Staff Members
Mr. King graduated from Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1988 and received his Law Degree from the Nashville School of Law in 1994. Greg practices Family Law at the Law Offices of James G. King in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mr. Howell received his BA as an honors graduate from Princeton University and his Doctorate of Laws from the Harvard Law School. At Princeton he majored in English with a minor in American History and Politics in the American Civilization Program. After clerking for Elbert P. Tuttle, Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Mr. Howell practiced law in Atlanta for 15 years with a predecessor firm to Alston & Bird. He then was a financial consultant for Robinson-Humphrey/Smith Barney for over 13 years and two other firms for an additional 8 years. Mr. Howell then taught English, History, Politics, and Economics at the Middle School and High School level for two metro Atlanta public schools and at a north Atlanta private school.
Mrs. Poe holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee in 1976 and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1969. Faye participated in the Tennessee Career Ladder Program and earned Career Ladder III Level. She was employed by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools from 1969 until 2005. She was awarded the 21st Century Grant to work with Vanderbilt University to implement technology and software into the classroom for Nashville Public Schools.
Mr. Overstreet holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia State University, a Master of Arts in Education and an Ed. S. Degree from West Georgia College. Tony has over thirty-one years experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal with the Atlanta Public Schools. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders and the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals and a former member of the Board of Directors of the GASSP.
Mr.Jackson holds a Bachelor in Business Administration-Management Information Systems- from the University of Georgia in 2003. Since 2004, Mark has been employed in KPMG LLP's Southeast Advisory practice in Atlanta, Georgia. While at KPMG, he has participated in the development of the Significant Account Analysis Model (SAAM), and the Controls Portfolio Analysis Model (CPAM) as part of a national methodology development team. Prior to KPMG, Mark worked as a part time web developer maintaining and improving websites for financial institutions.
Mrs. Burns graduated with honors from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math Education and a minor in Business Education. After many wonderful educational and teaching experiences as a National Science Foundation Teaching Scholar, Mrs. Burns moved to Texas and taught math at high schools in Austin and Houston. In addition to teaching a traditional classroom setting, Sarah also taught on the campus of Menninger Clinic, a psychiatric hospital in Houston. Mrs. Burns currently teaches math at North Atlanta High School in the Atlanta Public Schools System in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mrs. Bryant holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Beebe was selected as the Evans Foundation Teacher of the Year, listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers, and served as Social Studies Department Chairman for twenty years at Brainerd High School in Chattanooga. She also participated in the Tennessee Career Ladder Program and was awarded Level III status.
Mrs. Bain holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oglethorge University and a Bachelor of Arts from Agnes Scott College. Mrs. Bain taught at Garden Hills Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia and is presently a second grade teacher and reading specialist at Mt Bethel Elementary School in Atlanta. Mrs. Bain co-founded the Garden Hills Elementary Book Room. She was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Certification Student Award from Oglethorpe University and Who's Who Among College Students.
Mrs. Cheroff holds a Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University, and Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Georgia. Mrs. Cheroff has been teaching for ten years at E. Rivers Elementary School in Atlanta Public Schools.
Mrs. Jackson will complete a Master of School Library Media in May of 2008 from the University of West Georgia and has a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from the University of Georgia in 2004. Mrs. Jackson is presently employed as a second grade teacher at Morris Brandon Elementary School in Atlanta Public Schools. She was Summer Camp Director for First Baptist Church of Chattahoochee, Atlanta, GA in 2003. She also participated in the community outreach program, CrossTown Kids Program, in Athens, GA in 2001 and 2002. Mrs. Jackson was awarded and maintained a Hope Scholarship from 1999 to 2004 at the University of Georgia. She also was a Presidential Scholar for nine semesters while attending the University of Georgia.
The School Media Center is critical to student academic achievement and the total learning environment for every school. According to School Libraries Work! by Scholastic Research and Results, 2004; the school library should be regarded as the cornerstone of the school community- a learning hub integral to teaching and learning. Research clearly demonstrates the importance of school media centers on students' education. Whether student achievement is measured by standardized reading achievement tests or by global assessments of learning, a well-stocked library which is staffed by a dedicated media specialist has a positive impact on student achievement, regardless of the socio-economic or educational levels of the community (p 1).
Mrs. McDonald holds a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from Southern Illinois University and received Talented and Gifted Certification in 2000. Mrs. McDonald was an honorary member of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society. She had a variety of teaching experiences in North Riverside, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia from 1964 to 2004. She is presently employed as a Talented and Gifted Instructor at Morris Brandon Elementary School in Atlanta, GA.
