Faculty & Staff Biographies
Kathleen Adriaanse [e-mail]
1st Grade
Appointed in 2005
Born and raised in South Africa,
Ms. Adriaanse taught for 14 years at Merrydale
Primary School in Cape Town, South Africa and for two
years for Charleston
County School
District. She earned a B.A.
from University
of Western Cape and completed her teaching qualification at Hewat College of Education.
Gretchen Batalis [e-mail]
Middle School Head; World Languages
Department Chair
Appointed
in 2004
Gretchen Batalis received her M.Ed. in
Spanish from the College
of Charleston and her B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from St. Mary's College of
Notre Dame. She taught Spanish at Charleston
Collegiate School
from 2004-2007 before moving to Dallas,
Texas, for her husband's medical fellowship. She has
also taught at West Ashley High School
and in the Chicago
area.
Elizabeth Boyd [e-mail]
Upper School Head; AP English
Appointed in 2001
Mrs. Boyd received a M.A. in English from The Citadel and a B.A. in English
from Furman University, where she was a Southern
Conference singles finalist and team championship winner in tennis. Her
experience prior to coming to Charleston
Collegiate School
full-time includes serving as a pro tennis instructor at Kiawah and substitute
teaching at local private schools including Ashley Hall, First Baptist, and
(formerly) Sea Island Academy.
Hacker Burr [e-mail]
Assistant Head of School; Director of Admission
Appointed in 2002
In addition to his duties as Director of Admission, Mr. Burr has assumed duties
as Assistant Head of School. He received a
B.A. from Roanoke
College and a M.A. from
The Citadel.
Sandra Clerici [e-mail]
Marketing & Development
Appointed in 2009
After experimenting with retirement, Ms. Clerici has joined CCS with
responsibility for marketing, special events, and strategic planning. A native
of Pittsburgh, Sandi moved to Charleston last summer. She retired as
president of Mount de Chantal
Academy, a pre-K-12
independent school. Prior to her ten-year tenure at Mount de Chantal, her
career was focused on manufacturing and operations management, with products
ranging from guns to small appliances to video and film. She holds a Bachelor's
degree from Chatham
College and a Master's
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been active on a variety of
non-profit and corporate Boards.
Patricia Conroy [e-mail]
4th Grade
Appointed in 2007
Ms. Conroy received her Master's degree in Childhood Education from New York University
in 2004 and her B.S. in Sociology and Political Science from Presbyterian College
in 1997, where she graduated cum laude. Her previous employment was as a 4th
grade Associate Teacher at the Little Red School House and a Lower School
Admissions Associate at the Little Red School House and Elisabeth
Irwin High
School in New York
City. She has been teaching since 2003.
Heidi Doyle [e-mail]
Middle School Academic Achievement Program; Middle & Upper School
English
Appointed in 2006
Mrs. Doyle joined CCS as the Middle
School Coordinator for the Learning Center, as the Academic Achievement
Program was formerly known. She is certified in Learning Disabilities
and Emotional
Disabilities. Mrs. Doyle came to Charleston Collegiate from Charlestowne
Academy,
where she was a Resource Teacher for 2nd, 6th, and 7th grades. Mrs.
Doyle holds
a M.S.Ed. from College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, and a B.S. in
Psychology from the College of Charleston.
Sara Easterlin [e-mail]
Preschool
Appointed in 2007
Ms. Easterlin graduated cum laude with a B.A. from the College of Charleston.
Her experience prior to joining Charleston
Collegiate School
includes teaching as a substitute in the Charleston County
Public School
District, as well as serving as a student teacher
at Harbor View Elementary.
Esta Farmer [e-mail]
Lower School Head; Lower School Academic
Achievement Program
Appointed in 2006
Mrs. Farmer joined Charleston Collegiate School as the Upper School Coordinator
in the Learning Center, as the Academic Achievement Program was formerly known. She came to Charleston
Collegiate School
from Trident Academy,
where she taught English, world geography, psychology, and U.S. history.
She also has experience at The Asheville School, Ashley Hall, and Charles Towne Montessori
School. Mrs. Farmer holds
a M.Ed. from Xavier University and a B.S. in Education from the University of Cincinnati.
Tiffany Frank [e-mail]
Academic Support; Upper School Health & Wellness
Appointed
in 2008
Mrs. Frank
has been heavily involved with Charleston Collegiate for six years. Her
volunteer experience at CCS includes Homeroom Parent Coordinator, Treasurer of
the Parents' Association, Chair of the Halloween Carnival, and much more. She
has two children at CCS, 7th grader Hayden and 4th grader
Brinley.
