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Ms. Tanya Murray, Spanish

Ms. Murray received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Notre Dame and her Master's of Science degree in International Education from Framingham State. She has taught a wide range of students from early education up to junior high in a variety of locales, including New Hampshire, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico and Washington, DC. She has experience with object-based museum-education, as well as project-based curricula. She is most excited to be part of such a large faculty at Ludlow-Taylor because it provides an opportunity to expand the school’s programs. She feels that the generous space at Ludlow-Taylor gives the children many opportunities to create large pieces of artwork. This is Ms. Murray’s first year at Ludlow-Taylor.

Ms. Simone Woodard, Library/Media Specialist

Ms. Woodard was born in Mobile, AL and was raised in Chicago, IL. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Marketing and a Master's degree in Personnel Administration and Psychology from Alabama A&M University. She also earned a Master's of Library Science from North Carolina Central University. She is currently the librarian at Robert Brent Elementary School, as well as Ludlow-Taylor. She is the proud parent of two sons.

Ms. Jody Moten, P.E. and Health

Ms. Moten was born in Washington, DC and is proud to be a product of D.C. Public Schools. She graduated from the University of the District of Colombia with scholarships in softball and tennis. She made the Dean's List and was Athlete of the Year in 1983. She earned her Master's degree from Cambridge College in Massachussetts in School Administration. She coached at Wilson High School, where she led the softball team to seven championships and the skiing team to six championships. In 2000, she was awarded the Coach of the Year award in National Women's Sports. She has taught Health and Physical Education for 15 years in the D.C. Public School System, and this is her first year at Ludlow-Taylor.

Ms. Wendy Toussaint, Literacy Specialist

Ms. Toussaint, Ludlow-Taylor’s Literacy Specialist, has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Accounting, and holds an MBA in both Accounting and Finance. Ms. Toussaint has taught in the West Indies, Grenada and Jamaica. Her love of children led her to work in an elementary school, and she particularly enjoys the diversity of the staff at Ludlow-Taylor and the support for its children and their families. When not at Ludlow-Taylor, she likes to eat and sleep! Ms. Toussaint joined Ludlow-Taylor in 2009.

Elizabeth Modderno, Reading/Language Arts Resource Teacher

Ms. Modderno, Ludlow-Taylor’s Reading/Language Arts Resource teacher, has a Bachelor's degree in History from Vassar College and a Master's of Science degree in Special Education from SUNY-New Paltz. She appreciates the focused, cooperative nature of the Ludlow-Taylor teaching staff. She has a passion for learning and a calling to help children who struggle with reading that led to her becoming a teacher. Using an Arts-integration curriculum helps her build her students’ self-esteem and positive social skills and she feels it also inspires them with an appreciation for literature. She is excited that Ludlow-Taylor has become an Arts-Integration School. As someone who successfully utilized an Arts-integration curriculum before, she feels she can testify to its power to turn passive students into engaged learners that can deeply improve their creative and critical thinking skills. Ms. Modderno came to Ludlow-Taylor last year.

Ms. Veronica Mckillop

Ms. Mckillop is a first-year Washington teacher. She is thrilled to have been placed at Ludlow-Taylor. Although it's still early, she feels she is already a valued member of our community.

Born in El Paso, Texas, she grew up in a bilingual home, speaking both English and Korean. She spent some of her childhood in Seoul and the majority in Massachusetts.

After graduating from NYU, she was excited to begin teaching. She has always been passionate about teaching: whether tutoring college students or coaching young athletes. After graduation, she moved to Cambridge, MA to teach reading and language to middle school students. Through DCPS, she has received certification in the Wilson Reading System. She works within a dynamic community and alongside other passionate and progressive teachers. She feels that Washington is truly an exciting place to be.

When not teaching, thinking about teaching or dreaming about teaching, she enjoys traveling. Her favorite place so far has been New Zealand.

Ms. Doering,
School Counselor

Ms. Doering provides character education, classroom guidance, group counseling, individual counseling, and other social/emotional services to the students at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. Ms. Doering received her B.S. degree in Psychology from Averett College. She received her Master's in Education in guidance counseling from Bowie State University. Ms. Doering is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

Ms. Doering brings experience in counseling Special Education and regular education students from elementary to high school. She also works part time as a family counselor at Annapolis Youth Services. In her spare time, Ms. Doering enjoys spending time with her horse, seeing movies and just spending time with family and friends.

"I enjoy working with children and their families to help them be successful. I strive to bring individual qualities out of each child. I like to be creative in finding different ways to reach out to children. It is a wonderful feeling when you know you made a difference in a child’s life."