Administration and Faculty
Guilford Day School
Meet Our 2007-2008 Administration and Faculty
Administration
Laura Mlatac is beginning her fourth year as our Head of School and her eighth as a member of the Guilford Day family. Laura received her B.A. in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her Masters in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is certified by North Carolina in learning disabilities grades K-12 and as a principal. She is also certified in Wilson Language and is also certified by the Gurian Institute to train Boys and Girls Learn Differently.
Tim Montgomery is our Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions and is beginning his ninth year at Guilford Day. He received his B.A. from Appalachian State University in Political Science and completed his teacher certification through Greensboro College. Tim is certified in social studies grades 6-12. He is currently completing coursework on his Masters in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.
Clare Abel is our Academic Dean and is beginning her sixteenth year at Guilford Day School. Clare received her B.A. in English from Greensboro College and her Learning Disability certification from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is certified by North Carolina in English 9-12, language arts 6-9 and in learning disabilities grade K-12.
Jennifer Aceves is assuming a new position as Director of Communications as she begins her sixth year at Guilford Day School. Jennifer was awarded her B.A. in Psychology from Davidson College and is certified by North Carolina in learning disabilities. She received her M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is also a Wilson Language certified instructor. Jennifer enjoys spending her free time reading, playing volleyball, and walking her two dogs.
Lisa Galvin is beginning her third year as Business Manager at Guilford Day, after nine years as the school's office manager. Lisa brought over 20 years of previous experience in school accounting and financial management with her when she joined Guilford Day in 1996. She enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and trips to the beach.
Faculty
Jeremy Allen graduated with honors from Elon University with a BA in History. He enjoys playing and watching sports, fishing, and furthering his knowledge of history through reading and traveling.
Adam Barrett received his B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Pure Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he is still taking additional coursework. Before joining the faculty at Guilford Day, he taught Honors level Mathematics in the Guilford County School System. Adam also studied abroad for a year at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies concentrating in Japanese language and culture. He enjoys reading, playing video games, and studying languages.
Donna Barrier received both her B.A. and M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Donna is certified in North Carolina in Elementary Education, Academically Gifted K-12, and Learning Disabled K-12. She had thirty years of experience in the Guilford County school system before coming to Guilford Day. Donna enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Debbie Blackwood is our Media Specialist and received her M.Ed. in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is certified by North Carolina as a Media Coordinator K-12. When she is not reading, Debbie enjoys playing piano and spending time with her family.
Beth Bursuck received a B.A. in Art Education from the SUNY College of Buffalo and her M.Ed. in Special Education from Northern Illinois University. She taught in New York, Vermont, and Illinois before moving to North Carolina. She is certified in several states in learning disabilities and behavior disorders.
Mary Emily McDonald Byrd has her B.A. in Communication Disorders and her M.Ed. in Special Education, both from NC State University. She is certified in North Carolina in learning disabilities, K-12. In her free time, Mary Emily enjoys reading, shopping, and NASCAR races.
Jayme DePaolo received her B.A. in Special Education from the University of North Florida and is certified to teach students with learning disabilities in grades K-12 in North Carolina and Florida. She recently received her label as a highly qualified teacher, is endorsed to teach ESOL, and has had the opportunity to study and teach abroad in Northern Ireland, England and France. She is eager to begin the year as a new teacher at Guilford Day School.
Jaren Evans graduated from North Carolina Central University with a B.A. in English with a concentration in Media Communication. She has had two years experience teaching ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade English in the public schools. In her spare time she enjoys reading and cooking.
Danielle Gabrielli received her B.S. in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has experience working with special needs students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Danielle loves reading and spending time with her family. Her favorite place to visit is the Natural Science Center.
Susan Hughes received her B.S. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Secondary Education and English. She is certified in North Carolina in English grades 9-12. Susan will begin her fifteenth year at Guilford Day School.
Sonja Kelley has a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from NCSU and received her teaching certification in Theatre Arts from Greensboro College. This is Sonja's sixth year at Guilford Day. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing with her three dogs, and being a judge for her daughter's swim team.
Patty Goodman Kiley received a B.S. degree in General Studies from Wingate University and her M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Patty is certified by the state of North Carolina in middle grades language arts and social studies. She is beginning her seventh year at Guilford Day school and is working on her Wilson Reading System, Level II certification. Patty enjoys music festivals and taking in the beauty of the North Carolina mountains.
Doug Long serves as Athletic Director as well as Head of the Health and Physical Education Department at Guilford Day. Doug earned his B.A. in Physical Education from the University of South Florida. Along with his work at Guilford Day, Doug is a professional personal trainer.
