Our Team

Amanda McNair joined Cumberland Academy Pioneer staff after working two years as an aide to Navigators. She has a Bachelor of Science Psychology degree from Georgia State University and is Orton-Gillingham trained. She assists in coaching the cross country and track and field teams. In her free time she enjoys trail running, camping, and kayaking.

Mary Bishop has thirteen years of teaching experience, all at Cumberland. Mrs. Bishop graduated with an art history degree from Berry College, where she met her husband of eight years. Mrs. Bishop completed her master’s degree in special education from Valdosta State University in May of 2014. A voracious reader, Mrs. Bishop enjoys sharing her passion for young adult literature with her students. In her free time, Mrs. Bishop enjoys hiking trips, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, reading young adult fiction, walking her cat, Atticus, and spending time with her kids, Augustus and Josephine.

Dr. Claire Casteel grew up in Arlington, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1996 with a degree in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology. She also pursued a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology from Southwestern Medical School where she interned at Children’s Medical Hospital in Neuropsychology. She has always had a passion for education and taught special education in Dallas. She went on to earn a M.S. in Special Education and a PhD in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M at Commerce with research emphasis on special education teacher burnout. Claire was most recently employed as the Educational Director at a nonprofit for children with Down syndrome. Her responsibilities included developing and implementing curriculum for children with differing ability levels. Claire is Orton-Gillingham trained and also privately tutors children with various abilities.

Claire met her husband, Brandon, in college and they have been married for almost 19 years. They are the proud parents of five children (two sons and three daughters), as well as three dogs and three cats. They love traveling together as a family and just spending time together (especially cheering for their Dallas teams!) In her spare time, she loves outdoor activities, crafting, and oil painting.

Paige Chiarito grew up in Atlanta. This is Ms. C’s 8th year teaching and her 3rd year teaching at Cumberland Academy.. She previously taught middle grades Inclusion Math for five years in the Long County School District. Ms. C earned her bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education, Math and Science from the College of Coastal Georgia, her Master’s degree in Middle Grades Math and Science from The University of North Georgia, and her Ed Specialist degree from Kennesaw State University. She is certified in Special Education and all middle grades content. Teaching has been a lifelong dream finally fulfilled. Ms. C believes that teaching is a way to help her students learn to be successful in the classroom and to take that feeling of success with them.

Autism Spectrum Disorders became Mrs. Mensing’s passion after spending a summer as a camp counselor at a special needs camp. That fall, she returned to the University of Georgia and changed her major to Special Education. Since then Mrs. Mensing has earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education from UGA and her Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. Mrs. Mensing has completed TEACCH, ABA, and Orton-Gillingham workshops and training. For the last 12 years, she has accepted the challenge of teaching middle school mathematics while reducing math anxiety and increasing independence. As Mrs. Mensing starts her 25th year of teaching and 16th year at Cumberland, she remains excited by the challenges each individual must overcome to reach their true potential. She strives to teach her students academic and social skills that will allow them to experience success in future endeavors.

Dr. Judi Shakula has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Dr. W.M Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Judi practiced Podiatry for many years until she decided to take a break and take care of her daughter and husband. During that time away from practicing, Judi was a substitute teacher at her daughter’s school. She also previously taught at Life University. Another opportunity to teach at the high school level arose and Judi stepped in to teach students with special needs and learning differences. She has enjoyed working with these students and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the students at Cumberland Academy of Georgia. When she is not teaching, Judi enjoys cooking, gardening and exercising with her husband, and spending time with her daughter.

Mr. Campbell (BFA from University of South Carolina) enjoys exploring all aspects of our living world: physics, chemistry, biology, geology and environmental studies, but also human endeavor from art, theatre, music, film and literature to history, culture and travel. He values all the different ways we try to understand the universe and our place in it. As a teacher, Mr. Campbell aims to guide students in their own search for meaning within the framework of the hierarchy of learning: we must learn algebra before we can learn trigonometry, for example, or learn sentence structure before we can express our thoughts so others can understand them.

In over thirty years as a teacher in different settings (including teacher, coach and administrator in Georgia independent schools, and as an ESL and public speaking teacher in Korea), Mr. Campbell has tried to implement and improve his pedagogy to guide students in achieving the goals of the curriculum as well as fulfilling their own potential.

