Francis Donald - Director of Enrollment Management

With a decade of admissions work at great schools in Texas and California, Francis Donald brings a wealth of experience serving at ‘the front door’ of a school community. 

Donald, who most recently served as Director of Enrollment Management at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, Calif., holds a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. He was an accomplished collegiate lacrosse player who developed his talents as a student at St. Mark’s School of Texas, a private boys' school for grades 1-12. He was a St. Mark’s “lifer,” attending from first grade through to graduation, and actually played a lacrosse game at Ravenscroft during his high school career.

Outside of work, Donald and his wife Samantha love to go to and teach fitness classes. They have a young daughter and son. As a family, they are looking forward to exploring the many parks in Raleigh and attending sporting events in the area.

Elizabeth (Liz) Helfant - Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs

Elizabeth “Liz” Helfant comes to Ravenscroft via Mary Institute Country Day School (a PreK-12 independent day school serving approximately 1,250 students). Helfant is an award-winning educational leader and has been an innovative force in independent schools for over two decades.

Her considerable experience includes designing student-centered curricula, establishing engagement strategies, developing best practices in assessment, and teaching skills with technology. She is a well-respected consultant in educational technology and as a recipient of the prestigious ATLIS Pillar Award has been recognized as an unsung hero for her many contributions — leadership, mentorship and support of technology leaders in independent schools. Helfant holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., and began her work in education teaching chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Helfant has four adult children, three sons and a daughter, who were all raised attending independent schools. She is the proud grandmother of two and the new mom to a Golden Lab puppy, Montana!

Bonnie Jacobi - Director of Fine Arts

Dr. Bonnie Jacobi is honored and excited to join Ravenscroft this year as the school’s new Director of Fine Arts. A prize-winning classical pianist with training at the Van Cliburn Piano Institute in Ft. Worth, Jacobi holds 35 years of classroom and private music teaching experience. She achieved national distinction as a music teaching and curriculum specialist for Grades K-5 and for her scholarly publications on music education for women, the history of eurhythmics in America, music literacy, tactile learning, space in the learning environment, the use of surprise in instruction, and socioemotional learning.

Jacobi has adjudicated music auditions nationwide for the National Guild of Piano Teachers and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education. A classically-trained dancer, ballet accompanist, and former member of the Austin Contemporary Ballet, she is a Master Teaching Artist with the American Eurhythmics Society and oversees national movement certification for arts teachers. Before joining Ravenscroft, Jacobi taught music and choir in private and public schools, among them Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. Most recently, she served as the Director of the Colorado Kodály Institute at Colorado State University. Jacobi holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Houston, a Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, and earned K-12 School Principal Licensure.   

Jacobi and her husband relocated to Raleigh with their two young boys, a chocolate lab, and an orange tabby cat. Outside of work, Bonnie enjoys collecting folk songs, cooking, gardening, crafting, and engaging in auto, sports, and church activities with her family.  

Elizabeth McKinnon - Director of Marketing and Communications

Elizabeth McKinnon is a seasoned communications and marketing professional with experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. She most recently served as Director of Communications for St. Luke’s Atlanta.

She is a graduate of the journalism school at UNC-Chapel Hill and has served in communications and marketing roles at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Emory University, Christ Church, Raleigh, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Outside of work, McKinnon and her husband, Michael, enjoy spending time outdoors with their two young sons. Their family is looking forward to being back in the Raleigh community after several years in Atlanta.

Jennine Dilger - Ninth and 10th-Grade College Counselor

Jennine Dilger is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as the new ninth and 10th-grade College Counselor! She brings over 10 years of experience in higher education, having served as an academic advisor at several local universities, including UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, and UNCW. In her previous roles, she guided many undecided college students in exploring their interests and identifying a “best fit” major and career path. Ms. Dilger looks forward to applying her expertise to support Ravenscroft students as they embark on their high school journey and begin to think about their future academic and career goals.

She earned her M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University and holds a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science from Elon University, where she was a student-athlete on the track and field team. Outside of school, Dilger enjoys spending time with her family, boating on Falls Lake, and attending any kind of fitness class.

