Administration
Stephen Ventura, Principal
Greetings Tiger Family!
I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to serve as the principal of Walker-Grant. The middle school holds a special place in my heart as I began my teaching career here and I am beyond excited to continue working with the Walker-Grant students, faculty and staff, families, and our whole community.
I started at Walker-Grant Middle School in 2012 after serving as a specialist in a private program in inner city Pittsburgh designed to help at-risk children.  At W-GMS I led the Social Science Department as Chair. In 2017, I was named the Walker-Grant Middle School Teacher of the Year and subsequently, the Division Teacher of the Year for Fredericksburg City Public Schools.
Since 2017, I have served as Assistant Principal at both Walker-Grant Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Kent State University with concentrations in Integrated Social Studies and History. I earned a Master of Education degree focusing on Educational Leadership from the University of Mary Washington in 2016.
Every step of the way in my journey as an educator, I have been fortunate to have the support of my beautiful wife, Bethany. We moved to Virginia to pursue our careers in education. We have now made Fredericksburg our home where we are raising our two young children and our adopted English bulldog. For fun, we enjoy trying new ice cream flavors and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Throughout my career in education, I have made it my mission to inspire students to be lifelong learners. As we embark upon another school year, I look forward to continuing to foster positive relationships with the staff, students, and families of W-GMS!
Assistant Principals
Emma Brown
Emma Brown, a graduate of James Monroe High School, is a lifelong Fredericksburg City Public Schools educator. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Longwood University, and she earned a Master of Educational Leadership degree from George Mason University. Mrs. Brown began her teaching career in 2012 at Walker-Grant Middle School; she taught at W-GMS for eight years in all four core content areas, at all three grade levels. She then served one year as the W-GMS Instructional Technology Coach. During her teaching tenure, she served as an assistant softball coach, Odyssey of the Mind coach and coordinator, debate sponsor, and Emerge sponsor.
During the 2021-2022 school year, Mrs. Brown served as the Administrative Intern, alternating between Hugh Mercer Elementary School and Lafayette Elementary School. She then returned home to Walker-Grant Middle School to serve as an Assistant Principal. Her daughter now joins her in FCPS as a student at LES. Mrs. Brown's favorite quote is, "Things are beautiful, if you love them," and she loves the students and families of Fredericksburg City Public Schools.
Kisha Frye
Mrs. Kisha Frye, a graduate of James Monroe High School and a lifelong resident of the City of Fredericksburg. Mrs. Frye earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a Minor in Human Resources Management from Strayer University and her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Special Education from the University of Mary Washington. In 2002, Mrs. Frye entered her educational career as a reading paraprofessional at Hugh Mercer. When Lafayette Upper Elementary School opened in 2005, she transferred there and in 2008 began her teaching career. Mrs. Frye returned to Hugh Mercer in 2018 to work in a shared position, as a special education teacher and an administrative intern. Mrs. Frye became Assistant Principal of Hugh Mercer in 2019.
Mrs. Frye and her husband, Charlie Frye Jr., are both James Monroe alumni and have raised their three children through the Fredericksburg City Schools.