Geometry, IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

Ms. Waefler taught advanced math courses including Algebra 1, 2, and 3, Pre-calculus, Geometry, AP Statistics, IB Math Studies and IB SL at Granby High School for the past 20 years. Certified in all mathematical levels of the International Baccalaureate Programme, she is passionate about connecting with her students and finding ways to encourage their growth and development. Her warm personality and creativity make learning math fun!

Faculty & Curriculum Specialist, English Literature

Ms. Walker is the previous Gifted Resource at Tallwood HS and Global Studies Academy in Virginia Beach. During her 30 + years of teaching she has received numerous honors: 2003 Virginia Beach Public Schools and Virginia Region II Gifted Teacher of the Year, 2007 VBCity Humanitarian Award, 2008 American Councils of Education, and 2009 Fulbright/ Hayes Grant Travel Awards to Russia. Trained in the Harkness Method at Phillips Exeter Academy, Ms. Walker uses her expertise in gifted education, curriculum and development, and her global perspective to prepare students for their transition to a college preparatory high school. She is passionate about helping students to become critical readers, writers, and thinkers. Ms. Walker teaches English Literature 9 at The Hague School.

IB Visual Arts, Studio Art, IB Spanish

Ms. Adelfio is an internationally recognized sculptor who serves as the Artist-in-Residence at The Hague School. Her students integrate art history with creation, utilizing the school’s partnership with The Chrysler Museum to engage with original works of art, as well as producing their own unique pieces. Trained in the Harkness Method at Phillips Exeter Academy, Ms. Adelfio also brings her international experience to lead our growing world languages initiative, which incorporates linguistics and cultural awareness with language proficiency in Italian, French, and Spanish.

IB Language and Literature, TOK, CAS & Extended Essay

Ms. Mouak is a Norfolk native who received her B.A. in English from Mary Washington University and her M.A. in English Literature from Old Dominion University. She has taught writing and literature at Old Dominion University, as well as Granby High School in Norfolk. She spent five years teaching in international schools in Morocco. This is her second year at the Hague School.

Cultural Geography, U.S. History, & IB History

Ms. Hall is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she received a B.A. in History and a Master’s Degree in Teaching, with postgraduate training in Literacy across the Curriculum. Following her coursework, she first taught 20th Century History at Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. She then became licensed in New York where after being offered a position as a founding teacher at East Brooklyn Community High School in Brooklyn, NY. There she taught courses in Global Africa, Global Middle East, Global Asia, Global Historical Figures, Global Europe, Latin American History through Art, French Language and Culture, and Communism in Literature. At The Hague School, Ms. Hall leads its IB core courses in Individuals & Societies and further serve as the school’s Advancement Coordinator.

Environmental Biology

Mrs. Spencer retired after 30 years in the public schools as a science teacher. She was also an AIMS (Activities In Math and Science) trainer for over two decades as a school consultant and trainer. She became well-known throughout the country for helping make classrooms more hands-on for students in their quest to be successful in science and mathematics. She has returned to the classroom to teach 9th-grade Environmental Science at The Hague School.

Filmmaking

Mr. Friedman teaches filmmaking at The Hague School and the Governor’s School for the Arts, where he helped start the school’s film department. He wrote the local independent feature comedy, Moving, in the early 2000s (for which he won “Best Screenplay” at the Digital Visions film festival in Chicago) and received the Sloan Foundation Fellowship for science themes in film. He assistant directed the 2012 Doritos commercial “Man’s Best Friend,” which became the #1 ad of that year’s Superbowl, then wrote and co-wrote several followups. In 2016, he produced and scored the short film Moss Manor, which won Best Film at the Hampton Roads 48 Hour Film Project and also garnered him the award for Best Original Score. He has been a screenwriting panelist at the Virginia Festival of the Book, a screenwriting workshop instructor at the CNU Writer’s Conference.

Chemistry

Mr. Turner has taught courses in mathematics and physics for the past 14 years at both the high school and college levels. He provides a combination of these two subjects to each of his classes at the Hague School. He also has technical industry experience, having previously worked at NASA Langley in Hampton, Virginia and in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics from historically black institutions and continues to develop his knowledge to enhance student knowledge and experience. 

World Religions, Ethics, Global Politics

Mr. Wisotzki has been a THS parent since the school’s inaugural year.  For several years, he occasionally served as a substitute teacher, but officially joined our faculty prior to the 2024-25 academic year.  He currently teaches Global Politics, Ethics, and World Religion.  Prior to joining THS, he had taught at various levels both domestically and abroad, as well as having worked for many years in the public sector.  He is a CELTA-certified ESL instructor and has earned provisional Virginia state licensure for Spanish, ESL, and English Language Arts through the Career Switchers program.  In his time away from school, he enjoys volunteering for both educational and veteran-related non-profit organizations, as well as lengthening his streak on Duolingo.

Studio Art

Ms. Zafar is an interdisciplinary artist exploring the ethereal qualities of interconnectivity through light and shadow. Her studio practice, which combines glass, digital media, and lighting, merges elements of contemporary design with the powerful poetics of fine art. While pursuing her BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design, Ms. Zafar found hot glass, a time based material capable of vivacious manipulation. Ms. Zafar is invested in sharing her curiosity of material and process with students. A consummate teacher, she has guided students at institutions such as: Corning Museum of Glass, Governor School of the Arts, Old Dominion University and RISD. Currently, Ms. Zafar is enrolled in the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio Assistantship Residency Program. She teaches Studio Art at The Hague School.

Spanish I & II

Ms. Vazquez Falls is a long-time resident of Virginia. She graduated from Old Dominion University and earned her Master's in Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain. In addition, she is a National Board Certified Teacher. Recently retired from VBCPS, she served as Department Chair and an Instructional Leader of the World Languages Department in the Global Studies and World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School. She has taught all levels of Spanish and led student trips abroad. Profesora Vazquez Falls has traveled extensively and loves sharing her Cuban heritage with her students. With a focus on proficiency, real-world application, and performance-based instruction and assessment, she ensures that her students leave her class speaking Spanish and understanding the unique aspects of the culture. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, cooking for her family, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She is looking forward to another great year at the Hague School.

Health & Physical Education

Prior to her time at the University of the Cumberlands, Ms. Fillenwarth was a coach at a Corbin Independent School where she concentrated on the goalkeepers. Ms. Fillenwarth has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Exercise Sports Science with a Minor in Coaching and a Master’s Degree in Health and Human Performance.  Both her degrees are from The University of The Cumberlands.  She relocated to Hampton Roads from Kentucky to take over as Head Women's Soccer Coach of the Royals, a team that qualified this past season for the NCCAA National Tournament. She teaches Health & Physical Education at The Hague School.

French I & II, IB French I & II

Ms. Bauwens is a native French speaker from Belgium who has been living in America for 12 years and moved to Virginia 5 years ago. She has a BA in Communication & Journalism and graduated from the University of Brussels where she received an MA in Performing Arts. She has taught French to middle and high school students as well as adults with the Alliance française and LanguageBird. A dynamic and engaging teacher, Ms. Bauwens has a deep appreciation for the cultural richness of the French language. In her classes, she places a strong emphasis on oral communication and interactive activities that allow students to practice French in real-world contexts. Progress comes through consistent practice and exposure to the language, which is why she encourages her students to step outside their comfort zones and actively participate in the learning process. She teaches IB French I & II at The Hague School.