Fatih Kandil - Principal
My name is Fatih Kandil and l have been in the field of education since 1994. I started my career as a high school biology teacher, as I received my B.S. degree in biology with a minor in education. I have taught and led at elementary, middle and high school levels for public, public charter, turn around and early college schools, most with special emphasis on STEAM education. I received my graduate degree at Marian College of Fond Du in Wisconsin, and it was on educational leadership. I was honored to serve students at Milwaukee Public Schools, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and Baltimore City Public Schools. I am married and have five children, two of which are attending UVA currently and the rest are privileged to attend the Green Charter Schools of South Carolina. This is my second year at GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg and my second founding principal role in my administrative career. I look forward to serving all the stakeholders of our learning community at GCS this year

Melissa Hester - Assistant Principal

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg’s Assistant Principal. I joined Team GREEN in July 2019 as we prepared to begin our first year together as a school family. I am thrilled to continue to serve as your Assistant Principal as we embark on year two together!

Originally from Buffalo, New York, I graduated from the University of New York at Buffalo with a degree in Early Childhood in 2002. I continued my education at Long Island University, where I graduated in 2004 with a Masters in Education and then earned a second Masters in Educational Leadership from Regent University in 2008. I spent the majority of my career in education in Virginia, where I taught 4th and 5th grades for 7 years and served as an Assistant Principal for 5 years. As the first person in my family to graduate from college, I believe in the importance of being a lifelong learner, no matter what career path one chooses to take.

In 2016, my husband and I moved to South Carolina where he pursued his dream of becoming a firefighter after 10 years of service in the United States Navy. I’m still getting used to life in the south because it’s hot, y’all! I continued my journey as an educator working in Greenville County as a 5th grade teacher for 3 years before finding my new home, GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg.

When I’m not at school, I can be found at home with our 4 pups (Draco, Samson, Lily and Daisy), probably watching Hamilton or listening to the soundtrack!

My door is always open to you and your family! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s educational journey here at GREEN!

Brandy Moody, Administrative Assistant
Hello from The Original Home Grown South Carolinian!
I have lived in Holly Springs, SC all my life. I am a local southerner. I love Green Charter School and ALL it has to offer Spartanburg. I am a Moma first like so many others and I pray daily that I help encourage others to be the best they can be. I have a beautiful daughter that I love so much and if you know me then you know Olivia. I believe in the Golden Rule...TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED… This day and time you can find me being a Mom and steady working to provide for her. My home is a home to many other children and we always cook and eat. I like to go on trips and see new areas in this state. I also work with children at my church and in my community. I am also a driver’s education teacher and have been teaching for 5 years. I have a passion for many things and these are just a few. I welcome you all to Green Charter Spartanburg and make today a day that is never forgotten! Chin up, head Up! Oh yes, and I love Pepsi!

Emre Kelleci, PowerSchool and IT Coordinator

I am so happy to be part of the GREEN Charter family. I came to the United States in 2013 as a science teacher. I taught seven years in a public charter school in Greensboro NC and moved to SC last year. My wife and I got married in 2015 and we have 2 children. I have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (2011) and certified science teacher with eight years of middle and high school experience in public charter schools in both NC and SC. Besides teaching, I have coached science Olympiad teams, robotic teams and soccer. Providing an opportunity for students to learn something new, to expand their knowledge and to accept challenges is part of my life. Last year, we received 3th place in the SC division at the (elementary) science Olympiad in Charleston and I am very proud of my students. I look forward to amazing journeys with Green.

 
Laura Robertson, School Nurse

To my awesome Green Family, I am Nurse Robertson! My respect and admiration for all of you will be in my heart forever!

I have always known that I wanted to be a nurse! I always had this driving force in me to help others. However, my career in healthcare started off slow. First, I became an EMT.
I only volunteered using these skills. Then in 1988, I took a leap of faith, left my full time position, and went to college to become an LPN. I worked several positions, but in 1991 I found, what I thought, was my forever home. I worked in Family Practice Medicine andindustrial medicine. I loved what I did but there was this nagging at my heart to fulfill the dream of becoming an RN. In 2006 I began that journey and in 2011 I achieved that goal! Anyone who is willing to work hard, at any stage of their lives, can achieve those goals.

