academics | grades 6-8

Susan graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in journalism and mass communication. Before joining the John Crosland School, Susan worked at various marketing and branding agencies before joining the marketing department at Atrium Health. There, Susan managed marketing campaigns for Levine Children’s Hospital, Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital and other pediatric practices and services. For the past several years, Susan has focused on being home, raising her son, Dylan, and daughter, Emily, and she is excited to join an organization that focuses on helping children learn in an accepting environment where they can thrive. In her free time, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, especially traveling and getting outside. She also loves being part of her church music program through choir and handbells. Her other hobbies include reading, cooking and playing piano.

Nashara is a two-time graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning her Bachelor of Social Work in 2017 and Master of Social Work in 2023. She has five years of experience serving as a School Social Worker and has recently obtained her clinical license to provide therapy to children/adolescents. Nashara is excited to join the John Crosland family and hopes to provide a safe environment that meets the unique needs of each student. Outside of her professional commitments, Nashara enjoys physical activity, spending time with her family and friends, listening to music, and trying new food.

Amber Dutcher is a Rochester, NY native who will be relocating to Charlotte, NC.  She holds a BS in Studio Fine Arts and an MS in Special Education and is excited to join the team at The John Crosland School.  She has a three-year-old son, Hudson, who is the light of her life, and a wonderful husband, Rob.  She loves live music, specifically, the bands Phish and The Grateful Dead.  She enjoys the great outdoors, yoga, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills during football season.

Hallie earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Low Incidence Disorders – both earned with honors from East Carolina University. She also holds a Post-Master’s Certificate in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is North Carolina certified in Elementary Education (K-6), and Special Education (K-12), and a Wilson Practitioner. She is proud to serve on the Board of North Carolina International Dyslexia Association. She brings 16 years of teaching and leadership experience to Crosland. Hallie enjoys traveling overseas, trying out new recipes, and playing Bumble and Buzzy, her Australian Labradoodles.

Jennifer Bailey holds a Bachelors in Secondary Ed and Masters in School Administration from Crown College, as well as a Masters in Counseling from Liberty University. She has been teaching and mentoring students and staff for over seventeen years in private school settings. She is honored to join the teaching staff at John Crosland as a middle school Social Studies instructor and High School Counselor. Jennifer enjoys traveling with her husband and two sons to places of literary and historical significance. In her free time, she can be found drinking coffee alongside her English bulldog.

Originally from Asheville, NC, Vaniece graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Spanish. While at UNC-Charlotte, she had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in beautiful Costa Rica where she lived with a family for two months. Soon after graduating, Vaniece began teaching at Dore Academy in 2002. In her spare time, she enjoy spending time with her family, taking Zumba© classes, and reading.

Mary Katherine graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and will be teaching Middle and Upper Sciences. Before joining the John Crosland School, Mary Katherine taught at a school for children with emotional and behavioral disorders in Tampa for two years. While in Florida, Mary Katherine also volunteered as the Basketball coach and student activities coordinator. She brings with her a passion for teaching and is excited to meet her new students! In her free time, Mary Katherine enjoys traveling to see family, hiking, and learning to play the guitar.

Teri is thrilled to be among the many wonderful talented teachers at The John Crosland School. Teri graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and she is a National Board Certified Teacher.  She is trained in Orton-Gillingham and numerous other research-based programs. Teri taught in the Charlotte Public Schools for 11 years. This is Teri’s 18th year of teaching and her seventh year at The John Crosland School.

Lisa graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with an M. Ed degree in Special Education: Learning Disabilities. She has been an educator for over 18 years. She obtained the Advanced Level of Orton-Gillingham training in 2005. Upon graduating from UNCC, she briefly taught as a Special Education teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. She wrote a letter to Dore Academy that she was looking to teach at a school that showed integrity for children and their needs. She was called for an interview to the school and hired as a 5th-grade classroom teacher in 2002.

