Our Invested Faculty

Invested Faculty

At FCDS, our educators know and care for each and every student.

Meet Our Faculty

Department:

Grade:

Last Name:

Mrs. Christina Barksdale

Homeroom

Lower School Instructional Assistant

Bio

Originally from Winston-Salem, Christina earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s in child psychology. She and her husband James have two daughters Faith FCDS ’34 and Trinity.
Ms. Allison Blamer

Homeroom

Kindergarten Teacher

Bio

Allison was born and raised in Monroe, Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a double major in integrated science and elementary education and a minor in early childhood education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In college, she served as an assistant preschool teacher for three years.

After moving to North Carolina in 2014, Allison taught kindergarten for six years at a charter school, where she completed a year-long study of dean leadership training.

Allison and her husband Troy have a son, Brady.
Mrs. Rachel Boger

Homeroom

Kindergarten Teacher

Bio

Originally from Charleston, S.C., Rachel attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in early childhood education focused in grades K-1. She taught preschool for three years, working with 3- and 4-year-old students in an arts-based laboratory school. Before joining the Forsyth Country Day community, she taught kindergarten in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system for several years. At her previous school, Rachel wrote and won grants to develop an outdoor learning environment for the kindergarten classrooms and helped direct the parent involvement committee at her school. She served as a mentor for teacher cadet students completing their field experiences, and worked with teachers around the world to write, implement, and peer review global lesson plans for member schools in the Global Schools Network.
Mr. Brendan Bohon

Physical Education (LS), Preschool

Varsity Boys' Soccer Head Coach | Kindergarten and Preschool PE

Bio

Born and raised in Clemmons, Brendan earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Appalachian State University. Most recently, he worked at NC Fusion Soccer.

Brendan and his wife Brittany Garcia have three children: Brooklyn, Dax, and Lou.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Mrs. Jodi Moore

Homeroom

Lower School Instructional Assistant

Bio

Jodi Moore earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Meredith College. After a career in business that utilized her excellent interpersonal and organizational skills (regional manager, account executive, associate territory business manager) and raising two children, Jodi became a teacher in 2012. For four years, Jodi served as a teacher assistant in the Davie County Schools, providing academic assistance, instructional preparation and support, and seeking to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Jodi and her husband Michael have two children: Zachary (FCDS 2020) and McKenzie (FCDS 2023).
Ms. Susan Reid

Homeroom

Lower School Instructional Assistant

Bio

Susan is a member of the FCDS Class of 1989. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication from North Carolina State University and master’s in special education from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She is a member of the FCDS Hall of Fame and played volleyball at NC State. Susan has four children who are Furies: Davis, Hannah (FCDS 2019), Brooks (FCDS 2022), and Ansley (FCDS 2022).
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.
Mrs. Jenny Stauffer

Science

Lead Kindergarten Teacher

Bio

Jenny graduated from Meredith College with a bachelor of science degree in child

development and also received her NC K-6 teaching license. Upon graduation, she taught

second grade before staying home to raise her children. Later, she returned to teaching preschool at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte until moving to Winston-Salem in 2009. She then taught 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds at Knollwood Through-The-Week School. Jenny and her husband Tom have two daughters, Mary Stuart (FCDS ‘23) and Molly (FCDS ‘24).
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.

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.

5501 Shallowford Road
Lewisville, NC 27023
Phone: 336-945-3151

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Meet Our Faculty