Meet our Staff
Classroom Teachers
Aaron Cooney (PreK-K Lead Teacher) aaronc@richmondfriendsschool.org
Aaron graduated from Earlham College in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. During his time at Earlham, he worked with kids in a variety of internships and volunteer settings. After graduating from Earlham, Aaron worked as the assistant PreK-K teacher under the mentorship of Marianne Cope. During this time, Aaron discovered his passion for teaching and enrolled in Indiana Wesleyan’s Transition to Teaching Program. In 2015, Aaron took over as the lead teacher in the PreK-K classroom.
Aaliyah Newsome (PreK-K Assistant Teacher)
Aaliyah is a Richmond high school graduate who started working as a lunch/recess assistant here at RFS in August 2022. She has always had a passion for working with kids. Once she saw an opportunity at RFS, she took it. She’s excited to be the new PreK-K aid and to be mentored by Aaron and the RFS staff!
Laura Sheets (First to Second Grades) laurasheets@richmondfriendsschool.org
Laura Sheets (1st and 2nd Grade) Laura graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, and from California State University Long Beach with a Master’s Degree in Education: Curriculum Development and Instruction. She holds Indiana teaching licenses for grades preschool to 8th grade and special certification as a Language Development Specialist. She taught elementary school in California for eight years before moving to Indiana. Eager to return to the classroom after work in education administration, tutoring reading, and raising her family, Laura joined the RFS faculty in 2008. She takes special joy in helping students with reading, writing, and art. Her classroom has a focus on guiding students to find a balance between honoring their own uniqueness and becoming self-regulating members of their classroom.
Rachel Carpenter (Third to Fourth Grades) rcarpenter@richmondfriendsschool.org
Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Social Relations from Earlham College. She taught math at the Arthur Morgan School and 4th/5th grade at Rainbow Mountain Children’s School, both in western North Carolina. After her children were born, she moved to Indiana and homeschooled them. When her youngest followed in her siblings’ footsteps and headed to the Arthur Morgan School, Rachel got her elementary teacher certification through the Transition to Teaching program at IU East. She also has Orton Gillingham tutor training through the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana. Rachel lives in Modoc with her husband, one cat, four chickens, and her three children when they make it home for a visit. She particularly enjoys teaching math and science.
John Sheets (Fifth to Sixth Grades) jsheets@richmondfriendsschool.org
John graduated from Earlham College in 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Deciding his future would be best spent in education, he graduated from Indiana University East in 1997 with a BS Degree and Certification in elementary education. That same year he received the Student Teacher of the Year award while completing his student teaching at the multi-aged, portfolio based Discovery School, a choice school in the Richmond Public School System. He has been teaching at Richmond Friends School since the fall of 1997.
Greg Guffey (Seventh and Eighth Grade Humanities) gguffey@richmondfriendsschool.org
Greg is a graduate of Ball State University. He earned his B.S. in Social Studies Education in 1989, and later he earned M.A. degrees in both Special Education and Educational Administration and Leadership through Ball State University. Greg is a 34 year veteran teacher and a New Castle native. He spent the majority of his career teaching in the Anderson Community School district as a History Teacher and as a Dean of Students. Greg loves to build positive relationships with his students and he tries to make learning fun! He enjoys connecting past events to help his students have a better understanding of the world around them today. In his spare time he enjoys writing and recording music and spending time with his family.
Special Teachers
Rae Hunter (Spanish Teacher)
Rae Hunter is a valuable member of the Richmond Friends community. She has taught Middle School, worked as a substitute teacher, created an All-School Theater, and stepped in seamlessly to the role of Spanish teacher in 2018. She has worked with Quaker Youth and been involved with the Richmond Shakespeare Festival.
