Osman Demirel - Principal
Mr. Demirel received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and minor in economy, and obtained a Masters Education degree from Georgia College and State University at Milledgeville, GA. He has been dedicated to the field of education for fifteen years in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. He has taught in elementary and middle schools. He has been an assistant principal, curriculum coordinator, and math specialist/coach for the last 10 years. During these years he had many leadership responsibilities that included facilitating collaborative planning with teachers, supporting the school’s student behavior plan, organizing and facilitating school-wide professional development, and conferencing with parents.
He believes that all children can learn but each learns in a different way and at different levels. With hard work and perseverance we can reach and teach each child at our school. Keeping a positive learning environment is the key to success. Teamwork plays a very significant role in education, thus I will make sure we have a very clear communication and open policy among staff, students, and parents.
He will be a very visible principal and the best part of all he will be visiting the students in all areas of the school. He will be making sure that he gets to know every student and every student gets to know him.
He is happily married and he has 4 boys. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, and walking.

Elizabeth Poore - Assistant Principal
I love Green Charter School! This is my second year serving as the assistant principal, and I absolutely love it. Professionally, I’ve worked as a 5th grade teacher, curriculum coordinator, and administrator. Twenty two years have flown by as I’ve earned a BA in elementary education, a Master’s degree in Reading and a second Master’s in Educational Administration.

Your kids are very important to me. I want to ensure that their academic, physical and emotional needs are met everyday. I’ll cheer them on and support them when they need help. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you need me.

I live in Chapin with my husband Kevin and 3 kids. Anna is a Sophomore at Lander, Connor is a Junior in high school, and Reagan can’t wait to come to Green next year as a kindergartener. I love to take naps, read, and spend time with my friends. Thanks for trusting us with your precious students again this year.

Nikki Doremus - Kindergarten
Hi! My name is Nicki Doremus! I am excited to be a part of GREEN Charter School of the Midlands!! I am looking forward to meeting each child and parent in our classroom family! I don't teach Kindergarten...I teach children! I teach little readers and writers, mathematicians, scientists, engineers, artists, athletes, problem solvers...the list goes on!

I am originally from Orangeburg, SC and graduated from Orangeburg Prep in 1996. I attended Winthrop University, graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and have been teaching...and learning...every day since! This will be my 18th year. Being a teacher is not a job. It’s not a career. It’s my identity; my way of life. I began my teaching adventure in Kindergarten then "tried on" 1st and 3rd grades, but I just had to follow my heart back to the Kindergarten classroom!

I am blessed with a beautiful 11 year-old daughter, Emma Grace. She loves all animals; even our classroom pet ball python, Debbie…but horses are her passion! She has 3 horses, Tulia, Mariah, and Bandit. She loves them and rides them with the grace and confidence of an avid equestrian! I am extremely proud of the young lady she is becoming. I continue to grow as a mother, a teacher, a friend, and a daughter as she continues to teach me about the kind of person I want to be. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to teach, learn, explore, wonder, and play along-side your child this year! Thank you for sharing with me.

Nancy Dixon - Kindergarten Aide
My name is Nancy Dixon and I'm so excited to be a part of the GREEN Charter School family. I earned a BA
in Early Childhood Education from
Columbia College and I taught first grade in Richland County School District One.
I've been married to my husband Mark for 26 years and we have 2 beautiful daughters, a senior and a freshman at USC. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, and Gamecock football! I'm looking forward to my second year as an assistant in Ms. Doremus' kindergarten class! It's going to be a fabulous year!

Holly Britt - Kindergarten Aide
Hello!!! My name is Holly Britt and I am thrilled to join Green Charter of the Midland’s amazing group of teachers. Last year as a substitute teacher I was given amazing opportunities to serve and get to know the students and staff here at Green.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have two children, Hannah and Noah who will be entering into the 4th grade here at Green. I have had a wonderful experience as a stay at home mom nurturing and guiding my children through their younger years and we are excited to be part of the family here at Green Charter.

