Our Invested Faculty

Invested Faculty

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

Meet Our Faculty

Department:

Grade:

Last Name:

Mr. Brian Carey

Facilities

Facilities Maintenance
Mr. Mark Cavanaugh

Science

Upper School Physics Teacher

Bio

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics with a minor in physics from Cleveland State University. He is a National Board Certified educator in Physics as well as a level 1 and 2 Google Certified educator.

A veteran teacher of 23 years, he taught physics, math, and chemistry at Mt. Tabor for 16 years and spent three years teaching all four levels of AP Physics at the Career Center in Winston-Salem.

Mark and his wife Kelly have three daughters: Maureen (FCDS '23), Audrey (FCDS '25), and Molly (FCDS '31).
Mrs. Nicole Chandler

Science

Middle School Science Teacher
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. Rachel Clark

Fine Arts (US)

Upper School Ceramics

Bio

Originally from Pennsylvania, Rachel earned her bachelor’s of fine arts from Tennessee Technological University and her master’s of fine arts from East Carolina University. A teacher for more than 10 years (five at the college level), Rachel invented a technique called Oxide Fusion Printing, and she specializes in digital technological application onto traditional craft material and locally sourced "wild" clay and glaze. She has also worked in blacksmithing, fiber arts, glass blowing, fine metals, and woodworking.

Rachel is married to Brendan Mims.
Ms. Laura Clay

Administration

Head of Upper School

Bio

A native of Virginia Beach, Laura has spent the majority of her career in Winston-Salem. She received her bachelor's degree in history/social studies education from Pfeiffer University and her master's degree in liberal studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a passionate leader and career teacher/educator with experience and success in diverse academic environments. She engages, directs, and promotes students’ academic and social development through insight, compassion, motivation, and humility for the benefit of the individual and the greater community.

Prior to coming to FCDS, Laura was the Dean of Students/Assistant Head of School at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School in Sewanee, Tennessee. At SAS, she was also the Interim Dean of Admissions, taught history and English, and coached middle school basketball. Most recently, she was the Dean of Athletics at Chatham Hall, where she developed and implemented a health and wellness initiative, taught civics and ethics, and coached field hockey and lacrosse. Laura began her teaching career in the WS/FCS system, earning Teacher of Year awards at both Clemmons Middle School and Reagan High School. She also taught history at Salem Academy, receiving the Joel Weston Award for Teaching Excellence.

Laura and her spouse, Beth, have a son, Kip, who currently attends the University of Montana.
Mr. Andy Clifton

Administration, Philanthropy

Director of Philanthropy

Bio

While earning his master’s degree in education from Wake Forest, Andy coached at Forsyth, where he later joined the staff full-time in 2006. He has served in various roles, including as a science teacher and cross-country coach, site director of an on-site teacher training program devoted to helping all kids learn, and co-chair of the Accreditation Committee. Since 2019, Andy has served on the senior administrative team as the Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement. Andy and his wife Meredith have two daughters: Caroline (FCDS ’23) and Anna.
Ms. Nicole Cline

Preschool

Preschool Assistant Teacher/Schultz

Bio

Nicole Cline earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Appalachian State. She taught in public school for one year before coming to FCDS. Prior to becoming an assistant in the preschool, she worked in the After School Program and substituted in various classrooms and age groups.

Nicole and her husband, Ray, live in Yadkinville.
Mr. Mike Cobb

Administration

Futurist in Residence

Bio

Originally from Texas, Mike earned his master’s degree in education from Cambridge College in Cambridge, England. He has more than 35 years of educational and thought leadership experience. Notably, he served as Head of School at NEOM Community Schools of NEOM Baccalaureate in Saudi Arabia. Prior to his work in Saudi Arabia, Mike was Head of School at All Saints Episcopal School in Texas.

Currently a full-time consultant with Mission & Data, Mike works part-time with Head of School Gardner Barrier on thought leadership and mind-mapping innovation at FCD, including planning for what’s ahead and leveraging the downtown campus for the benefit of FCDS students and the community at large.

Mike is married to Debra.
Mr. Stabler Cochrane

English

Middle School English Teacher

Bio

A native of Winston-Salem, Stabler earned his bachelor’s degree in literature and language from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he played Division I soccer.

He has worked in writing and publishing at a small independent publishing house and for a number of magazines both online and in print.
Mrs. Sunny Cordray

World Languages

Middle School Spanish Teacher

Bio

Sunny, a native of Winston-Salem, is an FCDS alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in education from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in Spanish from UNC-Greensboro. She has studied abroad and traveled to Spain, Argentina, and Mexico.

An 18-year veteran teacher and volleyball coach, this is actually Sunny’s third time teaching at FCDS - she previously taught Spanish in the Upper School from 2000-2006 and taught Middle School Spanish from 2012-2016. Most recently, Sunny taught at Jefferson Middle School and Lewisville Middle School.

Sunny and her husband Joel have three children: John, Eliza, and Nicholas FCDS ’29.

Fun fact: Sunny is a member of FCDS’s Fury Athletic Hall of Fame for volleyball and basketball.
Mr. Gordon Cranfill

Transportation

Bus Driver
Mr. Aaron Craven

Philanthropy

Associate Director of Philanthropy

Bio

Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Aaron graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in music education K-12 with an emphasis in string bass performance and a minor in piano performance. In the spring of 2005, Aaron graduated from the University of Tennessee with a master's degree in double bass / electric bass performance. For two years, Aaron was the assistant director of the Oak Ridge High School Orchestra program in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In the eight years Aaron has been the director of orchestras at Forsyth Country Day, he has grown enrollment in the strings program from just under 60 students to almost 170, making FCDS one of the largest independent school string programs in the Southeast. Active as a clinician, Aaron has served as a guest conductor for a number of county and state orchestras in both North Carolina and Tennessee. He currently serves as the audition coordinator for the NCMEA Jr. Western Regional Orchestra. While in Tennessee, Aaron performed with the Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport and the Knoxville Opera. Prior to moving to Knoxville, Aaron was assistant principal bass of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Currently, Aaron performs with the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, N.C., and continues jazz performances as a freelance bass player with groups throughout the Piedmont Triad.
Ms. Alisa Crawford

Preschool, After School Program

Preschool Afternoon Teacher
Ms. Helena Cruz-Garcia

Preschool

Preschool Teaching Assistant -Stone

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