In my spare time I spend it with my family! Husband, son, daughter, daughter-in love, son-in-love( hopefully soon), 2 grandchildren, 1 grand-dogger, and the felines that are in my care.

This is my second school year of being a nurse at Green Charter. I have over 3 decades of experience that ranges from Family practice to 6 ½ years collectively of surgical nursing. Even with all that experience, nothing could have prepared me for school nursing. I quickly realized that I was finally home and my heart was full! I have been enriched in so many ways that I can’t even explain. I am so excited to see all who have been a part of my life and who have changed me for the better! Grow With Green!

Megan Champion, School Counselor

Hello GREEN family! It is my pleasure to serve as the School Counselor at Green Charter School of Spartanburg. I am very excited to serve the students and families at Green and to be a part of such a great community of people!

I grew up in Spartanburg since the age of 4 and attended public school in the same district throughout my entire childhood. I have seen its growth over the last couple of decades and I have a passion for the flourishing area. I attended USC Upstate to receive a Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2017 and went on to obtain a Masters of Education in Counselor Education from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in 2019. I have always had an interest in working with children and even served as the Assistant Director of a childcare center in Moore, SC which only confirmed my decision to become a school counselor.

My husband Jesse and I have been married for five years and we have two dogs named Prince and Max and one cat named Lily. We are also expecting our first child, a girl named Claire, in October of this year! When I'm not working, you will most likely find me hanging out with my closest friends and family, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and lounging by the pool.

I am very excited to be at Green this year and look forward to meeting you all! Please don't hesitate to reach out to me any time. I am here for you!

Erica Smith, Literacy Coach

I am so excited to be joining the GREEN Charter School family this year as a literacy coach! I have already felt so welcome in my first several weeks of getting to know our teachers, administrators, and other staff, and I look forward to getting to know all of the students and their families.
I was born and raised in Charleston, SC. I left home to go to college in Columbia, SC. I graduated from the University of South Carolina on May 10, 2008 (Go Gamecocks!). One week later, my husband and I got married. We have two children, Addison and Harper. They will be joining GREEN, as well, in 6th and 4th grades. We also have a sweet fur baby named Max. We all enjoy playing games, traveling, and camping together.
I have over 10 years of experience in both early childhood and elementary education, and I am looking forward to adding in experience with our middle schoolers! While in the classroom, reading and writing were my favorite subject areas to teach. I especially enjoyed teaching struggling readers and watching their confidence soar as they grasped new concepts and found books they could enjoy. One of my favorite quotes is, “Everyone is a reader... some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” One of my goals is to find children who “hate” reading and help them to explore many genres and authors and hopefully find joy in reading. Any of my previous students can probably tell you my favorite book that I read multiple times each year is called Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. If you haven’t read it, you should! As in the story, many times students just need a caring, dedicated teacher in order for them to blossom. I can already tell that GREEN Charter is full of these types of teachers!

Pang Vang, ESOL Teacher

Greetings! My name is Pang Dao Vang. I am the ESOL teacher at Green Charter School in Spartanburg. My family relocated from Wisconsin to South Carolina in the Spring of 2018 for my husband to pursue a Ph.D.
In 2007, I received my undergraduate from the University of Stevens Point. After graduation, I worked in the education field as a Paraprofessional, Drama Instructor, and an online ESL teacher at various times for ten years. Due to the joy of learning and teaching, I pursued higher education at the University of Concordia-Portland. I finished my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in ESOL in the Fall of 2019.
I enjoy spending time with my family, ministry, shopping, eating, and sight-seeing. I am blessed to be among our TEAM Green and anxiously look forward to connecting and working alongside our beloved students and families!

