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Live on WFAE! Former Head of School Roberta Smith, former Crosland parent Diane Harrington, and Dr. Dawn Keller joined Chris Clakum on Charlotte Talks to discuss the common misconceptions of Learning Disabilities, and ways The John Crosland School (formerly Dore Academy) is helping kids succeed.
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 brings over 25 years of teaching total and has spent over 10 of those years at The John Crosland School!
Malik is the Band Director & Music Educator at JCS, a Charlotte area native, and is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a concentration in Performance. He also attended graduate courses at the University of Alabama in Music Performance on Euphonium, where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) with the Tuba & Euphonium Studio and Million Dollar Band. As an active professional musician and educator – instrumentalist and vocalist, Malik also currently works with a couple of local high school marching bands, along with teaching private lessons across multiple instrument disciplines at Music & Arts, and actively performs gigs with groups in the Charlotte-area – including the Charlotte Concert Band. He remains an avid lover, advocate and ambassador for the performing arts, previously working as a mentor to students with learning differences at the WCU chapter of United Sound ©. He is passionate about helping new students build self-esteem, grow creatively, finding their voice, and helping foster a love for music. When not teaching, Malik enjoys attending concerts, playing and competing in sports such as disc golf and pickleball, spending time outdoors, and also quality time with family and friends.
As Director of Wellness & Connection, Jennifer brings over 20 years of education experience to her role at JCS. She is passionate about whole-child instruction and she is currently researching personalized learning for neurodivergent students as part of her doctoral work. She has found a home at Crosland and enjoys supporting students’ social-emotional and academic needs in grades 8-12. As a mother of 2 children, she understands the significance of student-teacher relationships and enjoys helping parents navigate the teen years. Outside of school, Jennifer enjoys traveling with her family and spoiling her bulldog, Bentley.
Katherine earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from UNC Chapel Hill and recently graduated with her Master’s in Education from UNC Charlotte. She has been teaching math for 10 years now, and when not at school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, working out, or baking.
Karissa is a Charlotte native and excited to contribute to the community where she grew up. She completed her studies in Special Education at Liberty University and has had the privilege of working with children in various settings prior to joining John Crosland. Her passion lies in helping students reach their full potential and supporting their growth every step of the way. She recently got married earlier this year and she is looking forward to bringing her enthusiasm and dedication to our school community.
Indya grew up in Linden, New Jersey, and has always had a passion for learning and helping students excel both academically and in building their confidence. In her free time, she enjoys reading, bowling, community service, visiting coffee shops, and thrifting. She studied English at Kean University, where she was active in various clubs and participated in events aimed at supporting the local homeless population. Her teaching career began at Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic School, where she worked as a Reading Interventionist for Catapult Learning. In this role, she collaborated with the educational team and school leadership to implement personalized learning strategies tailored to students’ academic needs.
Kaelyn was born and raised in Burlington, North Carolina, and came to Charlotte in 2019 to pursue a degree in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During that time, she began tutoring students through HELPs Charlotte and fell in love with small-group remediation. Kaelyn started a Dual Pathway at UNCC to gain licensure in both Elementary Education and Special Education for Mild to Moderate Disabilities. She graduated in the spring of 2023 with both degrees and licenses and began working in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools as an Exceptional Children’s Teacher for students with a range of differences. When not at school, she is typically reading, crocheting, gardening, or spending time with family.
Yonda is from New Jersey and studied Elementary Education. She has a passion for music, reading, and writing poetry. Her love for books and novels is matched only by her enjoyment of solving word search puzzles and experimenting in the kitchen with cooking and baking. As an author, she finds joy in crafting stories and sharing her work. Yonda is happily married and the proud mom of two adorable cats.
