Faculty and Staff
Triangle Day School’s faculty and staff is an outstanding, highly trained group of skilled professionals. Next to the students, this group is TDS’s greatest asset. Our teachers understand children and their development and are excited to work with them each day. With a student/faculty ratio of 9:1, teachers provide individual attention and tailored approaches. Small class sizes facilitate lively discussions and numerous activities, as teachers use best practices to engage children while delivering the curriculum. Teachers are given the freedom and support they need to pursue different techniques and continue to grow as professionals. TDS teachers set high standards for students, and they truly want each child to succeed. Recognizing that the home/school partnership is critical to achieving our long-term goals, teachers communicate regularly with the parents of the students they teach. Finally, faculty and staff are encouraged to continue their own education, and TDS supports their participation in conferences and seminars.
Administration
Doug Norry
Head of School
MS Math
Amherst College (B.A.)
Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A.)
8th year at TDS
28th year in education
Natalie Ditmore
Lower School Director
Pepperdine University (B.A., ESL certification)
National Board Certification
3rd year at TDS
7th year in education
Emily McAllister
Middle School Director
MS Language Arts
University of North Carolina (B.A.)
University of Mississippi (M.A.)
6th year at TDS
11th year in education
Deb Newlin
Director of Admissions
Earlham College (B.A.)
4th year at TDS
24th year in education
Sharon Myers
Director of Operations
Business Manager
17th year at TDS
Emma Farrer
Director of Communications
Emerson College (B.A.)
2nd year at TDS
2nd year in education
Melissa Cabrera
Director of Technology
Director of Summer Programs
LS Intramurals Program Coordinator
University of Florida (B.A., M.Ed.)
Florida International University (Ed.S.)
Google Certified Educator
6th year at TDS
12th year in education
Maria Morrison
Director of Athletics
Physical Education
After School Enrichment Director
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
12th year at TDS
12th year in education
Steven Mercado
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Second Grade Teacher
Gettysburg College (B.A.)
Bank Street College (M.Ed.)
3rd year at TDS
6th year in education
Mary Stillman
Office Manager
St. Mary's College
2nd year at TDS
9th year in education
Rodney Hughes
Maintenance
2nd year at TDS
Student Success Team
Liddy Stewart
Learning Specialist
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
1st year at TDS
6th year in education
Jenny Howell
Literacy Specialist
University of Richmond (B.A.)
University of Virginia (M.Ed., Ph.D.)
4th year at TDS
19th year in education
Jennifer Phillips
Librarian & Literacy Specialist
East Carolina University (B.S.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.Ed., K-12 Reading License)
3rd year at TDS
19th year in education
Casey Villarreal
School Counselor
Fairfield University (B.A.S.)
University of North Carolina (M.Ed.)
1st year at TDS
11th year in education
Lower School Faculty
Rose DeLaTorre
Transitional Kindergarten
California State University (B.A., M.A.)
10th year at TDS
20th year in education
Kayla Wallace
Transitional Kindergarten
University of Wyoming (B.A.)
Western Governors University (M.S.)
4th year at TDS
5th year in education
Kirsten Hill
Transitional Kindergarten Assistant
Houghton College (B.A.)
1st year at TDS
6th year in education
Amy Cowan
Kindergarten
East Stroudsburg University (B.A.)
11th year at TDS
12th year in education
Jordan Qualls
Kindergarten
North Carolina Central University (B.S.)
5th year at TDS
8th year in education
Abigayil Lowe
Kindergarten Assistant
Appalachian State University (B.S.)
1st year at TDS
12th year in education
Julie Beyer
First Grade
University of Georgia (B.F.A)
4th year at TDS
8th year in education
Karen Fisher
First Grade
Duke University (B.A.)
Professional Educator’s License for NC
13th year at TDS
37th year in education
Steven Mercado
Second Grade
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Gettysburg College (B.A.)
Bank Street College (M.Ed.)
