Nancy Carey – Spanish
Nancy Carey taught at a high school in Maryland prior to this year. Carey enjoys reading, sewing and swimming.
Compared to her old school, Carey says that the students here are “much brighter, much more involved, active, they don’t feel entitled, they’re really here to get an education.”
Carey was inspired to teach when she learned that Spanish is the most rapidly growing language in America. Her experiences living abroad motivate her to teach and bring cultural diversity into the classroom.
— Sophie Evans
Deborah Yamauchi – SJ Civics and U.S. History I
This is Deborah Yamauchi’s 20th year teaching. Yamauchi enjoys traveling, reading, playing piano and spending time with her family.
Yamauchi wanted to be a teacher ever since high school and says she is inspired by her students’ progress in the classroom.
She is passionate about history, social studies and social justice issues.
Her favorite part about teaching is holding class discussions because she loves when her students develop new understandings of the material.
“I genuinely enjoy the things that I teach,” she said.
— Sophie Evans
Tiara Griffis – Counselor
Tiara Griffis is currently a Ph.D. student at N.C. State and enjoys spending time with her family.
Griffis is a first generation college student. She says overcoming barriers inspired her to become a school counselor.
“It gives me a sense of belonging,” Griffis said, “to know that I’ve gone through certain things and it has a purpose behind it.”
She believes that it is important for students to have a support system made up of people who have similar experiences.
— Sophie Evans
Joseph Stieb – U.S. History
Joseph Stieb previously taught in Massachusetts before getting a graduate degree at UNC. His hobbies include basketball, long distance running, board games and reading. He lives with his wife and two cats.
Stieb’s love of history is what inspired him to become a teacher. He feels passionate about educating students about the past to give them more perspective on our modern world.
“I see myself as a converter,” Stieb said, “to try to convert people to, if not loving history as much as I do, than at least appreciating it.”
— Jenny Blass
Brian Koltz – World History and Civics
Koltz graduated from East in 2007, which he says helps him relate with students.
“I was them once and I understand what it’s like to be a high school student at East,” Koltz said. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Brian Koltz also coaches baseball for East. He has spent 13 years coaching students from various local schools and is a huge U baseball fan
— Jenny Blass
Melissa Breadon – Social Worker
Melissa Breadon worked in schools for seven years and in hospitals before then. She lives with her husband and two boys, and loves arts and crafts, music and outdoor activities.
She was inspired to become a social worker after she did a volunteer program in college where she had to work with young undocumented immigrants.
“I really enjoy the opportunity to meet students and their families, and to be able to support them in whatever they need, so they can be successful not just in school, but in life,” she said.
— Jenny Blass
David Ingram – Earth Science
David Ingram was a student teacher and sub at East last year. He loves to exercise in his free time and calls it “my almost selfish thing, that is just totally for me.”
After graduating high school, Ingram joined the Marines. He took classes at Durham Tech and eventually UNC. He praises this chance for him to learn from such a good university.
“You’re like, this is a phenomenal opportunity to go to UNC for a guy that has spent most of his time running in the woods with a machine gun,” he said.
— Atticus Thacker
Tonya Stanley – Adaptive Curriculum
Tonya Stanley was an elementary teacher before coming to East this year. She has been teaching students with disabilities for over twenty years.
She believes that she is “serving [her] purpose” when she gets to make a difference in a kid’s life.
She attended Elon University and is a proud Phoenix. She has a degree in Spanish which she “never thought” would lead anywhere, but now she teaches in English and Spanish.
“I walk humbly daily knowing my purpose on this Earth is to help other students survive this crazy time in school,” she said.
— Ryan Murphy
Christine Schut – Biology
Christine Schut is in her 18th year of teaching. Her love of nature is what guided her to teach the sciences, especially biology.
“I’ve always been into nature,” Schut said. “And the planet and what we’re doing and human impacts.”
She loves to hike, camp and be outdoors. Recently, she has started playing tennis and grew up playing soccer, volleyball and swimming.
“The reason I’m here to teach is because I find there is such value in educating the students who are going to be the future” Said Schut. ”It’s about who you are, it’s about what you believe in.”
-Atticus Thacker
