Social Studies Faculty

see also: Social Studies Courses, News, and Information

Mr. Axelrod teaches Pre-IB World History and V/US Government. He is the faculty sponsor for student government. He received his B.A. and his Master's in Education from the University of Virginia.

Born in Virginia, raised near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Kobe, Japan, Wes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Allegheny College. He also has amassed 40 plus hours of graduate history courses at four different universities. Wes has been teaching for 27 years and has taught at Marshall since 1986. He presently teaches United States / Virginia History, IB Cultural Anthropology, and IB Theory of Knowledge.

Bob Bowdey teaches Senior Government with Matt Axelrod and Jim Robinson. Mr. Bowdey graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in psychology and later received a Masters of Science in special education from George Mason University. Mr. Bowdey is currently attending George Mason University in the Education PhD program and is ready to start work on his dissertation. When not teaching Mr. Bowdey is an internationally published wildlife photographer and author and also enjoys ballroom dancing with his wife.

Mr. Brannan teaches World History 1 and IB Topics in 20th Century World History. He is the team leader for IB Topics in 20th Century World History. He is also co-sponsor (with Mrs. Gannaway) of the Model United Nations Club. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Catholic University and a Master's in Public Administration from George Mason University. He completed the Transition-to-Teaching program at George Washington University and has taken post-graduate coursework at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies.

Kelly Bresnahan teaches English 9-12, World History 2, Foundations of VA/US History, Foundations of English, and Basic Skills.  She is also the head cheerleading coach for the Statesmen.  Miss Bresnahan graduated from Clemson University with a BA in Special Education.  When not at GCM, she can be found working out, reading a book at the beach, catching some serious air on her snowboard, or watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with her adorable kitten, Carson.

Susan Cimburek began teaching in 2007 after completing an intensive internship program for career-changers at George Washington University. Prior to teaching, she was a vice president at a Washington, DC-based, non-profit educational association concerned with policy issues related to teaching and teacher education; served as an assistant dean for a college of education at a New England university; and worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History library where she handled a special collection of American trade literature. Ms. Cimburek holds degrees from the University of Colorado-Boulder (political science); Catholic University of America (American History); and University of Southern Maine (American and New England Studies). She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and children.

Ms. Farley teaches World History 2. She is faculty co-sponsor of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is the lead mentor of the Mentor Teacher Program. She is also the head JV men's soccer coach. She earned her Master's degree from George Washington University in Special Education Transition and has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Mr. Freeman teaches V/US Government, Sociology, Psychology, and IB History of the Americas . He is the head coach for GCM women's lacrosse.

gannawayMrs. Gannaway teaches World History and Geography 2 (1500 to present) and Pre-IB Government. She is an active member of the Faculty Technology Committee and Weekly Readers (Faculty Book Club). She has previously served as the World History 2 team leader and currently serves as the Pre-IB Government team leader. Mrs. Gannaway earned her B.A. from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in History and earned her master’s in Political Science at George Mason University. She is also a James Madison Memorial Fellow, which is awarded to secondary education social studies teachers. Mrs. Gannaway has been teaching at GCM since school year 2002-2003.

Mr. Kane teaches IB Topics in 20th Century World History and IB History of the Americas. Mr. Kane has been with Fairfax County Public Schools since 1987 and at Marshall since 2000. He presently serves as an Assessment Coach at Marshall as well as a history teacher.

Teaches World History I and Pre-IB History II

Mrs. Pendry teaches Pre-IB World History.  She is new to Marshall this year and is new to Virginia as well.  Mrs. Pendry has been teaching AP history and gifted education for 15 years in Silverdale, WA.  She earned a B.A. in History from Hood College in Frederick, MD and a M.L.S. in History from Fort Hays State University in Kansas.

Mr. Robinson teaches V/US History and IB History of the Americas. He is the team leader for each of those courses.

Currently on leave

Mrs. Smith teaches World History 1.

Gayle Weiss teaches 2 sections of teamed US/VA History with Mr. Robinson and two individual classes of US/VA History. Prior to her teaching career, Mrs. Weiss held a variety of administrative positions in the Federal and local government and the legal and health care industries. Mrs. Weiss earned a Masters of Arts in Education from George Washington University and both a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelors in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Syracuse University. Outside of school, Mrs. Weiss enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, cooking/baking, and traveling.

Mrs. Wilson teaches World History 1. She is the team leader for World History 1. She has a B.A. in History and a M.S. in Secondary Education from Indiana University. She holds an endorsement in Special Education completed at George Mason University.

Mr. Yates teaches IB History of the Americas and Pre-IB Government. He is chair of the Social Studies department. Mr. Yates has taught at Marshall since 2000. He has previously served as student government sponsor and as team leader for World History 1 and Pre-IB Government. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and George Mason University's School of Law and Graduate School of Education. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar. He also serves as a member of the Technology Committee.