About Your Specialist

Mary joined the Johnson Academic Center in August, 2002 after having taught most recently at Lowrance Middle School, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2001. Mary received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Salem College and her Master’s degree in Cross-Categorical Education from University of North Carolina - Greensboro. 

In 2003, Mary was awarded “Professional of the Year” by the Autism Society of North Carolina.

In the fall of 2005, Mary consulted with Coulter Video to produce two new videos designed to help classmates accept and befriend students with AS and classmates who think differently, who are now frequently subjected to teasing, harassment and isolation.  The videos are titled, “INTRICATE MINDS II: Understanding Classmates With Asperger Syndrome” and  “Intricate Minds III: Understanding Elementary School Classmates Who Think Differently.”  “INTRICATE MINDS II and III” feature moving interviews with students who have AS and who are different describing how they think, act and feel – and how they’re routinely treated.  The students talk about their strengths as well as their challenges and describe how important it is to them to be treated with respect.  For more information, please click on this link:  http://home.att.net/~coultervideo/index.htm

Mary served as an Executive Board member for Joy Ride for Autism in 2001 and is a long-time member of the Autism Society of North Carolina. Mary has one son, Nicholas, who attends FCDS.

Mary teaches social skills groups for children and adolescents after school through the “Friends Club". Friends Club is designed to provide effective, exciting social training in group skills sessions. Participants gain valuable life skills that impact and support personal, social, and educational success.

In addition, Mary is very involved in volunteer work in the community. She loves to spend time with her son Nicholas, work on the computer, traveling, and reading.