Area: All Faculty and Staff

Name: Antonia "Tanya" Anderson
Title: 2nd Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3111
Areas:

Mrs. Anderson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State and a Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Technology from ECU. She has her N.C. certifications in Elementary Education (K-6) and as an Instructional Technology Specialist – Computers.  Mrs. Anderson worked in the Cumberland County School System for 15 years. In 2020, she was named “Teacher of the Year” at Rockfish Elementary. 

Mrs. Anderson’s Favorite Things

Name: Patti Ashley
Title: 6th Grade English Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3229
Areas:

Mrs. Ashley was awarded  a B.A. from Butler University’s Department of Education in History and a minor in English Literature. She has over fifteen years teaching experience.

 

Mrs. Ashley’s Favorite Things

Name: Kristin Ballew
Title: Chair, History Department
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3230
Areas:

Mrs. Ballew has more than 10 years of teaching experience in middle and high school Social Studies. She has taught both CP and AP level classes in public school systems in Tennessee and in the Cumberland County School System. She has a B.A. in Social Studies obtaining a major in Geography with minors in History and Business, and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Tennessee. Currently, Mrs. Ballew teaches AP Modern History and Geography.

 

Mrs. Ballew’s Favorite Things

Name: Dr. Molly Barger
Title: English Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131 x.3234
Areas:

Dr. Barger attained her Ph.D. in English Education from University at Buffalo SUNY. Her specialty is teaching Shakespeare, but she loves to tackle many other forms of literature and poetry in ways that engage her students in the text with as much excitement as possible. She earned her master’s degree in English from Belmont University and bachelor’s degree in Literature from Eckerd College. She’s taught at both the college and secondary levels, but thinks middle school and high school are more fun and rewarding because they don’t yet have a fear and loathing of Shakespeare, poetry, or literature in general that many college freshmen have going into English 101. “If I can teach a student to genuinely love to explore a text, then I’ve helped begin building a bridge to their future education,” Dr. Barger says.

She comes to us from Tennessee with her dogs, Beowulf and Andy, as well as her cat, Friar Tuck, and turtle, Murphy. 

“Lord, we know what we are but know not what we may be.” Ophelia, Hamlet 4.5

 

Dr. Barger’s Favorite Things

Name: Chip Bishop
Title: Athletic Director
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3549
Areas:

Mr. Bishop holds a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Pembroke and a master’s degree from Campbell University.  Mr. Bishop oversees all athletic teams and the entire athletic program grades 7-12.  He has served the Academy since 1982 and has been an educator since 1974.

Name: Melissa Bruns
Title: Kindergarten Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3110
Areas:

Mrs. Bruns holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.  Mrs. Bruns teaches Kindergarten.  She has served the Academy since 2007 and has been an educator since 1983.

 

Mrs. Bruns’s Favorite Things

Name: Dawn Burt
Title: Director of Lower School
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3322
Areas:

Mrs. Burt holds a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis in Child Development and Family Studies. She is a member of the Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Fraternity.  She has been an educator since 2000 and joined the academy in 2011.  Prior to an administrative role, Mrs. Burt  taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten.  She is thrilled to have both of her children attending the Academy.

 

Mrs. Burt’s Favorite Things

Name: Charley Curry
Title: 4th Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3107
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A graduate of Virginia Tech, Mrs. Curry received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2011. In May 2014, she completed her student teaching requirements and received her teaching license from Shenandoah University. Since then, she has completed a master’s degree in Education from Shenandoah University. She has taught since 2013.

Mrs. Curry has two children, Chanan and Avaleigh. When not working or running around with the kids, she enjoys reading, running, yoga, and being outdoors with her family.

 

Mrs. Curry’s Favorite Things

Darbie
Name: Lauren Darbie
Title: Kindergarten Instructor

Mrs. Darbie has a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies from Western Governor’s University and recently earned her master’s degree. She served as a lead teacher at the Roane School in Florida, has home-schooled her own children and has worked as an ABA Therapist/Registered Behavior Technician teaching language skills, academic skills and self-help skills to autistic children.

 

Mrs. Darbie’s Favorite Things

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Name: Pam Darden
Title: Assistant College Counselor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3305
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Mrs. Darden holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Meredith College.  She also has a master’s degree in School Counseling from Campbell University.  Mrs. Darden has served the Academy since 2013 and was a counselor for Cumberland County schools from 1988-2013.

 

Mrs. Darden’s Favorite Things

Name: Chris Davis
Title: Band Director
Phone:
Areas:

Mr. Davis has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Lee University and is licensed to teach both instrumental and vocal music. He has twelve years of experience as a band director and has taught a variety of vocal music and band classes at both the middle and upper school levels.

