Vanessa Taglia has been a member of the Columbus Academy faculty since 2010 and was appointed Director of Academic Programs for Lower School at the start of the 2023–24 school year. She most recently taught fifth grade from 2016-2023 at Academy and served as Lower School Curriculum Coordinator following earlier experience teaching second and fourth grade in Park Ridge, Illinois. Vanessa began her career in education as a supplemental instructor in micro- and macroeconomics at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where she discovered her passion for teaching and learning. She then broadened her expertise in the corporate sector as a data network consultant with AT&T in Tucker, Georgia, before returning to education full-time. A certified Positive Educator in positive psychology, Vanessa integrates research-based practices into the classroom by prioritizing student wellness alongside academic growth. Her leadership has been recognized through numerous professional honors, including nomination for the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics Elementary Teaching Award (2021), selection as a member of the Klingenstein Leadership Academy at Columbia University Teachers College, publication in the Klingbrief Journal for Independent School Educators, and the Praxis Distinction of Excellence in Elementary Content. At Academy, Vanessa is an active leader in curriculum innovation and instructional advancement for teachers and students. Her creative use of campus space through walking classroom lessons earned her one of four Milt Taylor Grants, and her commitment to a balanced, tech-healthy approach to learning reflects her earlier work as Director of iD Tech Camp at Case Western Reserve University. She is extensively trained in the science of reading, with specialized preparation in Top Ten Tools, which informs her leadership in literacy programming. Her ongoing professional learning highlights independent school strategic change leadership and cognitive science. Vanessa and her husband, Daniel, enjoy walking their two dogs, cooking, and traveling with their son, Sebastian '34.
Vanessa’s favorite thing about Columbus Academy
“There is space for each child’s unique interests here every day. A daily schedule built around outdoor time, flex time (academic choice time), and a curriculum that exceeds common core standards is the ideal experience for young people! Also, I am greeted by the most adorable woodland creatures many mornings when I pull up from Cherry Bottom Road. I have seen a herd of deer, coyote, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks, to name a few.”
Little-known fact
“The paternal side of my family is from a small village in Italy that cannot be found on Google Maps.”
Favorite sports team
“I love the Columbus Clippers! My family and I attend as many summer games as we can.”
- M.E. Columbia University , Organization & Leadership: Private Schools
- M.E. DePaul University , Teaching & Learning
- B.S. Miami University , Business Administration
