Ashley MacLeay
Ashley C. MacLeay, president of the Board of Directors for Queen Anne’s Classical Charter School, is a native of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. She attended public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating from Kent Island High School with a diploma and certificate of merit.
From 2017 to 2021, Ashley served as the At-Large Representative on the Washington DC State Board of Education, working with both public and charter schools. During this tenure, she contributed to the modification of high school graduation requirements, the revision of the social studies standards framework, and the updating of health education standards.
Her professional experience includes working with government agencies, elected leaders, candidates, and nonprofit organizations on federal and state policy. Ashley has a history of serving in leadership and membership capacities on the boards of various nonprofit organizations.
Ashley holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law with a concentration in Business Law and a B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park.
She currently resides on Kent Island with her husband and three sons and remains active in the local community.
Theresa Farnell
Theresa Farnell, vice president of the Board of Directors for Queen Anne’s Classical Charter School, recently retired as principal of Centreville Elementary School, concluding a distinguished 34-year career in public education across the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Her tenure began in Talbot County, where she taught elementary school for 12 years. Moving to Queen Anne's County in 2004-2005, Theresa took on the role of teacher specialist at Sudlersville Elementary for five years. She then transitioned into administration, serving as assistant principal at Sudlersville Middle School for four years, followed by three years as assistant principal at Centreville Middle School. For the final nine years of her career with Queen Anne's County Public Schools, Theresa was the principal of Centreville Elementary.
Throughout her career, Theresa contributed to various important initiatives, including the grading and reporting committee, Middle States Accreditation, PreKindergarten Accreditation, and the EXCELS program through the MSDE Early Childhood Division.
Currently, she remains active in education, working part-time as the director of a new prekindergarten program for four-year-olds in Centreville, which she helped establish.
Whitney Gast
Whitney Gast currently serves as the treasurer for Queen Anne’s Classical Charter School and is a Certified Government Financial Manager. She is the former chief financial officer for Queen Anne’s County Public Schools.
With nearly 15 years of experience in financial management of public funds, encompassing both accounting and budget, Ms. Gast has also worked as a financial management consultant alongside CFOs at various Intelligence Agencies, Department of Defense organizations, and other civilian federal agencies.
Presently, she consults for the Department of War, assisting with audit remediation to achieve a clean audit opinion for the DoW-Wide Financial Statements by 2028. Ms. Gast is a proud graduate of QACPS, having attended Kent Island Elementary School and graduating from Kent Island High School. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Salisbury University in Accounting and Business Management.
Tracey Lawrence
Tracey Longo Lawrence, secretary of the Board of Directors, is a veteran journalist who began her career in Washington, D.C. at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Today, she serves as the Washington editor of Financial Advisor Magazine, where she covers national policy, markets and issues shaping the future of investing and the economy.
Lawrence is a frequent speaker and webcast moderator for national organizations including Invest in Women, InvestorCOM, The Money Show and The American College Women’s Center. She is the author of four books, including CliffNotes: Investing for the First Time.
Previously, Lawrence served as senior vice president at JC Connelly, a leading Wall Street media relations firm, and as an adjunct professor in American University’s School of Communication.
Kate Boland
Kathleen “Kate” Boland, a co-founder and board member of Queen Anne’s Classical Charter School, brings 25 years of experience as an executive and consultant in public policy, public finance, and community development across Maryland, Washington D.C., Maine, and Florida.
Her professional highlights include serving as executive director of the Maine Housing Authority, where she oversaw a multimillion-dollar bond program and managed federal housing initiatives for lower-income populations. As Vice President at the National Association of Homebuilders, she was responsible for developing and implementing affordable housing programs in collaboration with major national housing finance organizations like the Federal National Mortgage Association. She was also a founding leader of the National Center for Housing Policy in Washington D.C. and served on an Advisory Board for the Maryland Community Development Administration.
At the local level, Kate demonstrated her commitment through leadership roles in organizations like Habitat for Humanity in Stuart, Florida, and as a Guardian Ad Litem representing foster children in legal proceedings. Notably, she developed a high school civics education program with Martin County, Florida Public Schools and founded the Center for Constitutional Values to provide supporting scholarships.
Kate holds a B.A. from Webster College in St. Louis, MO, and a Master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Brittany Higdon
Brittany Higdon is an educator, tutor, and entrepreneur with a deep passion for helping children thrive academically and personally. She is the founder of Higdon Learning Solutions, a team-based educational support company serving students in classical, liberal arts, and humanities-based schools.
