Administration
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 Pittsburg designed to help at-risk children. At WGMS, 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 WGMS!
Principal Stephen Ventura
Mrs. 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 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 WGMS for eight years, in all four core content areas, at all three grade levels. She then served one year as the WGMS 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 at 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.
Dr. Kisha Frye is a proud James Monroe graduate and a lifelong resident of the City of Fredericksburg. She 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.
Dr. Frye began her educational career in 2002 as a reading paraprofessional at Hugh Mercer Elementary School. In 2005, when Lafayette Upper Elementary School opened, she transferred there and worked as a special education paraprofessional. It was during this time that her desire to teach was ignited. In 2008, she started her teaching career as a 5th-grade special education teacher at Lafayette Upper Elementary School and later taught 4th-grade special education, serving a total of ten years teaching at Lafayette.
During the 2018-2019 school year, Dr. Frye returned to Hugh Mercer Elementary School in a dual role as a special education teacher and administrative intern. At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, she was promoted to assistant principal at Hugh Mercer. In the 2021-2022 school year, Dr. Frye transitioned to Walker-Grant Middle School, where she continues to serve as an Assistant Principal, demonstrating her dedication to students, their families, and the community.
In February 2024, Dr. Frye defended her dissertation, and in May 2024, she was hooded for her Doctor of Education degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. She firmly believes that children are our future and that a solid instructional background, combined with patience, understanding, and sincere care, is essential for adequately preparing students for their futures. Her favorite quote is, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today!” – Malcolm X.
Dr. Frye and her husband, Charlie Frye Jr., are both alumni of James Monroe High School and have raised their three children through the Fredericksburg City Public Schools.