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 Abby Hoffman
    Ms. Abby Hoffman
    Homeroom
    First Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Originally from Winston-Salem, Abby earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from North Carolina State University. She taught first grade for five years in Wake County and Forsyth County before coming to FCDS.

    Abby and her husband Justin are excited to be back in her hometown.
  • 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 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 Mamie Morton
    Mrs. Mamie Morton
    Homeroom
    Lower School Instructional Assistant
    Bio
     
    A native of Albemarle, N.C. Mamie earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and business from Southern Methodist University. 

    Mamie worked in advertising and marketing and volunteered regularly at The Crossnore School and Children's Home as a tutor and mentor. For the past six years, she volunteered weekly in the FCDS workroom, served on the Parents' Association, and worked as a substitute teacher in the preschool and lower school. 

    Mamie and her husband Crae have two children at FCDS: Clyde ’22 and Margaret ’26.
     
  • Photo of Tonya Moss
    Ms. Tonya Moss
    Homeroom
    First Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Tonya grew up in East Bend, N.C., earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UNC-Wilmington and her master’s degree in language and literacy from Salem College.    

    A veteran teacher, Tonya taught first grade for 22 years in the Yadkin County Schools. She is a National Board Certified teacher. 

    Tonya and her husband Jack have two daughters, Marley Grace and Kinley Faith. Kinley joins FCDS this year as a fourth grader.
  • Photo of Kristin Philpott
    Mrs. Kristin Philpott
    Homeroom
    First Grade Teacher
    Bio
     
    Born and raised in Winston-Salem, Kristin’s family roots run deep in the Triad community. After graduating from RJ Reynolds High School, she attended Appalachian State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education.

    She began her teaching career in Yadkin County, where she taught kindergarten, first, and second grades at Forbush Elementary over a span of 18 years. During her time at Forbush, Kristin served as the chair of multiple committees, a new teacher mentor, and was twice nominated for Teacher of the Year.

    Kristin and her husband Cabell have two teenage daughters, Ella and Maggie.
  • Photo of Marisol Ruano-Vargas
    Ms. Marisol Ruano-Vargas
    Preschool
    Preschool and Lower School Spanish Teacher
    Bio
     
    Marisol has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Winston-Salem State University. Prior to coming to FCDS, she was an instructional assistant in Davie County Schools for five years where she was named instructional assistant of the year. She lives with her partner, Alex.
  • 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.
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.