Ms. McClain received a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from the University of Georgia in 1975 where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She has been teaching First Grade at Garden Hills Elementary School in Atlanta Public Schools from 1998 to the present. She founded and has directed the Garden Hills After-School Program from 2002 to the present.
Ms. Franchot received her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and her Master of Arts Degree in Education from Georgia State University. At Princeton, Marty majored in History with a minor in French and earned a New Jersey life certificate for teaching History and French. At Georgia State University, she studied U.S. History. After teaching Social studies in public schools in Ridgewood, New Jersey for two years, Mrs. Franchot moved to Atlanta, Georgia to teach history at the Westminster schools. Marty has been teaching French for twelve years at the Sarah Smith Elementary School in Atlanta.
A good foreign language program starts with a good curriculum and competent teachers whose enthusiasm for the second language, for teaching, and for their students is palpable. Teachers who genuinely like all kinds of people and look for the best in people will want their students to feel respected, well-liked, and successful in their classes. Students who say, "I love Spanish" probably mean, at least initially, that they love Spanish Class. There they have fun, feel comfortable and accepted, and see new worlds and opportunities unfolding before them. As teachers frequently use world maps, the student is reminded that the world is both larger than their neighborhood and increasingly connected and accessible. The students realize how relevant and exciting the working knowledge of a foreign language can be! The working knowledge of and comfort with a second language is a tremendous asset in life. Because international study and business opportunities in college and beyond abound, bilingual high school grads enjoy educational and career benefits, confidence and new friends. Further, their second language augments their understanding of grammar and geography, and promotes empathy, tolerance, and curiosity.
Ms. Caulkins received Doctoral Degree in Education from Tennessee State University, a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. Ms. Caulkins was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Tennessee State University College of Education Wall of Fame in 2003. She was selected Teacher of the Year for Julia Green Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee 1998, and was an Inductee in the State of Tennessee Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995. Ms. Caulkins holds twenty-two collegiate All-American swimming honors. She was a U.S. Women's National Water Polo Team member in 1978, 1984, and 1985 and a U.S. National Swimming Team member in 1979 and 1983.
My philosophy for an exceptional Physical Education Program involves providing students with a developmentally appropriate, action based, explorative physical education program that ensures all students have multiple opportunities for success and which fosters a lifelong appreciation for and enjoyment of physical activity. A quality program also provides students with health and wellness principles that enhance and prolong life and employs creative ways to help students make the connection between physical activity and healthy living. A quality physical education program also utilizes technology and community and professional resources to enhance this connection.
Mrs. Lane holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Indiana University. After several years of public relations work and grant coordinator/writing positions with Metropolitan Parks & Recreation Department in Nashville, Tennessee, she received her teaching certification at the Master's level from Belmont University in Nashville. She is presently a Music Specialist with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. She has been the recipient of many grants and awards including the Chely Wright Reading, Writing & Rhythm grant. Hillary also appears as guest soloist throughout the mid-state area of Tennessee.
Mrs. Chandler holds a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Tennessee State University in 1988 and Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Middle Tennessee State University in 1979. Trudy participated in Tennessee Career Ladder Program-Career Ladder I from 1986-2006. She was awarded the 21st Century Grant to work with Vanderbilt University to implement technology and software with the classroom for Nashville Public Schools. Trudy has also been awarded the Federal Technology Grant, Schools for Thought, through Vanderbilt University from 1995-2003. She has been employed with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools from 1984 to present.
Jill Lambert, Media Specialist
Mrs.Lambert holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master of Science in Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and an Ed.S in Educational Technology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Jill has worked in education for over 25 years, teaching first through fourth grades, and currently serves as Library Media Specialist for Whitsitt Elementary in Nashville, Tennessee. She has received several technology grants over the years, including, most recently, a grant from the Food Lion Educational Foundation. She was selected to serve on the Metropolitan Nashville Public School district library advisory committee and technology advisory committee. She also teaches web-based professional development courses as an online facilitator for PBS Teacherline.
Ms. Wolfcale holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education and a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. Patricia has been a Special Education teacher with the Atlanta Public Schools since 1993 and with The Cobb County Schools from 1983 until 1993. She has been a Co-Teacher in regular education classrooms with curriculum modification for a fully included Mildly Intellectually Disabled students and the Chairperson for In-School team meetings in Cobb County School System Member In-School team in the Atlanta Public Schools.