Mr. Downs is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a BA in Mathematics and has been teaching math in the Atlanta area for over 17 years. When not in the classroom, Mr. Downs works with students in a private tutor setting to assist them in preparing for the SAT, ACT and various track classes. Although Math is his first passion, he enjoys playing piano and guitar and has also coached ultimate frisbee extensively, having led the UGA Bulldogs to the 2006 National semifinals! Stuart is also an active volunteer with Ultimate Peace, an organization promoting equity, inclusion and conflict resolution through ultimate frisbee play.

Ms. Gomez has many years as a teaching professional. She earned her Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Toledo (specialization in Special Education and Minor in Spanish). In addition to formal training, Ms. Gomez spent over 19 years teaching in the Cobb and DeKalb County school systems. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and has coached competitive gymnastics. At Cumberland, look for her to assist with the volleyball team in addition to teaching in the high school. Ms. Gomez has three children, one son-in-law, and two beautiful grandsons.

Mr. Ethan Hill has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, with a focus on Psychology and English. For the past seven years, Ethan has taught Language Arts and only recently added science to his teaching bio. Ethan believes that the core of teaching consists of four fundamental values: dignity, truthfulness, fairness, and responsibility & freedom. Mr. Hill applies these principles every day in his classroom.

Mr. Hill has been married to Lindsay Marie Hill for ten years, and together, they share their five-year-old son, Beckett

Chris Reeves has a B.A. in History with a minor in Geography and a M.A.T in Secondary Education from Georgia College and State University. He graduated in 2013 and worked in South Korea teaching English as a foreign language from 2013-2020. He taught English as a foreign language for 7 years. This is his 4th year at Cumberland Academy of Georgia, and he has taught literature the entire time during his tenure at Cumberland. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis as well as rooting for the best collegiate football team in the country, the Clemson Tigers.

Michael has taught and coached at the high school and middle school levels in both private and public school settings for over 19 years. For the last seven years, he taught high school Algebra, Geometry and Personal Finance to students with learning challenges such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and spectrum disorders. Over the years, Michael has also taught Earth-Space Science, Biology and Physical Science and been involved in coaching boys’ and girls’ soccer and golf at all levels. Michael’s philosophy for all students regardless of learning ability is based on the core principles of teaching respect, responsibility and organization first.

Michael received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Sports Management and is an avid Gator fan. When not in the classroom, you can find him playing soccer or disc golf with his family.

Orlanda B. Daniels hails from Norco, Louisiana. While pursuing a basketball scholarship at Delgado Junior College, in New Orleans, LA she received her Barber and Instructor Certification. After being a devoted wife, mother, and stylist of twenty-plus years, she went on to work at her alma mater as a barber instructor. Shortly after, she became a paraprofessional for high school special education for ten years. There, she found her love for working with children with disabilities. After moving from Miami, she decided to continue her education at Belhaven University. There she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2018. During her time in school, she worked as a Nanny caring for a child with Autism, whom she helped introduce to Cumberland Academy in 2017. Ms. Daniels has also worked as a substitute for Bright Future Academy in Atlanta. With cooking being her love language, she was able to pursue her Culinary Certification. Ms. Daniels is a devoted mother of two adult children and a proud grandmother. In her spare time, she enjoys quiet time, playing sports, cooking, and especially spending time with her granddaughter.

Jennifer Liang graduated from Georgia State University in 2005 with her Bachelor’s in Middle Childhood Education and has completed coursework towards a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Jennifer is a BrainPOP Certified Educator, and a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Ambassador. A lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, Jennifer is the Chair of JordanCon and the current Vice President of the Southern Fandom Confederation, the Southeast’s oldest regional science fiction fan club. Jennifer has been a featured presenter at science fiction conventions around the country and served as a volunteer programming Director at DragonCon for nearly twenty years. Jennifer has also been featured as a presenter for GISA, GAETC, NCTE, and other conferences on Google Apps for Education with students with special needs, Digital Citizenship, and other topics in Instructional Technology. She was BrainPOP’s Educator of the Month for March 2020 and was a finalist for the Inclusive Learning Network’s Outstand Educator award in 2017.

Sebastian Ottaplackal received a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, with additional coursework focused primarily on students with special needs. Sebastian also received a Master of Education (M.MEd) degree from the University of Georgia.

