest alumnae. In recent years Meg has served Oakcrest and her other children's schools in a variety of volunteer roles and run multiple successful fundraisers. 
1619 Crowell Road, Vienna, VA 22182
703-790-5450