Granville Academy & 5 STAR Academy
Meet the GA & 5 STAR Staff 2022 - 2023
Principal Tinisha Wharton
Hello Family!
My name is Tinisha Wharton and I am excited to be the Principal of Granville Academy for the 2022-2023 school year! The 2022-2023 school year will bring in my 14th year in education and my fourth year in administration. I received my Bachelors degree from North Carolina Central University, Masters, from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I am completing my Doctorate at Northeastern University.
My journey as an educator has afforded me the opportunity to live and travel abroad, and develop a better view of education worldwide. With that said, my philosophy is very simple. I believe that every student can learn, but in very different ways, at different paces, as well as different levels of sophistication. I believe that it is our responsibility as educators to assess student-learning abilities and meet students where they are.
In choosing a career in education, I made the commitment to empower, equip, model, serve, challenge, and support in every building I enter. I am very passionate about my work in education, and I look forward to continuing that work here at Granville Academy!
Pirate Pride!!
Mr. Michael Spradlin: Dean of Instruction
Before coming to Granville County in 2016 he worked for 5 years as an outdoor educator for the YMCA and other non-profits. He spent the majority of this time teaching group development, ecology and facilitating high ropes. This only increased his love for the outdoors. Some of his other interest include cooking, reading, board games and video games. During the fall and winter he enjoys spending time cheering for his Tarheels in both football and basketball.
Ms. Gayzelle Parker: GA Academic Advisor
Granville Academy welcomes Ms. Gayzelle Parker as our School Academic Advisor!
Mrs. Parker is a native and graduate of Granville County Schools. She graduated from North Carolina Central University( Cum Laude) with a BA in Sociology and Social Work and a Masters Degree in Sociology and Counseling Education. She has been employed with Granville County Schools since 1998. She worked at West Oxford Elementary from 1998 to 2014, and transitioned to JF Webb High School in 2014 where she was the counselor for 9th and 10th grade students. Ms. Parker is looking forward to spending her last few years at Granville Academy.
Ms. Parker says, "I have a love of people in general but my love for my students is special. Watching the growth and maturity in students is what I long for. I push students to do their very best in hopes they will recognize their potential and ability to NOT GIVE UP!"
Ms. Trina Ellis
Mrs. Tommy Cifers
Mr. Tyrone Wilson
Ms. Samarian Parker
Ms. Aliyah Scott
Ms. Jaime Melton: GA Elementary Teacher K-2
Mrs. Jaime Melton is the K-2 teacher for Granville Academy.
Mrs. Melton has a bachelor degree in Elementary Education from West Liberty University. She also has a Masters degree in reading from East Carolina University. She grew up in Ohio where she was a long term substitute teacher for over a year before moving to North Carolina. This is Mrs. Melton’s 19th year teaching in Granville county schools but her third year with Granville Academy.
Mrs. Melton has been married for 14 years and has 2 daughters. In her spare time Mrs. Melton likes to read, bake, and watch her girls dance. She also loves coffee and colorful pens.
Ms. Kayla Stancil: Granville Academy K-2 Teacher Assistant
Ms. Stancil is the K-2 Teacher Assistant for Granville Academy.
Ms. Stancil shared:
"My name is Kayla Stancil, I am 23 years old. I was born in Oxford, NC but raised in Holland, MI. I am a full time Teacher Assistant at Granville academy, a full time student at Vance-Granville community college, and I work part time at two wedding venues here in Oxford. Teaching is something that I did not realize how passionate I was about until I was in the role. I am hoping to make a difference in many lives but even just one students life would make an impact. I am excited to start and further my career in teaching through Granville Academy. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my dog, and tending to my many house plants."
Ms. Nancy Odom: GA Middle School ELA & Social Studies
Mrs. Odom is the 6-8 Social Studies and English teacher for Granville Academy.
Ms. Pamela Perry: GA Middle School Math & Science Teacher
Ms. Perry is excited to join Granville County Schools. Ms. Perry's 25 years of teaching experiences have allowed her to teach Middle School Mathematics and Science in much of the tri-county region including Franklin, Vance and Wake counties. She is a former NC Teaching Fellow and an alumnus of North Carolina Central University.
Mrs. Bethany Young: High School Science
She received her Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and minor in Chemistry from there as well.
Her favorite thing to do is to get students excited about learning and doing science! She is excited to be teaching our high school students in their science courses this year!
Growing up on a farm, she has always had a love for the outdoors that has only increased as she has gotten older and one of her favorite places to be is the beach. She also enjoys hiking, running, reading, and painting. She lives with her husband, Brandon.
Mr. Warner Heartwell: High School Math
Mr. Heartwell says, "I am very excited about my first year teaching at Granville Academy, looking forward to learning and growing together with my Colleagues and students."
Mr. Barry Moore: High School English
English teacher for Granville Academy and Granville Online
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them" Mark Twain
Mrs. Madison Shepherd: 5 STAR Elementary Teacher K-2
Mrs. Shepherd has been teaching for 5 years and has enjoyed every second of getting to know the students in each of her classes she has taught! She is married and has been to her wonderful husband for 4 years now. She and her husband met at college and both played a college sport! Her husband played baseball and she played softball at Liberty University in Virginia. Together they have a 4 year old German Shepherd who is a big baby :)
Mrs. Shepherd loves to be active in her spare time! her secondary job is Personal Training and she has always loved and lived in fitness!
