Welcome Trinity’s new and returning team members

Front Row: Sarah Mokotoff, Revathi Arasavelli, Mary Catherine Gober ’95, Esther Francis, Lisa Gyovai, Samara Meshad, Kaitlin Snodgrass, Molly Lair, Rosalyn McLean Back Row: Koby Collins, Jose Martinez, Kelsey Ricci, Stephanie Mosac, Marcia Twiggs, Stacey Goss, April Blazejewski, Tertia Bonner, Anne Torrey McCuean ’08, Thomas Cheese

Welcome Trinity’s

new and returning team members

By Nicole Fash, Director of Marketing and Communications

Join us in welcoming our newest faculty and staff members, some of whom are returning to the Trinity School community. Please enjoy learning more about these dedicated and creative individuals.

Revathi Arasavelli join Teams

Trinity as an Early Learners Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Pam Lauer and Associate Teacher Molly Lair. She most recently served as an assistant teacher at St. Benedict’s Episcopal School in Smyrna, a paraprofessional at the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Vinings-Smyrna, and a substitute teacher for Cobb County schools. She spent several years teaching students from Pre-K through Fifth Grade at different schools in India. Revathi has a diploma in Montessori and a pre-primary teacher training certificate from India and is working toward a Bachelor of Arts in English from Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur, India.

We asked Revathi, why did you want

to work at Trinity? Her response: “I’ve known about Trinity for a long time and really admire it. I believe I can make a positive impact here.” April Blazejewski joins Trinity as a Third Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Lauren Covington. With 12 years’ experience teaching elementary school students, April previously taught Fifth Grade, serving as a lead science teacher and a lead math teacher, as well as

Third and Fourth Grades. She has won several Teacher of the Year awards; led math workshops at numerous local, state, and national teacher conferences; and served as a Grade Level Chair. April has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston.

We asked April, why did you want to

work at Trinity? She responded: “I love the positive atmosphere and how cherishing childhood and challenging students is the focus of Trinity.” Tertia Bonner joins the Trinity community as a Pre-K Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Tiki Norris and Associate Teacher Eman Srouji. With 10 years of teaching experience, Tertia has spent the last four years teaching students in Kindergarten through Third Grade at Cobb County Schools. She has also spent time as a Pre-K teacher at Goddard School and Smart Children Academy and a preschool teacher at Discovery Point. Before becoming an educator, Tertia served as an officer for the Department of Juvenile Justice. She has a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University, a Master of Public Administration from Strayer University, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University.

We asked Tertia, what are you most looking forward to during your first

year at Trinity? She responded: “I look forward to a year of growth and learning for students, staff, and families.”

Thomas Cheese joins Team

Trinity full time as a Fifth Grade Associate Teacher, working alongside Lead Teachers Bridget Billups and Michaela Davida after serving as a Substitute Teacher at Trinity since March 2022. He previously taught Third Grade at Albany Community Charter School in Albany, New York. This summer, he participated in a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion internship at Shipt and has previously held social work internships at Encompass Health in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Project Family in Athens, Georgia. Thomas has a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Dartmouth College.

We asked Thomas, why did you want

to work at Trinity? He responded: “Trinity is committed to academic excellence and allowing children to be children.”

Koby Collins, who began working at Trinity in November 2020 as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher, joins the Third-Grade team as an Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Andrene Leslie. He has served as a private tutor for nearly 13 years; has taught ESL/TESOL at schools in Beijing, China; and been an associate teacher at The Westminster Schools. Koby has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Western Governors University.

We asked Koby, why did you

want to work at Trinity? His response: “I believe in the mission of Trinity and creating a learning environment for students to flourish and cherish childhood.”

Esther Francis joins Team Trinity as the Upper Elementary Art Teacher. Specializing in acrylic and oil painting and digital drawing, Esther has been a professional artist for 14 years and spent a decade as the lower school art director at Holy Spirit Preparatory School. She has a Master of Arts in Art Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration and Design from The Art Institute of Atlanta.

We asked Esther, what is your

educational philosophy? Her response: “A positive attitude goes a long way!” Mary Catherine Gober ’95,

a Trinity alumna and a graduate of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, returns to Trinity as a Kindergarten Senior Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teachers Jessica Lyles, Shaun McCarthy, April Patton, and Marley West. With 13 years of teaching experience, Mary Catherine previously held the position of First Grade Lead Teacher from 2016 to 2018. Before coming to Trinity, she taught Kindergarten and Second Grade at The Schenck School and Kindergarten at Ashley Hall in Charleston, South Carolina. An OrtonGillingham Associate, Mary Catherine has a Master of Education in Special Education and Learning Disabilities and a Bachelor of Science in Special and Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University.

