Administration and Staff

Overbrook Faculty and Administration

Overbrook has one of the finest faculties in the Nashville areas with 44% of the faculty and administration holding advanced degrees. In addition, 30% have more than 10 years experience teaching, and six teachers are Overbrook alumnae.

Principal – Sister Mary Gertrude, O.P.

Sister Mary Gertrude Blankenhagen grew up on a farm in Iowa with her two parents and one brother. She attended the University of Northern Iowa for two years before joining the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (The Nashville Dominicans) in 1991. She completed her teaching degree at Middle Tennessee State University and her Masters in Educational Leadership at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. Sister taught junior high and high school in various dioceses for the ten years she spent in the classroom. Currently, she is obtaining her Masters in Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and enjoying her third year as principal at Saint Vincent de Paul School.

Assistant Principal - Perry Higgins

For 18 years, Mr. Higgins has been in the classroom teaching elementary levels 1-3 and fifth and sixth grade as well. He has worked in Cheatham County in Pegram Elementary and Sycamore Intermediate schools and in Williamson County at Fairview Elementary School. From 1997-2004, he served as an assistant administrator in Williamson County Schools, filling in for the principal whenever he or she had to be out of the building.

Academic Dean – Phyllis McGee

Phyllis McGee holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been in education for 29 years with training and qualifications in: Nonpublic School Facilitator/Chair Quality Assurance Review Team for SACSCASI, Montessori Assistant Training, Florida Performance Measurement System, Catechetical Certification for the Diocese of Nashville, Certification in Great Books facilitation, and certification in both CPR and First Aid.

Office Manager – Marge Lang

Marge Lang is the Office Manager at Overbrook. She has been at Overbrook for 16 years and served the faculty and students as receptionist/clinic attendant for 10 of those years. Some of her current duties include support for the Principal and faculty, maintaining the student data base and school calendar, emergency response coordinator, security,maintenance and cleaning laison, and special events facilitator. She brings over 40 years of office experience to the school. One of her daughters is an Overbrook graduate.

Director of Admissions – Ellen Butler Fernandez

Ellen Fernandez developed and managed the first professional admissions office at Overbrook School in the summer of 1991. For 18 years, Ellen has served as director of admission, registrar and coordinates the annual standardized testing and the tuition assistance program. She brings 39 years of experience in office management and customer relations to Overbrook School. She was President of the Nashville Consortium of Independent Schools from 1998-2000 and has served on committees with the Consortium to implement by-laws and the Common Teacher Recommendation. She served on the Dominican Campus Strategic Plan Core Team in 1997 and the Strategic Planning Fundraising/Marketing/Admissions Task Team for Overbrook and St. Cecilia in 2006. She is a third generation St. Cecilia Academy graduate and has two daughters that are 4th generation graduates.

Purchasing Manager – Meg Neeley

Meg Neeley is the Purchasing Manager at Overbrook. She is responsible for managing the coordination of purchasing in all areas of the school. In addition, she also works as a liasion between the business office and faculty, staff and parents in regard to check requests, receipts, purchase orders and any other aspect of business as it relates to accounts payable and receivable. She is a graduate of both Overbrook and Saint Cecila.

Receptionist – Colleen Conzalina

Colleen Conzalina is the face and voice of Overbrook as the school's receptionist. She handles the myriad of responsibilities that come with the front desk throughout the day as well as acts as a first responder for the school clinic. Mrs. Conzalina is editor of the Overbrook Eagle.

Director of Development and Alumni Relations– Sharon Huber

Sharon Huber is the OS development director. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has more than 15 years experience in fundraising for non-profit organizations in Nashville and Chattanooga. Her daughter is a student at Overbrook.

   Director of Communications – Barbara Esteves-Moore

Barbara Esteves-Moore serves as the Director of Communications for Overbrook School and St. Cecilia Academy. She is responsible for all marketing and public relations for Overbrook, including the production of The Brook magazine and the management of this Web site. She holds a degree in mass communications with a minor in print journalism from the University of New Orleans. She wrote for The Tennessean for eight years before moving to Overbrook and St. Cecilia. She has a daughter who is an Overbrook student.