Faculty & Staff Updates

Berit Andersen ’18 joins the upper school faculty as a Part-Time Math Teacher. Berit comes to GDS with a strong STEM background. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary science education at UNC Greensboro. Berit brings experience teaching high school physics as an intern, providing individualized math and science tutoring, assisting with university research and engineering labs, and helping students strengthen their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Many of you also know Berit as head coach of the GDS middle school girls lacrosse team, where she has fostered confidence, leadership, and accountability in her student-athletes.

Christopher Brown joined GDS last spring as the Manager of Doc’s Coffee & Smoothie Shop. Christopher brings more than a decade of leadership and food service experience to GDS. Most recently, he served as Catering Manager with Chartwells at UNC Greensboro, where he led a team of associates, coordinated large-scale events, and partnered with culinary teams to deliver high-quality service and dining experiences. Earlier in his career, he served for several years as a barista and supervisor for Starbucks, gaining valuable experience in coffee service, team development, and daily operations. Christopher holds an associate degree in Web Technologies from Guilford Technical Community College and has formal training in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University.

Bryson Chapmon joins the Physical Education Department as a K–12 teacher. Bryson holds a degree in Physical Education & Health and brings experience teaching both lower and middle school physical education classes. His references describe him as a teacher who gets all students engaged in physical education and differentiates effectively, takes the initiative to solve problems, consistently shows up as a team player, and communicates proactively.

Carl Cockman joins Bengal Nation as a Second Grade Homeroom Teacher. Carl comes to GDS with decades of experience teaching Grades 2–5, with most of his experience in Second Grade. He holds both undergraduate and master's degrees in education. During the interview process, we were struck by Carl’s energy and his desire to continue to grow personally and professionally. Carl’s references consistently spoke about how he prioritizes relationships with students and families. They also commented on his work ethic, his passion for teaching, and his collaborative nature.

Stacy Cornwell joins Greensboro Day School as our Human Resources Manager. Stacy brings extensive experience in human resources, payroll, benefits administration, employee relations, and HR operations. Throughout the interview and reference process, she was consistently described as responsive, knowledgeable, trustworthy, intelligent, hardworking, and an exceptional problem solver. Several references shared that they would immediately hire her again if given the opportunity.

Andrea Dotson joins the GDS community as a Part-Time Junior Kindergarten Spanish Teacher. She holds a B.A. in Bilingual Education and an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has taught Kindergarten through Second Grade and has most recently served as a Spanish substitute teacher and Spanish summer camp enrichment instructor in both our Lower School and Preschool. References describe her as hardworking, kind, patient, and engaging, with a strong ability to build trusting relationships with students and collaborate with colleagues.

Mindy Haase joins Greensboro Day School as our Part-Time Director of Annual Giving. Mindy brings more than 25 years of experience in relationship management, recruiting, event planning, and fundraising. She comes to GDS from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she worked for the past seven years, most recently holding the position of Associate Director, Recruiting Relationship Manager. Throughout her career, Mindy has cultivated strong relationships, led annual giving initiatives, managed complex projects, and introduced new community engagement opportunities. Mindy is no stranger to North Carolina, having previously lived and worked in Chapel Hill for eight years.

Molly Brenner Harbaugh ’05 joined GDS last year as our Interim Director of Alumni Engagement. Molly will serve as Interim Director through the end of the calendar year while we continue our search for a permanent director to begin in August 2026. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Communications, Molly brings professional experience in sports communications, marketing, and management. She has been an active and dedicated volunteer with the PA and has maintained strong, meaningful connections across our alumni community.

Bill Hier joins Greensboro Day School as a Property & Plant Maintenance Technician. Bill brings more than 30 years of experience in facilities and grounds maintenance, with expertise in equipment maintenance, building repair, landscaping, preventive maintenance, carpentry, plumbing repairs, mechanical troubleshooting, and general property improvement. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining safe, functional, and well-maintained facilities while providing dependable, high-quality service.

Brittany Homan joins Greensboro Day School as Third Grade Homeroom Teacher. Brittany has nearly 15 years of experience as an educator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and is working on a master’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in Advanced Content Pedagogy. Most recently at Cornerstone Charter Academy as an exceptional children’s teacher, Brittany brings extensive experience in meeting the needs of diverse learners to the classroom. Her references describe her as someone who really cares about children and takes the time to find out what they need, a team player and encourager, and an excellent communicator. 

