Heather Brown Goodlett graduated from the University of Richmond in 1994 with a B.A. in Speech and Communications and a certificate in Early Childhood Education. She earned a Masters of Education in Reading from VCU in May of 2000. Heather began teaching at Glen Lea Elementary in the fall of 2000 where she was a Title One-Reading teacher and yearned for real change in the futures of her students. She then became aware of the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation (DGYLF) in Washington, D.C. In late 2001, she attended a National Training Institute for DGYLF to begin launching an affiliate program in Richmond. In September 2002, she resigned from her position with Henrico County Public Schools and began the search for a building in the neighborhoods around Glen Lea. Youth Life Foundation of Richmond officially began in Delmont Plaza Apartments, a subsidized housing community, in July 2003. Today Heather continues to invest in the Northside, now her own neighborhood, as Executive Director over YLFR and its four LCs.

hgoodlett@ylfr.org

Leahna has been with Youth Life since 2008, starting as a teacher at the Highland Park LC, then serving as Program Director for many years. She holds a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University and in 2020, earned a Master of Science in Family Studies with a Specialization in Christian Counseling. An encourager by nature, she is excited to work with individuals of all ages and stages in life, in helping them to realize their potential and live their best life possible. As Operations Director at Youth Life she gets the opportunity to do just that and also employ many of her administrative/managerial skills. In her free time, she loves spending time with her kids, grandkids, and Jesus (not necessarily in that order). She also enjoys bird watching, cooking, gardening, and basketball (Go Hoos!). She has lived in the Highland Park community that she loves since 2010 and is committed to listening and learning.

lsullivan@ylfr.org

Maggie graduated from Elon University in 2016 with a bachelor’s in English and Professional Writing and moved to Richmond shortly thereafter. Through working with neighborhood kids in Richmond’s East End during a year-long program, Maggie realized the Lord had given her a passion for serving youth and teaching them about Jesus. She worked as a teacher for four years at Youth Life’s Delmont Learning Center and then transitioned into an administrative role where she now uses her writing and communication skills while still furthering the mission of Youth Life. In addition to kids and Jesus, Maggie also loves writing fiction, building things, and gardening−basically anything where she gets to be creative. She believes that God has called every one of his people to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.

mcusumano@ylfr.org

Amber graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2010 with a degree in Elementary Education. Following graduation, she taught in a public school for three years, then moved to Richmond and began working for Youth Life in 2014. When she was teaching in the public schools, she always felt there was a relational and Biblical aspect missing. Her former students needed more from her both academically and emotionally, but she didn’t feel she was able to meet those needs as a classroom teacher. Working for Youth Life, Amber now gets to share the gospel with each of her students on a daily basis, provide academic remediation, and be an emotional support for her students. She also loves that she has the opportunity to build relationships not only with students, but also with their families. As a Youth Life teacher, she is better able to help her students improve academically, develop emotionally, and grow spiritually.

asmith@ylfr.org

Brittney was born and raised in Richmond City. She attended and graduated from Richmond Public Schools so she understands the gaps and gems that come from being a student in RPS. Brittney always had a passion for creativity and learning. She attended Old Dominion University, and after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Drawing and Design, she worked as a tutor/teacher assistant and reading assistant interventionist to help build students’ skills in a creative way. Her aim in working with students is to be the teacher she wished she had when she was younger, a teacher who would think outside the box to help remediate areas of weakness as well as build upon students strengths. As she teaches the students she is also learning herself how to improve as a teacher and how to still be a kid at heart by not taking everything so seriously. Brittney is an imperfect follower of the perfect Christ. Through many trials and losses she has learned and committed her life to God. Here she hopes to continue to serve others using her creativity and her passion for teaching and make a great impact on others and herself.

bbrunson@ylfr.org

Haley moved to Richmond in 2016 and attended Randolph-Macon College, where she earned her Bachelors in Psychology with certificates in Elementary and Special Education. She then spent two years serving as a reading intervention teacher in Hanover County, where she fostered a love for helping children unlock the gift of reading. She then brought this love to Youth Life in 2021. Haley believes literacy is a social justice issue and her goal is to bring awareness to these issues and to try to bridge the gap between awareness and action. She is passionate about making sure that all children feel seen, heard, and loved, and she is excited to build lasting relationships with her students through Youth Life.

hpavie@ylfr.org

Maria graduated from Radford University with a degree in English in 2017 and has been on her education journey ever since. She moved abroad to teach ESL in South Korea in 2019 and that's where she discovered her love of teaching. After moving back to the RIchmond area in 2022, she got a job in the public schools and realized how easy it is for students to slip through the cracks. She is excited to be here at Youth Life to help close some of those gaps in education as well as help children foster a love for Jesus. When she’s not in the classroom, Maria enjoys going on nature hikes or anything else that gets her outdoors.

muzel@ylfr.org

Adjunct Assistant Professor and Supervisor of Student Teacher Interns, University of Richmond

Third Term: March 2022-2025

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VA Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services

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Staff Vice President, Anthem, Inc.

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Founder and Executive Director, YLFR

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Donald Richard

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