Middle/Upper School Educators Conference

Jennifer Bailey is the Director of Wellness and Connection at The John Crosland School. For over twenty years, her passion for creating student-centered solutions has driven her to spearhead initiatives that enhance academic and personal growth. Drawing from her roles as Academic Dean, counselor, and Division Director, she brings a wealth of expertise in collaboration, innovation, and system improvements, focused on maximizing the potential of students and colleagues. She is currently completing her doctoral research to improve personalized learning for neurodivergent students.

Bryce Bancroft is originally from Atlanta, GA. He earned a B.A. from Davidson College with a major in Classics and a minor in Religion. After spending three years teaching at independent schools in Georgia and Washington, D.C., he moved to Boston, where he earned an M.A. in Classics from Tufts University and an M.Ed. from Harvard Universityʻs Graduate School of Education. In 2017, he and his wife moved to Columbia, SC, where he became the Upper School Latin teacher at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School.

Lilla Clark has been teaching middle school Language Arts for 19 years at schools in Charleston, SC, Charlottesville, VA, and currently teaches at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte.  She is an emergent writer, a true bibliophile, and loves teaching 8th graders.  Her favorite classroom moments happen when a student feels the need to drop everything else to talk about a favorite book.  

Teresa is a middle school teacher specializing in technology and math for grades 6 and 7 at Westchester Country Day School. With twelve years of experience in education, Teresa is passionate about incorporating technology into the classroom curriculum in creative ways. She thrives on letting her students engage in trial and error, explore their curiosity, and learn through hands-on experiences. Teresa's unique approach to teaching not only enhances students' understanding of technology and math but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

I have been an educator for 8 years, having spent my first 5 years in Tennessee. I am now a middle school Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Westchester Country Day School. I also serve as the head of the Humanities Department for middle school at WCDS. I have a passion for history and creating lessons that make history relevant and engaging for kids!

Dr. David Guidi is currently the Director of Upper School at Fayetteville Academy (Fayetteville, NC). He has held a variety of roles through 16 years of independent school experience, including Fine Arts Department Chair, Assistant Dean of Students, College Counselor, Advisor, and Teacher. Dave’s academic pursuits and work as a professional musician have earned him national recognition as a saxophonist and composer, with performances across the U.S., Europe, and Canada. With degrees from the University of North Florida (BM), Florida State University (MM), and The University of Texas at Austin (DMA), Dave has also taught a wide range of courses at Southwestern University, UT-Austin, and FSU.  Throughout his career, he has designed numerous academic initiatives and, much like his work as a musician and ensemble director, enjoys bringing people together, building programs, and leading campus efforts. 

Courtney Harrell is an English teacher in the Upper School at Summit School. She currently teaches 8th grade Language Arts and 9th grade Research and Writing. Prior to teaching at Summit School, she taught in Davidson County Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, teaching a variety of grades and courses including middle school math and language arts, American history, world history, and English. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy instruction and has experience as a project based learning coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Meredith College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia.

Todd Jones teaches world history to seventh and tenth graders at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington. He is new to North Carolina after a 25-year public school teaching experience in Oregon, where he taught world history, U.S. history, government, economics and language arts in grades six through twelve. He has expertise in experiential education and thematic instruction.

Bill Kanzinger has been a private school teacher for over 30 years, working not only as a Lower School classroom and PE teacher, but for the last 16 years as a MS/US STEM Electives teacher.  Some of his electives include: Video Game Design, App Design, Graphic Design, Maker, Robotics, Broadcasting and General Computing.  He has worked at the Cathedral School in New York City, University School in Cleveland, Ohio, and for the last 21 years at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington.

Barb Kilpatrick is a middle school teacher, Wilson Reading practitioner, and Lead Advisor for Middle School at Noble Academy in Greensboro. She's been teaching for 20 years with the past 10 years being at Noble, helping to support students with learning differences. Throughout her career so far, she has taken on many leadership roles including the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Team (PBIS) at her public school, co-chairing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Noble, and working to develop a comprehensive Skill Building program for all of Noble Academy's middle school students as Lead Advisor. She has also been the Junior Beta Club sponsor for 8 years and has facilitated taking her group of students to the NC State Convention each year. What she loves most about working in education is building positive, supportive relationships with students that can help foster growth in all areas of their lives, and this important work done beyond the classroom has really expanded and nurtured a strong sense of purpose as a middle school educator.

Dr. Michelle Klosterman is a dedicated educator who believes in the power of student-centered learning. As the Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning at Forsyth Country Day School, she oversees a wide range of programs that support student growth, including curriculum development, faculty training, library services, college counseling, and special education. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Klosterman has a proven ability to create engaging learning environments that inspire curiosity and foster critical thinking. Her strong academic background in curriculum, special education, and biomedical engineering allows her to bring innovative approaches to the classroom and empower students to reach their full potential.

Mer Leeson (they/them) holds a B.S. in Computer Accounting and an M.S. in Business & Technology Management. As a Certified Public Accountant, they gained experience across the private, non-profit, and government sectors. After earning their J.D., Mer’s legal practice took them from D.C. to Afghanistan and beyond. In 2020, they relocated to Charlotte, NC, to pursue their lifelong dream of teaching. Currently, Mer serves as the LS Digital Learning Catalyst at Trinity Episcopal School, where they teach technology classes for K-8 students and support fellow educators with integrating educational technologies into their classrooms.

