After graduating from The College of William and Mary, Townley began her teaching career as a first grade teacher in Newport News Public Schools. When she and her late husband, Malcolm, moved to San Rafael, California, they founded Janus School, a private preschool through second grade, which they operated for eighteen years. Upon returning to Virginia, Townley was the founding director of The Salvation Army Child Care Center for Homeless Children in Charlottesville. She has also worked as a teacher in the Albemarle County Afterschool Program and as director of Trinity Episcopal Child Care Center. For more than ten years, Townley worked as a preschool teacher at CDS. She brings with her a wealth of experience and a passion for early childhood education. Her proudest accomplishment is being a parent to her amazing children, Mira, Andrew, and AJ and spending time with her grandchildren Aiyana, Nathaniel, Makai, Leilah, Kaydence, and Kahlani.