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 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.

Dr. Barger attained her PhD 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 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,” 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

Mrs. Byrd holds a B.A. in Spanish with minors in Math Education and Music and a Master’s degree in Math Education for Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught for seven years and teaches Middle School Spanish and Middle & Upper School math. “

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 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.

Ashlee Grey is a math teacher in the Middle and Upper Schools and previously worked as a high school math teacher in Texas. Ms. Grey earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She earned her teaching certification in Texas.

Mrs. Harmon is originally from Germany where she met her husband while he was stationed there. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in European History and Master of Arts in History from the University of Mannheim. She then spent four more semesters studying Latin at the University of Heidelberg. Mrs. Harmon also has her certification to teach German as a foreign language. She has three children and a spoiled cat named Cougar. Mrs. Harmon enjoys traveling, has a passion for reading, and loves to work out and dance.

Mrs. Kizer holds a B.A. and M.A.T. from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Mrs. Kizer 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 University. She is also a member of Pi Lambda Theta and has been with the Academy since 2014.

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. Martin holds a bachelor’s degree from Guilford College and a master’s degree from The University of Southern Maine.  Amanda teaches Geometry, Advanced Algebra, and Calculus and works with the yearbook staff.  She has served the Academy since 2008 and has been an educator since 2000.

Mr. Miller recently graduated from N.C. State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with a minor in Psychology. While a student, he completed an internship as an assistant instructor at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences summer camps.  He also served as a math and physics tutor for three years and as an assistant teacher in the Neighbor to Neighbor outreach program. 

Mrs. Ovalle received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Foreign Language Education from the University of Antioquia in Colombia. She has teaching experience at the college and high school levels and worked for the Houston Astros Major League baseball organization, teaching English as a Second Language to several of their minor league players. Mrs. Ovalle has also been a presenter at several symposiums, conferences, and workshops. She has loved teaching and learning languages since she was a little girl. She sees languages as windows to look at the world from different perspectives and wants to transmit that passion and love to her students. Mrs. Ovalle loves travelling, reading, and cooking Colombian food like empanadas, arepas, and paisa dish.

Miriam Patullo teaches Middle and Upper School Spanish. She earned her K-12 Spanish teaching credential from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Ms. Patullo also earned a BA degree in Special Education (Deaf and Hard of Hearing adaptive curriculum) in Argentina.

Mrs. Rathbone arrived in Fayetteville in May 2018 and is thrilled to be facilitating the HLT SmartLab® at Fayetteville Academy for grades 6-12.  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, known by her students as D. Rev, holds a B.S. in Art Education (K-12) with a concentration in painting from Appalachian State University. She is the Fine Arts department chair and teaches all visual art classes for students in grades 8-12. She has been teaching since 1993 and has been at the Academy since 1999. Ms. Reavis sponsors the FA chapter of the National Art Honor Society, teaches after school enrichment classes, private lessons, and conducts camps for FA’s Summer Odyssey program. She is a member of the National Art Education Association, NC Art Education Association, and the SCBWI Carolinas Chapter (Society of Children’s Books Writers & Illustrators). Ms. Reavis is a practicing artist and her work can be found at Lisa’s Custom Framing in Fayetteville, N.C. She has shown her work locally at Ellington White Gallery and the Arts Council.

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

Mr. Southerland received his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University. He spent thirteen years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a pilot, a crew chief, and a squadron commander, among many other duties. After his time in the Air Force, he served briefly as a commercial pilot for ACJet Airlines. In 2000, Mr. Southerland decided to enter the field of education, and he has spent the last 21 years as a highly regarded math teacher, most recently in the Cumberland County School System.

Mr. Spell has worked at the Academy as a teacher and a coach and in the advancement office.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Religious Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in the History of Religion in America and World Religions from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mr. Spell has also taught previously at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Sampson Community College.  In his prior stints at F.A., he taught A.P. World History, Middle School Geography, Government, and the History of Sports in America.