James Madison High School Teachers

Certified Teachers Help Students Succeed

All James Madison High School teachers are state-certified. The certification process requires specific coursework, a minimum of a bachelor's degree, teaching experience, and passing an approved, state-mandated teaching examination. Certification can only be attained once this rigorous criteria is met.

Teachers often specialize in a certain grade level or subject matter. We are proud of the diverse specialty areas and broad educational experience of our state-certified teachers. See the list below for the credentials of our James Madison High School teachers.

Teachers

Kristen Allen

M.S., Education, California State University, Fullerton
B.A., English, California State University, Long Beach
State of California Educator Certificate, English (6-12)

Nadia Blake

M.E., McGill University
M.B.A., York University (Canada)
B.E., McGill University
State of Florida Educator's Certificate, Math (6-12)

Nadia's professional background includes more than 20 years of experience in engineering and business, along with several years of experience in the field of education as both a high school teacher and college adjunct faculty.

Rhonda Brookshire

Ed.S., Mathematics Education, University of Georgia
M.S.Ed., Mathematics Education, Georgia State University
B.S.Ed., Mathematics Education, University of Georgia
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Mathematics (6-12)

Rhonda has more than 15 years of classroom experience teaching math in both traditional and online settings. She has been recognized as a STAR teacher for two years and received Atlanta Toyota's Most Inspiring Teacher award in 2003. Rhonda believes that all students are capable of learning but not all students learn in a traditional school setting.

Bryan Carver, Academic Team Leader

B.S.Ed, Science Education, University of Georgia
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Secondary Science (6-12)

Bryan has been with JMHS since 2005 after 6 years in public school. Beginning as a science teacher, he has served as Lead Science Teacher, Instructional Design Manager and now Academic Team Leader. Twice named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, he is excited for the opportunities that online learning can provide for students that might need more than a traditional school setting.

Charles (Chuck) Cook

B.S., Business Administration, Barry University
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Spanish (6-12); ESOL (K-12)

Charles has more than 30 years of experience as a professional educator in the U.S. and abroad. Fluent in Spanish, he has taught in public and private schools as an ESL/bilingual transition teacher for grades K through 12, and also taught at the university and post-graduate levels. Created, owned and operated two language service institutes for student and industry needs, as well as developed two mono language K-12 schools into bilingual schools.

Chuck Corvin

MA. Ed in M.Ed., Education, Tusculum College
B.S., Math, Lee University
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Mathematics (6-12)

Chuck has more than fifteen years of experience in the teaching field. He was also a youth pastor for eight years. His diverse academic roles and innovative teaching/mentoring experiences have been both online and in the traditional classroom. He has a broad range of experience teaching high school mathematics in Tennessee and Georgia.

Meredith DeSalva Gaffney

Honors BA from the University of Delaware in Spanish Education
MS from the University of Scranton in Curriculum and Instruction
Currently enrolled as a Post-Baccalaureate student at Oregon State University with a major in French
State of Pennsylvania Educator's Certificate P-12
State of Wisconsin Educator's Certificate K-12
State of Massachusetts Educator's Certificate 5-12
State of New Jersey Educator's Certificate 7-12

Meredith has fifteen years of experience teaching Spanish at various levels. For the last five years, she has taught Spanish online. She has experience using various tools, platforms, and textbooks related to Spanish and French.

Roger Dunnick

Ed.D., Leadership, Liberty University
M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, Liberty University
B.A., Social Sciences, Emory & Henry College
Virginia Postgraduate Professional License, History and Social Sciences

Roger is the lead Social Studies teacher for James Madison High School. He has more than 20 years of combined professional experience as an educator in secondary Social Studies and as a high school administrator. His experience as a Social Studies teacher includes both traditional and online delivery methods. Roger particularly enjoys engaging students and finding unique ways to assist each individual student that he teaches.

Lauren Finnegan Martin

Psy.D., Immaculata University
M.A., English, Villanova University
B.A., English, Pennsylvania State University
State of Pennsylvania Educator Certificate, English and Social Studies (7-12)

Lauren has more than 15 years of professional experience in education, working in a variety of settings, including online, private and public schools. In addition to teaching, Lauren works as a clinical psychologist in higher education.

