STAFF DIRECTORY
OUR SCHOOLAdministrators and Front Office
Our Administration works to support our classroom teachers by creating a culture of collaboration, communication, and healthy, sustainable success. Learn more about our Principal and her small team here.
ANGELA DAWSON
Principal
Alma Mater: Fayetteville State University
“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”
– Rita Pierson
RODNEY BERRY
Upper School Assistant Principal
Alma Mater: North Carolina Central University
“The need for imagination, a sense of truth and a feeling of responsibility – these are the three forces which are the very nerve of education.”
– Rudolf Steiner
CHASTITY RIVERA
EC Department and Student Support Assistant Principal
Alma Mater: Kean University
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
-Helen Keller
SUZANNE JACKSON
Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator
sjackson@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: North Carolina State University
“Education is the movement from darkness to light”
-Allan Bloom
LASHAWNDA HOLMAN
Instructional Coach/Interventionist
Alma Mater: Liberty University
“The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility- these are the three forces which are the very nerve of education.”
-Rudolf Steiner
JOYCELYN COOPER
Office Manager
Alma Mater: Cranford Community College
“Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn”
-Benjamin Franklin
A Word
From Our Principal
Dear ROCS Community,
– Angela Dawson
Faculty and Support Staff
Our teachers come from many different backgrounds, including private, Waldorf, charter, and traditional public schools. Their lesson plans are imbued with beauty, imagination, and joy
KINDERGARTEN
KATELYN WEST
Kindergarten Teacher
Alma Mater: Saint Michaels College
“Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning.”
-Robert John Meehan
VANESSA KUZMIN
Kindergarten Teacher
Alma Mater: Grand Canyon University
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”
-Aristotle
LAUREN ARNONE
Kindergarten Teacher
Alma Mater: Dominican College
“Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning.”
-Robert John Meehan
GERMAINE TURNBULL
Kindergarten Teacher
gturnbull@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Maters: SC State University, NC Central University
Education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world.
-Nelson Mandela
1st Grade
JULES-DIANA MASSAMBA
1st Grade Teacher
jmassamba@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: East Carolina University
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
-Benjamin Franklin
MAEGHAN SILL
1st Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility—these three forces are the very nerve of education.”
-Rudolf Steiner
DEANNA PERRY
1st Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: Ashford University
“When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”
-Dalai Lama
2nd Grade
ALLYSSA BERNASCONI
2nd Grade Teacher
abernasconi@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
HEATHER READING
2nd Grade Teacher
hreading@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Maters: Campbell University and NC State
“Raise children who love the unloved things, dandelion, worms & spiderlings. Children who sense the rose needs the thorn & run into rain swept days the same way they turn towards sun. When they’re grown & someone has to speak for those who have no voice may they draw upon that wilder bond, those days of tending tender things and be the ones.”
-Nicolette Sowder
3rd Grade
JENNY (JENNIFER) GREEAR
3rd Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: Clemson University
“Love is higher than opinion. If people love one another the most varied opinions can be reconciled – thus one of the most important tasks for humankind today and in the future is that we should learn to live together and understand one another. If this human fellowship is not achieved, all talk of development is empty.”
-Rudolf Steiner
LIANNA HARBESON
3rd Grade Teacher
lharbeson@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility—these three forces are the very nerve of education.”
-Rudolf Steiner
4th Grade
EVA BENTON
4th Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: William Peace University
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said. Students may forget what you did. But a child will never forget how you made them feel.”
-Maya Angelou
5th Grade
SARAH REYNOLDS
5th Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Wisdom begins in wonder”
-Socrates
SAVANNA SAUNDERS
5th Grade Teacher
sasaunders@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: High Point University
“You are my other me. If I do harm to you, I do harm to myself. If I love and respect you, I love and respect myself.”
-Lak’Ech
6th/7th Grade
KATHLEEN ARNEY
6th Grade Teacher
Alma Maters: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Currently enrolled at American University
“We repeat what we don’t repair.”
-Christine Langley-Obaugh
CHRISTINE KEFFER
7th Grade Teacher
Alma Mater: Loyola University New Orleans
“Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”
-Thomas Berry
Fine Arts Department
JOANNA HODY
Handwork
Alma Mater: North Carolina State University
“The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist.”
–Ananda Coomaraswamy
ROXANA HADDEN
Spanish
Alma Mater: Belmont University
“Observe the children. Actively meditate. Follow your intuitions. Work so that all your actions are worthy of imitation.”
– Rudolf Steiner
BENJAMIN BYROM
Music
Alma Mater: North Carolina State University
“Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting.”
-Gottfriend Leibniz
LINDSAY WINTHROP
Movement
lwinthrop@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Waldorf school education is not a pedagogical system but an art – the art of awakening what is actually there within the human being.”
-Rudolf Steiner
Exceptional Children and Student Support
MINDY MIAZGA
EC Resource
Alma Mater: Liberty University
“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t”
-Bill Nye
Support Staff
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS
BRITTANEY WASHINGTON
Kindergarten IA
bwashington@raleighoakcharter.org
Currently Enrolled at Liberty University
“Observe the children. Actively meditate. Follow your intuitions. Work so that all your actions are worthy of imitation.”
-Rudolf Steiner
JALEESA EDWARDS
Kindergarten IA
jedwards@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: North Carolina Central University
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough!”
–Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
JANELLA MENDIVIL
Kindergarten IA
jmendivil@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: Vance-Granville Community College
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn no one can stop you.”
-Zig Ziglar
KACEY REYNOLDS
Kindergarten IA
kreynolds@raleighoakcharter.org
Alma Mater: Duke University
“Play is the highest form of research.”
~Albert Einstein
IMANI MILLS
IA
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina Central
“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn”
-Phil Collins
CUSTODIAL TEAM
DARLENE SMITH
Day Porter
“I enjoy the pleasant environment and interaction with our wonderful students and staff. Shoutout to our admin team and front office staff because they are all awesome! I am so glad I am able to keep everybody safe, clean, and healthy!”
– Darlene
Grades
Chickens
Faculty
Years Established
Get In Touch
Location: 9400 Forum Dr, Raleigh, NC 27615
Telephone: (919) 424-7626
Email: info@raleighoakcharter.org
School Hours: M-F: 8am - 4pm