Invested Faculty

Meet Our Faculty

  • Photo of Laurie Clark
    Mrs. Laurie Clark
    Preschool
    Preschool and Lower School Art Teacher
    Bio
     
    Laurie grew up in Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art history with a focus on multiculturalism in art from San Francisco State University and her master’s degree in children’s museum exhibition design from the Corcoran College of Art. Laurie has studied art in France, Italy, and South Africa, and her graduate thesis was the creation of a mobile children’s museum that would merge art and science to bring artistic theory to underserved communities.

    She served on the board of Sawtooth School of Visual Art for six years. Prior to coming to FCDS, she taught preschool art at Sawtooth and taught preschool at St. Paul’s Preschool.

    She and her husband Brad have two boys: Taylor ’30 and Elliott ’32.
  • Photo of McKenna Ford
    Ms. McKenna Ford
    Johnson Academic Center ( LS )
    Johnson Academic Center Language Development Specialist
    Bio
     
    McKenna was born and raised just outside of Boulder, Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in Spanish from the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. McKenna taught third grade in a school specifically designed for students with dyslexia and received Orton-Gillingham training at the Classroom Educator level. She is married to Wilson.
  • Photo of Eleanor Fowler
    Ms. Ella Fowler
    Library
    Preschool Assistant Teacher/Leighton
    Bio
     
    An FCDS alumna, Ella earned her bachelor’s in sociology and English from Appalachian State University. Prior to becoming a preschool assistant teacher, she worked in the FCDS afterschool program and was a substitute teacher for approximately three years.
  • Photo of Cara Kusnic
    Mrs. Cara Kusnic
    Science
    Lower School Science Teacher Grades 2-4
    Bio
     
    Originally from Florida and raised in New Jersey, Cara earned her master's degree in curriculum design and technology from Western Governors University with honors. She's a member of Kappa Delta Pi and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

    Before joining FCDS, Cara taught in public schools for seven years. Prior to that, she worked as a substitute teacher.

    Cara and her husband Mike met in high school and have twin daughters, Emily and Natalie, who are both FCDS Class of 2024.

    As a fun fact, she has four dogs, a parakeet named Bird, and two bearded dragons, Peanut and Pickles, who frequently visit her classroom.
  • Photo of Megan Martin-Wall
    Mrs. Megan Martin-Wall
    Counseling, Wellness and Belonging
    Lower School Counselor
    Bio
     
    Megan earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in women's studies and a master's degree in school counseling, both from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of Psi Chi, a psychology honor fraternity. Before coming to FCDS, Megan worked at Orange High School in Hillsborough, N.C., where she served as a school counselor and testing coordinator. Megan is a member of the North Carolina School Counselor Association and the American School Counselor Association, and has been published in The Journal for Specialists in Group Practice.

    Megan is a native of Winston-Salem and was excited to return home when she joined FCDS in 2004. During her time at Forsyth Country Day, Megan has worked with students in all divisions but loves the time she spends with the Middle School students. In addition to teaching Middle School guidance classes, Megan also works with the Parent Connection Series, Forsyth Ambassadors, and serves as an Upper School co-advisor. She and her husband Trent have two children, Jack (FCDS 2025) and Laney (FCDS 2027).
  • Photo of Julie McCann
    Mrs. Julie McCann
    Physical Education (LS)
    K-5 PE Teacher | Assistant Director Fury Club | Varsity Girls' Soccer Coach
    Bio
     
    A native of Kernersville, North Carolina, Julie McCann attended Wake Forest University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in K-6 education and was a scholarship athlete on the women’s soccer team. She coached soccer for NC Fusion and WSFCS schools on and off for the past 20 years and is a nationally certified coach. She has worked with many different ages from preschool through college. She served as an assistant coach at High Point University before following her passion for teaching. Julie has taught in both middle and elementary school for over 14 years. She also has worked in curriculum development where for four years she served as the program manager for a drop-out prevention program called Career-Start.

    Julie and her husband Michael live in Winston-Salem and have three children: Audrey (FCDS ’25), Ethan (FCDS ’26), and Maddie (FCDS ’29).
  • Photo of Tina McSwain
    Mrs. Tina McSwain
    Homeroom
    Third Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Born in Unionville, Ohio, Tina graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a degree in elementary education. After college, Tina began her teaching career at Pinnacle Elementary School in Stokes County, N.C. There, she worked with the State of North Carolina to develop, design, and conduct workshops dealing with the new math curriculum. She was also a teacher representative on the committee to develop the E.O.G. test for second grade. In 1992, Tina earned her master’s degree in education from Gardner Webb University. While at Pinnacle, Tina was also selected as Teacher of the Year for Pinnacle Elementary. Additionally, she was Stokes County Math Teacher of the Year. In 2000, with the birth of her son, Tina moved to Meadowlark Elementary School in Winston-Salem. There, she was named Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Math Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2010 and Top 10 Teacher of the Year for Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County in 2005. While at Meadowlark Elementary, Tina continued to teach math assessment workshops and work on the development of E.O.G. testing. Tina and her husband Mark have a son Ryan, who is presently in college.
  • Photo of Chasity Merrell
    Mrs. Chasity Merrell
    Johnson Academic Center ( LS )
    Language Development Specialist
    Bio
     
    Originally from Mount Airy, Chasity earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from High Point University.

