Central Park School for Children

About Our Teachers

KINDERGARTEN

Aileen Clougherty comes from a long line of teachers; her mother, uncle, aunt, six sisters, and one brother have all taught. She has over 31 years of teaching experience and holds a master's in Education. Now that her two children are grown she finds great pleasure in being in the creative presence of young children. Aileen feels that "children are our best teachers of what is truly important in life."

A graduate of the Bank Street College of Education, Scott Larson has taught kindergarten and first grade in New York City, the Dominican Republic, Chapel Hill, and Durham, North Carolina since 1990. He taught kindergarten at the City & Country School in Greenwich Village, where Caroline Pratt invented unit blocks nearly a century ago. Scott was chosen to be part of the Power of K: a state-wide teacher leader initiative sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Scott says, "I am excited to teach in a city school. Kindergarten children love to explore the community and see first hand how people do their jobs. We'll visit stores in the neighborhood, talk with people or just watch while workers fix a pothole. Kindergarteners take the real world experiences back to the classroom and make math, reading and social studies more meaningful."

When Tammy Macomson came to Central Park School in its first year, she had twenty years of teaching experience at the preschool, kindergarten, and college levels. She holds an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from UNC-Chapel Hill. "I am guided in my teaching by a strong commitment to creating environments for young children that support creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, curiosity, and mutually-respectful relationships among children and adults."

FIRST GRADE

Dorothy Atkins has worked as a teacher's assistant, a Title I Math Coordinator, and a kindergarten instructor in the Durham Public Schools. She is working toward her Master's Degree in Elementary Education at North Carolina Central University. Dorothy has welcomed the opportunity to incorporate project based methods in working with her students. She is always open to new ideas and welcomes suggestions from parents. She enjoys art and especially loves working with pottery and clay figures.

Mark Hardy has been working in education for 18 years. He began his teaching career at the Bronx New School, an elementary school of choice with a mission, philosophy and pedagogy very similar to CPSC. After a four-year hiatus from classroom teaching, during which he worked as a literacy consultant for Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Mark returned to the South and to the classroom, where he spent the past 6 years teaching 3rd and 2nd grade in the Wake County Public School System. In 2009, he published his debut novel for young adults, NOTHING PINK.

Sara Roscoe received a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education from UNC-Greensboro. She is a former kindergarten and 1st grade teacher at C.C. Spaulding Elementary and interned with both Falkener and Kernersville Elementary Schools. She was an Environment Rating Scales Training Coordinator for the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and a staff assistant at Harvard University's Mind, Brain, and Behavior inter-faculty undergraduate program.

Evika Sturdivant came to Central Park with 16 years experience teaching kindergarten and first grade in Durham and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools. A Chapel Hill native, she graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has also trained and served as a Reading Recovery teacher and Literacy Coordinator. She strives to cultivate a "love of literacy that can integrate all subject areas and last a lifetime." She has three children.

SECOND GRADE

Beverly Beckwith has taught third, fifth, and sixth grades in Robeson, Orange, and Granville counties. She worked as an administrator for one year in the Durham Public Schools. Beverly holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University, and a Masters degree in Education Administration and Supervision from North Carolina State University. Her hobbies are reading, taking long walks, and spending time with her son and husband. "My goal as an educator is to accept all challenges and excel in promoting student learning and achievement through demonstrated excellence. I believe all students can and will learn when given successful educational opportunities. Learning must be a valuable experience that impacts the lives of all students."

Julie Janes is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and grew up in Midlothian, Virginia. She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a master's degree in Elementary Education. Julie has taught K-2 in Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. This is her 4th year teaching at Central Park. She loves reading, skiing and teaching at CPSC.

Leslie Moyer is originally from California where she earned her master's degree in Elementary Education. She also has a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. After working for many years as a graphic designer, Leslie decided to make a career change and become a teacher. She loves teaching and learning from children. Leslie has taught intersession classes, first, second and third grade. One day Leslie drove by Central Park School, saw the painted wooden flowers in the front of the school and thought to herself, "There's something special going on in there!" Leslie enjoys teaching children in a caring and supportive environment. She also enjoys gardening, quilting and crafts.