Ms. Jenni Preddy: 5 STAR Elementary Teacher 3-4
Ms. Jenni Preddy is originally from Australia where she received a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She is beginning her 24th year of teaching, 21 in Granville County, but this will be her first year at Granville Academy. She met and has been married to her Granville County native husband for 18 years, and has 2 beautiful daughters, 15 and 13. She also has a black lab named Bailey. Her children are very involved in sports, and in any spare time they have, they like to go camping.
She says: "I am looking forward to a great year here at Granville Academy!"
Mr. Clayton Ramsey: 5 STAR Middle School Math & Science
In the past he has taught high school math classes ranging from Algebra I to AP Calculus AB, as well as high school Physics, Engineering Design, Computer Programming, and Makerspace.
He is originally from Asheville but has lived in Oxford since 2010 with his wife and two kids. He enjoys board and video games, gardening, programming, reading, and learning new things.
Ms. Rhonda Jackson: 5 STAR Middle School English & Social Studies
Ms. R. Jackson is the 2021-2022 ELA/Social Studies 6th-8th Grade Teacher. She is originally from Detroit, Michigan. She attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina and like most of her family members, she has been teaching for over 20 years. In the past, She was the lead teacher and taught first grade thru fifth grade concentrating on Language Arts and Writing. She also taught and choreographed dance, created school programs and plays at a prior school.
Ms. Stephanie Cash: Math Instructional Lead & Curriculum Specialist
Mrs. Marva Smith: High School Lead & GO CTE Teacher
Mrs. Smith has been married to an amazing husband for 6 years and they just welcomed their first child, a baby girl, this July. In her free time she enjoys walking and trying new restaurants or recipes.
Mrs. Phyllis Cameron: Exceptional Children Teacher
Mrs. Cameron recently left public education for several years and spent that time along with her husband developing programs for a local system of food pantries in their capacity as coordinators. They also volunteer with Remote Area Medical, which provides free medical, dental, and vision services to underserved populations across the country. She loves to travel and was fortunate to travel with family aboard the National Geographic Explorer to Antarctica in January. In addition to travel, she enjoys crafting and reading.
Mr. Stephen Priest: 3-8 Intervention Specialist
Mr. Stephen Priest is the Granville Academy Intervention Specialist. He received his Bachelor of Science from Western Carolina University and Education certification from North Carolina Central University.
He taught at every level in the K-12 system. He worked with elementary, middle, and early college high school students over the past 22 years. Before becoming a teacher, he worked in hotel management, the nonprofit world and director of a Recreation program.
Mr. Priest says, "Through personal and professional experiences in the educational process I understand that the path to educational success is different for everyone. To help a student discover their successful educational path is my goal."
Mrs. Anne Nelson: Academic Support Coach
Mrs. Anne Nelson joins Granville Academy as an Academic Support Coach.
Mrs. Nelson is excited to have the opportunity to work with the students, staff, and families of Granville Academy. She has over 17 years of teaching experience. She enjoys reading and music. She is thankful for the opportunities that education has afforded me.
Mrs. Nelson shared:
I am a …
resident of Person County
wife of my high school sweetheart
mother of three adult sons
grandmother of a precious grandson
proud graduate of North Carolina Central University with a BA in Elementary Education and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Masters in Special Education
“ My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one’s purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one’s self.”
Coretta Scott King
Mrs. Mazie Marlin: High School Student & Staff Support
Mrs. Mazie Marlin earned her BS degree at Winston-Salem State University and MS from Indiana University. She had a total of 42 years of teaching experience before retiring from GCS in 2017. Currently, she works as lab facilitator for Granville Academy’s high school students.
Her mission is to ensure that the high school students know how to navigate the various learning management systems and are able to maintain academic success,
Mrs. Barbara Poole: High School Student & Staff Support, English & Creative Writing Teacher
She is energized every day working with the wonderful staff and students of Granville County!
Mrs. Monique Feast: 9-12 Academic Support
Granville Academy is welcoming Mrs. Monique Feast to our team as academic support to our students in grades 9-12!
Mrs. Monique Feast is married with two daughters in college. Mrs. Feast and her husband are from New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Feast and her family attend Henderson Church of Christ in Henderson, N.C. where she serves as a ladies bible class teacher for women of all ages.
Monique has a B. A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans. Monique has worked in the school and hospital settings as a social worker. She worked as a Foster Care social worker for Wake County Human Services before leaving the workplace to raise her daughters at home.
Mrs. Feast is blessed and humbly grateful for the opportunity to serve and work with the faculty, students and parents of Granville Academy.
Mrs. Leah Powell: Digital Teaching & Learning Advisor
Mrs. Powell is a Digital Teaching & Learning Advisor that supports blended learning within the GA community. She is also a Granville Online & Granville Academy Spanish teacher.
She has worked for GCPS for a total of 13 years. She began her career as a Teacher Cadet and Spanish teacher at South Granville High School and for Granville Online. In 2015, Mrs. Powell joined the Technology Team as a district Instructional Technology Facilitator and continued to teach for Granville Online.
Mrs. Powell truly loves being apart of the Granville Academy community!