Our Staff
Mary Lou Decossaux
Co-Executive Director
Mary Lou worked with neighbors to found the Neighborhood Resource Center and has been its Executive Director since 2004. She is currently serving as the NRC Montessori Preschool Administrator. Mary Lou received a Masters of Arts in North American Studies/ Immigration History from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, France. She earned a B.A. degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Long Island University in New York.
Mary Lou is a long time resident of Greater Fulton Hill. Her community organizing work, including the establishment of the Neighborhood Resource Center, has received national recognition by the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World. Mary Lou's vision and life's work has been to break the cycle of low educational attainment and poverty in low wealth communities by working to provide greater access to resources and opportunities.
Annette Cousins
Co-Executive Director
Previous NRC administrative assistant, turned chair of the NRC's fund development committee, Annette Cousins rejoins the NRC as its new Co-Director. She will assist Mary Lou with the growing duties of an ever expanding center. Annette earned her undergraduate degree in from Long Island Univerity. She has a strong community organizing background and has worked for the Girl Scouts of America. Her keen financial and grants management skills, together with her loving, patient heart make Annette no less than a blessing for the NRC.
Salome Fernando
Montessori Preschool Director & Lead Teacher
Salome Fernando is the program director and lead teacher of the NRC Montessori Preschool. Salome is certified by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to teach 3-6 year old children. She received her training from the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Center in Sri Lanka. She also has Early Childhood Education teaching units from the University of California Los Angeles.
She moved to Virginia in January 2007 and started working at the NRC soon after. She is very dedicated to continuing the excellent work that we have envisioned for the NRC Montessori Preschool.
Ashley Metz
Assistant Montessori Preschool Teacher
Ashley Metz is an Early Childhood Education major with two years of experience in Montessori classrooms in her hometown of Alexandria. In her spare time, she enjoys such outdoor pursuits as hiking, canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing.
Karen Ress
Tot Librarian and Montessori Preschool Substitute Teacher
Karen holds an Associate degree in Applied Sciences in Nursing from Northern Virginia Community College. A Greater Fulton resident, Karen has volunteered over 200 hours of her time at the Neighborhood Resource Center since its opening in October 2004. She manages the NRC's Tot Library, funded by the United Way. Karen created and staffs the NRC's weekly Story Time program.
Penelope Ferris
Programs Coordinator
Penny looks forward to expanding the many creative afternoon programs offered at the NRC as the new programs coordinator. She earned her undergraduate degree in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her passion is to work with youth and improve youth health education.
Charles Skelley
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Charles Skelley, a black belt and longtime volunteer, has been teaching NRC kids and adults martial arts skills for more than three years. During his time at the center, he has seen his students increase their self-confidence and self-discipline, improve their physical conditioning and develop a real sense of accomplishment. We are grateful for the "sweat equity" Charles has invested in the NRC.
Tara Culton
Administrative Assistant