THIRD GRADE

Judy Compton came to CPSC from Durham Public Schools. Before teaching, she spent more than 13 years as a newspaper reporter and copy editor in Maine, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. She has an M.Ed. in elementary education from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in International Studies from Austin College in Texas, where she was born. She also has a certificate in technical communication from Duke's Continuing Studies Program. When Central Park opened, Judy knew it was where she wanted her then 1-year-old son to grow up. Nathan just completed first grade, and now she's even more certain. Now in her second year at Central Park, Judy loves being part of a staff committed to helping create thoughtful, intelligent children.

Chanel Carrell is in her third year of teaching at CPSC. She has been involved with the school since it opened in 2003, in many ways, ranging from volunteering as a class parent to creating the secret elves birthday for teachers. Chanel is an Elementary Education graduate with certification in K-6 from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She also holds AIG and ESL certification from Duke University. Chanel enjoys traveling with her family and finding peace with nature. "I believe in the constructivist approach to learning and providing unique learning experiences to enhance each child's personal goals."

Susan Thompson grew up in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York in a close-knit community. She earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology with Education as a minor from City University of New York - York College. Susan has over 13 years in the field of education and has taught in the Durham Public Schools. She has taught as a third grade and pre-kindergarten teacher. Throughout her college years she dedicated time to mentorship programs that helped children be inspired by education. Susan believes that "parents plus teachers equal education -- when we communicate effectively there's no limit to how high a child can grow." Susan and her husband Gary enjoy watching sports with their daughter Yasinah, and son Javon.

FOURTH GRADE

Cheryle Pope has been teaching at Central Park School for Children for five years. She taught for many years at the Duke School for Children and held the position of Curriculum and Staff Development Director. She has over twenty years of experience teaching grades pre K - 8th, consulting with schools across North Carolina, tutoring privately, and leading staff development with teachers and undergraduates at UNC. Cheryle has a master's degree in education from UNC Chapel Hill. She thoroughly enjoys project-based teaching and experiential learning techniques.

Aaron Sebens is excited to be putting down roots in Durham after teaching in Japan, Boston, and most recently Honduras. Aaron graduated with a B.A. in History and Education from the College of William and Mary, and holds an M.Ed. in Special Education from Simmons College. Aaron grew up in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia and plays a variety of music from Old-time, to Jazz, to Ska. He also makes and eats a lot of food, and loves to be in the woods or in his wooden kayak on the water. Aaron believes strongly that all learners are entitled to creative and engaging education and is looking forward to exploring the world with students in a supportive, challenging, and caring community.

Pam Taren holds a master's degree and a 6th Year Degree in education from The University of the Americas, Mexico; University of Delhi, India; and The University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. She enjoys incorporating her children's interests in her planning and encourages partnerships in learning with parents and the local community. Pam has taught at the Central Park School for Children for 5 years.

FIFTH GRADE

Heather Cook is a Minnesota gal, who traded in her snowshoes for sandals after moving to NC with her husband and his bandmates three years ago. This is her 5th year of teaching. In addition to 5th grade, she has taught 2nd grade, Jr. High, High School ESL and Adult Ed. Heather is totally in love with Durham! When Heather is not teaching, she can be found supporting the local music scene, digging in her garden, licking a Locopop or working at Bull City Headquarters, a non-profit community space that she runs with her friends on Mangum St. "My motto for teaching is best put by the words of another great teacher: 'The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others'- Mahatma Gandhi"

Brent Curtis was born and raised in Kansas. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from Baker University in Kansas, and received a master's degree in Elementary Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Brent taught 4th and 5th grades with Durham Public Schools for five years. Brent is an avid road cyclist and spinning instructor at health clubs. He enjoys building furniture and is also building a wooden sea kayak. He is also a musician as a singer, piano and brass player. His wife Lesley is a medical researcher at Duke University and they have two children, a 11-year old daughter and 7-year old son. This is his fourth year at Central Park.

Meg Millard grew up in Chapel Hill and has traveled and studied throughout the U.S. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College. She is certified as an Environmental Educator,in literacy, grades K-8 and in Mathematics grades 6 through 8, and a M.Ed. in K-8 Mathematics. For the past twenty-one years, fourth and fifth grade students have been her focus. She has taught at the Duke School for Children, Frank Porter Graham Elementary School (in Chapel Hill), and substituted in both Alamance and Orange counties. Additionally, she has taught summer programs for teachers through the UNC Center for Math and Science, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and the Thomas Day Education Project (in Durham). This will be Meg's third year at CPSC.