Sebastian has a real passion for teaching students with special needs and has always wanted to serve students with learning differences in the education system. Most recently he has served two years as a teacher’s aid in both MID and ASD classrooms in the public school system. He also tutors private violin students to general and special needs students at the Gwinnett School of Music.

Inspired by one of the most influential pedagogues of the Twentieth Century, Ivan Galamian, Sebastian’s goal is to motivate and assist his students in achieving their ambitions in a way that relates to them personally.

I graduated from Jacksonville University with a Batchelors of Art and a focus in Biology, Chemistry, and Mass Communication. I learned from the Florida State Film School for 4 years before joining a professional actors studio. I studied film & TV acting for the past 17 years with multiple different studios. I have been working professionally as an actor for 15 years. I have appeared in many films, TV shows, music videos, industrials, and commercials. This is my 6th year as an educator. I enjoy sports, music, painting, photography, flying airplanes, poetry, and coaching. Im learning to play the guitar. I was born in Wyoming, grew-up in Kansas, graduated in Florida, and moved to Atlanta 11 years ago.

Vaidehi Rallapalli is a highly respected educator with over 25 years of experience and has dedicated her life to teaching and learning. She holds a Bachelor’s in Education, a Master’s in Organic Chemistry, a diploma in Network-Centered Computing, and a TESL certificate, all from India. Her thirst for knowledge is evident from her wide selection of certifications in Forensic Science, 3D Printing, Neuroscience, and Inclusive Leadership from prestigious universities, as well as a Technician Class certificate in HAM Radio. Vaidehi’s professional affiliations with the American Chemical Society (ACS), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the Australian College of Education (ACE) have further enriched her teaching, providing her with valuable insights and innovative approaches to apply in the classroom.

Vaidehi has taught a wide range of subjects, including sciences, IT, and health, at high school and college levels. She strives to help students make interdisciplinary connections and advocates for hands-on learning to deepen their understanding. Her approachable teaching style combines humor and practicality, and she is dedicated to staying current with educational trends. Vaidehi has played key leadership roles in curriculum development, served as the head of the Science department and as AP coordinator, and has led extracurricular clubs in her professional history, including the STEM Club, HAM Radio Club, and Science Day, furthering a commitment to enhancing educational experiences for students. She even built a 3D printer to guide students in learning to design and print, instilling in them a love for modern technology.

Her excellence in teaching has been recognized with several awards. Among these include the Student’s Choice Teacher of the Year award, the STAR Teach award in 2014 and 2020, and the Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars. Vaidehi is also a proponent of diversity and inclusivity in education and has been actively involved in school sports and coaching. She takes pride in her students’ growth and organizes international educational trips to broaden their horizons. Vaidehi is affiliated with professional educational organizations and draws inspiration from Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s quote: “Life and time are the world’s best teachers. Life teaches us to make good use of time and time teaches us the value of life.” For Vaidehi, teaching transcends the mere imparting of scientific concepts; it is about nurturing students’ personal, academic, social, and emotional growth, guiding them to become productive members of society.

Lastly, an avid sports fan and polyglot, Vaidehi also enjoys spicy food.

Sarah Minnear has a B.A. in History with Minors in Anthropology and Classical Languages from Sewanee: The University of the South. She also earned an M.A. in History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, an M.S. in Information Science and Technology from Simmons University, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies from The University of Georgia. Throughout her studies, she was able to take part in local initiatives to teach history at historic sites like The Highlander Folk School. This sparked a lifelong interest in teaching and a love for helping students discover how the past connects to their own lives.

Outside of the classroom, Sarah is a grade one bagpiper, who loves to travel, read, cross stitch, run, and play chess.

Nina Nau was raised in Charleston, SC and received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia. After graduation, she worked as a job coach for adults and high school students with disabilities. Through this experience, she learned that education was her passion and decided to pursue an M.Ed specializing in Special Education from Lesley University in Boston. After completing her M.ED program, she spent several years teaching a range of students in the Boston area, focusing specifically on high school transition and life skills. After a few too many cold winters, Nina decided to move back to the south where she taught life skills and a range of other subjects to students with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Teaching is her passion and she loves learning from the students as much as she loves teaching them! In her free time, Nina can be found reading, watching TV, going on walks, or hanging out with her husband, 2 orange cats, and her dog Arlie.

