Meet Our Team
We understand that a meaningful camp experience starts with quality staff.
All of our staff members, many of whom have been campers, and some of whom are Congressional Schools’ faculty or staff, are carefully screened through a process of interviews, reference verifications and background checks. In addition to pre-camp orientation, staff members are required to attend training workshops and meetings throughout the summer.
All program areas are managed by one or more trained specialists who provide a progression of skills during the camping season. All of the Congressional Camp senior staff members, including travel camp, specialty camp and athletic camp instructors, are experienced and well trained.
A registered nurse is available during the regular camp hours. The nurse oversees any medication required by campers and contacts parents if a child becomes ill during the camp day.
Our Seasonal Camp Team is led by our year-round Congressional School Auxiliary Team led by Director of Auxiliary Programs Dan O’Neil.
Dan O’Neil
Camp Director
19th Summer
Dan O’Neil has been working in Youth Development since 1999. He is from the Arlington area and graduated from James Madison University. Since his arrival in 2007, Dan has carefully and successfully established Congressional Camp as a leading program in the Northern Virginia area. Under his guidance and leadership, Congressional Camp have become a thriving summer program and a standard of excellence, providing a positive experience for staff, parents, and our young campers. When he’s not working, Dan enjoys traveling, rooting on our local sports teams, and spending time with his wife Kim and their three campers, Kendra, Kinley, and Kaila.
Gene Giammitorio
Assistant Director
14th Summer
Gene Giammittorio graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources. Gene first began working for Congressional School in 2005 and has served in a variety of roles. He is a Wilderness First Responder. Away from Congressional, Gene likes spending time with his really big family, hanging out with his friends, hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and basically anything else outdoors.
Julio Lopez Martinez
Auxiliary Program Coordinator
11th Summer
Julio has been with Congressional Camp since 2013. In 2018 he graduated from George Mason University with his B.S in Psychology but also enjoyed a focus on data and statistics. During the school year, Julio joins Congressional working with the Extended Hours Program as the Auxiliary Programs Coordinator and helping the Congressional community with various tasks. He also teaches 2nd and 3rd grade Spanish. Julio is an adrenaline enthusiast and loves roller coasters and scary movies! He also enjoys a good book in a quiet space.
Levi Herrera
Auxiliary Programs Associate
9th Summer
Levi started on the EHP team in 2015, has worked both the school and camp front desks, and transitioned to Administrative Assistant in 2019. You can find him at the Big School front desk in the afternoons. Levi is currently pursuing a degree in Education with a minor in Science. On top of spending his time at Congressional, Levi is also the Head Coach of the boys Lacrosse team! While not at Congressional, Levi enjoys spending time with his best friend – his dog Oso!
Ian Turkington
Auxiliary Programs Associate
2nd Summer
Ian graduated from the University of Tennessee with his B.S. in Education this Fall. Prior to Congressional, Ian has served in various programming roles from youth to geriatric, as well as for those with special needs. Most of Ian’s programmatic experience comes from his time at YMCA’s Camp High Harbor in Georgia, where he was able to lead youth leadership and development programs. Ian is a wilderness enthusiast and enjoys spending his time in our national and state parks and exploring our federally protected forests and areas. Additionally, he loves to hike, rock-climb, and snowboard whenever he can find the time.
Brenna Ponting
Summer Academy Director
5th Summer
Brenna has a Masters in Education from George Mason University. She has been teaching at Congressional since 2018. During the school year, Brenna teaches First Grade. In the summer, Brenna loves working at Congressional Camp. She has been a camp counselor, Director of Great Adventures and more recently Director of Summer Academy. She loves working with and supporting the community all year. When Brenna is not working, she loves reading, trying new restaurants or going to Capitals hockey games.
Alla Stellakis
Great Adventures Director
2nd Summer
Alla Stellakis started her journey at Congressional School in September 2020 working with our Kindergarten students. This summer, Alla is excited to Direct our Great Adventures (3-5 year old) Program. Before Congressional School, Alla was a Co-Lead Pre-K teacher at The Takoma Children’s School, located in Washington DC. Before making her way down to the Capital, she taught Pre-K for two years at The Meadowbrook School in Philadelphia. Alla is passionate about art and carries a sketchbook wherever she goes. In her spare time, she enjoys puzzle-making, cross-stitching, and drawing. She has recently illuminated and published her very first children’s book about an octopus with many feelings.
Sergio Jimenez
Travel Camp Director
8th Summer
Sergio began working with Congressional as an EHP Counselor in 2015 and transitioned to the Day Camp staff the following year. Sergio has held a variety of positions with our school and camp programs. He currently serves as a P.E. Teacher during the school year and this past summer served as Director of our Travel Camp Programs. Sergio is currently pursuing a degree in education and acquiring his Personal Training certification. When not at work, Sergio enjoys biking, running, and hanging out with all 10 of my Guinea Pigs or find him reading my marvel comics.”
Georgie Silva
Site Director, St. Agnes Programs
9th Summer
Georgie has been with Congressional since 2015. In 2019, she graduated from George Mason University with a B.A in English Literature. In her time at Congressional, she has been a Specialty Camp counselor, a Travel Camp counselor, a school-year EHP counselor, and this will be her 2nd year co-directing Specialty Camp at St. Agnes. During the school year she is an Office Assistant and Registrar in FCPS. Georgie loves anything related to science and learning about new things. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and going on new adventures.
Lisa Harkins
Equine Director
5th Summer
Lisa had served in a variety of roles at Congressional before taking over as Equine Director in 2019. Before coming to Congressional, Lisa was the School-Based Substitute at McKinley Elementary School in Arlington for 13 years. Both in and out of school, Lisa has a passion for horses. She has owned horses and ridden for nearly 20 years. Lisa rides her horse, Mr. Darcy in Dressage and out on the trails of the Manassas Battlefield. Along with riding, Lisa is also passionate about books, creating art, and travel. She’s galloped horses on the moors of Cornwall and on the beaches of Catalonia. Lisa is proud of her daughter, Devon, who is a Teach For America alum and currently teaches Kindergarten in Memphis. Her husband, Will, worked for NASA for over 20 years and is considered a true rocket scientist.
Stephanie Phillips
Head Counselor
18th Summer
Stephanie has been working at Congressional Camp since 2005, and before working at camp, she also attended Congo Camp as a camper. Stephanie received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from James Madison University and now teaches Kindergarten at Congressional. In her free time, Stephanie loves to hike, travel, and visit the beach.
John Duffy
Programming Director
15th Summer
John has been at Congressional Camp every summer since 2009 and has served a variety of roles including sports director, head counselor, and most recently, Director of Programming. After graduating from Radford University in 2000 with a B.A. in Marketing and spending a number of years in the business world, John decided to change career paths and obtained his teaching certification in Physical Education through Towson University (2009). He has since completed his M.S. in PETE from West Virginia University (2013) and M.Ed. in Administration through the University of Virginia (2021). John is currently a Physical Education teacher at Discovery Elementary School in Arlington. In his free time, John participates in a variety of sports and exercise, coaches his children in their sports, and is an avid supporter of UVA athletics, the Atlanta Braves, and the Buffalo Bills.
Andrea Portillo
Sleepy Hollow Site Director
13th Summer
Andrea joined Congressional the summer of 2011 as an EHP Counselor. During the school year she is a Fairfax County SACC Director. Andrea is looking forward to overseeing the Sleepy Hollow Program again this summer. When not at work, Andrea loves spending time with her family and friends, enjoying the great outdoors, and traveling the world.