    Prior to coming to FCDS, she taught first grade for 13 years at Forsyth Academy charter school, where she also served as a reading interventionist, teacher mentor, and teacher content leader. Chasity was named Teacher of the Year, earned the Vision Award, and received the Excellence in Teaching Award for two years in a row.

    Chastity and her husband Mike live in Lewisville with their son Brody.
  • Photo of Rebecca Miller
    Mrs. Rebecca Miller
    Homeroom
    Third Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Rebecca holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from High Point University, where she was awarded the Dan B. Cooke Educational Award for Outstanding Student Teacher. While teaching with Guilford County Schools for eight years, Rebecca received the Silas Abraham Peeler Elementary Educator Award from the Guilford County Council of PTA. In 2013, she completed the AOGPE Orton Gillingham Associate Level training.

    A first grade teacher at FCDS, Rebecca is also affiliated with the High Point Council of International Reading Association and was president in 1998. She was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma Society International in 1999 and the High Point University/Central Carolina Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International in 2000. In 2007, she was inducted into Who's Who of American Teachers. She was elected president of the High Point University/Central Carolina Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International in 2009. Rebecca also serves on the board of the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus and is president of the parent association. She is a member of the Operators for the Piedmont Opera Company. Rebecca and her husband Robin have a daughter, Allison (FCDS 2014).

  • Photo of Kristin Smith
    Ms. Kristin Smith
    Johnson Academic Center ( LS )
    Language Development Specialist
    Bio
     
    Originally from Chicago, Kristin earned her bachelor’s degrees from Southern Illinois University in regular and special education (with concentrations in learning and behavioral differences). She went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier University, followed by a master’s degree in reading specialty from Benedictine University. Before coming to FCDS she was a middle school instructional resource teacher for 9 years. Kristin joined the faculty at FCDS in 2018 as a language development specialist in the Johnson Academic Center. In 2020, she won the Johnson Academic Center Rhyne Award for teaching excellence. Additionally, Kristin has completed multisensory language instruction training (Orton-Gillingham) and is an Associate Member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (2021). She and her husband Derrek have two children, Noah (FCDS ‘29) and Paige (FCDS ‘31).
  • Photo of Bruce Tippette
    Mr. Bruce Tippette
    Fine Arts (LS), Preschool
    Preschool and Lower School Music Teacher
    Bio
     
    Originally from Garner, N.C., Bruce earned two bachelor’s degrees in music from Appalachian State University (music education and music composition/theory). He also earned a master’s degree in music from UNC School of the Arts. 

    An NC Teaching Fellow Recipient, Bruce is a trained classical pianist, vocalist, and percussionist as well as a professional composer with more than 60 publications geared toward the world of K-12 educational music. A former high school chorus/band director, for the past nine years Bruce has taught pre-school, elementary, and middle school students in youth choirs at a downtown church and led several handbell choirs (children, middle/high school, and adults). 

    Bruce and his wife Elizabeth have a son, Liam, and a daughter, Madeline.
  • Photo of Jennifer Wright
    Mrs. Jenni Wright
    Homeroom
    Third Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Jenni earned her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the State University of New York at Cortland after earning her bachelor's degree magna cum laude in arts for children from the State University of New York at Brockport. Jenni also earned a membership in the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. She holds K-6 teaching certificates in both New York and North Carolina. While attending SUNY Cortland, Jenni substituted for three school districts in K-12. During that time she also spent six years working at a garden nursery. In 1999, Jenni came to FCDS as a pre-k assistant and ASAP II teacher, then moved to third grade one year later. Jenni and he husband Mark have a daughter, Alexis, who attends FCDS.
Our faculty knows our students’ names, supports them, encourages them, and is always pulling for them. In this way, our staff continually draws out the best in each and every child, showing them how to study, advocate for themselves, and develop a solid work ethic.

Teachers, coaches, and counselors are all invested in making sure each child is valued, understood, and challenged at the right time. This individual approach – along with small class sizes – allows your child to flourish and be prepared for what's ahead.
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Forsyth Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, college preparatory, independent school for preschool through high school located in Lewisville, NC, just outside of Winston-Salem. Students benefit from a challenging academic curriculum, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Forsyth Country Day School is committed to administering all education and employment activities without discrimination based on one’s race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.