Delaney Halstead, K4 Teacher

Hello! My name is Delaney Halstead and I am the 4K Teacher here at Green Charter School of Spartanburg. I was hired this year in June to join the team and I couldn’t be more excited. This year will be different from previous years however I am here to try and make things as fun and easy as possible.

A little bit about my background, I was born and raised in Minnesota. I went to Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota and graduated in May of 2019 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. From there, I taught Preschool at a public school and absolutely loved it.

My husband and I moved to South Carolina in March of 2020 and have loved it so far. We moved here when my husband, Zach, received a promotion within his job. We are still trying to learn the ins and outs of living in the south because we are not used to it at all! Especially since we moved down here right before everything shut down! That was hectic! This will be my first teacher job here in South Carolina and I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.

When I am not at school, I am typically found spending time with my fur babies and husband. I have a puppy named Diggs, who is a black lab, and a cat named Milo. I also love spending time with my family and friends, reading a good book(Preferably by a pool or the ocean), working out and going on adventures.

I look forward to this coming school year and getting to know y’all! Feel free to reach out to me anytime!

Rachel Wainwright, K4 Teacher Assistant

This is my first year at Green and my first year as a teacher assistant! I’m so excited to be in the classroom this year. I am currently a student at USC Upstate with hopes of becoming a high school math teacher!
I’ve lived in Spartanburg my entire life and absolutely love it here. When I’m not at school you can typically find me spending time with family and friends. I have three siblings, a niece and nephew, and two dogs!
Some of my favorite things to do are go on the lake, watch the Clemson Tigers, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
I’m so excited to grow in my classroom experience and navigate through this year of uncertainty with all of the Green Team!

Shauna FIscher, K5 Teacher

Hello! My name is Shauna Fischer. This is my second year here at GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg teaching Kindergarten! I taught K4 for two years before taking a step up to K! This age group is so fun to teach, and every day is a new experience!

I’m from Buffalo, NY and went to college in Niagara Falls. I graduated from Niagara University in 2017 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. During college, I taught in a second grade classroom as a teacher’s assistant for all four years.

I moved to South Carolina in 2018 and am so glad I did! I have since bought my own home. I love being outside and hiking or finding new places to explore. I have two dogs named Bentley and Shelby, a cat named Callie, and a bearded dragon named Yoshi! They take up all of my time outside of school.

I’m are SO excited to have a great year with my new friends!

Hannah Mathis, K5 Teacher

This is my first year at Green and my first year as a teacher assistant! I’m so excited to be in the classroom this year. I am currently a student at USC Upstate with hopes of becoming a high school math teacher!
I’ve lived in Spartanburg my entire life and absolutely love it here. When I’m not at school you can typically find me spending time with family and friends. I have three siblings, a niece and nephew, and two dogs!
Some of my favorite things to do are go on the lake, watch the Clemson Tigers, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
I’m so excited to grow in my classroom experience and navigate through this year of uncertainty with all of the Green Team!

Holly McCall, K5 Teacher

Hey there! My name is Holly McCall. This will be my first year at GREEN Charter School as a Kindergarten teacher. I received my Bachelors degree from North Greenville University in Early Childhood Education. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education and have fun while doing it! When I’m not teaching, you can find me and my dog, Indie, in the great outdoors or curled up with a good book. One fun fact about me is that I have been on two cross-country road trips to see the continental United States! I’m looking forward to an awesome year in Kindergarten at GREEN!!

Lindsey Leonard, K5 Teacher Assistant

I graduated from USC Upstate with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Over the past 18 years, I have worked as an assistant, an early Interventionist, and as a classroom teacher.
I believe learning is fun and children should be encouraged to enjoy learning. I believe learning is a hands on opportunity in life and it is our jobs as teachers to facilitate that each day.
I believe in a strong home to school connection. When a child has been entrusted to our care for a school year, not only is the child a part of our responsibility, but their family is a part of that as well. Family and community involvement all work together to make each school year complete. The whole child is important to me and I cherish each teachable moment. I believe each child has strong characteristics, and it is my job as a teacher to help each child tap into those awesome abilities. There is excellence in education and in each child and family we work with. I am so excited and appreciative to join the GCS Family!