Laura Garland [e-mail]
Upper School Science; Math & Science Department Chair
Appointed in 2005
For six years, Dr. Garland taught Mathematics and Physics for the U.S. Navy.
She holds a Ph.D. (with Honors) in Earth and Planetary Sciences and a M.A.T.
for Sciences and Mathematics for grades 7-12 from Washington University, as
well as a B.S magna cum laude in Engineering Physics and Mathematics from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is certified to teach physics,
mathematics, and general science.
Jay Godbolt [e-mail]
Dean of Student Behavior; Athletic Director;
Boys' Basketball (Varsity & JV) Coach
Appointed in 2000
After spending 13 years in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Godbolt brought his
excellent training and discipline to the Charleston Collegiate School athletic
department. He coached basketball and football before becoming Athletic
Director for the school. He is currently working on his B.S. in Sports
Management through American
Military University.
Brooke Haynie [e-mail]
Upper School Academic Achievement Program
Appointed
in 2007
Mr. Haynie received
a B.S. in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston
in 2000.
Jodie Haynie [e-mail]
Kindergarten
Appointed in 2007
Mrs. Haynie received a B.A. in Studio Arts from the College
of Charleston and a M.A. in
Educational Psychology from University
of Colorado Denver. Her
diverse teaching background includes work at Our Lady of Mercy Outreach
Services here on John's Island; Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a residential camp
setting for ‘at risk' teens; The Boulder Journey School in Colorado; and
teaching English at a university in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Bobby Hemingway [e-mail]
Middle & Upper School Science
Appointed in 2009
Mr. Hemingway received a M.A. in Education from Fairfield University
and a B.A. in Psychology from Keene State College. He has been teaching for
over 10 years, including Middle & Upper
School science at Pinewood Preparatory School
in Summerville and Middle School science at Ridgefield
Academy in Connecticut. Mr. Hemingway is a member of
the National Science Teachers Association.
Middle & Upper School Spanish
Appointed in 2007
Ms. Hoskins received her M.Ed. in Spanish from the College of Charleston in 2007 and her B.A. in Spanish at Appalachian State University and the College of Charleston in 2003. She was previously employed at the Children's Garden School on Sullivan's Island as a Lead Teacher.
Rebecca Knox [e-mail]
Music; Volleyball Coach
Appointed in 2005
Ms. Knox received a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Texas
and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Colorado.
She has performed in numerous operas, musicals, and concerts as a soprano, and
performs locally with the Footlight Players.
Jill Kujawski [e-mail]
Middle & Upper School Guidance Counselor
Appointed in 2005
Mrs. Kujawski started at Charleston Collegiate School
as a Learning Center teacher and an Associate Teacher
for the 5th Grade, as well as a Varsity Volleyball and Soccer coach. For four
years, she worked at Life Management Center
where she developed interactive, multi-sensory, hands-on lesson plans for
children with learning differences and ran the Wilson reading program. Mrs. Kujawski earned
a M.Ed. in School Counseling from The Citadel, and a B.S. in
Psychology from the University
of Florida. She has taken
additional counseling coursework through Coastal Carolina University to pursue her
Licensure as a Professional Private Counselor.
Ed Lenahan [e-mail]
Upper School Humanities & English
Appointed in 2007
Mr. Lenahan received his M.A. in English Literature from the College of Charleston
in 2006 and his B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Lake Forest College, IL,
in 2000. His previous experience includes positions as Head Tutor at The
Citadel, English Literature Instructor at Trident
Technical College,
and as a Graduate Assistant at the College
of Charleston. He is also
a local freelance automotive journalist and graphic artist.
Shannon Leonard [e-mail]
After-School Program Director
Appointed
in 2007
Mrs. Leonard
graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S. in Middle Grades Education
and taught seventh-grade English for three years in Dacula, Georgia. She
completed Masters level classes in Elementary Reading and Literacy through
Walden University before moving to the Charleston area in 2003 to start a new
business with her husband. Mrs. Leonard began working at CCS in 2005 as a
substitute teacher. In early 2007, she started working with the After School
Care program and has since become the program's director.
Beth Lundquist [e-mail]
Middle & Upper School Math
Appointed
in 2008
Ms. Lundquist received her B.S. in Mathematics and her M.S. from Miami
University in Ohio. Additionally, she has completed 110
graduate hours in finance and economics from the University of Georgia, and 16
graduate hours in curriculum and instruction from the Moore School of Education
at Clemson. Ms. Lundquist was a mathematics instructor at Lander
University before moving to Charleston.