Keri graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in English and from Winthrop University with a Master of Arts in Teaching. Before joining The John Crosland School, she taught high school English, focusing primarily on inclusion classrooms. Additionally, Keri has experience working at Lindamood-Bell in Charlotte, NC. She is passionate about helping students find a welcoming and comfortable environment where they can grow into confident learners. In her free time, Keri enjoys reading, exercising, and playing with her children, Kennedy and Carter, and her rescue pup, Bailey.
is completing her Master’s in Special Education at Western Governors University this year. She has a background in child and adolescent development along with addiction counseling. Her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology: Child and Adolescent Development was earned at Southern New Hampshire University and her Certification for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counseling was completed at Westfield State College in Massachusetts. Lisa is originally from Worcester Massachusetts, but has lived in many different places to learn about lifestyles and cultures that are unfamiliar to her. When not at work you can find her out in nature or off on an exciting adventure, usually accompanied by her dog Oliver. She moved to Charlotte two years ago and found an immediate home at The John Crosland School.
received her undergraduate degree in special education and elementary education from Liberty University. She began her career in education as a special education language arts teacher at Albemarle Road Middle School. She also received a master’s degree in Special Education from Northern Arizona University. Deirdre is originally from Long Island, NY, and moved to Charlotte, NC after graduation. In her 8 years as a North Carolina educator, Deirdre has been privileged to work with students and teachers in various 6-8 settings. She has taught in various classroom settings including co-taught language arts and math as well as a resource setting. She aims to create academically engaging learning experiences through an environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Deirdre enjoys traveling the world, grabbing coffee with friends, and weekend trips to Charleston to visit her family.
is originally from Charlotte North Carolina and has recently moved back after living in Durham/Cary for 5 years. While living in Durham she obtained her Masters of English Literature from North Carolina Central University. She specializes in British Literature but also enjoys American Literature as well. Ranging from John Milton to Edgar Allan Poe, Clarke is a lover of all literature. She has previously taught 7th Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies as well as 11th grade American Literature, 9th Grade English, and Creative Writing. She is passionate about helping students enjoy reading literature and bringing out their inner writer. Clarke is also a lover of anime and manga and attends anime conventions every year with her friends.
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.
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. hallie enjoys being connected to other local non-profits as a member of share charlotte. she brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience to crosland. hallie enjoys traveling overseas, trying out new recipes, learning polish, and playing with bumble, her australian labradoodle.
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.
karen graduated from the university of south carolina with a bs in marketing and management. she has worked for over thirty 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 32 years, daughter nicole and son kyle.
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.
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.
Antoine Brisbon is a 24 year veteran in education, who has served both the public and private school arenas. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English Education, Master of School Administration with an endorsement in Curriculum and Instruction. He has worked K-12 in the public, private and charter sectors and has a vast knowledge of teaching and learning and professional development. He has found a love for special education, where he is on a learning continuum to perfect his craft in this area and to provide sound, innovative best practices to instructional leaders. He has served as an Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Interim Principal at Eastway STREAM Academy, and most recently as The Interim Co-Head of School and Academic Director at The Epiphany School of Charlotte. The genuine culture and positive climate at JCS provide a “safe space” where teachers are able to personalize the learning and students are able to capitalize on their experiences. He is honored to be a part of a well-diversified dynamic school community.
Alex comes to Crosland with over 15 years of experience in educational development, institutional advancement, and non-profit management, previously holding positions at the Foundation for the Carolinas and the Levine Museum of the New South, both in Charlotte. Prior to her work in the Charlotte area, Alex worked for various nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C., Michigan, Atlanta, and Vienna, Austria. She is passionate about connecting with people and advocating for neurodivergent awareness. Alex is a graduate of the Master of Public Administration program at The George Washington University and holds a BA in Political Science from Furman University. Alex and her husband Ken enjoy taking their two kids on “microadventures” around the South. In her free time, she can always be found with a book, a new craft project and a Diet Coke.
