Head of School
D
r.
Penny
Work
came to Grymes as head of school in 2005. Before becoming head, she taught
for eighteen years
at the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC
where she chaired the history department, taught Medieval History to the seventh grade, World History to the ninth grade, and chaired the curriculum committee. At Grymes, she has focused on curriculum development and on developing and implementing a strategic plan. She has participated actively in the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, especially on school accreditation teams.
Dr. Work holds a PhD in Romance Languages and Literature from Princeton University and a MA in French from The University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate, she attended Princeton University, graduating Magna cum laude in 1975 with an AB in Romance Languages and Literature.
A native Washingtonian
, Dr. Work is also an alumna of the National Cathedral School where she has been involved in a variety of alumni activities in addition to teaching
. She has enhanced her teaching experience with many professional development opportunities, including extensive travel around the world.
Prior to her work at the National Cathedral School, Dr. Work served as an Adjunct Professor of French and an Admissions Counselor at Mount Vernon College in Washington, DC and an Adjunct Lecturer in French at The American University, also in Washington. Dr. Work is fluent in French and has an excellent reading knowledge of several Romance languages. Dr. Work’s publications include "The Old Provencal Song of
Saint
Fides: An Experiment in Vernacular Eloquence,” in Romance
Philology
, February 1983 and “Flamenca” in Dictionary of the Middle Ages, Charles Scribner & Sons, 1982.
Dr. Work is married to Peter Work, a lawyer, and has two children, Kelly, a graduate of Colgate University, and Harlan, a graduate of Cornell University. She enjoys a variety of activities including reading, bicycle touring, travel, roller blading, tennis, skiing, gardening, and cooking.