Renae Jackson

Ph.D., Educational Leadership, Capella University
M.Ed., School Counseling, University of West Alabama
M.S., Organizational Management, Capella University
B.A., English, Georgia State University
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, English (6-12); Gifted Endorsement (P-12); School Counseling (P-12); Educational Leadership (P-12)

Renae has worked in the K-12 setting since 2002 and served in various capacities in both online and traditional environments. In addition to her full-time position as a School Counselor and Dual Enrollment Coordinator, she is also a business owner. Renae is passionate about teaching secondary learners and helping them achieve their lifelong goals.

Tami Johnson

D.H.Ed., Health and Medical Education and Management, A.T. Still University
Ed.S., Instructional Leadership/Neurobiology of Learning, Nova Southeastern University
M.Ed., Behavioral Science/Special Education, Florida Gulf Coast University
B.S., Community Health/Exercise Physiology, University of North Florida
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Biology (6-12); Earth/Space Science (6-12); Gifted and Talented (K-12); Health (K-12); Science (6-12)

Tami Johnson has worked in K-12 education since 1998 teaching science, health, and medical electives at the high school level and with vocational bridge program students. She has worked with all levels of students from profoundly autistic to advanced placement students and has a passion for finding strategies to help today’s diverse students master their learning objectives and find a love for science.

Cynthia Jones

M.Ed., Information Science
B.E.S., Educational Studies, University of Missouri
State of Missouri Teacher Certificate, English (9-12)
Library Media Specialist (K-12)

Cynthia has received secondary English and Library Media Specialist endorsements through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Her 12 years of professional and academic experience span elementary, high school, and college level instruction in writing, reading, information science, and educational technology. Cynthia has instructed in both traditional and online environments.

Patricia Lane

PhD, Educational Leadership, California State University Bakersfield
MS Education, Secondary Education, University of Pennsylvania
BA, English, Secondary Education minor, Howard University
Clear Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development Credential, University of San Diego
Educational Administrative Credential, National University
State of California Educator’s Certificate

Patricia has over 15 years of experience as an educator, serving in roles ranging from teacher, dean, vice principal, consultant, and college lecturer.

Mikaela Martin

MA English, English Teaching, University of Montana
BA English, English Teaching and Creative Writing, University of Montana
State of Montana Educator License, English, Language and Literature (5-12)

Mikaela has instructed students in both traditional and online environments for a combined four years to five years, focusing on English, Honors English, College Writing, Journalism, Creative Writing, and Yearbook courses. Her experience also includes writing and editorial work.

Teneka Middleton

M.S.W., Washington University in St. Louis
B.S.W., University of Central Missouri
State of Missouri and Georgia Educator Certificate, Secondary Mathematics (6-12)

Teneka has taught for more than 13 years at the both the middle and high school levels. She considers it both an honor and a privilege to teach math and help students discover the much sought after "A-ha!" moment.

Lisa M Moyer

M. Ed., Mathematics, Alabama State University
B. S. Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University
State of Florida Educator Certificate, Mathematics Gr. 6-12, Middle Grades Integrated Gr. 5-9, Elementary Education Gr. K-6

Lisa has more than 20 years of teaching experience at all grade levels in Mathematics in a traditional classroom setting and online learning. She has been certified and taught in Georgia and Alabama, which included 3 years as an adjunct instructor for the local junior college. Lisa served in many roles within the school system as a lead teacher, technology support, fundraising chairperson, PTA coordinator, and soccer coach. Lisa is a highly motivated educator that strives to meet the needs of her students in the online learning platform and understands the unique way of learning it provides.

Christina Ridgeway

M.Ed., Education, University of West Alabama, Livingston
B.S., English, University of West Alabama, Livingston
State of Alabama Educator Certificate, English (6-12)
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, English (6-12)

Christina has more than 17 years of experience in the teaching field. She has worked in many academic positions from Reading Interventionist to Grammar Teacher. In her years of teaching, she has taught in many facets- both online and in the classroom. She has experience teaching elementary through college level students under the Language Arts umbrella.

