As the 2024-25 school year gets underway, we extend a warm welcome to the new faculty and staff who have joined the Ravenscroft community!

LOWER SCHOOL

Cassie Abood, First-Grade Teacher

Cassie Abood joins Ravenscroft’s Lower School as a first-grade teacher after serving last year as a long-term substitute in kindergarten, third grade and fourth grade. She graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Grove City College and is pursuing an M.Ed. in reading education through UNC-Charlotte. Abood is passionate about curriculum development and implementation as well as fostering students’ social-emotional growth in the classroom. 

In her free time, she is involved in her local church, enjoys spending time with her husband and loves to be outdoors. 

Fun Fact: She loves to bake.

Ilham Azim, Kindergarten Teacher

Ilham Azim is an early childhood educator with three years of teaching experience. Holding both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from George Mason University, Azim is dedicated to fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment. Her teaching style focuses on empowering students, helping them build confidence and achieve success in their academic endeavors. She ensures that every student feels valued and motivated to reach their full potential! 

In her free time, Azim loves shopping, eating new food with her fiancé and spending all the rest of her life obsessing over her Corgi, Isla. 

Fun Fact: You can show her any dog and she can tell you what breed it is!

Iyenda Bolton, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher 

Iyenda Bolton assumes the role of Kindergarten assistant teacher within the Lower School community, bringing with her a wealth of academic and professional accomplishments. With an educational background from North Carolina Central University and UNC-Chapel Hill, she holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education. Bolton has two decades of experience in education, having served as a kindergarten teacher, first-grade teacher, faculty mentor, MTSS Coordinator and Special Education Resource teacher. She spent two years as an educator in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

Beyond the classroom, Bolton finds joy in spending quality time with family and engaging with friends. 

Fun Fact: She loves traveling.

Amy Campbell, Fourth-Grade Assistant Teacher

Amy Campbell joined the Ravenscroft community during the summer of 2022 as a substitute teacher and became the full-time fourth-grade assistant teacher in November 2023. She holds a B.S. in psychology from Western Carolina University and an M.Ed. in special education from NC State. She completed what she calls her “first career” as a teacher in North Carolina state psychiatric facilities, retiring in June of 2022. She fell in love with the Ravenscroft community and was very excited to have a chance to work with the fourth-graders. 

During her free time, Campbell enjoys road trips with her husband and spending family time at the beach with their two grown sons.

Fun Fact: Thrift-shopping is her feel-good activity and instant mood boost!

Taylor Carr, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Taylor Carr joins the Lower School community as a Kindergarten assistant teacher. He loves learning and working with kids and has many of the same interests (like games and cartoons!). He previously worked at Walt Disney World and taught as a school librarian and ESL teacher in Wake County Public Schools before finding his happy place at Ravenscroft in January 2024. He studied anthropology at Auburn University as an undergraduate and ESL Education at NC State University in graduate school. 

Carr is a proud cat parent to Sansa. He looks forward to sharing a fun and engaging learning environment with the Ravenscroft family.

Fun Fact: His favorite Pokemon is Pichu.

Andrea DeMarchi: Third-Grade Long-Term Substitute Teacher

Andrea DeMarchi will be teaching third grade during Mrs. Carter’s maternity leave. She has over 30 years of experience in elementary and secondary education and a passion for promoting literacy, building confidence and empowering learners. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education and a doctoral degree in educational leadership. 

In her spare time, DeMarchi enjoys spending time with her husband, their four boys and the rest of their giant family barbecuing, cooking Sunday dinners and spending time outdoors.

Fun Fact: She has published four children’s books.

Lindsey Pendry, Lower School Flexible Teacher

Lindsey Pendry joins the Lower School as a flexible teacher, first covering Mrs. Linton’s maternity leave in fourth grade and then any additional long-term and short-term substitute needs that arise. She has seven years of teaching experience in multiple grade levels and state and spent the last two years as a second-grade teacher in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Pendry has a B.S. in interdisciplinary liberal studies and an M.A.T. in elementary education from James Madison University.  