Brian McDermott [e-mail]
Upper School Humanities & Public Speaking; Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship; Soccer
Coach
Appointed in 2006
Mr. McDermott came to CCS from First Baptist Church School of Mt.
Pleasant where he was the Head Varsity Basketball and Soccer Coach. Mr.
McDermott earned a B.A. in Speech Communication and English from Charleston
Southern University.
Lauren Murphy [e-mail]
3rd Grade
Appointed in 2008
Ms. Murphy completed her
undergraduate degree at the University
of Dayton, with a double
major in Education and Language Arts and a minor in English. She is currently
continuing her education at College
of Charleston and hopes
to complete a Masters of Education.
Randy Neale [e-mail]
Director of Fine Arts
Appointed in 2000
Mr. Neale received a B.A. from Northern
Michigan University.
He has directed over 180 dramatic productions, including 45 of his own plays. A
member of Actor's Equity since 1974, he has appeared in more than 100
productions as an actor and a dancer. He has performed in theaters throughout
the northeast, including a 20-year career in New York.
Will O’Donnell [e-mail]
Lower School
Arts and Technology; Middle School Media & Film; Upper School Graphic Arts; Head JV Football
Coach
Appointed in 2005
After successful years teaching 4th grade, Mr. O'Donnell is showcasing his
artistic talents by devoting his energies to the Fine Arts Department. He is a cum laude graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in
Sequential Art.
Molly Olson [e-mail]
Upper School Science
Appointed in 2005
Mrs. Olson teaches Upper School Biology. She came to Charleston Collegiate from
the Sewee Association, where she was the Education Specialist and developed and
taught science-based programs. She has a M.A. in Education with an
emphasis in Science from The Citadel, and a B.S. from the University of Richmond. Her son, Charlie, is in preschool here at CCS.
Jaquelin Pelzer [e-mail]
Webmaster; Development
Office Assistant; Yearbook Advisor
Appointed
in 2007
Prior
to joining CCS, Ms. Pelzer worked in book publishing for Yale University Press,
Houghton Mifflin Company, and Arcadia Publishing. She also spent several years
in the film industry in California and New York, doing both
editing and production work. Ms. Pelzer received a B.A. in English
from Yale University.
Jean Pendleton [e-mail]
Director of School Renewal; Technology Director
Appointed in 2006
Ms. Pendleton came to Charleston Collegiate
from Norfolk Academy, where she was the Director of
Academic Technology, working with teachers in all grades and subject areas on
integrating technology into the curriculum. She has also been the Technology
Director at Fay School,
in Southborough, MA,
Brookline (MA) Public Schools, and Brimmer and May
School, in Chestnut Hill, MA.
She earned a M.Ed. in Computers in Education from Lesley
University and a B.A. in American
Civilization from Brown
University.
Meg Pitts [e-mail]
Admission Office
Assistant; Registrar
Appointed
in 2008
Mrs. Pitts received her B.A. in Asian Studies from Trinity College
and spent a semester abroad in Nanjing,
China. Before
moving to Charleston, she lived in New York where she was a Special Section Coordinator for
Forbes Magazine and worked as a ski instructor at Hunter Mountain.
Her son, Walker, is in 1st grade here at CCS.
Rives Poe [e-mail]
Middle School Math; Cross Country Coach
Appointed in 2007
Ms. Poe received her M.A. in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia
in 2004 and her B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Southern Methodist University
in Texas in
1999. She was a mathematics teacher at Bishop England
High School from 2004
until joining Charleston Collegiate. She also taught sixth grade math
at The Galloway School in Atlanta
and has been teaching since 2000.
Jessica Poole [e-mail]
Lower School Special Areas Teacher
Appointed
in 2008
Ms. Poole received her B.S. in
Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Charleston Southern University.
Jenny Pringle [e-mail]
Middle School
English; Middle School Art & Drama; Senior Institute; Cheerleading Coach
Appointed
in 2008
Ms. Pringle received her Masters of English from the College of Charleston
in 2008 and her B.A. in English from the University of Georgia
in 1997. She has been teaching for over six years in Atlanta,
where she is from, and Charleston.
Virginia Reed [e-mail]
5th Grade
Appointed in 2003
Mrs. Reed received a B.A. in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston.
She previously taught at the 6th and 8th grade levels at Oakbrook Middle School
in Ladson. She was also a tutor at the LifeManagement
Center in Charleston.
