Meet the GARC Advisors
Dr. Laura Blankenship, Interim Director of Professional Learning, International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
Laura is a veteran independent school educator and administrator, and the former Founding Head of School at San Francisco Girls’ School. For the past twenty years, Dr. Blankenship has devoted her skills to girls’ and women’s education. At Bryn Mawr College, she worked as an Instructional Technologist for seven years, running a summer program to teach young women web development and technical skills. She then joined The Baldwin School, a PreK-12 all-girls school in Bryn Mawr, PA, where she spent ten years. There, she established the Computer Science program and served as the Computer Science Department Chair before serving as the Dean of Academic Affairs and finally Assistant Head of School. In these positions, she managed academic programming, faculty evaluation, hiring, accreditation, strategic planning, and leadership hiring.
Leanne Horwitz, GARC C’21, Director of Academics: Arts & Humanities | St Stithians College | South Africa
Leanne Horwitz is a passionate teacher who believes in the transformative power of girls’ education. She received a BA in History and Philosophy before completing her Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2002, specialising in History and English teaching. In 2008, Leanne returned to university part-time to complete her Honours in History. Her Honours work included completing a dissertation about Indigenous Knowledge Systems and their place in Education. In 2011, Leanne was selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Fellow, an experience that further cemented her love of research and life-long learning.Leanne has taught at girls’ schools throughout her career. She began teaching at a girls’ public school in 2003, before moving into private education in 2012. Leanne is devoted to the development of rigorous thinkers and fearless women. She is particularly interested in the possibilities of developing academic research and writing skills among students. Leanne has fulfilled various roles in her current school, including leading the Transformation Committee and serving on the school’s Executive Committee. She is a history teacher by passion and profession. Leanne also serves on the School Management Team in her role as Faculty Director for the Arts and Humanities.
Leanne is a member of GARC pilot program cohort 2021. Read Leanne’s action research report here.
Karen Lewis, GARC C’21, Senior Literature Teacher | All Hallows’ School | Australia
Karen Lewis is a senior Literature and English teacher at All Hallows’ School in Brisbane, Australia. Most of her teaching career has been in girls’ schools, and as a girls’ school alumna herself she is keenly aware of the powerful role girls’ schools play in fostering confidence and self-belief in young women. As English Curriculum Leader at All Hallows, Karen managed and implemented action research projects in curriculum review and design with a particular focus on the use of technology to support student collaboration. Karen is currently a member of the All Hallows’ Pedagogy Enhancement team, where she supports the continuous improvement of teaching and learning practices through an analysis of professional learning, school programs and research on effective teaching practices. Karen brings her passion for supporting teachers in their pedagogical practice and celebrating the value of teacher research to her GARG Research Advisor role. Karen earned her B.Ed with Honours from Queensland University of Technology and she holds a Grad Cert in Educational Leadership and Management from Queensland University of Technology.
Karen is a member of GARC pilot program cohort 2021. Read Karen’s action research report here.
Margot Long, Executive Director | Office of Independent Schools Evaluations, Southern Africa | South Africa
Margot Long was appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of OISESA (The Office of Independent Schools Evaluations, Southern Africa) in May 2022. Previously, Margot held the position Deputy Head – Academics & Staff Learning at St John’s Preparatory School for 17 years. In addition to leading the academic and staff professional learning programmes at St John’s, Margot headed up the Teacher-Intern Development Programme and also worked as a Research Advisor and then the Programme Co-Ordinator for the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Global Action Research Programme. Margot has taught in both primary and high schools, as well as at the tertiary level. She headed up the English Department at The Hill High School and at Queens High School, Johannesburg and then taught English and Social Sciences at St Katharine’s School, Johannesburg. She has also worked as an author and editor at Macmillan South Africa and at Wits University Press. An English, French, German, and Italian graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Languages, Margot obtained her Higher Diploma in Education from the University of South Africa.
Núria Tapias Nadales, GARC C’21, Secondary Education Teacher | Collegi La Vall | Spain
Núria Tapias Nadales is a Translation and Interpreting graduate (English, Japanese, Spanish) and earned her Master’s degree in Research in Language and Literature Didactics from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Her main interests are in languages and interpersonal communication. In her opinion, the best way of learning a language is using it in realistic contexts and thus she is and enthusiast of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). Education is her passion: mentoring students and their families in every step of their education, especially during adolescence. She has been a teacher for over 12 years, and serves as Head of Secondary studies, assisting teachers, students, and families in a wider sense. As a graduate of and teacher at girls’ schools–Pureza de Maria and La Vall in Barcelona, Spain–she fully appreciates and defends single-gender schooling and its advantages.
Núria is a member of GARC pilot program cohort 2021. Read Núria’s action research report here.
AnnMarie Zigrossi, GARC C’23, Junior School Curriculum Lead and LINCWell Learning Strategist | St. Clement’s School | Canada
AnnMarie Zigrossi is the Junior School Learning Strategist and LINCWell teacher at St. Clement’s School in Toronto, Canada. She works closely with fellow teachers, fostering an atmosphere that supports academic growth while also prioritizing the well-being of each girl. With 27 years of teaching experience, she is committed to creating a learning environment that sparks curiosity, ignites creativity, and prepares our future women leaders to make a lasting impact on the world. With experience as an instructional coach and curriculum leader, she has mentored and supported teachers throughout her career. AnnMarie recently completed her own GARC action research project which focused on Grade 3 girls co-creating mindful routines to help develop self-regulation and resiliency skills. As a GARC Research Advisor, she is excited about working with and supporting fellows in their action research journey. AnnMarie earned her BA from the University of Toronto, a BEd from York University and a Masters in Religious Education from University of St. Michael’s College.
AnnMarie is a member of GARC program cohort 2023. Read AnnMarie’s action research report here.