My name is Abby Richards and I love teaching here at MCCS. 

I have my BA in Special and Elementary Education from Western Governors University and my Master's in Special Education with a focus on Behavior Management from George Mason. I started teaching in Loudoun in 2017 and moved to MCCS in 2020. 

I grew up in Hunterdon, New Jersey, and moved to Virginia in 2016. I live in Frederick County (about a 45-minute drive from school) with my husband, Dustin, who is a Loudoun County Firefighter. I have a one-year-old daughter named Alana, who you will see a lot of during the school year. Currently, I have two dogs (Bear and Luna), a rabbit (Rocco), and a goldfish (Fishalis). Plants are another obsession of mine and I love working out in the garden and digging in the dirt. I was a principal dancer with George Mason University's World Class Winter Guard and LOVE dancing with all my heart. I am currently the choreographer for Sherando High School. 

My teaching philosophy (in a nutshell) is that scholars who feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment are more likely to take ownership of their learning and engage in the quest for knowledge. Scholars will always have access to different ways to demonstrate their understanding and fun manipulatives to help them explore new ways of viewing and processing the information they are given. I believe that anyone can learn anything as long as they are supported and encouraged throughout the learning process. 

I am so excited to see all of my friends from last year and meet all our new friends joining us this year!