Dr. Yolanda J. McClure is a dedicated educational leader passionate about cultivating teachers and leaders through intentional professional learning and development. A native of Durham, North Carolina, she earned her doctorate in education from Northeastern University in 2022, specializing in Teaching, Leadership, and Learning, and holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

As the Director of Teaching and Learning at Forsyth Country Day School, Dr. McClure empowers educators through coaching, professional learning, and mentorship. She emphasizes the use of the learning environment as a "third teacher," fostering spaces that inspire creativity, engagement, and academic success. Her leadership includes guiding curriculum developing programs that foster a purposeful and cohesive faculty experience.

Leveraging a career that spans over 15 years, she is an experienced presenter, recently leading sessions such as "Text, Context, and Connections: Unraveling Scarborough's Reading Rope through Literacy and Social Studies Integration" and professional development on learning environments as a catalyst for student-centered learning.

Dr. McClure resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, Sean, and their two sons, McKinley and Harrison.

Anthony Myers is the Assistant Director of Upper School at Summit School. He has previously worked as a learning specialist and National Board Certified Teacher, instructing students in a variety of courses in grades 6 through 9 including Advanced Algebra, middle grades math, American history, and Language Lab. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy instruction, Anthony also teaches Language Tutorial in the Triad Academy at Summit School. He holds a bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University, a master's degree in gifted education from the University of Virginia, and a certificate in school management and leadership from Harvard University. Anthony has successfully completed the NAIS School Leadership Institute and the SAIS Administrative Leadership Institute. He is currently writing his doctoral dissertation through the University of Virginia focusing on teacher perspectives on twice-exceptionality and corresponding professional development needs.

MG, or Mx. Sheers, joined the Triad Division at Summit in 2023. They love serving our Upper School students as a Language Arts, Language Tutorial, and Social Studies teacher! Previously, MG taught in Thailand through the Fulbright Program and in the DC area, where they grew up. Outside of work, they love hiking local trails, reading books, playing kickball, or trying new craft projects.

Jenna has been teaching in the Wake County area for the last 7 years, with experience in Seminar Classes, Project Based Learning, and traditional learning environments. Prior to teaching, she worked as an Administrator in Independent Schools and as a Therapeutic Foster Parent in Western NC. She roots her decisions based on Cognitive Development Principles, and her varied experience applying that science in a variety of settings offers a unique perspective. She looks forward to offering a different lense to teachers looking to build resilience in their classroom setting.  

John Cowan is the founder and CEO of Value-Driven Strategic Consulting LLC, a software development firm located in Salisbury, NC that is dedicated to helping philanthropic organizations realize their vision and dreams.  John’s background includes  strategic business, marketing, technology, and operations consulting and, recently, teaching at the Salisbury Academy Upper School.  John earned his MBA from the Kenan Flagler Business School and is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Over the last 20+ years, John has been focused on delivering tangible value across industries and disciplines, including management consulting, financial services, technology and operations, and the utilities industry. 

“I am very proud of this company and all the work we do to help nonprofits and their stakeholders succeed.  I believe in relationships where vision is shared and success is mutual.  Ultimately, as we enable our clients to achieve their purpose, they have helped me to find mine.”   

When he is not strategizing over their clients’ success, you will find John spending time with his wife and daughter and our many friends in the wonderful community of Salisbury, NC.

With a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, I have dedicated the past 19 years to teaching mathematics. My career began at Westchester Country Day School in High Point, NC, where I spent six years instructing a variety of middle and upper school courses. Currently, I am a member of the Upper School faculty at Charlotte Country Day School, where I teach Honors Algebra II and Dynamic Math. My passion for mathematics and commitment to student success continue to drive my teaching endeavors.

Dean Stern is a dedicated educator with over 12 years of teaching experience, including six years at Westchester Day School. He holds an undergraduate degree in oceanography from Duke University and did graduate work in biochemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, focusing on human enzyme expression. In AP Biology, Biology and Marine Biology at Westchester Day School, Dean combines his diverse academic background with hands-on teaching to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in his students.

Amy Schenck is an experienced educator with over 10 years of experience in the classroom, currently teaching 6th and 7th grade literature at Westchester Country Day School. With a Bachelor's degree in Special Education, Amy has a deep understanding of how to support students of varying abilities and backgrounds.

Amy uses variations of the design process to engage students and help them find meaning and enjoyment in literature. She is committed to meeting the needs of all learners, tailoring her lessons to make the curriculum accessible to everyone, regardless of their individual learning styles or challenges. Amy is particularly skilled at finding creative ways to teach subjects that middle school students often struggle to appreciate, fostering a love for reading and writing through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Christina Frazier, a seasoned middle school educator with 16 years of experience, is passionate about empowering young people with essential life skills. At Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC, she teaches Personal Finance, Model United Nations, and English.  Her engaging curriculum covers critical topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit, tailored to resonate with middle school learners. A graduate of Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania, she has lived in Denmark, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Cetta, a Greensboro native and NC State alumna, holds a BS in Middle Grades Education with a concentration in English Language Arts and Social Studies. After teaching in Philadelphia for the past five years, she is excited to return to Winston-Salem to be closer to her family. She looks forward to becoming rooted in the community. In her free time, Cetta enjoys cooking and exploring new foods, listening to podcasts, hiking with her dog Lucy, and spending time with loved ones.