Emily Dixon - Upper School Part-Time World Languages (Latin) Teacher

Emily Dixon is excited to be joining the Ravenscroft community as a Middle/Upper School Latin teacher. She is currently completing an M.A. in Classical Archaeology at UNC Chapel Hill and holds a B.A. in Latin and Greek from the University of Richmond. She is passionate about sharing her love of the ancient Mediterranean world with students and enjoys helping them draw meaningful connections between antiquity and the modern world. In the summers, she works as the lab supervisor for an archaeological project based at an ancient Roman villa site in the Alentejo region of Portugal. At home, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Gus, working on embroidery projects, and playing pickleball with friends.

Crandall King - Upper School English Teacher/Advisor & Yoga Instructor

Incoming teacher Crandall King is delighted to be joining the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School English Teacher. She has worked for The Kenyon Review as an Associate and Teaching Assistant. She earned her B.A. in English from Kenyon College, where she graduated with distinction. She is passionate about sharing the joys of living a literary life with students and helping them find their voice through the pen and page. When not in the classroom, Crandall can be found on long walks with her dog, planning her next hiking trip, or under a tree with a good book and a cup of coffee.

Katie Kalivoda - Upper School World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Katie Kalivoda is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School Spanish Instructor. She has taught Spanish for 10 years in the Triangle area and in Georgia, and she holds a B.A. in Hispanic Studies from Davidson College as well as an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from UNC Chapel Hill. Ms. Kalivoda has lived in Spain and Chile and looks forward to both sharing her experiences and continuing to explore the Spanish-speaking world alongside her students. In addition to teaching, Ms. Kalivoda loves yoga, hiking, drawing, and spending time with her family.

Antony Keane-Dawes - Upper School History & Social Studies Teacher

Dr. Antony Keane-Dawes is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School History and Social Studies Teacher/Advanced Government Specialist. He's taught history and social studies at both the collegiate and high school levels for seven years. Dr. Keane-Dawes earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of South Carolina, an M.A. in history from Florida International University, and a B.A. in history from St. John's University. He looks forward to guiding students in original research, coordinating civics and government extracurriculars, and fostering a love of history in the classroom. Outside of school, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, reading, and working out.

Hannah Morris - Upper School Mathematics Teacher

New teacher Hannah Morris is overjoyed to be joining the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School Mathematics Instructor. She recently graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Education. During her time at NC State, she developed a deep passion for educational equity and for supporting students through engaging, student-centered instruction. Ms. Morris is excited to help students build confidence in math by connecting concepts to real-world applications and fostering a collaborative, inclusive classroom environment. Outside of teaching, she enjoys coaching and mentoring young athletes, diving into a good thriller novel, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Krishna Munshi - Upper School Science Teacher

Dr. Krishna Munshi is thrilled to be joining the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School Science teacher. She has been a practicing physician for 16 years in California, Massachusetts and most recently, North Carolina. She made a career change to teaching science a couple of years ago and has never looked back! She graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Psychology and then completed her Medical Doctorate (MD) at the University of Louisville. She then finished her residency in Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Munshi’s favorite parts of teaching are finding creative ways to get students excited about science and helping them feel connected to the instruction. Apart from teaching, she enjoys baking and decorating cookies, traveling and playing board games with her kids and husband, drawing and painting, and getting outside with her dog.

Andrew Ryan - Upper School Science Department Chair

Andrew Ryan is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as the Upper School Science Department Chair. Andrew has a passion for physics, biology and chemistry. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and received his M.Ed. in Special Education from Boston University. Andrew spent the first five years of his teaching career as a Special Education Science Teacher at Landmark High School in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he taught students with language-based learning disabilities. More recently, Andrew worked as a General Education Science Teacher at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, Massachusetts, where he taught physics, biology and chemistry to students who were pursuing a career in the trades. Andrew is thrilled to bring his nine years of teaching experience to the science department chair position and to foster a welcoming and engaging environment. Additionally, Andrew enjoys running and tennis, and is looking forward to exploring Raleigh further with his wife, Amanda.

Susan Sanchez - Upper School Part-Time World Languages (Spanish) Teacher

Susan Sanchez is excited to be joining the Ravenscroft community as an Upper School Spanish Instructor. She has been a Spanish Teacher for 29 years in North Carolina and most recently retired from Wake County Public Schools. She graduated from North Carolina State University with an M.A. in Spanish Education. She holds a B.S. in  French and Spanish Education from East Carolina University. She is also a National Board Certified teacher. Ms. Sanchez is eager to help foster a love of speaking Spanish and understanding of the Spanish-speaking world by using innovative, engaging, creative instruction. Apart from teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, pedaling her electric bike through town, tending to her flower garden, and looking forward to the appropriate time when they will adopt a dog again.