Director of Information Technology
Rich Bowman is an accomplished EdTech professional from Brooklyn, NY, with over a decade of experience devoted to advancing educational technology within the New York City public school system. He has led transformative initiatives across multiple schools, significantly enhancing collaboration and digital learning experiences for students and educators alike. Holding multiple industry-standard certifications (CompTIA, Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc.), Rich excels in implementing cloud-based services and network upgrades that serve to strengthen connectivity and fortify security measures, ensuring seamless and secure learning environments. Rich is also an accomplished technology integrator, empowering educators to merge their pedagogical expertise with cutting-edge technological advancements. Beyond his professional achievements, Rich is a seasoned eSports competitor and coach, channeling his passion for innovation and problem-solving into both his professional and personal endeavors.
Counselor Grades K-7th
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.
attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she obtained her Bachelors in Speech-Language Pathology. During this time she was able to gain a wealth of experience working with children with learning disabilities. After Surya graduated she moved to Summerville, SC where she worked as a speech assistant for 2 years at private practices servicing students with learning disabilities in home and in the school system. Surya then moved back to Charlotte, NC where enrolled as a student at UNCC to get her graduate certificate in teaching. Surya most recently was a kindergarten teacher at Telra Institute where she helped streamline the MTSS process for children with learning disabilities. While there she obtained her Masters of Arts in teaching from the UNCC. Surya has been in education for 6 years now. While outside the classroom Surya enjoys spending time with her family, whether it be going on quick day trips or beach vacations Surya truly enjoys and cherishes family time. Surya is an avid book reader and Star Wars fan. She also is a big sports fan and loves going to football and basketball games.
was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, and received both her bachelors in political science and master’s in global sustainability from the University of South Florida. She served as an AmeriCorps Vista in California and Florida before moving to Charlotte in 2020 where I joined Teach for America and taught middle school math for two years. She is currently completing a master’s in counselor education with a focus on school counseling from East Carolina University. Students will recognize her as last year she spent Fridays with us on campus as part of her practicum as she is passionate about children who learn differently. In her free time, you can find her spending it with family, working out at Orange Theory, or hanging with her dog, Willow!
comes to Crosland with extensive experience as an administrative assistant in fields ranging from a brokerage firm and a television station in Los Angeles to an intensive outpatient treatment center here in Charlotte. Semi-retired, she followed her heart and was drawn to the chance of once again being part of a caring, compassionate and dedicated team. She hails from New Orleans and loves music, classic movies, and reading. She also loves spending time with family and friends, laughter, and chocolate.
is not a stranger to the John Crosland school community. He was a 15-year veteran at John Crosland School and served as a dedicated staff member to the school and its children. With a degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University, Mr. Mullis understands the importance of meeting students where they are. During his tenure at JCS, he was intentional about providing prescriptive instruction, with accommodations, to meet each child’s learning style. Mr. Mullis then furthered his teaching career at Trinity Christian Preparatory School as a STEAM instructor for Upper School students. Besides his love for teaching, Mr. Mullis is a dynamic musician and vocalist.
This package includes TEN bid paddles, plus a shareable internet link, an $850 charitable donation, optional listing as a VIP Host during the Gala streaming, and for delivery to your designated address within a 60-minute drive from the school, an exclusive VIP Host Basket containing one bottle each of red and white wine from Scout & Cellar’s “Clean Crafted” organic and sulfite-free wine collection and an assortment of sweet and savory cocktail hour snacks.*
* Listings and VIP Host basket apply to ticket orders placed by April 7; Patron and VIP Host Tickets may be purchased after April 7 but will come without these extra benefits.
This package includes an internet link and one digital bid paddle, plus an $85 charitable donation to the school, and optional listing as a Patron during the Gala streaming.*
* Listings and VIP Host basket apply to ticket orders placed by April 7; Patron and VIP Host Tickets may be purchased after April 7 but will come without these extra benefits.
This package includes an internet link and one digital bid paddle.
Upper School SpanishÂ
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.
Science, Health/PE
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.
Lower and Middle 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.
Lower and Middle School
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.
Middle and Upper School
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.
Director of Advancement
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.
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