Area: Lower School

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: 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
Areas:

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

Phone:
Areas:
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: 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: 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

Name: John Harbison
Title: 1st and 2nd Grade Science Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3405
Areas:

Mr. Harbison earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Personnel Administration from the University of Utah. Mr. Harbison spent 10 years teaching Middle and Upper School science, math, and technology classes at Fayetteville Academy.  After a short break, John returned in 2013 as a substitute teacher throughout the entire academy in all disciplines. In 2017, John accepted part time duty as a first grade science teacher.

Mr. Harbison’s Favorite Things

Name: Deanna Hare
Title: 3rd Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3103
Areas:

Mrs. Hare graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Education from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. She has been in education since 1980 in grades K-5 and taught 31 years in the Fort Bragg School System.

Mrs. Hare’s Favorite Things

Name: Lauren Jenkins (FA’02)
Title: School Nurse and Administrative Assistant to Lower School
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3323
Areas:

Mrs. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from East Carolina University. She worked as a pediatric nurse for 10 years in both hospital and clinic settings. She was born and raised in Fayetteville and is a Fayetteville Academy Alumna, Class of ‘02. Working as the school nurse and assistant to Head of the Lower School allows her to have the best of both worlds… working and being a mom!

Mrs. Jenkins’s Favorite Things

Name: Connie Long
Title: 2nd Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3104
Areas:

Mrs. Long holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She taught for two years at ASSETS School in Honolulu, HI before moving to Robeson County, where she served for 31 years as a teacher at Pembroke Elementary School.  Mrs. Long’s daughter, Taylor, is a graduate of Fayetteville Academy.

Mrs. Long’s Favorite Things

Mangus
Name: Donna Jo Mangus
Title: Choral Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131 x.3556
Areas:

Donna Jo Mangus, Director of Choral Music and Music Teacher, has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Campbell University. She is a national board-certified teacher in early and middle childhood music. A lifelong resident of Cumberland County, Mrs. Mangus is recently retired from Cumberland County Schools where she most recently taught at Max Abbott Middle School and Terry Sanford High School. She is a member of the Cumberland Choral Arts and the Cross Creek Chorale. She serves as the artistic director of the Campbellton Youth Chorus.

Mrs. Mangus’s Favorite Things

Name: Virginia Manley
Title: Media Center Specialist and Substitute Teacher Coordinator
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3558/3313
Areas:

Mrs. Manley has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and has worked previously as an applied behavior analysis technician. She has been a very active and involved participant throughout her time at the Academy having served as a regular substitute teacher and in several positions of leadership with the Fayetteville Academy Parents Association, serving most recently as president. Mrs. Manley and her husband Jason have a daughter Alexa who is currently at student at FA.

Name: Susan Mescall
Title: 5th Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3102
Areas:

Mrs. Mescall holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from Fayetteville State University.  Mrs. Mescall taught 21 years in public education working with second, third, fifth, and middle school students before coming to Fayetteville Academy. In 2010, Mrs. Mescall was one of 250 teachers chosen from over 1,100 nationwide applicants to attend the Mickleson-Exxon Science Teacher Academy. She is currently teaching fifth grade.

Mrs. Mescall’s Favorite Things

Name: Gabriela Ostendorf
Title: 3rd Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3106
Areas:

Mrs. Ostendorf is a graduate of Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education. She has had the experience of teaching all grade levels from Pre-K through Fifth Grade. She also served as an Instructional Coach for Cumberland County Schools for six years. Mrs. Ostendorf feels blessed to have her two daughters at Fayetteville Academy and plans to soak up these formative years with them as they grow. 

Mrs. Ostendorf’s Favorite Things

Name: Lionel Ownsworth
Title: 5th Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3101
Areas:

Mr. Ownsworth’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Bachelor of Education Degree, and a Graduate Degree in Education. Mr. O. is a certified teacher and Project-Based Learning specialist.

Name: Liz Prince
Title: 4th Grade Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3105
Areas:

Mrs. Prince holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She has served the Academy since 2010 and has been an educator since 1989.

Mrs. Prince’s Favorite Things

Name: Kristin Reeder
Title: Lower School STEAM instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3404
Areas:

Mrs. Reeder holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Campbell University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Kansas State University. She has been teaching since 2008.

Mrs. Reeder’s Favorite Things

Name: Laura Harsant Reeves
Title: Art Instructor
Phone: 910-868-5131, ext. 3401
Areas:
After studying Foundations and Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design for two years, Mrs. Reeves earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting and Drawing from East Carolina University, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Art Education from UNC-Pembroke.  She teaches Art to grades Pre-K through 7th grade.  Mrs. Reeves has extensive professional experience in children’s book illustration and various freelance projects. She has been teaching since 2005, and she has been at the Academy since 2014. Mrs. Reeves also teaches clubs for the After-School Enrichment Program, and every summer she teaches camps for Summer Odyssey.