I am excited to get to know your child and serve them as they learn and grow with us this year.

Amanda Juliano - First Grade
Hello, my name is Amanda Juliano! This will be my first year teaching at GREEN. First grade has always been my dream grade to teach so I’m honored by this opportunity. I recently received my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from The University of South Carolina and as a result I’m a huge Gamecock fan! While attending college I’ve gained experience from my internships, as well as working at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School as an after school teacher for two years. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My favorite part is building relationships with students and parents while watching the students grow in knowledge throughout the year. In 1st grade, students experience a lot of growth, and I plan to be there for your students through every triumph and challenge. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with my family, practicing yoga, cooking, and watching HGTV to get decorating ideas. Let’s have a great year!

Kristen Harder - First Grade
A 2017 graduate of Florida State University, Kristen Harder spent the past year teaching 1st grade abroad in Guatemala. Kristen loved the opportunity she had to travel all over Guatemala and even to Mexico City for Spring Break, learn Spanish, and hike volcanoes. She recently moved to Columbia and is grateful to have joined the GREEN Charter School family.

Megan Gotz - Second Grade
I’m Ms. Gotz, and am entering my 2nd year of teaching at Green Charter. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina Upstate with my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. Teaching has been a passion of mine since I was in high school. I have been working with students in various settings such as a 2 year vocational program for early childhood in high school, after school counselor, summer counselor, at risk camp counselor, and at a day care. I continue to grow and learn as a teacher through professional development.
I was originally born in Connecticut, but moved a lot with my family because my father was in the military. We ended up in Illinois for 8 years where I graduated high school before moving to South Carolina for college. Traveling has led to my other passions of hiking and photography. Being active and capturing the beauty of nature is important to me.
My favorite subject to teach is reading because I like taking my students on unforgettable journeys. In math I enjoy using manipulatives, brain teasers, and projects to make it fun. We do stations for hands on learning activities in ELA and math. My classroom thrives on positive and collaborative thinking to become a class family. Every student has their own ideas to contribute and teach. Together we are unstoppable learners. I am so excited to be a 2nd grade teacher!

Terrence Duggan - Second Grade
My name is Terrence L. Duggan, and I am a native of Columbia, SC. Growing up in Columbia, I attended school in Richland County School District One. After graduating from W. J. Keenan High School, I went on to further my education and graduated from the College of Education at Winthrop University. At Winthrop, I was the president of the Vision of Prayze Gospel Choir, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., chaplain of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and chair of the Boys II Men mentoring program. Being a teacher has always been my dream. I believe there is always room to learn and grow. It is my goal in life to be one of the best educators ever. You typically see a woman in the class teaching, but I am here to show everyone that a man has the same passion in the field of education. Let’s get ready to have a great year!

Christina Cooper - Third Grade
My name is Christina Cooper and I will be teaching third grade this year. I am originally from Edgefield, SC. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina. I have enjoyed living and working in Columbia for the past two years. I am enthusiastic to embark upon my sixth year of teaching. As an educator, I believe my responsibility is to teach students using a variety of instructional strategies so, that all students understand. My goal is to always make learning fun and exciting for students. I also strive to develop well-rounded individuals who become contributing members of our society. I believe that students need to feel comfortable working, exploring, taking risks, and learning by fostering a growth mindset to meet high expectations. Building relationships with students and their families is a key component to building a safe class environment. As we embark on this journey of learning together my focus is to turn students into lifelong learners.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. I also enjoy reading and shopping.

Michelle Yilmaz - Third Grade
This will be my second year teaching at GREEN! Formerly known as “Miss Johnson,” I will be returning to third grade by the name of “Mrs. Yilmaz” after my marriage to my husband, Daniel, in June. I am excited to meet my new third graders and learn all about them! I know that each one has a unique personality and giftings and I look forward to helping my students progress academically while guiding them in discovering their potential. Together, we will create a classroom atmosphere of kindness and encouragement. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from North Greenville University and then moved back to Columbia to be a part of the start-up of the Midlands Campus! In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my husband, playing soccer, playing group games with friends, and checking out coffee shops. I love traveling and experiencing different cultures and I have an ever-expanding list of places to visit around the world!

