Welcome Trinity’s newest

Welcome Trinity’s newest team members

By Nicole Fash, Director of Marketing and Communications

Join us in welcoming the School’s newest faculty and staff members to the Trinity family. We hope you enjoy learning about them as much as we did.

Julia Alexander joins Trinity as a Fourth Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Laura Jannausch. Julia has student teaching experience in Pre-K–Sixth Grade. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from The University of Alabama and double majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood.

We asked Julia, why do you want to

work at Trinity? Her response, “I have always wanted to work in an environment where my coworkers felt like family, and I knew that Trinity was going to be my new home after I was able to speak with a few of the current faculty members this summer. I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else!” Becca Bailey joins the Trinity team as a part-time Extended Programs Teacher. She was previously a teacher at Primrose Preschool in Brookhaven and a coach at Playball in Atlanta. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Kennesaw State University and most recently worked at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta as an intern.

We asked Becca, why do you want to

work at Trinity? Her response, “I want to work at Trinity because it is a great school, they reinforce positive discipline, and they genuinely care about the children and their needs.” Lucretia Cahill joins our faculty as the Early Elementary through Second Grade Spanish Teacher. She has worked in education for 22 years and spent the past decade working as a substitute teacher for Cobb County schools and the last three years as a fitness instructor for a Kindergarten–Fifth-Grade after-school club. She previously lived in Washington, D.C., where she was a special education teacher for the public school system and director of the Hyde School Extended Day and Summer Camp for Pre-K–FifthGrade students. An avid writer, Lucretia authored the book Socks, which is part of Hameray Publishing’s Kaleidoscope Collection, a series of informational and narrative texts written by experienced literacy instructors. Lucretia has a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development and a Graduate Certificate Specialization for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners from George Washington University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Northern Arizona University.

We asked Lucretia, why did you want

to work in education? Her response, “Every day is different and presents the possibility to make a difference in someone’s life.”

Jane Choi joins Trinity as a Third Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Caroline Dwight. For the last 15 years, Jane has taught science to Pre-K–Fifth-Grade students at various schools in Texas and New York and spent a year as an adjunct instructor of math and science at Hunter College in New York. Jane has a Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a Math and Science Specialization and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language Arts and Childhood Education (Grades 1–6), both from Hunter College.

We asked Jane, why do you want

to work at Trinity? Her response, “In all my experience, I have yet to see an institution honor and dignify the critical part that the elementary experience plays in a child’s growth and development as does Trinity. I already feel such a tremendous sense of respect for my new colleagues.” Dieon Franklin joins the Trinity team as a part-time Extended Programs Teacher. A junior at Georgia State University, Dieon is studying Middle Level Education. He is passionate about community outreach and has extensive experience working with children as a tutor at the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA in Atlanta and a camp counselor at the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation’s Camp Best Friends. Additionally, he has held volunteer positions with the Peachtree Road United Methodist Youth Engagement Program and the Atlanta Police Athletic League (PAL).

We asked Dieon, why do you want

to work in education? His response, “Education is a critical component of society and life. Having the ability to live a life filled with learning opens many doors of opportunity. As a former KIPP student, the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ means everything to me. I’ve always possessed extreme passion for the teaching and learning environment.” Bella Giorno joins Trinity as the First Grade Associate Teacher. She comes to us with eight years of experience working in education and has previously served as a dean of students, assistant dean of students, academic specialist, and reading specialist. Bella also spent a year as a reading interventionist with AmeriCorps and was the recipient of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. She has a Certificate in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University in Detroit, Michigan; a Master of Science in Education and a Reading Specialist Certificate from University of Pennsylvania; and a Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Elementary Education and Psychology from University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

We asked Bella, what is your

teaching philosophy? Her response, “Children learn through play and experimentation. After only two days at Trinity, I could tell that the whole child is developed here through hands-on educational experiences, exploration, and movement, which are all essential parts of learning.”

Julie Griffith joins the Trinity family as a Media Center Specialist. She recently completed her student teaching practicum at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Before pursuing a career in education, Julie worked for two years as a graphic and web designer. Julie has a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences with a School Licensure and Youth Services Certification and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, both from the University of Southern Mississippi.