3rd year at TDS
6th year in education
Bianca Murphy
Second Grade
NC Central University (B.A.)
4th year at TDS
7th year in education
Ashley Lauber
Third Grade
Binghamton University, State University of New York (B.A.S.)
1st year at TDS
10th year in education
Kiera Olson
Third Grade
Community Service and Engagement Coordinator
Duke University (B.A.)
3rd year at TDS
3rd year in education
Jodi Mills
Fourth Grade
Winona State University (B.S., M.S.)
Duke University (AIG Certified)
2nd year at TDS
7th year in education
Amie Tedeschi
Fourth Grade
Duke University (B.A.)
UNC Greensboro (M.Ed.)
26th year at TDS
27th year in education
Tiffany Philbeck
Fourth Grade
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., M.A.T.)
6th year at TDS
3rd year in education
Dan Forringer
Fifth Grade
Elon College (B.A., NC Teaching Fellow)
National Board Certification
15th year at TDS
21st year in education
Samantha Lazar
Fifth Grade
Appalachian State University (B.S.)
Meredith College (M.Ed.)
12th year at TDS
22nd year in education
Middle School Faculty
Ali Carnes
Math
Music
Grinnell College (B.A.)
Duke University (MEM)
8th year at TDS
10th year in education
Jonathan Dowd
Spanish
University of North Carolina at Asheville (B.A.)
Middlebury College (M.A.)
13th year at TDS
14th year in education
Josh Hyden
Social Studies
University of Colorado in Boulder (B.A.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Post-Baccalaureate)
Poggio Civitate Archaeology Field School
2nd year at TDS
3rd year in education
Lori Khan
Science
Purdue University (B.S., M.S)
North Carolina State University (M.S.A)
National Board Certification
4th year at TDS
17th year in education
Emily McAllister
Language Arts
Middle School Director
University of North Carolina (B.A.)
University of Mississippi (M.A.)
6th year at TDS
11th year in education
Jaime Morin
Math & Science
Elon University (B.A.)
1st year at TDS
5th year in education
Clayton Spencer
Social Studies
University of Oregon (B.A.)
Florida State University (M.S.)
University of Colorado in Boulder (Cert.)
4th year at TDS
6th year in education
Complements & Electives
Bethany Bassler
LS Music
Iowa State University (B.M.)
Colorado State University (M.M. in Music Ed.)
National Kodály Certification
6th year at TDS
10th year in education
Melissa Cabrera
Director of Technology
Director of Summer Programs
LS Intramurals Program Coordinator
University of Florida (B.A., M.Ed.)
Florida International University (Ed.S.)
Google Certified Educator
6th year at TDS
12th year in education
Ali Carnes
MS Music
Math
Grinnell College (B.A.)
Duke University (MEM)
8th year at TDS
10th year in education
Maria Heysha Carrillo
Spanish
University of Puerto Rico (B.A.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.Ed.)
1st year at TDS
7th year in education
Jodi Hughes
LS Art
San Diego State University (B.A.)
7th year at TDS
19th year in education
Cindy Lucas
Art
Duke University (B.A.)
25th year at TDS
25th year in education
Maria Morrison
Physical Education
Director of Athletics
After School Enrichment Director
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
12th year at TDS
12th year in education
Erin Nelson
LS Science
Trinity University (B.S.)
Emory University (Ph.D.)
13th year at TDS
16th year in education
Jennifer Phillips
Librarian & Literacy Specialist
East Carolina University (B.S.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.Ed., K-12 Reading License)
3rd year at TDS
19th year in education
After School Enrichment
Maria Morrison
After School Enrichment Director
Director of Athletics
Physical Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
12th year at TDS
12th year in education
Kolby Hunter
After School Program Counselor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
Exercise & Sports Science: Sports Administration
2nd year at TDS
Isaac Bretherton
After School Program Counselor
Will Norry
After School Program Counselor
Sophie Stillman
After School Program Counselor