Basant Elgamal, K5 Teacher Assistant

My name is Basant Elgamal and I’m the 5K Teacher Assistant at Green Charter School.

I joined the Green Charter family back in August, 2019 as the Greenville-based charter school launched their campus in Spartanburg. I'm very proud to be one of the Green Character School family!!!

I’m originally from Egypt and attended the Suez Canal University where I graduated with a bachelor degree in accounting. I worked as an accountant in an international bank for 5 years then I worked as a Teacher Assistant at a private school in the early childhood field for 2 years.

My husband and I got married in 2011 and then moved to the United States. I have two little kids in Green Charter School; my daughter, Habiba, in 3rd grade and my son ,Hisham, in 1st grade.

Things I enjoy outside work are spending time with my family, running, listening to music and traveling.

I can’t wait to meet our new 5K students and their families to start our journey together.

Amber Earls, K5 Teacher Assistant

Hi everyone! My name is Amber Earls. I am excited to be a 5K/TA for Green Charter this upcoming school year. This will be my first year with Green Charter School.
I graduated from USC Upstate in December of 2012. I have taught in Cherokee County at Corinth Elementary and Limestone Central Elementary. My family and I moved to Spartanburg a few years ago, and I am excited to be teaching in Spartanburg for the first time.
Outside of work, I spend all my time with my family. We love to play games, sing karaoke, and just have fun being with each other. My husband and I have four kids who will all be attending Green Charter this school year. Our oldest, Journey, is in 7th grade. Bella is in 5th grade. Hunter, our only son, is in 2nd grade. Our youngest child, Adayla, will be attending school for the first time for 4K. We also have 2 dogs and 1 cat. A Great Pyrenees named Everest, a Shih Tzu named Princess, and a cat named Alice.
I am so excited to meet everyone for the 2020-2021 school year!

Savannah Lindley, 1st Grade Teacher

Hi! My name is Savannah Lindley and I am so excited to join Team GREEN this year! 2020-2021 is filled with a lot of uncertainty, but I am here to teach and support your child through learning either virtually or in person! I am looking forward to a year full of learning, laughter, and fun!

Just a little bit about me; I was born and raised in Greenwood, S.C. where I attended public school in Greenwood School District 50. I graduated from Lander University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2017. I taught first grade for two years in GWD50 and absolutely LOVE what I do! I have recently moved to Greer, S.C. with my fiance and my only child (a lab/ chow fur baby:)), Lola. I love to do anything outdoors: garden, swim, hike, and relax at the lake are just a few of my favorites!

First grade is such a magical year for children in their academic growth. I can’t wait to see my firsties #GrowWithGREEN!!

Vanessa Wilson, 1st Grade Teacher

Hello! My name is Vanessa Wilson! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to begin my teaching career in a First grade classroom at Green Charter! Can't wait for the year to begin and meet you all, whether it be in the classroom or virtually!

I recently graduated from North Greenville University with a degree in Elementary Education and an add on in Early Childhood education in May 2020. After officially graduating from NGU, I decided it was time to move here from my childhood state of Maine. I have always had a passion for working with children! In Maine, I worked as a counselor at a day camp for over 5 years and also worked with children before becoming part of the camp family.

Throughout my years at North Greenville University, I had multiple field experiences that have equipped me to effectively teach while maintaining and creating strong relationships with my students. I am looking forward to continuing to work with children and being part of the GREEN family of 2020/21!

Sarah Gore, 1st Grade Teacher

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Gore! This is my very first year teaching and I am SO excited to start my teaching career at Green Charter School! I will be teaching 1st grade and I can’t wait to meet my students!

I graduated from North Greenville University with a degree in Early Childhood Education! One fun fact about me is I know how to make balloon animals! In my free time I love to sing, cook, play board games and spend time with my incredible family! I am looking forward to getting in my classroom and doing what I love with my new AMAZING first graders!!!!