Connie Mask teaches our individualized multi-sensory structured reading classes at Guilford Day. She received her B.A. from Hollins University and has completed extensive graduate work in special education. Connie has also had training in Orton-Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, and Wilson Language. She is certified by the state of North Carolina in learning disabilities grades K-12. She is also certified by the Gurian Institute to train Boys and Girls Learn Differently.
Kay McMurphy received her M.Ed. in Special Education and Reading from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is certified in North Carolina in Reading K-12 and Cross-Categorical K-12. Kay was recently honored with a Distinguished Alumni in Education Award from UNC-G.
In her spare time, Kay enjoys spending time with her
four grandchildren (Josiah, John-David, Daevis, and
Gideon). Her hobbies include reading, gardening, and
quilting.
Lynne Melton holds a B.A. from East Carolina University. She is also pursuing her M.Ed. in special education from Greensboro College. She is certified in both Basic and Advanced levels of Orton-Gillingham. Before joining our faculty full time, Lynne provided language therapy to students diagnosed with dyslexia. In her free time, Lynne enjoys reading, scrapbooking and singing with her husband Dave.
Sterling Miller received his B.A. in History from Trinity College. He completed graduate work at Hofstra University and the University of Pittsburgh and received his MS.Ed in School Administration from Pepperdine University. He is certified in math grades 6-9 and holds his Principal certification for North Carolina. Sterling has experience in both the public and private school settings. He loves spending his free time outdoors, playing a variety of different sports, reading, and spending time with his wonderful dog and cat.
Margaret Mulry earned her B.A. in Spanish and Anthropology from the University of Tulsa. She then returned to the University of Tulsa and earned her M.A. degree in education two years later. She also has her M.A. in Spanish from California State University at Sacramento where her program took her to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain. Before moving to Greensboro, Margaret taught at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. She has taught middle school Spanish and high school Spanish through Spanish V. She was also the middle school foreign language department chair her last year at Pace Academy.
Jen Nierle received her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Roanoke College, with a minor in Education. She has had training in Wilson Language as well as many other research-based methodologies during her long tenure at Guilford Day. When not at school, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and playing sports.
Vicki Payne graduated with Honors with a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a member of Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society. Vicki has been awarded numerous grants and received many awards for her research in Biology. Before coming to Guilford Day, Vicki worked for Guilford County as a middle school science and social studies teacher. Vicki lives with her husband Mark, children Spencer and Connor, her dogs Jack, Annie, and Asche, cat Krusty, goldfish Moby Dick and Jaws, and 2 royal pythons yet to be named.
Erin Sheaks is a graduate of Elon University with a B.A. in middle grades education with a concentration in social studies and science. Before coming to Guilford Day, Erin taught in the Guilford County School System and has coached volleyball and track and field at the middle school level and swimming at the high school level. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, going to movies, and visiting her family in Florida.
Courtney Smith received her undergraduate degree in Recreational Therapy from East Carolina University. She then received her teacher certification in special education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is certified by the state of North Carolina. Courtney is a Wilson Language certified instructor. She enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.
Linda Stell received a degree in both Wildlife Biology and Science Education from North Carolina State University. In her free time, Linda enjoys being with her husband and two sons out on the trails or on a ball field.
Matt Zigler graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Art from Elmira College in New York. Along with Art, Matt has experience teaching Photography, Graphic Arts, Art History, and Philosophy. His work has been displayed in numerous art shows in North Carolina and New York. When he is not at school, Matt tries to spend as much time painting in his studio and tubing on the Haw River as he can while the weather is still warm enough.
Counselors
Julie Bean graduated with Highest Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in sociology and received her M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a certified North Carolina School Counselor grades K-12, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. Julie has had experience working as a counselor in public schools and as a therapist in the community. She is beginning her seventh year as counselor at Guilford Day School and serves students in grades 1-7. In her free time, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, playing music, and doing yoga.
JoAnn Caligiuri received her B.S. degree from Mansfield University and her Masters in School Counseling from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She is certified by North Carolina as a School Counselor grades K-12, and as a Family Consumer Science Educator K-12. JoAnn serves as counselor for grades 8-12. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, doing Hospice volunteer work, quilting and spending time at the lake.
Staff
Janet Mackenzie graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and worked as a professional actress for 16 years in regional theatre, off Broadway, and in television commercials. She then spent 7 years with the National Council of Churches in both their development office and publishing unit before moving to Greensboro. Janet feels blessed to be in her ninth year at Guilford Day, surrounded by a truly special extended family.