We asked Mary Catherine, why did you want to work in education?

Her response: “I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I have always loved working with children.” Stacey Goss returns to Trinity as a part-time receptionist. She worked at Trinity for more than a decade, from 2003–2015, as a Second Grade Lead Teacher, Learning Team Specialist, and First Grade Lead Teacher. She has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University, a Master of Education in Elementary Education from the University of West Georgia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Shippensburg University.

We asked Stacey, why did you want

to return to Trinity? Her response: “I miss my old friends and being in a school setting. Trinity fills my bucket!” Lisa Gyovai joins Team Trinity as the Early Education Media Specialist. She has most recently served as a library volunteer at Trinity and The Westminster Schools and spent several years homeschooling her children from grades Pre-K through Fifth, designing and implementing their curriculum. Lisa was previously a lead teacher in Kindergarten and Fifth at Patronis Elementary School in Panama City Beach and worked

for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS), first in the Azores, Portugal, then in Okinawa, Japan. She has a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Intervention from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Miami University. Her article, “Early Reading Intervention: Responding to the Learning Needs of Young At-Risk English Language Learners” was published in a 2009 edition of Learning Disability Quarterly, which publishes high-quality research and scholarship concerning children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities.

We asked Lisa, what is your

educational philosophy? Her response: “I am inspired by the energy of young learners and their inherent passion for discovery and knowledge. My mission is to honor students’ childhood and foster an authentic connection to the curriculum and community through meaningful relationships.” Molly Lair joins Team Trinity as an Early Learners Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Pam Lauer and Associate Teacher Revathi Arasavelli. Molly brings more than a decade of experience in the corporate world, having served as chief of staff at NRG Energy, partnerships manager for Near Future Summit, marketing manager for Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, and as proprietor of her own design consulting firm. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

We asked Molly, why did you

want to work in education? Her response: “I wanted to continue working somewhere that I could have a positive influence on the world. I am most looking forward to getting to know all the little ones!” Jose Martinez returns to Trinity as Facilities Lead after most recently serving as a lead maintenance technician at Whitefield Academy for three years. A certified electrician, he began his time at Trinity in 2015 as a janitor with Cleanstar before taking on the role of Maintenance Technician I from 2016 to 2019. Prior to his facilities career, Jose worked in the food service industry as a cashier, server, and cook. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and coaching soccer.

We asked Jose, why did you want to

return to Trinity? “It’s a great place to work and offers growth opportunities. I look forward to helping build a strong facilities team.”

Anne Torrey McCuean ’08

joined Team Trinity in May and serves in the Advancement Associate and Alumni Relations position. A graduate of Trinity and The Lovett School, Anne Torrey came to us from Atlanta Youth Academy, where she served as development manager and grant writer. Prior to her role at AYA, she was at Atlanta Girls’ School, where she was the advancement assistant and director of S.M.A.R.T. Girls Camp. Anne Torrey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies with a concentration in Communication from Furman University.

We asked Anne Torrey, why did

you want to work at Trinity? Her response: “I wanted to work at Trinity because some of the most memorable experiences and relationships I have came from my time as a student at Trinity. I want to be a part of providing those same memories for our current students.”

Rosalyn McLean returns to

Trinity as a Second Grade Associate Teacher, a role she held previously, and works alongside Lead Teacher Ellen Marbut. At Trinity from 2018 to 2020, Rosalyn began her time with us as a Kindergarten Associate Teacher before moving to Second Grade. Before joining Trinity in 2018, Rosalyn taught ESL online to elementary students and Second Grade at the University of Chicago Charter School. She has her Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education from The University of Chicago and her Bachelor of Arts in Business from Michigan State University.

We asked Rosalyn, why did you want

to return to Trinity? Her response: “Trinity School is a magical place where the warmth and joy of learning can be felt throughout the community. As a dedicated lifelong learner who is always committed to growing my teaching practice, there are lots of professional development and learning opportunities available for the teaching staff. Additionally, Trinity is a school that values collaboration and working together. Trinity’s values align with my own, which makes it a wonderful place to work!” Samara Meshad joins Team

Trinity as a Third Grade Lead Teacher and works alongside Associate Teacher Gretchen Blake. For the last two years, Samara has worked at Mount Vernon School, first as a Kindergarten Collaborative Teacher and most recently as a First Grade Teacher. She previously served as a preschool teacher at The Little Nook in Atlanta. Samara has a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Gifted Education from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida State University.