Xander Carlson - Middle School Digital Media & Computer Science Instructor

Xander Carlson is thrilled to rejoin the middle school faculty as the full-time Digital Media and Computer Science instructor. He earned his degree in Technology, Engineering, and Design Education from Appalachian State University, where he discovered a passion for teaching. That passion was first sparked while working with many of the current Middle School students during their time in Lower School. He loves learning about new tools and skills, but his greatest joy comes from sharing them with others. He believes in fostering a hands-on, creative classroom where students are encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and problem-solve to create 21st-century technology skills. Whether it’s coding, video production, or multimedia design, Carlson aims to help students build confidence and curiosity. Outside of school, he enjoys walking around his home and supporting local pet adoption agencies in Wake Forest.

Olivia Daming - Middle School Administrative Coordinator

Olivia Daming is thrilled to be joining the Ravenscroft community! Daming holds a degree in Music Education with a K-12 license from Meredith College and has spent the past four years teaching chorus at Jordan High School in Durham. During her time at Jordan, Ms. Daming was awarded Beginning Teacher of the Year and successfully led two choral groups to receive superior ratings at state assessment and competitions. 

Daming is passionate about helping students discover their voices and empowering them to use them with confidence. She is excited to step into the role of Administrative Coordinator in the Middle School and looks forward to supporting both students and staff each day. 

Daming lives in Wendell with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors, listening to choral music, and taking on creative craft projects.

Meredith Stewart - Middle School History Teacher

Meredith Stewart is excited to join the faculty as a sixth-grade U.S. History teacher. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond and went on to complete both Law and Divinity school at Duke before discovering that her true calling was in middle school education. For the past 18 years, Stewart has taught middle school history and English. She once led an eight-night history trip — packed into two mini-vans with high schoolers — traveling from the Triangle to Niagara Falls and throughout New England. She lives in downtown Cary with her husband Alex and their daughter Klara. In her spare time, she enjoys researching her roots in Eastern Kentucky, where the family lives on land granted to Revolutionary War soldier Alexander Stewart over 250 years ago. She is also on a personal quest to visit all 48 contiguous states before she turns 48 — only Rhode Island remains.

Kaitlin (Kaiti) Aprill - Lower School Counselor

Kaiti Aprill is excited to join the Ravenscroft community as the Lower School Counselor. She began her career teaching middle school literacy as a Teach For America Corps member in Washington, D.C. After four years in the classroom, she returned to graduate school and earned her Master of Science in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Since 2019, Aprill has served as an elementary school counselor in Wake and Durham Counties. Originally from Michigan, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Aprill is passionate about equipping all students with the social-emotional and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in school and grow into caring, productive members of their communities.

Aprill lives in Raleigh with her husband and toddler son. In her free time, she enjoys scouting out the best toddler playgrounds in Raleigh and Cary and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans — especially during basketball season.

Sam Diehl - Third-Grade Assistant Teacher

Sam Diehl will be joining Ravenscroft as the third-grade assistant teacher. Diehl graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a degree in elementary education. He hopes to have a classroom of his own one day, but is very excited to step into the role of assistant teacher. This third-grade class is particularly special to Diehl, as he previously worked with these students as their extended day teacher when they were in Kindergarten, and it is remarkable how quickly time has passed.

As the assistant teacher, Diehl will be supporting both the teachers and the students. He plans to use this year to further develop his teaching style by learning from the outstanding teachers at Ravenscroft, to become the best teacher possible for the students.

In his free time, Diehl enjoys reading, taking his dogs on walks, and catching up with friends. He would also like to add coaching to this list and hopes to have the opportunity to coach at Ravenscroft. Diehl is eager to begin the school year and meet all of the amazing students he will be working with.