Jennifer Allison, 2nd Grade Teacher

My name is Jennifer Allison and I am proud to be a second grade teacher at Green Charter School of Spartanburg. I was born and raised in Boiling Springs, SC. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I attended college at USC Upstate and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood.

This is my sixth year of teaching. I had the privilege to have taught at Green Charter School of Spartanburg last year and I look forward to another awesome year! I taught four years at another charter school, two years in kindergarten and two years in second grade. I also have three years of previous experience as a special education teacher assistant in my home school district.

I have two adorable schnoodles, Maverick and Bella, which are spoiled rotten. Your child will hear all about them this year. When I am not teaching you will most likely find me reading, cooking, or gardening. I look forward to this awesome year!

Courtney Soumare, 2nd Grade Teacher

Hello! My name is Courtney Soumare and I am so excited to be teaching 2nd grade at GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg! This will be my second year teaching 2nd grade at GREEN Charter School and I am excited to see what this year will hold. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Elementary Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. I began my career as an educator 8 years ago in Pennsylvania, where I taught preschool and pre-kindergarten for 5 years at a private preschool. I went on to teach 2nd grade at Highland Elementary School for a year. Although I loved every minute of that year, when my husband's job was relocated our family packed up and moved down to South Carolina in July of 2018. When I'm not teaching, I love spending time with my “threenager” and husband, using House Party and FaceTime to see my friends and family back home in Pennsylvania, cooking, and party planning! I’m looking forward to an amazing year with your children!

Tabitha Ball, 3rd Grade Teacher

Hello, my name is Tabitha Ball. I am very excited to return to South Carolina Green Charter School of Spartanburg to teach 3rd grade again! This will be my sixth year in the classroom. I graduated from the University of South Carolina Columbia with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. I have almost completed all of the courses to receive my Master’s Degree from USC Upstate.
My husband and I have two girls. Both of them will be starting Green Charter this fall! My youngest will be attending Pre-K and my oldest will be going in 2nd grade. We have a dog named Stingray and a cat named Sassy. We have lived in the Upstate 8 years. We love spending time outdoors, reading, and going on family adventures!

Justin Orgovan, 3rd Grade Teacher

My name is Justin Orgovan and I will be teaching third grade this year. This will be my eight year as an educator and my second year teaching in South Carolina at GREEN Charter School in Spartanburg.
Before I moved to South Carolina, I taught elementary school at a charter network in Brooklyn, NY. During my experiences teaching in New York City, I worked with my school community to advocate for change in educational policies promoting equality of opportunity.
In NY I began my second master's program to become a school counselor. My first master's degree and certification is in elementary/ special education from Touro College in New York. My bachelor's degree and certification is in history/ secondary education from Saint Joseph's College in New York.
I enjoy reading historical fiction and non-fiction centered around American history so much that in undergraduate school I wrote my thesis project focused on the American Revolution.
Prior to becoming a teacher my greatest accomplishment was interning with an academic competition based in Spartanburg that allowed me to travel to all of the contiguous United States. During my free time I enjoy traveling with my wife, cooking, and running.
I am looking forward to working together to ensure the success and safety of all students within our community.

Laura Jones-Thomas, 4th Grade Teacher

My name is Laura Jones-Thomas, but the kids end up calling me Mrs. J-T, and that is fine! This will be my 22nd year of teaching, and I look forward to this new adventure at Green Carter. I grew up in Spartanburg, and even played basketball for Spartanburg High. I have taught first, third, fourth, seventh and eighth grades, and I have also served as a reading interventionist. I received my Master’s of Education in Reading from WInthrop University, and helping children develop their love and interest for reading is one of my passions. When not at school, I spend time with my husband and two children. We love to hike and spend time in nature. My other passion is music, and I am also a singer/songwriter. Being of a musical mindset, I also understand students can have passions and talents that may not always be reflected in school work, so one of my goals is to help students bring their interests into the classroom to help them feel successful and motivated.

