About / Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Our mission is to make ceramics education accessible and affordable, helping children develop skills, express their ideas, and build a lasting connection with art.
Meet Elissa Brooks
Owner and Founder
A Fairfax County native, Elissa Brooks earned a Bachelor of Arts in art with a concentration in ceramics from Auburn University, where she was a third-generation student. Her love of clay and her experience as a mother came together in the creation of Mudskippers Pottery.
After having three children in two years, Elissa wanted to build a business that would create a legacy for her family while sharing something she loved with other children. That idea grew into a commitment to affordable ceramics education for families across the DMV.
Today, her passion continues to guide Mudskippers: giving children opportunities to make things with their hands, explore their own ideas, and experience the joy of creating.e children access to meaningful, affordable experiences with clay. We bring that purpose to after-school classes and summer camps across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Meet Ashley McNeely
Director of Enrichment
Ashley is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in administration, management, and program coordination. A graduate of Kennesaw State University, she has built her career through a variety of professional experiences.
Her journey into the world of afterschool enrichment began after becoming a mother, when her priorities and perspective shifted toward finding meaningful work that aligned with both her professional strengths and her passion for supporting children and families. She joined the enrichment industry with a desire to make a positive impact while bringing the administrative and organizational skills she had developed throughout her career.
Meet Caroline Dana
Studio Manager
Caroline first came to Mudskippers Pottery in the summer of 2024 as a lead counselor, and she’s been a part of the Mudskippers team ever since. After two summers as Director of Camp Operations, she joined full-time in August 2026 as Studio Manager, where she handles day-to-day operations and helps run the afterschool enrichment programs.
A 2025 graduate of Agnes Scott College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Caroline also has experience in elementary school special education, which shapes how she welcomes every student she works with. She believes art belongs in every school, and she's working toward a career as an elementary school teacher who cultivates creativity in her classroom.
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