Tetsuya Endo - Third-Grade Teacher (Long-Term Substitute)

Tetsuya Endo joins the Ravenscroft Lower School teaching staff as a third-grade long-term substitute for the Fall of 2025. He brings a diverse career background as a classroom educator, freelance musician, researcher, and assistant manager at Scholastic. Endo began his teaching career a decade ago in his hometown of San Rafael, Calif., and most recently taught in the Wake County Public School System. He is driven by the pursuit of creating effective learning environments for students, from implementing innovative teaching strategies to boosting social skills through intentional Mindfulness and SEL practices. He received his Bachelor’s in Music from the University of California, Irvine, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Sonoma State University, and a Master’s in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology with a concentration in Languages and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Outside of education, Endo is the bass trombonist of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and is a regular substitute for the North Carolina Symphony. He likes to spend his time outdoors with his fiancé, cooking delicious meals from around the world, and reading books while sipping on hot Japanese tea.

Debbie Farley - Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Debbie Farley is excited to join the Ravenscroft Lower School community as a kindergarten assistant teacher. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree from Meredith College as well as her Early Childhood Credentials, Farley brings 11 years of experience as an assistant teacher, serving both preschool children and third graders. She thrives on the challenge of making sure each child truly comprehends what they are learning in the classroom, and she wants each one to feel seen, heard, safe, and loved. Farley is an avid gardener and loves to read, do yoga and spend time traveling with her husband and grown daughters.

Deborah Gotthelf - First-Grade Assistant Teacher

Deborah Gotthelf is a highly experienced Special Education teacher who has been committed to supporting student growth and achievement since 1996. A graduate of Long Island University with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, she worked with children ranging in age from toddlers to high school students, developing and implementing customized, engaging curriculum to meet a wide range of learning needs. Gotthelf has a particular passion for literacy instruction, specializing in the teaching of reading and writing. Her approach is rooted in building strong foundational skills, allowing students to become confident, lifelong learners. Outside of her professional life, Gotthelf is married and a proud mother of two daughters, ages 20 and 23. She enjoys spending time at her second home in Florida, where she finds relaxation and inspiration walking the beach and collecting sea glass.

Lana Millard - Second-Grade Teacher (Long-Term Substitute)

Lana Millard is overjoyed to join the Ravenscroft community! A UNC–Chapel Hill graduate with a background in business and community outreach, she eventually followed her heart into teaching. For the past 15 years, she’s brought warmth, curiosity, and connection to her classroom. Lana believes in nurturing both academics and character, helping children grow into kind, confident learners—together with families and the wider school community.

Outside the classroom, Lana treasures time with her family, especially her joyful two-year-old granddaughter. She also loves collecting primitive antiques and finding hidden gems while thrifting.

Raven Moore - Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Raven Moore has more than eight years of classroom experience, and took a short break from the classroom to work in the counseling world. Now Moore is back in education and looking forward to continuing her work with children at Ravenscroft this upcoming school year. Moore holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology from William Peace University. She also continued her education and received a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University. The minute Moore walked on campus and was greeted by the staff, she knew this was the place she wanted to be. 

During her free time, Moore enjoys a good book, traveling, spending time with her family, and baking.

Tracy Rogers - Kindergarten Teacher

With more than 20 years of dedicated experience in education, Tracy Rogers is an enthusiastic and accomplished educator committed to fostering academic growth and a love of learning in every student. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Education, she has also earned specialized certifications in Literacy and AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted), equipping her to effectively support a wide range of learners. Throughout her career, Rogers has demonstrated a passion for creating inclusive, engaging, and rigorous learning environments. She believes in nurturing the whole child and tailoring instruction to meet diverse needs, using data-driven strategies and a student-centered approach.

Rogers has missed her Ravenscroft family and is thrilled to be coming back “home.” In her free time, Tracy loves spending time outdoors with her husband and two boys. They love to camp together and visit the beach. Rogers also has a new Goldendoodle puppy named Joey, whom the family adores.

Hannah Scully - Third-Grade Teacher

Hannah Scully is thrilled to join the Ravenscroft Lower School as a third-grade teacher. She graduated from Arizona State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and taught third grade for five years with Orange County Schools. She was honored to be nominated for the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award in the 2020-21 school year and selected as a Teacher of the Year in the 2023-24 school year. Scully is passionate about creating a safe and engaging learning environment for all students, where students feel welcomed and comfortable trying new things. She is dedicated to building student confidence and motivation for success, both academically and personally.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending quality time with family and friends. 