Summer Ofori, 4th Grade Teacher

My name is Summer Ofori. I'll be joining the GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg as the 4th Grade Math and Science teacher.

I was born and raised in Berryville, Arkansas. I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Early Childhood. I continued my education online at Arkansas State University, where I graduated with a Masters in Educational Leadership. The last four years, I have taught in Spartanburg District 6 as a 3rd grade teacher.

In the summer of 2016, my husband and I moved to South Carolina because my husband got relocated for work. Slowly, Spartanburg has become home and I’m excited to be a part of the GREEN family. When I’m not at school, I love spending time outside and traveling to new places.

I’m looking forward to the wonderful year ahead of us!

Melissa Frost, 5th Grade Teacher

My name is Melissa Frost, and I am thrilled to be joining the Team GREEN this year as the 5th Grade math and science teacher! During my 28 years as an educator, I have taught 3rd - 6th grade and had the opportunity to be a science lab teacher for Kindergarten-4th grade. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina-Upstate, and my Master’s in Elementary Education from Converse College.
My family is originally from New Jersey and I moved here when I was 9 years old. I met my husband in high school and have been happily married for 30 years! We have two children, Avery (26 years old) and Kelsey (22 years old). We also have two dogs, our fur babies, Presley and Penny. When not at school, we enjoy camping at the lake, kayaking, gardening, and watching football. Go Gamecocks!!
This year is going to have its challenges as we face new ways of doing things, but be assured that we will do it together! I’m looking forward to meeting and working with our families to make this a great year!!

Whitney Moore, 5th Grade Teacher

My name is Whitney Moore, and I am so excited to be joining the GREEN family this year! I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. I attended St. Petersburg College where I graduated as a Certified Veterinary Technician before going back to school and graduating in 2017 with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Education has always been my passion and I knew my heart belonged in a classroom!

I moved to South Carolina in May of 2019 when we bought a farm in Union County. Before that, we lived in Charlotte, NC where I taught 4th grade in Rock Hill, SC for 2 years. My husband and I met in high school and we now have 4 wonderful children: my stepson, Aidan will be graduating high school this year and is looking to enlist in the U.S. Army. My oldest daughter, Kylie, is a student here at GREEN. My two youngest are Abigail, who is 4 and Mason, who is 2 ½. We also have 3 dogs (Chief, Ellie, and Beau), a cat (Bandit), 3 pigs, 2 goats (Huck and Cha-Cha), and a coop full of chickens. When we aren’t working on the farm, we love to travel and spend time outdoors-hiking, kayaking, camping, pretty much anything we can do as a family outside!

While I know this year is going to be completely different than anything we have faced before, I feel confident that our GREEN staff is prepared to work together and make this year as memorable and positive as possible. I’m looking forward to a great year and getting to know all of the families that call GREEN home!

Fikret Burgazli, 6th/7th Grade Math Teacher

Welcome to Green Charter School of Spartanburg and 6th&7th Grade Math! I am so excited to have you in my class and look forward to a fun year learning about the beauty of Mathematics.
My name is Fikret Burgazli and this will be my 20th year of teaching. I taught six years high school math in Mongolia, nine years middle school math in Istanbul/Turkey and 4 years middle school math in Cincinnati/Ohio.
This is my first year here at Green Charter Schools. I completed my undergraduate from Dokuz Eylul University(Turkey) and master’s from National University of Mongolia. I am married with two wonderful kids!
I am really happy to be part of GREEN family and I am looking forward to meeting with you very soon!
Have a lovely rest of the day!

Christi Henderson, 6th/7th Grade Science Teacher

My name is Christi Henderson and this is my ninth year as an educator. I have taught everything from 4th-8th grade science and 8th grade math. This is my second year at GREEN and I am very excited to be back in the classroom this fall! I graduated from USC Upstate with a degree in Middle Grades Education; Math and Science. I am also gifted and talented, ESOL, STEAM, and project based learning endorsed.

