Trinity faculty and staff take on new roles

Front Row: Claire Snyder, Marley West, Kate Burton, Sarah Cascone, Val Boone, Jessica Lyles, Jamie Webster, Jennie Rountree, Michelle Siegel Back Row: Joanna Rios-Vargas, Kelsey Strickland, Andrene Leslie, Annie Jacobs, Melissa Cooney, April Patton, Jennifer Jones, Brooke Ovorus, Mary Jacob Harris, Leah Lenhardt, Thomas Benefield

By Nicole Fash, Director of Marketing and Communications

Learn more about our faculty and staff who transitioned into new roles or grade levels at Trinity this school year. Thomas Benefield, who has

been at Trinity since 2014 as a Fifth Grade Lead Teacher, has transitioned into an Associate Teacher position and works alongside Fifth Grade Lead Teachers Kathy Bruyn and Kelsey Strickland. Before coming to Trinity, Thomas worked at Fernbank Elementary School in Dekalb County for 13 years, serving as a computer lab instructor, Fifth Grade teacher, and the director of after-school extended day program. He has a Master of Science in Education Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia. Val Boone, who joined Team Trinity as an Early Elementary Media Specialist in 2021, now serves as the School’s Instructional Technologist. A state-certified librarian, Val was a

media specialist at a private school in Decatur prior to coming to Trinity. She holds a Master of Information Science with a concentration in K-12 Library/Media from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Geography from Kennesaw State University. Kate Burton has moved into a Kindergarten Lead Teacher position and works alongside Lead Teacher Brooke Kelly and Senior Associate Teacher Laurice Drews. She joined the Trinity team in August 2007 as a Fourth Grade Lead Teacher and later served as the Fourth Grade and Sixth Grade Science Teacher as well as a Sixth Grade Lead Teacher. Kate most recently served as the First–Fourth Grade Science Teacher after completing her role as Trinity’s Steam Integration Specialist, a three-year position that was funded through a grant focused on strategic innovation. During her 27-year teaching career, she has also held various teaching positions in grades four through eight at schools in Florida. She has an Educational Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kennesaw State University, a master’s degree in Elementary Math and Science from the University of South Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Stetson University. Kate is currently working toward her Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership from Kennesaw State University. Sarah Cascone, who began

working at Trinity in 2021 as the Substitute Teacher and Field Trip Coordinator and a part-time Extended Programs Teacher, now serves as the Associate to Human Resources, Teaching and Learning, and Field Trip Operations. Prior to joining the Trinity team, Sarah was a public relations coordinator at Atlanta-based M-Squared Public Relations, a personal stylist at Fab’rik, and a front office administrator at the Athens YMCA. She earned a master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of Mississippi. Melissa Cooney has moved into a First Grade Lead Teacher position and teams with Lead Teacher Hilary Daigre and Associate Teacher Bella Giorno after serving as a Kindergarten Senior Associate Teacher since 2019. Before coming to Trinity, Melissa taught Kindergarten for seven years at Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell. She also helped coach Girls Varsity and JV Cross Country and Track Teams at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. Melissa is OrtonGillingham trained and has a Master of Education in Literacy from Clemson University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University. Mary Jacob Harris, who has

been at Trinity since 2007, has moved to an Upper Elementary Learning Team Specialist position after serving as a Kindergarten Lead Teacher since 2017. She previously served as a Third Grade Lead Teacher, First Grade Lead Teacher, and First Grade Associate Teacher. Mary Jacob has a Master of Education in Reading, Language, and Literacy: Early Literacy from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Washington and Lee University. Annie Jacobs, who has been a Third Grade Associate Teacher at Trinity since 2021, has moved to the First-Grade team as a Lead Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Margaret Abernathy and Associate Teacher Bella Giorno. Prior to joining Trinity, Annie had studentteaching experience in Kindergarten as well as Second, Third, and Fifth Grades. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an ESOL Endorsement from Georgia Southern University. Jennifer Jones, who joined Trinity in 2021 as a Fourth Grade Associate Teacher, has moved into a Second Grade Associate Teacher position and works alongside Lead Teacher Claire Snyder. Prior to coming to Trinity, she was a teacher assistant at Woodward Academy for seven years. Prior to her experience in education, Jennifer was a pharmaceutical sales representative for Pfizer in Atlanta as well as vice president of various departments within Nations Bank (now Bank of America). She has a Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University. Leah Lenhardt has transitioned into a Pre-K Lead Teacher position and works alongside Associate Teachers Anne Jones and SatyaGrace Kaskade. She joined the Trinity community in 2016 and previously served as a Pre-K Associate Teacher for four years and an Early Learners Associate Teacher for two. In addition, Leah has prior experience as a Pre-K Lead Teacher when she took on the role in the fall of 2020 when her team member went on maternity leave. Leah, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from The University of Georgia, received one of The Hartman Family Fund for Faculty Excellence awards in August. Andrene Leslie, who joined Trinity in 2017 as a Third Grade Associate Teacher, has moved into a Third Grade Lead Teacher position and works alongside Associate Teacher Koby Collins. With 14 years of teaching experience, Andrene taught First Grade for eight years and Third Grade for one year at George Headley Primary School in Kingston, Jamaica,