Laura has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Old Westbury. Laura comes to us from Charlotte United Christian Academy where she taught grades 3-6 for the past eight years. At Charlotte United Christian Academy Laura taught a full inclusion classroom which gave her the experience of working with students across many different ability levels.  She believes teaching is a calling and works with each of her students to help them develop to their highest academic level. Laura has over 30 plus years of diverse teaching, curriculum development, and tutoring experience at both private and public elementary and middle school throughout-out the USA and Africa.

Vivian is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in K-12 Special Education and Middle School Mathematics. Through the years she has worked with every grade level. She came to us from Greenville County where she was working with students in self-contained classrooms with a variety of learning differences, ADHD, and autism. She comes from a large Greek family. In her free time, she enjoys going hiking with her German Shepard, Oto, and having play dates with her nine nieces and nephews. She finds many ways to stay busy including coaching basketball, Greek dancing, and her own professional development as a teacher.

Dan received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992. He returned to school in 2008 to earn his teaching license in secondary social studies from UNC-Charlotte and was certified to teach both middle school and high school students. He has taught 8th grade social studies at Charlotte Secondary School and joined The Epiphany School of Charlotte in 2013 to focus on students with learning differences. He has also been a member of the Charlotte Philharmonic and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra. Recently, he has been learning to play the mandolin. Dan enjoys vacationing with his family along the North Carolina’s Outer Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore and backpacking with them in the Appalachian Mountains.

Lynn graduated cum laude from Mercer University in 1977. She taught elementary school in Pinellas County, Florida until she moved to Charlotte. She began teaching at Dore in 1994. She has completed basic and advanced Orton training, all 5 Project Read courses, a Differentiated Leaner’s Certificate from the Hill Center, and numerous workshops and graduate level courses in Special Education. She is an alumna of the Teaching Fellow Institute at Charlotte. Lynn is married and the mother of three grown children. In her free time, she loves to read, write, and exercise when forced, with her daughter.

Shawn began working at The John Crosland School in 2007. Prior to his current role of Director of Operations, Shawn was the Athletic Director, PE teacher, and JCS Social Media Administrator. Shawn came from Atlanta where he taught high school students with severe emotional behavioral disorders in the public school. He has been honored to receive the Student’s Choice Teacher of the Year award three times.  Shawn completed his Master’s degree in Education from Wingate University. In 2015 Shawn was elected as Mecklenburg County’s Soil and Water Supervisor. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Metrolina Native American Association and as a volunteer paramedic.  His number one hobby is spending time with his family and playing with his daughter.

Ted attended Emmanual College and graduated with honors in 1985. He has worked in various Information System positions including Lead Designer, Systems Manager, Production Manager and Operations Manager for Color Response, Hi Q Photolith and Banta Digital Group. Ted is a Certified Microsoft Professional in Servers, Networking, and Security.  He is also A+ Certified in computer and network hardware. Ted served in the US Army, working with Signal Intelligence for NSA. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in two and half years and after completing his service was honorably discharged. Ted and his wife Sherree have two sons, Phillip and Spencer.

Karen graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Marketing and Management. She has worked for over twenty years in the business administration and accounting fields. Karen is originally from Long Island, New York. She enjoys spending her free time with her family – Norm her husband of 24 years, daughter Nicole currently in college, and son Kyle currently in high school.

Portia earned a BA in Sociology from Clark University, an MBA from Cambridge College, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. She brings many years of knowledge and experience in marketing, education, and non-profit management. Portia manages Development, Admissions, and Financial Aid. She has implemented many new programs a Crosland such as the Girls Group, Speaker Series, Young Men of Color Affinity Group, Crochet Club, and the New Family Ambassador Program. She obtained a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques certification and incorporates her love of art into her world by teaching classes, exhibiting art, and speaking to groups about fiber art and arts integration.

Charlie earned his Master of Science in Leadership from Pfeiffer University and has an undergraduate background in philosophy/religion and history. He has been part of the Crosland faculty and staff since 2005 in various capacities including English and Written Expression teacher, SAT preparation instructor, yearbook coordinator, and golf coach. Crosland is also honored that he serves as our SAIS accreditation coordinator. Charlie is an avid musician and plays drums for a local Charlotte band, as well as the Crosland faculty band, The Lunch Buckets.