Michael Joncas joins the Lower School as a Fourth Grade Homeroom Teacher. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2005. Michael’s references shared that he brings joy to the classroom, and he “captures kids’ hearts” while motivating them to learn and grow. They also commented that curricular knowledge and creating family relationships are his greatest strengths.

Lorie Jones returns to GDS as a part-time Junior Kindergarten Science Teacher and Junior Kindergarten Music Teacher. Many of you already know Lorie from her long-term substitute work in Kindergarten and First Grade last year. She also previously taught in Preschool at GDS and has served in a leadership role at a local preschool. Lorie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in Birth–Kindergarten Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development. She is known for her ability to adjust classroom activities, routines, and teaching strategies to meet the developmental and individual needs of young children. References shared that she cares deeply for children and consistently reflects on and refines her teaching practices to best support their growth and development.

Lynn Kitchens joins the Preschool as a Part-Time Junior Kindergarten Visual Arts Teacher. Lynn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and brings experience teaching art to students from preschool through Fifth Grade. References describe her as creative, passionate, and skilled at helping students see themselves as artists. Students often bring her items because she has a gift for turning “trash into treasure.” Lynn is an exceptional educator and a talented artist herself.

Laura Kate Lane joins the Upper School as a Part-Time Math Teacher and Long-Term Substitute. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Clemson and a master’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics from University of South Carolina. As an experienced high school mathematics teacher, Laura Kate brings strong content knowledge and experience to these courses and is excited to work with our students.

Tammy Laws joins GDS as a Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher. Many of you know Tammy from her frequent subbing in the Lower School, most recently as Gwen Lowe’s long-term substitute. Tammy comes to GDS with 30 years of teaching experience in Guilford County Schools, including 10 years as an Academically Intellectually Gifted Educator in Grades 2–5. Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in psychology and a master’s degree in education.

Amanda McLaughlin ’97 returns to GDS as a Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher, having previously served at GDS as a Second Grade Homeroom Teacher and Technology Specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Technology. Amanda’s references described her as creative and collaborative. They commented on her instructional expertise and her ability to connect with colleagues, students, parents, and administrators.

Rinku Mitra joins Greensboro Day School as our Upper School STEM Teacher. Rinku is a familiar face to many, having served as a Long-Term Substitute Chemistry Teacher last year. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology with an emphasis in environmental sciences from Manchester Metropolitan University in England and a post-graduate degree in Education - Secondary Science from Durham University in England. Rinku brings 26 years of teaching experience to the classroom, including several years of teaching at Greensboro Day School. She is also the parent of a GDS alumnus.

Dr. Tim Perkins joins the Upper School as a Science Teacher. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Maryville University of St. Louis and a doctoral degree from Northern Illinois University. He has experience in both industry and higher education, bringing a unique combination of practical, research, and teaching expertise to his work.

Page Pfister joins GDS as a Junior Kindergarten Assistant Teacher. Page holds bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish, as well as a master’s degree in School Counseling. She brings years of educational experience to this position. Her references described her as someone who understands child development, connects deeply with children, and has a strong toolbox of strategies to support the needs of young learners. Page demonstrates excellent communication skills, collaborates beautifully with others, and is consistently a warm and kind presence in the classroom.

Ben Redding joins GDS as our Campus Store Manager. Ben brings a strong combination of customer service, operations, and engagement experience to this role. During his time with Barstool Sports, he managed social media content, built community engagement, and developed creative promotional materials. He also served as a Shift Manager at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, where he oversaw daily operations, managed staff, and delivered a high quality customer experience across a wide range of age groups. In addition to his new role, Ben currently serves as head coach for middle school boys basketball and an assistant coach for varsity boys baseball. He also works with middle school soccer and JV basketball. 