Lauren Koehler - 4th and 5th Grade Math
I am very excited to join the Green Charter School family of teachers!
My teaching experience includes 6th and 7th grade Math Teacher in Northville, Michigan, and the Middle School Math Proficiency Specialist in Denver, Colorado. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a major in Mathematics from Oakland University, as well as a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University. Seeing students develop their powerful math mind, and learn to understand new mathematical concepts in a way they never thought possible, has always been a great source of joy for me.
After having the pleasure of staying home for a few years to raise my three kids (Riley - 13, Avery - 11, and Brennan - 9) I went back to teaching preschool in Grand Rapids, Michigan until moving to Chapin in August of 2017.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy laughing and doing anything outdoors with friends and family… boating, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, watching baseball (if not my kid’s baseball teams, then usually the Detroit Tigers).
We are excited to call Chapin home, and I look forward to getting to know the wonderful students that attend Green.

Sue Brown - 4th and 5th Grade Social Studies
Hello! My name is Sue Brown, and I will be your child's Social Studies Teacher in the 4 and 5 grades. I was born into a military family in California and grew up, mostly, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I attended Vermont College, and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education, with a concentration in history. I taught fourth and fifth grade students within the Florida public school system for 10 years, then relocated to South Carolina 3 years ago, so my husband and I could be closer to family. This will be my 3rd year with the GREEN Charter School family, with 1 year at the Greenville campus, and last year in our newly remodeled facility here in Irmo. An exciting year of history awaits your child and I cannot wait to get started!

Megan Mantooth - 4th and 5th Grade Science
I’ve taught for over three years. During those years I have taught math and science for 4th and 5th grade. I’m very excited to say that this year I’ll be teaching 4th and 5th science. Science can be so much fun when taught through hands on projects! I graduated with my Bachelors from Columbia College. A year later I went back to Columbia College and earned my Masters Degree in Divergent Learning. Students learn differently and should be accommodated as such. I think that’s what makes my classroom so unique.
I’ve been married to my husband, Zach, for 10 years. We have 2 children, Parker and Annabelle. We also have 2 dogs. We’re a house divided; boys root for the Gamecocks and the ladies root for the champions, Clemson Tigers! We spend our summers traveling and staying busy. I love being able to bring those travel experiences back into the classroom through pictures, climate/weather observations, and when we learn about habitats. A quote I try to teach my students, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. The same is true in the classroom!

Tara Alexander - 4th and 5th Grade ELA
Welcome to 4th and 5th grade ELA at Green Charter School of the Midlands! This will be my 22nd year of teaching, covering all grade levels from kindergarten to 12th grade English. I have a degree in English, Secondary Education, as well as endorsements in Gifted and Talented, Early Childhood, and middle level Social Studies. I have 3 children...Tripp, the oldest, will be a junior at USC, Price will be a senior at Dutch Fork High, and Baxley will be an 8th grader at Dutch Fork Middle. I love watching my kids grow as they learn, play sports, dance, and interact with others. I can’t wait to meet each of my students this year!

Shana Sweeney - 6th and 7th Grade Math
Hello, Green Family! My name is Shana Sweeney, and I am originally from St. Albans, Queens, NY. I have a wonderful family (son and daughter - one in middle school and one in high school). We love spending time together watching WWE and Live PD, when they are not active in their sports.

I am on the same team this year with a couple new teachers to Green family - teaching 6th and 7th grade math. This is my 8th year teaching math. I have taught in New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina and even taught math at the high school level - however my passion is middle school. I fully expect my students to work hard and have fun this year.