Lauren Thompson - Kindergarten Teacher

Lauren Thompson joins the Ravenscroft community in the fall of 2025 as a kindergarten teacher. Thompson most recently taught in the Wake County Public Schools as an Elementary Special Education Teacher in the resource setting, serving kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from the UNC-Chapel Hill. She holds two teaching licenses in North Carolina, one in Elementary Education K-6 and the other in Special Education K-12. As a lifer of an independent school herself, she is beyond thrilled to join the Ravenscroft community. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Tar Heels, spending time with her family (especially her nephew, George), working at the Masters Golf tournament each April, dog sitting, listening to and traveling to see Taylor Swift, and working out.

MacKenzie (Kenzie) Kelleher - Strength and Conditioning Coach

Kelleher is very excited to be joining athletics as the Director of Strength and Conditioning. Kelleher holds certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and USAW-L1. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Fitness Specialist with a minor in Nutrition from East Carolina University and a Master's in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University. Kelleher previously worked at Cannon School and Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte before joining Ravenscroft.

In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, watching sports, specifically East Carolina Football, and hanging out with friends. 

Dena Floyd - Sports Information Director

Dena is ecstatic about rejoining the Ravenscroft staff (she was the head coach for varsity girls soccer in 2013 and 2014 and assisted with strength and conditioning) to serve in a different role as the Sports Information Director. Floyd was most recently the Athletic Director at Woods Charter School in Chapel Hill, bringing more than 20 years of experience in athletics, coaching, color commentating, and performance training. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and former collegiate soccer player at the University of Florida. She holds a master’s degree from NC State, and she is a certified athletic administrator. For a few years, she also color-commentated for NC State Soccer and ESPN. Currently, Dena serves on the Executive Council for The Global Community of Women in High School Sports. Mentoring, developing and leading in athletics is her passion.

Outside of work, sports are still a big part of her life. She is a sports mom to her son Jase, who’s a multi-sport athlete keeping her busy on the weekends, and she loves pickleball. Beyond sport, she enjoys reading and volunteering in the community.

Melodie Bobbitt - Fine Arts Administrative Coordinator

Dr. Melodie Bobbitt holds both her Master's and Doctoral degrees from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. An accomplished pianist, she pursued piano performance degrees for each of her degree programs. Bobbitt joined the Private Lessons faculty at Ravenscroft in 2015 after 20 years teaching in Alabama and has continued to add opportunities for our students over the past 10 years. Preceding and following the completion of her master’s degree, Bobbitt sustained a long time relationship with Samford University where she worked as an administrator and teacher in such activities as Assistant Director of the Samford Academy of the Arts, Samford University Adventures in Music Camp, Samford University All Aboard for Music Camp, and served as an Assistant Professor at Samford University School of the Arts as a Class Piano Instructor. Additionally, Bobbitt taught adjunct Class Piano and Piano Pedagogy courses through the University of Montevallo for 11 years, she has served as an adjudicator for piano competitions and festivals throughout the Southeast, and she has chaired numerous local, state and district piano events. The relationship with music educators and various institutions expanded to North Carolina when Bobbitt and her husband settled in Zebulon.

Blair Cadden - Middle School Theatre and Production Teacher

Blair Cadden was born and raised in Charleston, S.C., where she took her first acting class at six years old and never looked back. She continued performing at school and in her community, eventually receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Wofford College. Blair returned to Charleston and co-founded a small and scrappy theatre company with a focus on helping playwrights develop new work. She went on to receive her MFA in Directing from Boston University before returning to the Carolinas to spend a year as Artist in Residence at Duke University's Department of Theatre Studies. During that year, she fell in love with the Triangle and decided to call it home. When she's not in a classroom or theatre, you can probably find her hiking along the Eno River, baking from a new recipe, or reading on the couch while buried beneath her two dogs. 

Paul Edghill - Theatre Technician

With more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Edghill has successfully planned, designed, and executed a wide range of events across regional and international markets. His background spans theatrical productions, live concerts, music festivals, corporate events, and large-scale touring shows, with expertise in both creative design and technical direction.

Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to work with globally recognized artists such as Alicia Keys, Boyz II Men, John Legend, Morris Chestnut, and Lionel Richie, to name a few. He has also led touring productions for major companies, including VEE Corporation’s Sesame Street Live, among many others. Edghill holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design and Production from East Carolina University and a Master of Fine Arts in Technical Direction from the UNC-Chapel Hill.

