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 Farrow

History and Civics Teacher
George was born in St. Petersburg, FL and raised in Chicago, IL. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Black Studies with an emphasis on culture and psychology. He holds a master's degree from Virginia State University in U.S. History along with 3 years of post-masters work in U.S. History at Purdue University. He has experience at both the university and secondary level and enjoys mentoring youth and reading in his spare time.

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Yolanda Gilliam

Math and PE Teacher
Yolanda was born in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Virginia State University in 2004 with a degree in Physical Education (K-12). For five years she taught math and PE to 6th through 9th graders with the Petersburg Public School System. Yolanda is now working on a degree in Middle School Mathematics.

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"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.

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.