She loves spending time with her husband and dog, Bear. She enjoys reading and spending time outside with her family. 

Fun Fact: She loves horseback riding and has been riding her whole life.

Kaitlin Ramsden ’18, First-Grade Teacher

Kaitlin Ramsden ’18 — a Ravenscroft lifer — joins the Lower School community as a first-grade teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education at Furman University. She continued her studies and obtained a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Development. For the past two years, she has taught in the public school system in Greenville, South Carolina, gaining experience working with fifth- and second-grade students. The opportunity to return to Ravenscroft feels like a homecoming, and she is incredibly grateful for the chance to give back to the community that has given her so much. 

Ramsden enjoys reading on the beach, group fitness classes and spending time with friends. 

Fun Fact: She was part of four consecutive championship swimming teams during her time at Ravenscroft.

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Carmine Buono - Middle School Mathematics Teacher

Carmine Buono is thrilled to join the Ravenscroft community as a seasoned educator with 14 years of experience teaching middle school math at Rumsey Hall School in Washington Depot, Connecticut. At Rumsey Hall, Buono demonstrated his passion for soccer by founding the school’s first girls soccer team and running the highly popular futsal program. 

Outside of the classroom, he cherishes time with his wife and their four children. A devoted sports enthusiast, he enjoys watching hockey, soccer and football. He is eager to bring his dedication and enthusiasm for teaching and sports to Ravenscroft.

Fun Fact: His favorite movie is “The Lord of the Rings.”

Lali Fisher - Middle School Science Teacher

Lali Fisher is excited to start her journey as a sixth-grade science teacher here at Ravenscroft! She has 15 years of teaching experience, with 14 years teaching fourth- and fifth-grade inclusion classrooms at Hayfield Elementary in Fairfax County, Virginia. She transitioned to the Raleigh area last summer and spent a year as a STEM teacher for Kindergarten through fifth grade. Fisher has a love for science and exploration; she just returned from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she was leading a Smithsonian Student Travel group. 

Outside of school, Fisher enjoys the outdoors, especially the mountains. She is a lover of true-crime podcasts, reading and cuddling up with her fur babies, Hayden and Oliver. She is a big sports fan and especially of D.C. sports teams. 

Fun Fact: She is a huge U.S. women’s soccer fan.

Callie Hammond - Middle School English Language Arts Teacher and Department Chair

Callie Hammond is originally from Charlotte and is a graduate of Cannon School. She has taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade English in Philadelphia and Denver public schools and, most recently, at an independent school in Houston, Texas. She is working toward a Ph.D. in English education at NC State.

Hammond is enjoying exploring Raleigh with her husband and two kids. They are all enjoying being close to their grandparents again!

Fun Fact: She loves to travel and has been to 20 countries (so far!).

Amy Holland - Middle School Counselor

Amy Holland is excited to be joining the Ravenscroft community as the new Middle School counselor. She is relocating to Raleigh from Winston-Salem with her husband and seven-year-old son. Last year she served as a school counselor at a K-12 independent school in High Point, and before getting her degree in counseling at Wake Forest University, she was a teacher at an independent school in Winston-Salem, with expertise in language-based learning differences and ADHD. In addition to working as a school counselor, Holland has worked as a clinical mental-health counselor and is a licensed clinical mental-health counselor associate in North Carolina. 

In her free time, Holland enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She is excited to move to Raleigh and take advantage of all the greenways and trails for running, hiking and biking as well as being so close to the beach.

Fun Fact: She loves to bake and believes in eating dessert every day!

Joanne Leary - Middle School Mathematics Teacher

Joanne Leary is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as a new Middle School math teacher. She is from Raleigh and received her degree from UNC-Greensboro. Upon graduation, Joanne returned to Raleigh to begin her career in the public school system, where she won her school’s First-Year Teacher of the Year award. After a few years, she transitioned to private school and fell in love with teaching all over again. 

In her free time, Leary enjoys spending time with family and practicing calligraphy.

Fun Fact: She has a five-year-old Chihuahua/American Eskimo mix named Cora.