Amy Williams taught at Fulton County Schools for ten years. First, she was an instructional paraprofessional for students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities, grades 6-8. In 2020, Ms. Wiliams began teaching as an interrelated special education teacher for sixth grade, mainly teaching resource English Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies. During that time, she completed training in Lindamood-Bell multi-sensory reading instruction, LETRS Science of Reading, and the Numeracy Project.

Ms. Williams is a native of Atlanta but lived in various places throughout the country before coming back to Georgia to attend college.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Brenau Women’s College in Gainesville, Georgia, and was a social worker for several years after college, working with women and children.

I am an experienced educator with over 30 plus years of experience in the classroom.
I have taught grades 6th, 7th and 8th Social Studies, Science, Language Arts and Reading.
I am from the Mississippi and attended Jackson State University in Jackson Mississippi.
I have taught in States: Georgia, S.C. and Mississippi.
I have taught in Counties: Barrow, Fulton and Gwinnett.
I have taught students in the areas of Gifted, ESOL and other Learning Disabilities throughout my career.
I have coached Soccer in Georgia for over 20 years, helped with Running Club, Heritage Club, Black History Club.
I have a beautiful Daughter named Aundrea who graduated from Georgia State in 2016 with a Degree in Nursing who is married and lives in Orlando Florida.
No grandkids, but I do have grandpups!
Most of my family is located in the states of Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee and Chicago Illinois.
I am grateful and happy to be a part of Cumberland Academy Family and look forward to the new school year!

My name is Maega Simpson. Originally from Atlanta, I’ve also lived in Washington, D.C., and North Carolina. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Special Education. With many years of experience working with students of all ages and abilities, I’m passionate about education. I have a deep love for art, music, and cultural events. This is my first year teaching at Cumberland Academy of Georgia, and I’m thrilled to be teaching Pioneer Math.

Jalyssa Johnson comes from a homeschooling family and is the oldest of six children. She has been a caregiver for both young children and the elderly, and has served as a Sunday School teacher. Growing up she ran cross country and track and field. In her spare time, she and her husband enjoy taking walks and listening to Adventures in Odyssey – an episodic audio drama for families. 

Annamarie Giangiacomo attended Life University where she earned a B.S in Psychology. She then went on to earn her M.Ed in Professional Counseling from the University of West Georgia. Annamarie is currently an Associate Professional Counselor (APC) as well as a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her goal is to help promote student growth by utilizing active listening skills, patience, and empathy in the educational environment. Her clinical experience includes working with a diverse client base of individuals and groups centered around emotional regulation and behavior modification.

Tracey Hawkins graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Art History and Humanities/Classics and went on to earn a MA in Art History from Emory University. She taught Art History at the university level for nearly two decades before joining Cumberland as a Counselor following extensive training at Argosy University and under the tutelage of Cumberland’s own Val Schwann. Tracey has organized, led, and taught study-abroad programs throughout Europe for Emory U., The Art Institute of Atlanta, and Georgia Tech. She has also served as the Director of several Atlanta-area fine art galleries, provides art consultation and curatorial services to private clients, and serves as an artists’ representative and social media manager. Additionally, Tracey is a contributing writer and editor to The 30A Review and The GA Hollywood Review.

Since joining Cumberland, Tracey has become certified as an Executive Function Skills Coach and completed training to become a Registered Behavior Technician. She now provides guidance counseling and serves as an Academic, Performance, and Executive Function Skills Coach. Tracey also works closely with the Office of Student Advancement to support CAG’s Beacon College at Cumberland and the Dual Enrollment Program. Additionally, Tracey is the Faculty Advisor for the Spirit Club and for the after-school Art Club.

Shawnice Parson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Behavior Technician committed to fostering mental wellness and personal growth. Shawnice graduated with a BA in Psychology from Kentucky State University where she developed a strong foundation in understanding human behavior and cognitive processes. Her passion for helping others led to her earning an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Shawnice believes in creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings, gain insight, and develop coping strategies. She is dedicated to continuous professional development and staying current with the latest therapeutic techniques to best serve students.

Floyd Bushey has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Elmira College, as well as a Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. Mr. Bushey worked for 20 years at Emory University working in both Student Life Development and University Relations. He brings both his business experience and academic acumen to Cumberland. Mr. Bushey started with Cumberland when it began in 2007 and manages all aspects of the day-to-day operations. He will ensure the quality of excellence is maintained at Cumberland, as well as research innovative ways to keep Cumberland on the cutting edge of education and technology. Mr. Bushey is married and has two children.