We asked Samara, why did you want

to work at Trinity? Her response: “The concept of ’cherishing childhood’ really struck home with me when I began researching Trinity. Through my various conversations and interactions with members at the School, I quickly learned that Trinity was committed to its mission and that the professional and personal community at Trinity was one I wanted to join.”

Sarah Mokotoff returns to Trinity School as an Upper Elementary Learning Team Specialist. With 18 years of teaching experience, Sarah most recently served as a learning lab specialist at The Epstein School for three years. At Trinity from 2006–2019, she spent one year as a Second Grade Associate Teacher before moving into a Second Grade Lead Teacher role. Sarah also spent two years at The Schiff Preschool of Temple Emanu-El as a co-teacher for the two-year-old and 18-month-old classes. Orton-Gillingham trained, she has a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from Oglethorpe University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Tulane University.

We asked Sarah, what is your

educational philosophy? Her response: “I believe that all children are capable of learning if they trust in their own abilities and have someone cheering them on and helping them believe this. Children will learn best when they feel respected and loved. Helping a student establish a growth mindset is one of the most important tools an educator can teach a student.”

Stephanie Mosac joins Team

Trinity as a Pre-K Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Claire Paul and Associate Teacher Holly Brookshire. With 20 years in education, Stephanie most recently served as the assistant director at Eagle Pointe Preschool in Acworth. Her previous experience also includes Pre-K lead teacher at Tallatoona Headstart in Rome; school director at Primrose School of East Cobb; and director of operations, director, and assistant director/infant care coordinator at various locations of The Goddard School in Georgia. Prior to working in education, she was a nurse in California. Stephanie has an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care and Education from Chattahoochee Technical College and an Associate of Science in Nursing from Yuba College.

We asked Stephanie, why did you

want to work in education? Her response: “I love children, and I love to watch them explore and learn. I want to give each child that I come in contact with a lifelong love of learning.” Kelsey Ricci, who served as Trinity’s Long-Term Substitute Nurse during the second half of the 202122 school year, now works alongside Nurse Debbie Bright as a second full-time School Nurse. A Registered Nurse (RN), Kelsey received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Pasco-Hernando State College and completed clinical training at Northside Hospital Atlanta as well as Hellen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She has previously served as a surgical nurse at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma and midwife/medical assistant at Labor of Love Birth Center in Dunedin, Florida.

We asked Kelsey, why did you want

to work at Trinity? Her response: “My experience at Trinity has been nothing short of amazing. All of the staff and faculty truly work together to create a nurturing and caring educational environment. The children who have the privilege of learning at Trinity are respected and valued in a way I’ve not witnessed elsewhere. I love the Trinity community already and want to work here for as long as possible!” Kaitlin Snodgrass joins Team

Trinity as an Early Learners Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Robin Martin and Associate Teacher Kimberly Marchant. She previously worked at St. Martin’s Episcopal School for several years as a Second Grade lead teacher and First and Second Grade assistant teacher before staying home with her two children. Kaitlin, who attended Georgia independent schools from age four through 12th Grade, served as a Room Parent in Robin’s classroom last year when her daughter, Brooke, was in it. Kaitlin has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mercer University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Auburn University.

We asked Kaitlin, what are you most looking forward to during your first year teaching at Trinity?

Her response: “Robin Martin is an exceptional teacher who treats each child as her own. Witnessing the academic and social growth my daughter made in her class last year was truly remarkable. I cannot wait to be a part of the magic of the Butterfly class on a daily basis. I look forward to the growth each child makes from our first day together in August to our last day in May. I know we are going to have the best time! I have also loved meeting Trinity faculty and staff, and I am eager to meet more this first year.” Marcia Twiggs joins Team Trinity as a Fourth Grade Associate Teacher and works alongside Lead Teacher Hunter Branch. An elementary classroom teacher for 23 years, Marcia most recently worked at Sarah Smith Elementary in Atlanta, where she received a Teacher of the Year award. She has also taught at schools in Memphis, Tennessee, and served as a team leader. Marcia earned an Education Specialist in Curriculum and Supervision as well as a Master of Education from Union University and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from The University of Tennessee.

We asked Marcia, why did you want

to work at Trinity? Her response: “My experiences with Trinity have been through a parent’s eyes. I have seen through my daughter’s experience and personal encounters the commitment to honoring the joys of childhood while also developing critical thinking and leadership skills. I am very excited to work in a place where this is the primary focus.”