before coming to Trinity. She received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston. Jessica Lyles now serves as a Kindergarten Lead Teacher alongside Lead Teacher April Patton and Senior Associate Teacher Mary Catherine Gober ’95 after joining Team Trinity in 2021 as an Early Learners Associate Teacher. Before coming to Trinity, she was a lead teacher for three-year-old students at The Westminster Nursery, a lead preschool teacher at the Washington Street Child Development Center, and a lead teacher at Peachtree Road Lutheran Preschool for several years. At the beginning of her career, Jessica was a clinical assistant in a psychological assessment office and held counseling internships at Laurel Heights Hospital and Hope Counseling Center, both in Atlanta. A member of Georgia Researchers of Educational Psychology, she has a Master of Education in Educational Psychology: Applied Cognition and Development from the University of Georgia, a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling: Child and Adolescent Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Belhaven University. Brooke Ovorus now serves as the Fourth as well as the Sixth Grade Science Teacher, a position she has held since 2018. A Fourth Grade Lead Teacher at Trinity from 2014–2018, Brooke previously taught Fourth Grade for seven years at Argyle Elementary in Smyrna, Georgia, and Third and Fourth Grade for three years at J.C. Magill Elementary in Loganville, Georgia. She has a Master of Science in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in Education with minors in English, Mathematics, and Science from the Western Michigan University. April Patton has moved to the Kindergarten team as a Lead Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Jessica Lyles and Senior Associate Teacher Mary Catherine Gober ’95. At Trinity since 2012, April began as an Early Learners Associate Teacher, moved to Pre-K as an Associate Teacher, added a role as an Extended Programs Teacher, then became a Pre-K Lead Teacher in 2016. She previously served as a lead teacher at Crème de la Crème Preschool for six years and was also a professional portrait photographer. April has a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. Joanna Rios-Vargas, who

began working at Trinity in 2019 as a part-time Extended Programs Teacher and Substitute Teacher, now serves as a three-day-aweek Receptionist throughout the school year and summer. She most recently served Trinity as a parttime Extended Programs Teacher and Substitute Receptionist, and her previous work experience includes time as an insurance agent and a sales associate. Joanna is working toward an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia Highlands College. Jennie Rountree, who most

recently served as a Second Grade Lead Teacher, is now the First–Third Grade Science Teacher. Jennie, who joined the Trinity community in 2018 as a Second Grade Associate Teacher, has previously served at other schools as an instructional learning specialist, science coordinator, robotics teacher, guidance counselor, and tutor. During her 30-year career, she has taught students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade and developed a lower school environmental studies curriculum. Jennie earned her Master of Arts in Elementary Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Louisiana Tech University. Michelle Siegel was promoted

to Assistant Director of Extended Programs after serving as the Extended Programs Core Supervisor since 2019. Prior to joining Team Trinity, Michelle was the assistant general manager at The Peach Pit. She has also worked as a general manager at Gymnastics, USA; a youth coordinator on a cruise line; and a gymnastics coach. She has a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Sociology from the University of Central Florida.

Claire Snyder, who joined the Trinity community as a Second Grade Associate Teacher in 2019, now serves as a Second Grade Lead Teacher alongside Associate Teacher Jennifer Jones. At the University of Georgia, she participated in a special “Double Dawgs” program in which she earned both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K through Fifth). Kelsey Strickland, who joined

Team Trinity in 2020 as a Fifth Grade Associate Teacher, is now a Fifth Grade Lead Teacher and works alongside Associate Teacher Thomas Benefield. Prior to coming to Trinity, 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 has her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. Jamesia “Jamie” Webster,

who joined Trinity in 2021 as a Second Grade Associate Teacher, has moved into a Fourth Grade Associate Teacher position and works alongside Lead Teacher Jen Overly. Jamie previously served as the secretary/

clerk and a paraprofessional at Barksdale Elementary in Conyers, Georgia; a lead teacher at The Goddard School Buckhead; a longterm substitute teacher and summer camp coach at The Children’s School; and a dance teacher at I Love Dance Atlanta. Jamie has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Walden University. Marley West has moved to the Kindergarten team as a Lead Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Shaun McCarthy and Senior Associate Teacher Mary Catherine Gober ’95 after serving as a Third Grade Lead Teacher since 2019. Before coming to Trinity, Marley served as a Second Grade teacher at High Point Elementary School in Sandy Springs and a Specials Enrichment Teacher and Pre-K teacher at Trinity Presbyterian Preschool. Marley holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Reinhardt University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from North Carolina State University.