Elizabeth Ricker received her bachelor's degree in English and her master's degree in Education, from North Carolina State University. She has been teaching fifth grade at the Central Park School for Children since 2006. She loves teaching at CPSC because of the close community of students, parents, and teachers. The project-based approach to learning and teaching also gives every child a chance to succeed -- and this is extremely important to Elizabeth. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys reading, quilting, camping and spending time with her husband, Pete, and daughter, Isabel.

STAFF

Glenda Davis is CPSC's Speech Pathologist. She has worked as a licensed speech and language pathologist for most of her career. She taught seventh and fourth grades while pursuing her Master's degree in speech pathology at the University of North Carolina. She was certified and hired by the Raleigh City Schools after her first summer of course work. She has worked as a speech therapist for the Alum Rock – San Jose School District in California, Wake County, Raleigh City Schools, and Orange County Schools in Hillsborough. She received her Master's degree from North Carolina Central University and became licensed by the Board of Directors in Speech and Language Pathology for North Carolina. In addition, she holds five areas of certification, including mentoring new teachers.

Natalie Dunn is our School Counselor. Natalie received an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in Early Childhood Education and American History and an M.S. degree from NC State University in Counselor Education. She holds NC certificates in Elementary Education and Counseling and has 7 years experience in these fields. Natalie focuses on effective internal and external communications with a firm commitment to student-centered learning. "I believe in a school atmosphere that promotes multicultural appreciation and gender sensitivity, and I am excited to be a part of CPSC's staff. I believe that if students feel safe in their environment -- and look forward to attending school -- they will want to learn!"

Bobby Haynie, our new Maintenance Coordinator, is a graduate of NCCU with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Data Processing. Bobby has worked as a data processor for both Duke and UNC. He is also a builder, and has worked for the Revival Trim and Finish Company and TND Partners. Bobby's specialties include painting, plumbing, flooring, as well as basic building repair and maintenance. Bobby has three girls and two boys. His personal motto is "always strive for perfection."

John Heffernan, our new Director, has 15 years experience as an elementary teacher at the Sierra School in the San Francisco Bay Area, NYC's Bank Street School for Children, and most recently at Durham's Forest View Elementary School. John believes in supporting students to take risks and assume greater responsibility for their learning, and he has consistently sought out schools with a constructivist, inquiry-based mission that place a high value on parent involvement and professional development for teachers. John received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Psychology and Studio Arts from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Bank Street College of Education. He is also a National Board Certified Teacher and has held leadership roles on the Governance team of Forest View Elementary, instructed UNC student teachers, and guided study groups for colleagues. John's commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire others is reflected in his selection as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Teaching Fellow in Japan, a Kenan Fellow (training teachers statewide in science education), and as a trainer and planner for the NC Science Leadership Institute. He lives in Durham with his wife, Karen, his daughters, Claire and Nora, and numerous pets.

Paula Januzzi-Godfrey, our new Assistant Director, has over 25 years experience in the field of education, most recently as a teacher of exceptional children at Forest View Elementary and as a dual language program teacher for 4th and 5th graders at Southwest Elementary. Paula has enjoyed many pursuits: teaching literacy through photography, working with "Student U" in Durham as a teacher mentor, and founding and directing Busy Street Children's Museum from 1996 to 2002. She has also been involved with family support systems, both as an adjunct instructor at Meredith College, and as a participant in a family support project with the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Paula has served on the founding board of Durham's Partnership for Children, as well as on other boards and committees in Durham whose missions are to advocate for children and families. Paula enjoys volunteer work in El Salvador in the summers, and traveled to Guatemala with other DPS teachers in 2007. Paula's philosophy is, "Love what you do and feel that it matters -- how could anything be more fun?"

Lucia Marcus is joining CPSC as our new Curriculum Coordinator and Art Teacher. Lucia graduated from the North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem and has a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.. In 1997, Lucia received a graduate degree in Supervision and Administration from Bank Street College of Education and Parsons School of Design. She has been an art teacher for K-8th grades in the Sampson County Schools, in elementary schools in Washington, D.C., and at the Smithsonian Institute. Lucia directed the Opequan Day Care Center in Winchester, Virginia, and most recently taught art at the Duke School. Lucia also has a studio in Durham where she creates and shows her own art.

Liz Melvin joined Central Park School for Children in 2006 as the Art/Music resources teacher. Her work with children began in 2004 at Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC. Upon moving to the Triangle in 2005, she worked at the Duke School as an afterschool teacher and later became a teacher's assistant. She is currently enrolled in North Carolina Central University's Music Education program.