Rodney Carlock came to Cumberland in 2014 from Shreiner Academy in Marietta. Rodney majored in Audio Production at the Art Institute of Atlanta and uses his skills in many ways at Cumberland. Rodney works in IT support, building maintenance, coaching, and teaching. Mr. “C”, as the students call him, works with students in Audio & Film Production and is a gifted basketball coach. Rodney also developed Cumberland basketball clinics and a summer camp sports week. In his spare time, he enjoys competing in independent film festivals and has won multiple awards in film. Rodney grew up In St. Louis, MO and Hiram, GA.

Sally Jetmundsen became Director of Admissions in May 2021, but she joined the Cumberland family long before that. She was the parent of a Cumberland student for 8 years and worked in the front office for 5 years. Sally was born in western NY, but moved to the Atlanta area in 1983 and still lives in the community where she grew up. She is married with 2 sons in college. She enjoys reading, baking and walking her dog.

Jessica Jones joined the Cumberland Advancement team in 2023. She has over 15 years of experience working with schools to improve parent engagement, fundraising, operations management and marketing at the local, state, and national level. She has also been recognized nationally for her work with diversity, equity, and inclusion in her local school.

Jessica and her husband grew up and have raised their 4 kids in the Marietta area.

Valerie Laura grew up just north of Nashville, Tennessee in the small town of Hendersonville. She attended Western Kentucky University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. After graduating, Mrs. Laura traveled all over Europe with her best friend for just over a year. Upon returning to the States she started her accounting/finance career working for Ingram Entertainment Inc. located just outside of Nashville. Mrs. Laura worked for Ingram for six years as an Accountant, Financial Analyst, and Senior Financial Analyst.

In 2004 Mrs. Laura left Nashville and moved to Atlanta to be closer to her sister and nephews. In Atlanta, she worked as a Financial Analyst in the Planning, Strategy, and Finance Group for the North American headquarters of Randstad. She worked for Randstad North America for two years before joining Debbi’s team at Kreisler & Associates, LLC as the Director of Accounting & Finance.

In 2007, Mrs. Laura assisted Debbi in starting Cumberland Academy of Georgia. She has been with the school since the beginning and has seen it grown by leaps and bounds. As CFO of Cumberland, Mrs. Laura is responsible for all financial and fiscal aspects. She provides leadership and coordination in the administrative, business planning, accounting, and budgeting efforts.

Janet Tucker joined Cumberland Academy of Georgia in September 2020 as an Administrative Assistant in the front office. Janet has lived in Atlanta all of her life. She graduated from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS with a degree in Secretarial Science. After college, she helped start KEH Camera Brokers here in Atlanta. As her family grew, she left the corporate world and began working at Buford HS as a Fine Arts Parapro, Front Office Assistant, Registrar, and Principal’s Administrative Assistant where she stayed for 18 years. Janet has been married for 42 years, has 4 children, and 12 grandchildren. She loves the beach, reading, and traveling.

Jeff grew up in southwestern Michigan and attended Indiana Academy, a boarding high school, where he met his future wife, Kim. He earned a Finance degree from Michigan State University and soon moved to Atlanta, working as the controller for a die manufacturer. After 17 years, he accepted the Treasurer position at Bass Memorial Academy in Mississippi, working there for 7 years while earning an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi. He then moved to Virginia and worked as VP of Finance at Shenandoah Valley Academy for 5-1/2 years. Needing to be closer to family (3 children and 6 grandchildren), Jeff & Kim relocated back to Atlanta in 2015.

An avid sports enthusiast, Mr. Twomley enjoys golfing and playing softball. Music plays a major role in his life. Beginning in high school, he has sung both individually and in various groups and choirs, and currently plays trombone in Zephyr Instrumental…a 21^st century orchestra.

Shari Wright graduated from Furman University and began her career in sales and marketing with Turner Broadcasting. She spent several years with CNN, Headline News, TNT and the Cartoon Network. From Turner, she spent several years working for various broadcasting entities. Ms. Wright also volunteered in various parts of the education community. Using her French background, she began working in a public school French immersion program and also worked with AmeriCorps in a reading retention program. Ms. Wright transitioned to Cumberland and has worked in various roles since 2012.