Lee Sakellarides

M.A., English, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York
B.S., Education, Indiana University
State of Indiana Educator Certificate, English (9-12)

In a career spanning over 30 years, Lee has taught English, composition, business writing, creative writing, technical writing, and public speaking at high schools and colleges in New York, New Jersey, and Indiana. She is also a certified composition instructor for Indiana University's ACP dual credit program.

Enoch L. Salter, Jr.

Th.D., Pastoral Leadership, Andersonville Theological Seminary
Ed.S., Educational Leadership, Arkansas State University
M.Ed., Educational Leadership, American College of Education
B.S., Secondary Education, Social Science, Auburn University Montgomery
A.A., Alabama Southern Community College
State of Alabama Educator Certificate, Principal (P-12)
State of Alabama Educator Certificate, Social Science (6-12)

Enoch has more than 24 years of experience teaching in social science and leadership. In his many teaching roles, he has served as a teacher, department head, coach, technology coordinator, union president, assistant principal, acting principal and adjunct college professor. Enoch has also been awarded with Monroe County, Alabama teacher of the year award. He is the author of Held Hostage: How the Educational Reform Movement is Destroying Public Education. He is currently acting principal at C.P. Carmichael Alternative School in Monroeville, Alabama. He has served with James Madison High School for over 7 years.

Jennie Tague

M.A., Curriculum and Technology Education, Ball State University
B.A., Speech Communications, Theatre, and English, IUPUI
State of Indiana Professional Educator Certificate, English, Speech Communication, and Theatre (6-12)

Jennie Tague has worked in K-12 education since 1999 with a focus on high school English, speech, and theatre. Currently licensed in the state of Indiana, she has an undergrad degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Ball State. She has held the position of English dept. chair for multiple years and is a former adjunct teacher for the ACP dual credit speech program through IU Bloomington.

Suzan Thompson

B.A., English and Psychology, Herbert Lehman College
M.S., Secondary Education, English Fordham University
PhD, Education, E-Learning specialty, Northcentral University
State of New York Educator Certificate, English (7-12)

Suzan has been a licensed English teacher since September 2004. She has extensive teaching experience within traditional and online schools. Her fundamental years as an educator were spent primarily in the South Bronx as a New York City Teaching Fellow. Over the years, she has taught within public schools in Fulton County, GA, and Charlotte, NC. Suzan has been teaching online at JMHS since December 2013. She is a dedicated teacher who strives to meet the academic needs of students in both traditional and online learning environments. Suzan holds a PhD-Ed, specializing in E-Learning, and feels that her research in the field of online learning has deepened her appreciation for her JMHS students.

Boyd Ulmer

BS, Secondary Education, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Professional Certificate, English (7-12)

Boyd is an experienced English teacher with over 16 years in middle and high school instruction. His instructional background is in standard, honors, and AP English, with an extended focus on teaching students language and literature.

Alice Valdes

B.S. in Spanish, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
MS.Ed. Curriculum, Assessments, instruction; Walden University
Post Graduate Licensure in Educational Leadership, Appalachian State University
State of North Carolina Educator Certificate, Spanish (K-12)

Alice has been with JMHS since 2019 and has been working in the North Carolina public school system for the past 10 years. Beginning as a Spanish teacher, she has served as the World Language District Lead, and now as the MTSS Coordinator. Once named Teacher of the Year at East Forsyth High and a semi-finalist of the district Teacher of the Year, she is excited for the opportunities that online learning can provide for students and she values the importance that all students have a unique way of learning.

Nikiya Webb

B.S., Biology Education, Georgia Southern University
State of Georgia Educator Certificate, Biology (6-12)

Nikiya has been a high school biology teacher, mentor and professional learning development coordinator. She was also awarded Teacher of the Year and enjoys volunteering as a science lab instructor, enriching elementary students in science and laboratory concepts.