Vicky Patton is the Development Director at the Central Park School for Children. She has served as an assistant to President Terry Sanford at Duke University and led the effort to relocate the American Dance Festival from Connecticut to Durham. She was a founding Board member of the Duke School for Children and president of its Board of Directors. Vicky received her MBA at the Duke Fuqua School and more recently served as the Executive Director of The Governors Center at the Sanford Institute for Public Policy. Vicky wrote the CPSC charter application, is President of our Board of Directors and loves working at the school.

Esther Quinn is a Teacher Assistant who came to us in 2006, from Carolina Friends School where she ran the middle school afterschool program. She is currently working on her teaching degree and studying Holistic Natural Health Education. A Durham native, she was raised to embrace life and encouraged to value learning through experience. She attends many conferences and educational workshops and is a member of two non-profit community organizations. Esther believes that "children are the bridge builders of the future!"

Vicki Reynolds, an Exceptional Education Teacher, finds great joy in working with our children. She holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University and holds an NC license in Exceptional Education. Vicki has also taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, as well as co-owned and operated a business. She believes that all children can learn, and that we must have high expectations regardless of backgrounds. Vicki states: "Children teach us every day how they learn and I am filled with joy to see how the children move about Central Park School for Children." CPSC has been a place of positive transformation for her. "The purpose of life is joy, the basis of life is freedom, the result of life is growth."

Tonya Roberts begins her fourth year as Office Manager at the Central Park School for Children. Tonya worked for Genecare, a medical genetics center in Chapel Hill, and before then gained training in business and management procedures at Blue Cross/Blue Shield for eleven years. She is a Durham native and graduated from Southeastern Academy with a degree in Administration. After years of working in corporate America, Tonya made a commitment to return work with and provide for children. Her decision to join Central Park School for Children was clinched when a friend said, "Tonya, with as much time as you spend at the school and with your knowledge of kids, why not do what you enjoy doing and get paid for it?"

Nancy Spencer, our new Exceptional Education Program Coordinator, holds an M.A. in Teaching from Emory University. Nancy has worked as a teacher in both regular and exceptional education settings and has taught at university and public school levels. For the past 20 years she has been an administrator for exceptional education programs for the NC Department of Public Instruction, and Orange, Durham, and Wake Counties. Most recently, she served as the Director of the Legal and Compliance division of Wake County's exceptional education program. She retired in 2008 and is working part-time at CPSC. Her wish is to work collaboratively with teachers and parents in providing appropriate and effective exceptional children's services at our school.

Karen Stinehelfer, our Business Manager, is an accountant with over 30 years of non-profit experience. She was Duke School for Children's first Business Manager. After 10 years she came to Central Park School for Children as our first Business Manager. Karen is also a graduate of Duke's Nonprofit Management Program. Karen likes doing collages and has done our Annual Picnic photo montages. She usually spends her weekends attending antique auctions or working on her scrapbooks.

Zakia (Zee) Van Hoose is our Physical Education Teacher and a Teaching Assistant. Zee has a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation from North Carolina Central University. She is also employed part time by the Duke School. Zee brings a loving, caring sunshine smile, and energetic spirit to the children of Central Park School. "What I have learned most about working with children is that all kids can learn if we as adults show them we care. Parent + Teachers = Success."

Caroline Weaver is our Student Records, Admissions, and IT Manager. She is a "jack of all trades" who helped to start up the school. She has worked tirelessly in almost every capacity from answering phones to filling in to teach P.E. to giving tours of the school. Caroline has over 20 years of experience working with non-profits and in higher education. She is the mother of CPSC students, Lindley and Ian. Caroline says, "It is a joy to be part of a community that encourages children to explore and learn in an environment where they develop a love of learning."

Loftin Wilson is spending a year at Central Park through the Johnson Intern Program. She grew up unschooled in Alamance County, NC, and completed two years of undergraduate work at Antioch College, majoring in Literature and Religious Studies. After the unexpected closure of Antioch in 2008, Loftin took time off from school to work in a public library, study Buddhism in Japan, and participate in the Johnson Intern Program, which is a year-long Episcopal Service Corps program centered around service work and spiritual discernment. She is living in an intentional, spiritually-focused community in Carrboro with the other seven Johnson Interns. She looks forward to working with everyone at Central Park for the rest of the year, doing literacy tutoring, classroom assistance, and helping out with the lunch program and the library.