Area: Middle School

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. Ballew has six 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 most recently 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 Masters degree in Secondary Education from the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Barger attained her Ph.D in English Education from University at Buffalo SUNY. Her specialty is teaching Shakespeare but 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 MA in English from Belmont University and BA 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..” 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

Mrs. Byrd holds a B.A. in Spanish with minors in Math Education and Music. She taught high school Spanish in California before moving to North Carolina where she taught two years for Cumberland County schools teaching both middle school Spanish and Math.

Mrs. Dennison previously worked at our school in the admissions and business offices and as an English and Journalism teacher and spent 13 years as an Assistant Principal in the Cumberland County School System. Mrs. Dennison has a BS in Mass Communications from Methodist University and an MA 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 varsity track and field coach and the varsity girls’ basketball coach.

Ms. Katz, an alumna of the Fayetteville Academy, graduated from New York University with a B.S. in Applied Psychology. In addition to teaching at the Academy, Madison is a licensed EMT and part-time student at Fayetteville State University, taking pre-medical classes. She has over eight years of experience working with children in instructional and medical capacities. Madison is an avid Scouter and has a passion for travelling and learning new languages. 

Mrs. Kizer holds a B.A. and M.A.T. from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Marymelda oversees the Lower School through Upper School Media Centers and supports classes that use modern technology in their curriculum.

Mrs. Lee has degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Fayetteville State. She is also a member of Pi Lambda Theta and has been with the Academy since 2014.

Mrs. Malloy received her B.S. in Sport and Recreation Management from Temple University and her M.S. in Education with a focus in Secondary Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the Fayetteville Academy family, she taught middle grades mathematics and Algebra I in Miami, Florida and Columbus, Georgia.

Mr. Marquez has a BA in Professional Studies with a minor in history from Fayetteville State University and also holds a North Carolina teaching license. During his military career from which he has now retired, Mr. Marquez taught military science and history for three years.  He also taught social studies, geography, and world history at Douglas Byrd Middle School.  Mr. Marquez is married to F.A. World Language Department Chair and teacher, Maria Marquez.

Mrs. Martin holds a B.A. from Guilford College and an M.Ed from The University of Southern Maine.  Amanda teaches Geometry, Advanced Algebra, and Calculus, and works with the yearbook staff and our online students.  She has served the Academy since 2008 and has been an educator since 2000.

Ms. Ovalle received both a BS and an MA in Foreign Language Education from the University of Antioquia in Columbia. She has five years of teaching experience at the college and high school levels and worked for the Houston Astros Major League baseball organization, teaching English to several of their minor league players. Ms. Ovalle has also been a presenter at several symposiums, conferences, and workshops.

Mrs. Rathbone arrived in Fayetteville in May 2018 and is thrilled to be facilitating the brand-new STEAM program at Fayetteville Academy.  She comes to us with a Master of Education in Educational Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in English & Creative Writing, has taught in three continents in various languages, and amongst other things is a master carpenter, a writer, and a painter. With twenty plus years in education and almost ten years in national and international sales, Mrs. Rathbone brings a plethora of experience to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

Ms. Reavis holds a B.S. from Appalachian State University.  She oversees the Fine Arts department and teaches grades 8-12.   She has served the Academy since 1999 and has been an educator since 1993.

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 5th, as well as 7th grade.  Mrs. Reeves has been teaching since 2005, and she has been at the Academy since 2014.

Mrs. Reeves is the illustrator of the Tristan Trapp book series, authored by Martha Goetz. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

See Mrs. Reeves’ online art portfolio at www.reevesartworks.com.

Mrs. Smith holds a B.S. from Methodist University.  She has served the Academy since 1990.

Mrs. Stanbridge received a B.S. in Intermediate Education with a concentration in math and her M.A. in Intermediate Education from Fayetteville State University.  She has 42 years of teaching experience in grades 4-7 in both public and private school in Cumberland County. She taught 4th grade at Fayetteville Academy for seven years after retiring from the public school system.

Ms. Terry has BS degrees in both Marine Science and Meteorology as well as a Master of Science in Meteorology, all from NC State University. She taught various courses including chemistry, biology, geoscience, and AP Environmental Science in her three years at St. Mary’s School in Raleigh. She also has spent time as a Middle School math teacher as well an ESL teacher. Ms. Terry has several hobbies and areas of interest, including scuba diving, and she holds several advanced certifications in that area.