Laura Sanders - Middle School World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Laura Sanders is delighted to continue her journey as a world language educator, teaching Spanish in the Middle School. While she is new to the Ravenscroft community, she is a Raleigh native. She has lived in various states and spent time in both South America and Spain. She is excited to share her love of language and culture with her students. 

Around town, you may see her running, sipping a latte or hiking with her children and new puppy! 

Fun Fact: She has worked as a certified fitness instructor, and some of her best friendships have been developed through distance running.

 

UPPER SCHOOL

Kathleen Caslow - Assistant Head of Upper School for Academic Affairs

Kathleen Caslow brings over three decades of dedicated service in education, research and leadership to Ravenscroft School, following a career at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. She recently completed an M.Ed. in leadership and policy from American University and has engaged with students in marine biology research and taken students on immersive research programs in Panama and Costa Rica. Caslow has served in various administrative capacities and has coached multiple sports. 

Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in her family life, sharing her journey with her husband and their three sons.

Fun Fact: She creates photography art, using nature as the center of her work.

Justin Cobb - Upper School World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Justin Cobb joins the Upper School as a Spanish teacher. He earned bachelor’s degrees in World Language Education (Spanish) and Chinese as well as a minor in Arabic from the University of Oklahoma and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction through George Mason University. While at the University of Oklahoma, he served as coordinator of the World Language Tutoring Center and staff training coordinator for the Peer Learning Assistants tutoring program. He will teach Spanish III, IV and V.

Fun Fact: He has taught Mandarin at a four-week intensive language course in Bemidji, Minnesota, for two summers.

Luis Girón - Upper School World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Luis Girón is a Colombian-American bilingual educator. He holds a B.A. in modern languages from Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia, and has been recognized by the UNC-Chapel Hill World View program, was a Cultural Educator of the Year nominee in 2005 and is a 2024 Foreign Language Association of North Carolina Teacher of the Year (K-12) nominee. Girón is thrilled to embark on a new educational journey at Ravenscroft after teaching language and culture over two decades.

Outside of the school setting, Girón cherishes his time with his wife and two children, indulges in reading and writing and explores new destinations through travel. He also enjoys spinning and listening to his favorite vinyls and 8-Track collection, dancing to Latin music, playing with his cats, following world football (soccer) and searching for the perfect barbecue across North Carolina.

Fun Fact: He has a collection of more than 1,000 vinyl records, most of them ’80s pop.

Audrey Harrington - Upper School Science Teacher

Audrey Harrington is a seasoned educator with a career spanning 35 years marked with a profound passion in science and literacy. She is a proud parent of three grown sons who make her smile on a daily basis. Holding a master’s degree as a Literacy Specialist K-12, she enjoys sharing a wealth of knowledge and expertise with the community she serves.  

Beyond the classroom, she finds joy in the great outdoors, often hiking with her family and her dog, Oakley. Harrington’s insatiable wanderlust fuels her favorite pastime: traveling the globe to immerse herself in different cultures and culinary fare.

Fun Fact: Her goal is to visit 100 countries and so far has visited 32.

Lucy Liversidge - Upper School History and Social Studies Teacher

Lucy Liversidge will be joining the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School Economics instructor. She graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she studied economics and religion. 

Originally from California, she is excited to learn about Raleigh from her students. She enjoys playing the piano, running and practicing her Japanese.

Fun Fact: She is an Australian citizen.

Angela Moser - Upper School English Teacher

Angela Moser has 16 years of experience in K-12 classrooms and five years of experience teaching higher-education composition courses, which she continues to do online. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and history and master’s degrees in secondary English education, instructional technology, and multicultural and transnational literature. She is currently working on her doctorate in instructional technology at Appalachian State, with a focus on the integration of AI in education to enhance the educational experience. 

Moser finds joy in various hobbies, including reading, crafting and gaming. However, her greatest companions are her two beloved toy poodles, with whom she adores walking and spending time.

Fun Fact: She spent a month traveling through Finland and met the real Santa at his office, which is in Finland (not the North Pole), and stood on the Arctic Circle.