I am originally from Lumberton, North Carolina. I moved to SC for high school and attended Greer High School. After high school, I moved to the Spartanburg area. My husband Matt and I moved to Boiling Springs in 2008 and currently reside there. We have a lively house with 2 dogs (Lily and Anastasia), 2 lizards (Max and Pepper), 2 guinea pigs(Stuart and Georgie), and 4 giant fish tanks. When we are not at home you can find us at church, trying new restaurants, or in the mountains. We love to be outdoors hiking and camping!

I am looking forward to this school year. I know there are a lot of unknown things going on in the world, but be assured in knowing that we here at GREEN will love them, teach them, and make them our top priority. I know this is going to be a great year!

Brianna Joy Walker, 6th/7th Grade Social Studies Teacher

Hello! My name is Brianna Walker, and this will be my first year of teaching. I completed my degree in education at Bob Jones University. I had the opportunity to complete my student teaching experience at AJ Whittenberg Elementary in Greenville, South Carolina; I taught 5th grade Social Studies, Science, Math, and ELA.
I was born in McAllen, Texas where I lived for 11 years. I moved to Pennsylvania in 6th grade, and I completed my undergraduate degree in Greenville, South Carolina. I just moved to the Spartanburg area at the beginning of August, and I am excited to learn more about this area.

Outside of teaching, I love attending sporting events, spending time with friends, and finding new adventures to experience.

I cannot wait to see what excitement this school year will bring. Despite all the uncertainty during this time, I am positive that it will be a fantastic year. This assurance comes from knowing that the GREEN family will teach, support, and love each child.

Cheyenne Zucchero, 6th/7th Grade ELA Teacher

Hello! My name is Cheyenne Zucchero, but my students call me Miss. Z! This is my second year at GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg and my third year of teaching. I graduated from Converse College in December 2017 with my Bachelor’s in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education with my add-on in Elementary Education. Before teaching ELA at GCS, I taught American Sign Language to kindergarten through eighth grade students. I am so excited to be moving up with my students and be a part of their love for learning!

I have lived in Boiling Springs since 2011, but was born and raised in Pennsylvania. When I am not at school, I am usually crafting with my Cricut machine. I also love cooking and trying out new recipes, even if they aren’t always good. Practice makes perfect! I have two dogs, Ellie and Titan, and a cat named Carmen. I have had all three of them for over seven years!

I cannot wait to embark on this journey with my students! I know this year is full of uncertainties, but if we all work together we will create the best possible learning environment for each and every student!

Jennifer Lewis, Special Education Teacher; 504 Coordinator

Hello! My name is Jennifer Lewis and this is my first year at GREEN Charter! I am so excited to be here as the new special education teacher and 504 coordinator. I moved down to South Carolina from Columbus, Ohio in July. I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2010 where I began teaching after graduation for Columbus City Schools as an intervention specialist for a multiple disabilities classroom. I taught at Buckeye Middle School for the past 10 years and decided I was ready for a new adventure in life and teaching and I am so grateful it has brought me here!
I moved down to Greenville with my boyfriend, Tucker who is the Operations Manager for All My Sons Moving and Storage in Simpsonville and our two dogs, Benny and Winter. We love going exploring around the area and enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, boating and anything else where we can all be together and play in the water! Ohio was not known for water activities and nice weather, so we are all happy to be here!
When I am not teaching, I love spending time with Tucker, Benny and Winter, playing ice hockey, running (training for my 2nd full marathon right now!) playing guitar and enjoying my morning coffee on my back porch every day.
I am excited for what this new school year will bring and looking forward to being part of the GREEN family!

Gary Frazier, Music Teacher

Hey! My name is Gary Frazier and I am entering my second year as the music teacher at GREEN Charter. I graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education from North Greenville University in 2016. After graduating from NGU I spent one year teaching K-5 music in Greenville County then went on to be the Director of Bands at Palmetto High School in Anderson County. I came to GREEN in 2019 and I love it here. When I’m not teaching music, I’m usually playing my guitar and singing somewhere. I am the worship pastor at Hub City Church and I also actively play music around the upstate. My wife, Brandy, my daughter, Adelaide, and myself live in Boiling Springs with our dog, Fury, and our cat, KitKat. I am very excited to get the school year started and to help each and every student find and develop their inner musician!