My Education and Professional Background
Masters in Teaching, Ashford University and BS in Accounting, Benedict College.

My Educational Philosophy
My reason for teaching is simple. I love spending time with children as they learn, grow, question, and discover the amazing world around them. Learning is a passion. I am committed to ensuring each child feels successful, capable, and celebrated while they are in my class. My job as facilitator is to develop enriching, engaging lessons that stretch the thinking of my young students and provide a safe, welcoming, and enthusiastic environment in which to learn the rigor necessary for academic success.

Michael Easter - 6th and 7th Grade Social Studies
My name is Michael Easter, I teach sixth and seventh grade social studies, and I am so happy to be a part of the wonderful team at Green Charter School of the Midlands! I consider myself a local boy, having been a graduate of Lexington High School and the University of South Carolina. I love teaching history because it lets young people develop their empathy and a true understanding of the world they live in. In my spare time, I enjoy working out, cooking, and spoiling my two dogs, Victor and Echo

Harriett Abraham - 6th and 7th Grade ELA
Harriett Abraham is currently the 6th and 7th Grade English/Language Arts teacher at Green Charter School of the Midlands. Mrs. Abraham grew up in Middle Georgia Area, where she attended grade school and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Macon State College. She enjoys traveling and taking long walks. She is married to her wonderful husband Jalen Abraham and they have one beautiful son Jordan Abraham.
Mrs. Abraham has worked in an educational setting for eight years; prior to moving to the Harbison Area. She has worked as a Paraprofessional, Parent Engagement Coordinator, and teacher in Middle Georgia Area. She enjoys working with kids and encouraging them to reach their full potential. A few of my favorite books are I know why the Caged Bird Sings, Wayside Stories, and Ramona Forever. Her favorite author is Mya Angelou.

Alexandria Newton - PLTW
My name is Ms. Newton and I will be teaching Project Lead the Way this year at Green Charter of the Midlands. This is my eighth year teaching, which includes 3 years of teaching PLTW/STEM Lab, 2 years of teaching Kindergarten, and 2 years teaching Pre-Kindergarten. I received my Bachelors' in Early Childhood Education from USC Beaufort. I have also obtained two Masters degrees, one in Educational Assessment and Evaluation with the other in Adult Education. I recently received my Gifted and Talented Endorsement as well. My diverse educational background and teaching experiences have allowed me the knowledge and experience to provide my students with a variety of hands-on learning experiences that help foster their critical thinking, communication skills, collaboration skills, and creativity. I look forward to an exciting year of new opportunities teaching PLTW at Green Charter this year!

Karina Vega-  Spanish Teacher
My name is Karina Vega. I`m from the beautiful city of Cartagena Colombia located in South America, where I lived for many years and love to visit! I still remember the wonderful food, people and activities. It`s an amazing city! I am the proud mother of three wonderful kids, Roger, Natalie and Shekina whom make my life very happy. I am also a grandmom of a handsome little boy named Julian and waiting for my second grandchild pretty soon. My favorite hobbies are playing instruments and singing, I love music! I also like to play sports like volleyball and ping-pong. I have a Bachelor`s of Arts in modern languages with an emphasis in Spanish. I have been a teacher for over 17 years now and have taught in many different grades. I enjoy teaching. I also have 6 years of experience in the healthcare field. While with ECCHC and Children`s Trust, I served as a Patient HealthCare Coordinator, as a Parent Educator and I also worked as a home visitor. Very interesting years, where I learned how your health has to do a lot with your developmental capacity of learning. I am very excited to be a part of the Green Charter family. I know that, with your support and my dedication we will achieve the goal of leading, guiding and teaching our children to a better future!