We asked Julie, why did you want to

work in education? Her response, “I love working with children and studying their fascinating little minds! I think working in education is one of the most powerful and important jobs as you are influencing future generations and making a difference in children’s lives, and it doesn’t hurt that you get to have fun with them all day for work.” Satya Kaskade joins Trinity as a Pre-K Associate Teacher and teams with Lead Teacher April Patton and Associate Teacher Anne Jones. She and her husband, Stephen, are parents to Trinity Pre-K student Kyrianna. For the last two years, Satya has taught Spanish at Fulton County and Dekalb County schools. Prior to beginning her career in education, Satya spent a decade practicing law. A certified mediator by the Virginia General District Court, she has served as an attorney and program analyst among other roles. In 2009, Satya published the article “Mothers Without Borders: Undocumented Immigrant Mothers Facing Deportation and the Best Interests of Their U.S. Citizen Children” in the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Culture with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and a minor in International Business from Washington State University. She also earned a Juris Doctor from the Marshall–Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary.

We asked Satya, why do you want to

work at Trinity? Her response, “I want to work at Trinity because it is much more than a prestigious academic institution; it is a close-knit community where children know they matter and thus can learn and grow into their best selves daily.” Julie Kennedy joins the Trinity faculty as a Second Grade Associate Teacher and partners with Lead Teacher Rachel Walker ’06. She spent the last two years student teaching First-, Second-, and Fifth-Grade students at elementary schools in the Cobb County school system. Julie has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Kennesaw State University and holds an ESOL and Reading Endorsement.

We asked Julie, what is your teaching

philosophy? Her response, “As a passionate educator, I have a duty to form a nurturing environment that is conducive to individual learning, inside and outside the classroom. This requires the application of current educational best practices and a commitment to continuous learning, ever seeking new and innovative teaching techniques. I strive to facilitate success for and in my students as I teach with an eager heart, a clear purpose, and a focus towards an exciting future.”

Ellen Marbut joins Trinity as a Second Grade Lead Teacher and works alongside Second Grade Associate Teacher Kelly Jacobs. A graduate from Brenau University with her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Ellen is Orton-Gillingham trained and gifted certified. She has taught Pre-K, First Grade, and Second Grade and served as a Curriculum Support Teacher for a K–5 school. For the past seven years, she taught at a local public school.

We asked Ellen, what is your teaching

philosophy? Her response, “Meeting every child where they are and digging deeper every day to help them love their learning experience.”

Emily Pritchard joins the Trinity team as a Second Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Katherine Spits. She previously served as an assistant preschool teacher at The Early Learning Center in Auburn, Alabama, and has additional experience working with children as an intern with Rocky Mountain Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado; a volunteer with The Atlanta Children’s Shelter’s nursery and preschool; and a competitive gymnastics coach at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. At a young age, Emily founded Camp Dragonfly, a neighborhood camp for children ages 3–8. A Woodward Academy graduate, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Middle Childhood and Adolescence from Auburn University.

We asked Emily, what are you most

looking forward to this year? Her response, “Meeting new people and learning to be a better teacher.”

Erika Sommers joins the Trinity team as a Pre-K Associate Teacher and partners with Lead Teacher Sarah Kerr and Associate Teacher Debbie Oakes. Most recently, Erika was a lead teacher at Bright Horizons in Atlanta and The Goddard School in New York. For seven years, she taught at Kingsley Charter Elementary School in Atlanta, working with children from birth through Second Grade in addition to children with special needs. Erika has a master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology with a Mental Health Specialization and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

We asked Erika, what is your teaching

philosophy? Her response, “My teaching philosophy is to make learning fun for everyone.” Kelsey Strickland joins Trinity as a Fifth Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teachers Thomas Benefield and Kathy Bruyn. Kelsey was a Fourth Grade lead teacher at Summit Hill Elementary School in Milton, Georgia, where she was nominated for Teacher of the Year. She was most recently a nanny to two young children. Kelsey has her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia.

We asked Kelsey, why did you want to

work in education? “I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I have always had a heart for children, and helping students learn, grow, and understand is one of the most rewarding experiences.”