Rebecca Barger Sheaff ’03 joins Greensboro Day School as our Assistant Director of Admission & Enrollment. Rebecca brings a wealth of experience in relationship-building, community engagement, and mission-driven communication. As a GDS alumna and current parent, she offers a unique, first-hand perspective of the GDS experience and a deep understanding of the values that make our community special. She holds a B.S. in communications from North Carolina State and has over a decade of experience in the customer services industry, where she liaised between the organizations and stakeholders, managed donor relationships, translated organizational successes into relatable personal stories, and coordinated a wide range of community-facing events.

Rebecca Spence joined GDS last spring as Barista at Doc’s Coffee & Smoothie Shop. After almost a decade of brewing beer professionally on the coast and in the Piedmont, she decided that it was time to transition to an industry that better supports a healthy work-life balance. So, after taking a year to renovate a home and raise some huskies, she found herself fortunate enough to join GDS. Rebecca is always ready to talk all things nerdy or fermentation, and looks forward to bringing a background in team-centric service, quality control, and creativity to the coffee shop and GDS community at large.  

Liddy Stewart joins Greensboro Day School as our Middle School Learning Support Coordinator and Learning Support Department Chair. Liddy holds a B.A. in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill, with a specialization in Middle Grades Social Studies and Language Arts. In addition, she is Orton-Gillingham certified. Liddy brings nearly ten years of experience as an educator across both public and private school settings, including her work at Cottonwood Day School, which specifically serves students with learning differences. Liddy has served as a learning specialist, a reading specialist, and a special education teacher in addition to starting her career as a middle school classroom teacher. Most recently, Liddy founded and operated a tutoring, executive function coaching, and academic consulting business supporting students in Grades K–12.

Sarah Sutton joins the Preschool as Part-Time Preschool Administrative Assistant. Sarah holds bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology. She has experience in both teaching and leadership roles within preschools before transitioning to the business world. Most recently, she supported a family-owned business by managing major projects, supervising staff, fostering team building, developing safety and quality protocols, overseeing purchasing and budgeting, coordinating scheduling, and supporting payroll. Her references described her as someone who has wonderful interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Maly Taylor joins GDS as a Long-Term Substitute Middle School Math Teacher. Maly holds a B.S. in Astrophysics and Physics with a minor in Mathematics from the College of Charleston, as well as an M.S. in Physics from Clemson University. She brings five years of teaching experience to the classroom, along with her time as a short-term Middle School Science Teacher here in 2023. Many of you already know Maly as a regular GDS substitute and swim coach, and she’s built strong connections with our students and community.

Corrie Tetterton joins the Preschool as a Long-Term Substitute Assistant Teacher in Bengal Tots. Corrie brings a wealth of early childhood education experience to GDS, having worked with children from infancy through four years of age. She has completed coursework and training in early childhood development and is committed to building meaningful connections with children and supporting engaging experiences.

Rachel Thomas joins GDS as Auxiliary Operations Administrative Assistant. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Doctrines and Methodology of Education from the United States Institute of Language and Clerical Studies, along with Teaching of English as a Second Language and Second Language Acquisition Method certifications from the Canadian Institute of English. She brings more than two decades of multilingual experience to her work, including roles in education, medical and legal interpreting, customer service, and office administration. Rachel is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and proficient in Haitian Creole. Her references describe her as highly organized, deeply committed to clear communication, and consistently professional across diverse settings.

Ryan Walton joined our Security Division in January of last year. He brings a wide range of expertise and experience to GDS, including more than 23 years of law enforcement service with the Greensboro Police Department, where he retired as the Interim Assistant Chief of Police. Before entering law enforcement, Ryan taught Health, Biology, and Physical Education at Grimsley High School, where he also coached several athletic teams. His references consistently described him as dedicated, caring, and someone who holds himself to a high standard. They also noted that he excels in mentoring roles and works exceptionally well with young people.

Katie Wells joins the Upper School as a full-time History & Social Sciences Teacher after serving for several years as a part-time teacher. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Bowdoin College and a Master of Teaching degree with a certification in Secondary Social Studies from the University of Virginia. With more than ten years of experience teaching in independent schools, including Pomfret School in Connecticut and Charlotte Country Day School, Katie has taught a wide range of history courses and has served as a student advisor and rowing coach. She is known for her passion for education, her ability to build meaningful relationships with students, and the creativity and energy she brings to the classroom.