Rebekah Ring - Upper School Academic Skills  Teacher

Rebekah Ring joins the Ravenscroft team with nearly two decades of educational experience in elementary, middle and high school. She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Special and Elementary Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvaniaand a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. She is additionally certified in middle school language arts. 

Ring has been married to a fellow educator for 19 years and has two teenagers, a daughter and son, who are both promising student-athletes. In her free time she enjoys supporting her children in their athletic endeavors, golfing, kayaking and fishing. 

Fun Fact: When she was younger, she was a member of a giant slalom ski team.

Iker Sedeño - Upper School World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Iker Sedeño is excited to join the Upper School as a Spanish instructor. Born and raised in Mexico, Sedeño moved to Arkansas to attend college, later completing an M.A. at the University of Tennessee. His dedication to lifelong learning and professional development led him to become a Klingenstein Summer Institute fellow at Teachers College last year. Prior to moving to Raleigh, he taught in Collierville, Tennessee, and in Asheville. 

In his free time, he enjoys tasting and learning about Chinese tea and spending time with his dog, Dasha.

Fun Fact: In 2018, his passion for learning and adventurous spirit led him to South Korea to study the language through the Critical Language Scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Frank South - Upper School Computer Science (IDE) Teacher

Frank South is thrilled to join Ravenscroft this year. With a background in teaching programming fundamentals and game design to K-12, he is  excited to bring his passion for technology to the classroom this year. Before transitioning to education, South developed corporate health programs at Fidelity, Biogen and NetApp, where he found his interest and pursuit of software development. Currently, he spends his days developing full-stack web applications, specializing in JavaScript and Python. 

Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and their dog, Zeus. Whether it’s hiking through state parks, kayaking or rollerblading down greenways, they are always looking for somewhere new to explore. 

Fun Fact: He and his wife are currently working on visiting all 34 North Carolina state parks.

Katelyn Spinner - Upper School Science Teacher

Katelyn Spinner is thrilled to join the Ravenscroft community as a new Upper School physics teacher. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in physics, she began her career as a microwave/RF engineer, designing radar components for satellite and military applications. Through several interstate moves and starting a family, Spinner and her husband settled in Durham. She entered the field of education with Durham Public Schools in 2020 and quickly became a leader in technology and self-paced learning, as well as an AP Physics instructor and Science Department chair. 

Outside of school, you can find her playing with her two kids, training in martial arts or reading fantasy novels.

Fun Fact: She is a martial-arts instructor (Krav Maga).

Derecia Walkine - Upper School Science Teacher

Derecia Walkine is delighted to join the Ravenscroft community as a science teacher in the Upper School. Originally from the Bahamas, she received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Memorial University and a medical degree from the Latin American School of Medicine. Walkine began her teaching career in 2016, returning to her science base as a general science and biology teacher in the Bahamas. Her love of both science and teaching bloomed, and she worked with a team of pioneering teachers to implement the very first virtual school in the Bahamas. She then moved to the United States as a science teacher, recently teaching at Glades Middle School.  

She is enjoying living in North Carolina and enjoys hiking, swimming, fishing and family time with her daughter.

Fun Fact: She is the only granddaughter of the Walkine clan who is able to skin and gut a fish.

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/ATHLETICS

Jaylen Farrar, Substitute Physical Education Teacher/Coach 

Jaylen Farrar joins the Physical Education Department as a full-time substitute teacher/coach. He has a bachelor’s degree in sports science and fitness management from North Carolina A&T State University and has four years of teaching experience working in North Carolina. He enjoys giving a helping hand to students and fellow faculty when needed.  

Farrar enjoys spending time with family and friends in his time off and recreational basketball games. He looks forward to spending more time as part of the Ravenscroft community.

Fun Fact: Farrar previously worked at Ravenscroft for three years as a part-time substitute in the Lower School and Middle School.

