Faculty & Staff

Mike Maruca

Head of School
Mike graduated from Bates College in 1980 with a degree in Comparative Religions. He was a member of the Society of Jesus from 1980-1996, and earned a Master's in Philosophy from St. Louis University and a Master's of Divinity from Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, MA.   He was the founding director of Sacred Heart Center in Richmond and, for ten years, the Middle School Head of The Steward School, also in Richmond.

George Bland, Sr.

Head of Cafeteria & Maintenance
George has been in Richmond in food service for 41 years, serving in various roles.  He volunteers for the Knights of Columbus and helps out with his grandchildren’s sports teams.  He has been watching out for everyone at Anna Julia Cooper since the fall of 2011. 

Yolanda "Coach G" Gilliam

"Rev. Rock" Higgins

Science Teacher and School Chaplain
Rev. Rock has served in many ministry and educational positions around Richmond. Most recently he taught and administered at Seven Hills School. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Richmond, majoring in Religion and History. He received his Master of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and his Master of Science degree from George Mason University. He is a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church where he serves on the vestry, and is active at Richmond Hill.

Mike Schad

English Teacher

Mike graduated from Mary Washington College in 2004 with a degree in English.  He went on to graduate school at Hollins University to earn his M.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2006.  After working at a law firm in Roanoke, VA for eight months Mike moved to Richmond and worked at Billy Bread Bakery.  After baking bread for a year, Mike decided to go back to school in order to earn his Teaching Certificate from the University of Richmond in 2009.  He has been with AJCES since its inception in the fall of 2009.

 

 

 

 

Katye Snipes

School Administrator

Katye graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 with a degree in Spanish and Religious Studies.  She worked with children at Pine Street Baptist and SynerGeo for a few years, then went on to graduate school at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA.  She earned her M.Div. with a concentration in Urban Ministry in 2007.  She moved back to Richmond with her husband in 2008 and worked at another local non-profit before joining us at AJCES in December 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 Andante Thomas

Algebra I, 8th Grade Science & Spanish Teacher
Email Andante

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linton "Coach" Wade

Geography and PE Teacher, Summer School & After School Coordinator

Linton was born in Kinston, NC. He was an army medic for five years, serving in Baumholder, Germany.  He went to Cameron University in Lawton, OK then transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University.  Here in Richmond, he has worked with Peter Paul Development Center and has substitute taught and tutored around the city.  He joined us at AJCES in the summer of 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collin Wilson

History & Civics Teacher
Originally from Memphis, TN, Collin graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Art History.  After college, she moved to Arkansas to teach with Teach for America.  She recently moved back to Virginia in the fall of 2011 to pursue a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and substitute taught with Henrico public schools.  She joined AJCES in March 2012.