Kendall Reilly [e-mail]
Director of Accounting &
Operations
Appointed
in 2006
Ms. Reilly
graduated from
Appalachian State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After
spending eight years in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she moved to Charleston in 2006 to be near family. Her son,
Kevin, is in kindergarten here at CCS.
Kim Rogers [e-mail]
Kindergarten
Appointed in 1999
Mrs. Rogers received her B.S. in Education from Indiana University.
Her previous experiences included serving as a kindergarten teacher at the Carousel Learning
Center in West Ashley and teaching the
4th grade in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Ms. Rogers has been teaching
since 1990.
Caroline Selby [e-mail]
Lower, Middle, & Upper School Spanish
Appointed in 2009
Ms. Selby received her B.A. from the College of Charleston
in 2009. She has worked as a substitute Spanish teacher in Bluffton, taught
sailing for three summers at Christchurch
School in Virginia, and served as a Play Specialist at
the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. In 2008, she spent part of the year in
Valladolid, Spain, where she worked as an au
pair.
Melody Sharpe [e-mail]
Middle & Upper School English; English Department Chair
Appointed in 2005
Mrs. Sharpe received a B.A. in English Education from University of South
Florida and a M.A. in English from The Citadel. She taught middle school and
high school in Florida and North
Carolina prior to coming to Charleston Collegiate
School. Mrs. Sharpe began
teaching in 1985, is certified to teach in both North
Carolina and South
Carolina, and is a member of the National Council of
Teachers of English (NCTE).
Valerie Shears [e-mail]
Art
Appointed in 2001
Mrs. Shears earned her B.S. in Art Education from the College of St. Rose.
She moved to Charleston in 1995 after a long and
varied career in the New York area which
included eight years as a teacher in the Connecticut
public schools. Her son, Evan, is a 2008 graduate of CCS.
J. Robert (Bob) Shirley [e-mail]
Head of School
Appointed in 2005
Dr. Shirley, the respected retired head of Heathwood Hall Episcopal
School in Columbia, became Head of School in June 2005. Highlights of
Dr. Shirley’s tenure at Heathwood Hall include national recognition as
one of the first sixty Exemplary Schools in the nation in 1983 and
National Blue Ribbon School Awards in 1995 and 1996. He instituted a
critical thinking program for all grades, outdoor leadership
development course, raised funding for new buildings, and enhanced athletic
facilities and school grounds. In the spring of 2000, State
Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum presented Dr. Shirley with
the Order of the Silver Crescent Award for his work in education,
especially in public schools. With a career in teaching and
administration, Dr. Shirley, a native of Greenville and now a resident
of Seabrook Island, earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman and master’s
degree from Wake Forest, both in English. His Ph.D. in Educational
Administration is from the University of South Carolina.
Letitia Sowers [e-mail]
Lower and Middle School Physical Education
Appointed in 2007
Ms. Sowers received her B.S. in Physical Education with a
concentration in Health Promotion from the College of Charleston in 2007.
Austin Starowicz [e-mail]
Network
Administrator
Appointed
in 2007
Mr.
Starowicz received his B.S. in Management Information Systems
from the University
of South Carolina in
2002. Previously, he was employed as a Systems Engineer at Skanska USA in Charlotte,
NC, and he has worked in the
Computer and IT Services Field since 2002.
Jenni Stewart [e-mail]
Middle & Upper School History; History Department Chair
Appointed in 2000
Mrs. Stewart received a B.A. from the College of Charleston
and a M.A.T. from The Citadel. Her son, Paul Booker, is in kindergarten here at CCS.
Katherine P. Williams [e-mail]
2nd Grade
Appointed in 2005
Mrs. Williams received a B.S. in Elementary Education from the College of
Charleston, and a M.Ed. as a Reading Specialist from The Citadel. Before coming
to Charleston Collegiate
School, Mrs. Williams was a Reading
Tutor and the Wilson Language Program Coordinator at the LifeManagement
Center in Charleston.
Erica Woodward [e-mail]
Assistant to Head of School
Appointed in 2007
Mrs.
Woodward received her M.A. in English Literature with a concentration
in Pre-1660 British Literature from the University
of South Carolina in 2006 and her
B.A. in English and French Languages and Literatures from Wofford College in 2003, where she graduated cum
laude. Her previous experience includes teaching American Literature at USC as
a Graduate Teaching Assistant and College Prep English at Socastee
High School in Myrtle Beach.