 

FINE ARTS

Amanda Schreiner, Lower School General Music Teacher

Amanda Schreiner is thrilled to join the Ravenscroft community as a member of the fine arts team. She is from Upstate New York and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education with a concentration in clarinet from the Crane School of Music at SUNY-Potsdam. She has taught in New York and Raleigh in K-5 general music, beginning band and orchestra, chorus, and middle and high school band lessons. 

When not making music, Schreiner enjoys time with her husband and two daughters and rooting on the Canes and the Wolfpack. She is also known for whipping up a delicious meal and a good pun. 

Fun Fact: She previously worked for the NC Symphony in the Artistic Operations Department, programming music and working with guest artists.

 

STAFF 

Extended Day

Marla Blagdon - Extended Day First- and Second-Grade Assistant Teacher

Marla Blagdon has taught and tutored students in both writing and literature from Kindergarten through Middle School at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, and Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. While she was working on her master’s degree in literature at Portland State University, she had the opportunity to be a counselor aide for Upward Bound. She has also volunteered for Start Making a Reader Today (SMART). Her passion for teaching comes, in part, from being a reading buddy while in the fifth and sixth grades. 

In her free time she enjoys outdoor work, dog sitting, reading, swimming, walking, getting together with friends and riding. 

Fun Fact: She enjoys puzzles and crafts.

Corwin Davis ’01 - Extended Day PreK through Second-Grade Floating Teacher Assistant 

Corwin Davis ’01 joins the Extended Day program while maintaining his role at Ravenscroft as an assistant varsity boys basketball coach. His professional experience ranges from being a medical technician to working as a teacher assistant at Union Cross Elementary in Winston-Salem. He holds a B.A. in communications from Appalachian State University and is a Ravenscroft Sports Hall of Fame inductee for basketball. 

He enjoys using his time off swimming and leading basketball camps. 

Fun Fact: He plays chess.

Andrea Leach - Extended Day PreK/Kindergarten Assistant Teacher 

Andrea Leach, a Greensboro native, brings her passion and experience with young children to our Extended Day program. She has over 12 years experience working with children from preschool through fifth grade. She is a proud military wife and mother to her son. 

Her hobbies include crafting and reading. 

Fun Fact: She enjoys watching good films.

Lindsey Rogers - Extended Day PreK/Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Lindsey Rogers holds a B.A. in psychology from Western Carolina University. Her experiences include working as librarian at Haywood Community College, as a nanny and multiple roles in daycares. She prides herself on her ability to provide a sense of caring and security for her students and looks forward to working at Ravenscroft with our younger Ravens. 

Rogers is a true Blue Theater fan and loves Funko Pop.

Fun Fact: She has collected over 150 Funko Pops! 

Facilities

Thad Brueck - Grounds Maintenance Technician

Thad Brueck is a lifelong resident of Raleigh and joined Ravenscroft in January 2024. He comes with extensive landscaping experience locally, working on the commercial side. He attended Wake Technical Community College and finished with an associate’s degree in business administration. 

When away from work, Brueck enjoys spending time with his two daughters and being outside as much as possible. His hobbies include running, fishing and trying to keep up with his active family. 

Fun Fact: He has another daughter due in October.

Cam Eddins - Grounds Maintenance Technician

Cam Eddins joined Ravenscroft in October 2023. He graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in health and fitness. He was born and raised in eastern Wake County and enjoys golf, freshwater fishing, working out and spending weekends with his friends.

Fun Fact: He is right-handed but swings baseball bats and golf clubs left-handed. 

Institutional Advancement

Lyle Farrar - Director of the Annual Fund

Lyle Farrar grew up in Lexington, Virginia, and attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Spanish and was a four-year letterman on the men’s lacrosse team. After college, he spent four months at an International Baccalaureate School in Mar del Plata, Argentina, before moving back to Alexandria to teach Spanish and coach lacrosse at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School. Farrar then returned to Episcopal High School as the Director of Alumni and Parent Programs and served as assistant boys lacrosse coach. 

He moved to Raleigh in 2013 to work in the commercial banking industry. After over a decade away from schools, he is thrilled to join the team at Ravenscroft.

Fun Fact: He has the same birthday as his dad.