Extended Care/Lunch
Kay Maurer (Lunch and Extended Care Provider)
Kay has been with Richmond Friends School since 1987 which makes her a beloved figure for students and families, both present and past. She keeps the students safe and entertained with her stories during morning care, lunch, and after care. Kay worked in the dental field and did bookkeeping before joining Richmond Friends School. She and her husband Jeff lived next door to the school and have three children and three dogs of wide-ranging sizes.
Gavin Smith (Extended Care Provider)
Gavin is a Seton Catholic graduate who started working as an aftercare assistant in January 2022 after moving in next door to the school. He started doing child care in high school where he learned he had a passion for working with kids.
Trueblood Preschool
Emma Robinson trueblood@richmondfriendsschool.org
Emma is the lead teacher at Trueblood Preschool. She has been a part of the RFS community since 2021. She attended Vincennes University as well as Indiana University and has a degree in English education. Emma has wanted to be a teacher her whole life and feels that RFS/Trueblood is exactly where she needs to be.
Karin Hostetter
Lee Ann Adams
Lee Ann Adams has been a professional educator for over 50 years and holds a Master of Education degree from Ohio University and an Indiana teaching license She recently retired after 30 years at Indiana University East as Reading Specialist where she received the Helen Lees Excellence in Teaching award in 2021. A faculty member in the School of Education, she taught classes in reading and writing for pre-service teachers. Lee Ann is a long-time supporter of Richmond Friends School and is happy to begin her “retirement” sharing her love of reading, creating art, singing and being joyful with our preschoolers at Trueblood. She will also support reading and language arts students at RFS. Lee Ann thoroughly enjoys reading a good book, cooking for friends and family, gardening and music. She and her husband of 51 years, Charlie, delight in visiting their son John and his wife Megan at their home and vineyard in McMinnville, Oregon.
Jennie Kiffmeyer
Jennie received a B.A. degree in Art History from Indiana University Bloomington, a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from University of Illinois, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Spading University. She has worked with children at independent schools for 7 years, most recently as a middle school religion teacher at St. Richard’s Episcopal School in Indianapolis. Jennie also has professional experience as a school librarian and taught a course at Earlham College about themes of peace and social justice in children’s literature. An award-winning storyteller and writer, Jennie especially loves exploring stories with her students and engaging them in the research and creative processes. When not in the classroom, Jennie enjoys cooking for family and friends, making art, and volunteering at Richmond Civic Theatre. Jennie and her husband Jonathan are parents to Ben (RFS, Class of ’17) and Lizzy (RFS, Class of ’20).
Administrative Staff
Becky Dimick Eastman (Head of School) headofschool@richmondfriendsschool.org
Becky has been a professional educator for over 25 years. She earned her BA from Earlham College, her MAT from Brown University, and her PhD from Ball State University. Early in her career, Becky taught high school biology and math. She later became a teacher educator, teaching and coaching student teachers as well as experienced educators. Becky’s research interests include gender equity, school athletics, and rural schools. Becky is a Quaker and a member of West Richmond Friends Meeting.
Becky enjoys spending time with her family, including her two sons, who are both Richmond Friends School alumni. She also enjoys reading and making pop-up cards.
Lisa Butch (School Coordinator) schoolcoordinator@richmondfriendsschool.org
Lisa received her B.S in Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a M.A. from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked in watershed management, college campus sustainability, outdoor education with North Carolina Outward Bound, and at the Joseph Moore Museum at Earlham College. Lisa teaches yoga at Good Life Wellness in downtown Richmond and enjoys gardening, kayaking, and walking her dog. This year, Lisa will be serving as the middle school science teacher in addition to her school coordinator role.
Earlham & Indiana University East Students
Throughout the year we have the pleasure of College students offering their talents to our school. The students have a wide array of jobs, from office duties to teaching and helping in the classrooms. The children at Richmond Friends School have always enjoyed interacting with these students.
"When we place nature at the center of our community, we come to realize the true abundance of the world we live in. This school puts these seeds of hope in its students; it changes how they move through the world, and it changes the communities they enter for the better.”