KDennison
Name: Kevin Dennison
Title: Director of Facilities and Grounds
Phone: 910-868-5131 x.3561
Areas:

Mr. Dennison previously served as Fayetteville Academy’s Director of Facilities from 2003 to 2007 and has returned to the role. He also has served as the Fayetteville Academy girls’ varsity basketball coach, middle school girls’ basketball coach, and the varsity track and field coach for a number of years.

Name: Simone Dennison
Title: Director of Middle School
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3321
Areas:

Mrs. Dennison previously worked at the Academy in the admissions and business offices and as an English and Journalism teacher. She spent 13 years as an Assistant Principal in the Cumberland County School System. Mrs. Dennison has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Methodist University and an master’s degree in School Administration from the University of Phoenix.  She also holds a Professional Educator’s license as a K-12 Principal. Mrs. Dennison’s husband, Kevin, also works at F.A. as the director of facilities, varsity track and field coach and the varsity girls’ basketball coach.

Mrs. Dennison’s Favorite Things

Name: Donna Dillard
Title: Accounts Payable
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3309
Areas:

Ms. Dillard is our Accounts Payable technician. She has an associate degree in business administration from Fayetteville Tech and has spent approximately twenty years working in similar positions at various companies in and around Fayetteville. Among the places Ms. Dillard has worked most recently are Onsite Homes, H & H Homes, and Fayetteville State University.

 

Mrs. Dillard’s Favorite Things

Name: Sara Domguia
Title: English Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3227
Areas:

Ms. Domguia has an associate’s degree in English from BYU Idaho, a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics and a master’s degree in applied linguistics, both from the University of Utah. She also has a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification from the University of Utah. Ms. Domguia has spent approximately ten years in various roles in education including time as an ESL teacher in Utah and Georgia, a college professor in South Korea, a writing instructor and curriculum developer in Hawaii, and a course writer and literacy coordinator in Alberta, Canada.

Mrs. Domguia’s Favorite Things

 

Name: Angela Fedo
Title: Pre-Kindergarten Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3112
Areas:

Ms. Fedo has a bachelor’s degree in Education from Campbell University. She is N.C. certified in Elementary Education (K-6) and Academically Gifted (K-12). Ms. Fedo worked 13 years in public schools in the Fayetteville area, the last seven of which were spent teaching Kindergarten at Gray’s Creek Elementary School.  She earned “Teacher of the Year” honors at Lake Rim Elementary (2004), E.E. Miller (2011), and at Gray’s Creek (2015).  

Ms. Fedo’s Favorite Things

Name: Joanna Frady
Title: Director of College Counseling and Academic Advising
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3315
Areas:

Mrs. Frady holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History and a master’s degree in American Studies from The College of William and Mary. She also has her M.Ed. in School Counseling from SUNY at Buffalo and earned a certificate in College Advising from Teachers College at Columbia University.  Mrs. Frady  served at the Academy from 2005-2010, first as the School Counselor and then as the Director of College Counseling. Prior to that time, she served as an Assistant Dean of Admissions at William and Mary and an Assistant Director of Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill and Niagara University. Mrs. Frady returned to Fayetteville and to the Academy in 2016.

Mrs. Frady’s Favorite Things

Name: Rashad Ghaffar
Title: PE Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3551
Areas:

Coach Ghaffar is our Lower School P.E. teacher and has spent many years working in various roles at Fayetteville Academy. Coach Ghaffar’s own education includes a bachelor’s degree in communications and mass media/journalism from UNC-Charlotte. Coach Ghaffar spent two years working with the Peace Corps in Ethiopia before a stint as a library manager at George Washington University. Since coming to F.A., his roles have included work as a cross country coach, basketball coach, track and field coach, and frequent substitute teacher.

Coach Ghaffar’s Favorite Things

Name: Amanda Gillis
Title: Chair, World Languages and Upper School Latin Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3220
Areas:

Mrs. Gillis holds a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from The University of Florida.  Amanda teaches Latin in grades 9-12. She has served the Academy since 2009 and has been an educator since 2000.

Mrs. Gillis’s Favorite Things

Name: Leigh Anne Grice
Title: STEAM Lab Facilitator - Pre-K and Kindergarten
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3114
Areas:

Mrs. Grice holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College. She teaches in the STEAM Lab for Kindergarten and Pre-K. Previously, she taught Kindergarten at the Academy, and she has served FA since 1990.

Mrs. Grice’s Favorite Things