Krista Robbins. Physical Education Teacher

My name is Krista Robbins (You can call me Coach!). I am thrilled to be entering my second year as the Physical Education Teacher here at Green Charter, and I am SO excited to get moving with you this year!
This year, more than ever before, it is going to be so important to focus on our health and well-being. I cannot wait to work with students to introduce strategies and activities to stay active, healthy and happy! We are going to have a GREAT year.
When I am not at school I spend my time running, hiking, cooking, and traveling. During the summers you can find me camping, swimming and kayaking with my dog, Annie, and my husband, Nathan.

Jackie Sawyer, Art Teacher

Dear GREEN Students & Families,

Welcome to another colorful school year! My name is Jackie Sawyer and I am the Art Teacher here at GREEN Charter School of Spartanburg. I am excited to say that this is my 2nd year with GREEN and my 12th year in education. In 2008 I earned my BFA in Art Education from the University of South Carolina and in 2018 my Master’s in Early Childhood from the USC- Upstate.
This year in art I plan to introduce you and your student not only to the visual arts but, how to study art, art history, art base careers, and art criticism. My goal is to not only have your child producing art, but also enjoy all that the visual arts have to offer.
When I am not teaching, you can find me spending time with my husband, 2 daughters (Emma and Abigail), 2 cats (Sophie and Olivia), and my dog (Charlotte). Some of our favorite things to do together are watching Gamecocks and Virginia sports, being outside, and traveling.

Best Regards! Jackie Sawyer, Art Teacher

Tommy Barnett, Food Service Director

Welcome Green Charter Families!
My name is Tommy Barnett, I am the Food Service Director for the Green Charter Schools. I oversee all Green Charter campuses meal programs. I have been in the Food service Industry for 26 years, School Nutrition for 6 years. I have worked with Green Charter the last 5 years and in my second year as Director.
I recently moved to South Carolina in June of 2020 from Georgia to begin my next chapter with Green Charter Schools. I am passionate about the growth and well-being of our students. School Nutrition is essential to the development of healthy attitudes and behaviors around eating in children and adolescents.
I look forward to my journey with Green Charter and working with all of our families, staff and students!

Rose Akesson, Food Service Manager

This is my second year at Green Charter Spartanburg as Kitchen Manager. Before coming to Spartanburg I was in the kitchen at Green Charter Midlands as the kitchen lead. I enjoy working in the kitchen cooking, prepping and making sure breakfast and lunch will be served on time. I also enjoy interacting daily with the kids. As a parent my daughter is now in her 4th year of attending Green Charter.

Ramiro Garcia Duran, Program Coordinator

Hi, my name is Ramiro. I have been working in the education field for the past 5 years. This is my second year at Green Charter School. My first year I taught 4th and 5th grade math. This year I am teaching Go Green! and I am also the After-School Coordinator. This is my second year at Green Charter School, and I was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S at the age of seven. I have been in the U.S for 17 years. I graduated from Dorman High School at the age of 17 with a 3.7 GPA. I am currently attending USC Upstate. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I am super excited to be part of this awesome team. I have no kids, but I have a lot of furry animals.

Rhea Wilson, After School Staff

Hi, I'm Rhea Wilson. I am currently a student at USC Upstate studying elementary education. This past summer I worked at a summer camp where I got to meet hundreds of students, interact with and teach them. My whole life, I knew I wanted my career path to have children involved in it in some shape or form. In high school I was a member of the Future Teachers of America program, and that really showed me that education was the path I needed to take. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to work with students after school this year at Green Charter, so I can help them learn even more. When I am not working or doing school, I love spending time with my mom and my sisters.