Dianne Cotney - Physical Education Teacher

I have taught Physical Education for 33 year and was retired for 3 years prior to coming to Green Charter School of the Midlands.I live in Prosperity with my 80 year old father. I am from Spartanburg and graduated from Dorman High School. I played volleyball, softball, and tennis in high school and college. I received my undergraduate degree from Newberry College and my Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina. I have coached Volleyball, Softball, and Archery on the Elementary, Middle School, and High School Levels. I have one daughter -Brittany who loves horses. I have one Son -Bryan who teacher Physical Education at Chapin Elementary School. He also coaches football and baseball at Chapin High School. I have a new daughter in law that teaches at Dutch Fork High School. I have a 8 year old grandson -Jacob that is my best little buddy! I enjoy traveling, all sports, and walking.

Wendy Roberts - Reading Interventionist/ESOL coordinator
Education: Early Childhood Education BA Degree, Newberry College
Family: I am married to my high school sweetheart, Jeff Roberts. We have 3 children: Adam
28, Savannah 22, and Ian 15. We live on Lake Murray and enjoy boating with family and
friends.

Hobbies: I love to read, shop, and travel in my free time.
Teaching Experience: I have been a public school teacher for 29 years. I have worked with all
grade levels, except for grade 2. My recent experience and passion was a position in grade 5,
where I taught reading and writing.

Rianna Smith - Read to Succeed coordinator
My name is Rianna Smith and this will be my second year at GREEN. I am originally from Syracuse, NY, and moved to Columbia a year ago. I graduated with a dual Bachelors degree in Childhood and Special Education, as well as my Masters degree in Literacy from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. I taught first grade for seven years at a charter school in Albany, and I spent my first year at GREEN teaching first grade as well.

I am excited to move into a new position this year, as the Literacy Coach/RTI Coordinator. I can’t wait to collaborate, coach, and support our staff members, as well as develop amazing readers in our students. I have so many ideas for this new role and I’m ready to hit the ground running for the success of everyone!

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband and our dog Roxy. I enjoy sports, cooking, and exploring new places in and around Columbia. I am a Syracuse football and basketball fan, but you will see me rocking some Gamecock gear too.

Betty Freeman - Special Education Teacher
My name is Betty Freeman, and I am so happy to start my 18th year in education at GREEN Charter as the Special Education Teacher. This is my first year at GREEN, and I am excited about the opportunity to empower my students with a love of learning. I hold a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Tennessee. During my teaching career, I’ve served students with learning differences in elementary grades through high school. In addition to my experience in the classroom, my roles have included administration and educational consulting. During my personal time, I enjoy family outings (there’s eight of us), spending time on the lake, hiking, gardening and just being outdoors as much as I can. My mission is to help students with learning differences feel confident about their unique strengths so that they may reach their full potential in all areas of their daily life.

Kris Spitzform - Office Manager/Powerschool Admin
My name is Kris Spitzform and I am the Office Manager/PowerSchool Admin here at Green Charter of the Midlands. I am fortunate to have been here from the startup of our school. My husband, Kevin, and I are proud parents of our grown children, Steven and Madelyn. We also have 2 fur babies, Tess and Amber, at home. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, gardening, reading and spending time with my family. I am happy to be here to help all parents and students in any way that I can. We had a great first year here at Green and I am looking forward to another exciting year!

Tracey Ditton - Secretary
My name is Tracey Ditton and I am excited to say that 2018-2019 will be my first year working as a member of the GREEN Charter School family. I am married, have 2 wonderful grown stepchildren and one daughter of my own that attends GREEN as a 2nd grader. We enjoy spending our weekends at our family’s lake house on Lake Greenwood with our dog, Cody. I am happy and thankful to begin this new adventure working with the wonderful staff and students at GREEN Charter!

Yusuf Kaya - Accounting and IT management
I have taught middle and high school math in FL and SC (Greenville)

I moved from Greenville where I lived for the past 4 amazing years with my wife and daughter and we are excited to begin a new journey here in Columbia.

It has been such a great pleasure to be part of GREEN Charter family in Greenville and I am expecting the same for Columbia.

I will be taking care of accounting and IT management of the school.