Linda Jones - Private Lessons Instructor (Piano)

Linda Jones, a Raleigh native, moved to Kerr Lake in June. After 16 years in Asheville and 20 years in New Bern, Linda and her husband are excited to return to the Piedmont to be near family in the Triangle area. She is a graduate of Meredith College (1989, BM in Piano Pedagogy with the Church Music Certificate) and of East Carolina University (1995, MM in Organ and Church Music). Teaching piano, playing piano and organ for worship, working with choirs of all ages, directing handbell choirs, accompanying high school musicals, playing concerts with friends - have been her joy and delight for more than 35 years. Linda and Scott, her high school sweetheart, have been married for 36 years and are looking forward to the next 36! They have two adult daughters, two rescue collies and a variety of chickens. In her spare time, Linda loves to read, garden, thrift-store shop and go camping.

Sarah Burke - Fifth-Grade Extended Day Teacher

Sarah Burke, who is originally from Franklinton, N.C.,  is currently working toward a Bachelor’s of Elementary Education from East Carolina University this fall to become a full-time teacher. She describes herself as an easy-going, open, patient, goal-oriented person who is striving to gain experience in educational settings. During her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, visiting arcades, hiking, and doing arts and crafts.

Kiran Hawley - PreK Lead Extended Day Teacher 

Kiran Hawley has experience as an Assistant Teacher at Kindercare and Childcare Network. She is currently working towards a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix. She is a passionate early childhood education professional with a heart for helping young children grow, learn and thrive.

Kiran, along with her close-knit family, are from Knightdale, N.C. Her parents instilled values of faith, love and community to her to pass along. Outside of the classroom, she loves staying active and creative. Some of her favorite things include baking fun treats, going on nature walks, painting and spending quality time with her family and friends. On a side note, she eventually would love to learn how to skydive.

Aubrey Williams - Kindergarten Lead Extended Day Teacher

Originally from Elizabeth City, N.C., Aubrey has four young sons, ages 19, 16, 12, and 7, and is married to a wonderful lady named Kishae. He partners with his wife to strive to instill important values in their children that have been passed on throughout their families.

Williams brings his extensive tenure working with at-risk youth in the mental health field, coupled with work in various public school systems with children from various demographics.

In his free time, Williams enjoys travelling, listening to Quartet-Styled Christian Music, and spending time with his loved ones. He is a lover of all people and an advocate for individuals who desire to be winners in life.

MacKenzie Rackley - Assistant Director of Employee Life Cycle

MacKenzie Rackley has worked in Human Resources for 15 years across many fields, including higher education, a global clothing company, insurance and marketing. She most recently served as the HR Manager at Walk West, a marketing agency out of Raleigh. Rackley holds a core belief that the best HR work is done by leading with empathy and authenticity.

While originally from Greensboro, she loves calling Raleigh home and is a proud graduate of Meredith College.

Outside of work, Rackley enjoys spending time with her husband Mark, their young daughter and the family pup Riggins — a friendly and energetic French Bulldog. She is active in their church, specifically in women’s and children’s ministries. The Rackley family can be found on the weekend at Lake Lynn or cheering for the NC State University baseball team! 

Housekeeping

The Housekeeping Department is proud to support the school community by maintaining a clean, safe, and well-organized environment for students, staff, and visitors. Our team officially took over housekeeping operations in the middle of last school year, bringing with us a wide range of professional experience from various educational, commercial, and institutional settings.

With a strong background in facility care and custodial services, our staff brings valuable knowledge, skills, and dedication to the work we do each day. Since stepping into our role, we’ve focused on improving cleanliness standards, responding to immediate needs, and establishing routines that support the smooth operation of the school.

We are responsible for all general housekeeping duties across the campus — including classrooms, hallways, restrooms, offices, and shared spaces — and we are committed to maintaining a healthy and welcoming atmosphere for everyone.

We are excited to continue serving the school and working in partnership with the staff and administration. Thank you for your ongoing support as we strive to provide high-quality service every day.

• Tammie Booth 

• Phillip Cappella

• Elton Cooper

• Jose Depena

• Gladys Espinal

• Rafael Ferrer

• Tunisia Greene

• Arnold Guzman

• Allen Hubbard

• Irma Lopez Orozco

• Rea McNeil

• Dora Rodriguez

• Lonnie Simms

• Jermaine Smith 

• Yngrid Uzcategui

• Yakelin Vega Guerra