Through Higdon Learning Solutions, Brittany leads a team of highly trained educators who provide individualized tutoring, learning accommodations, and targeted academic intervention, with a particular focus on literacy, learning differences, and confidence-building. The team specializes in supporting students who attend classical schools and homeschools, helping families remain in the educational environments they value while ensuring their children receive the support they need. In addition to direct student support, Higdon Learning Solutions partners with schools to provide professional development and coaching for teachers, equipping them with practical strategies to support diverse learners within classical classrooms.
Brittany began Higdon Learning Solutions during COVID after recognizing that many classical schools were not equipped to serve students with learning disabilities. Since then, she and her team have worked closely with families and educators to bridge that gap through thoughtful, research-informed support that honors both the child and the philosophy of classical education.
Brittany believes deeply in forming students who know how to think, not just what to think. Her work is rooted in relationship, clarity, and the conviction that meaningful growth happens when students are supported with both structure and compassion.
Brittany is a former reading specialist across schools in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia metro area and is a former elementary teacher in Virginia.
Brittany holds a B.A. from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and a M.Ed from the University of Virginia.
Cailey Myers
Cailey Myers is a highly accomplished communications professional and education advocate, bringing extensive experience in public policy, government administration, and strategic messaging. Her expertise is significantly shaped by her time as Communications Director for the Florida Department of Education. In this role, she gained a unique perspective through her direct involvement in state-level education reform and school choice initiatives. Key accomplishments include assisting with the implementation of the nation’s largest school choice program, supporting the development of the groundbreaking Resiliency Florida curriculum—designed to empower students to overcome adversity—and fighting against the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in Florida’s schools. She also curated "Bright Futures" school events in partnership with the Florida Lottery to promote the state's scholarship program. Prior to this, Mrs. Myers held several high-profile communications positions, serving as Deputy Digital Director for Governor Ron DeSantis, as Press Secretary and Digital Director in the House of Representatives, and as co-founder of a digital communications firm. Now a new mother, she is eager to utilize her skills and experience to serve the students, families, and educators within the Maryland charter school community.
Audrey Scott
Audrey Scott brings a wealth of experience in education, government, and nonprofit leadership. She is a co-founder and current member of the Board of Directors of Queen Anne’s Classical Charter School. Earlier in her career, Audrey was a teacher, first with the U.S. Department of Defense's Overseas Dependent School System in France and Japan, and later in Connecticut and Prince George’s County before pausing to raise her family in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland.
Her extensive public service career includes roles in federal, state, and local government. Audrey served as the Mayor of Bowie, Maryland, and was previously a liaison to the Prince George’s County Board of Education while on the county council. In the federal government, she held several high-level positions, notably developing and managing significant national housing programs at the Department of Housing and Community Development. In Maryland state government, her role as the Secretary of the State Department of Planning included serving on the State Board of Education’s Finance Committee.
As a highly regarded community leader, Audrey has a proven track record of creating and leading successful nonprofit organizations to deliver complex and specialized services. Most notably, she founded the Bowie Health Center, which established the first freestanding Emergency Center in Maryland. Audrey is the Chairman Emeritus (and former Chairman of the Board) of Chesapeake Charities, a local community fund supporting 140 charities. She is also a leading member of the Board of Directors for Talisman Therapeutic Riding, an organization that provides horse riding therapy to wounded warriors, stroke victims, and autistic children and adults.
Audrey holds a BA from Tufts University and a Master’s from George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Barry Waterman
For over forty years, Barry has been an integral part of the Queen Anne’s County real estate landscape, working as a full-time realtor, builder, and developer with Waterman Realty. As the oldest and most experienced real estate company in Queen Anne’s County, Waterman Realty has provided Barry with a deep foundation in the local market. While handling general brokerage with expertise, Waterman Realty has consistently specialized in land development within Queen Anne’s County.
Barry’s extensive experience has positioned him as a recognized expert in local land use regulations. His knowledge is sought after, a reputation earned through decades of involvement in building and developing property. He has demonstrated a commitment to his community's growth and planning, having served as the Chair of the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission. This role gave him firsthand insight into the policies shaping the county's future development. Currently, Barry continues his civic involvement and contribution to equitable land use decisions as a respected member of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
On a personal note, Barry has deep roots in the community, having raised two children in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland.