Area: Upper School

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

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

Dr. Guidi earned his degrees from the University of North Florida (BM), Florida State University (MM), and the University of Texas at Austin (DMA). Prior to coming to Fayetteville Academy, he was the Fine Arts Department Chair, a College Counselor, and a Music Teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX. He also served as the Assistant Dean of Students at St. Andrew’s for seven years. Prior to and during his thirteen years at St. Andrew’s, he also taught a variety of college level courses at Southwestern University, The University of Texas, and Florida State University.

Dr. Guidi’s Favorite Things

Mr. Kirby graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree and a double major in Physics and Mathematics. While at U.S.C., he served as an astronomy lab instructor and held a part-time job as an observatory educator at the S.C. State Museum in Columbia. Mr. Kirby has also done extensive work as an undergraduate researcher in the area of astrophysics.  He comes from a family of educators, as both his mother and sister are also teachers.

Mr. Kirby’s Favorite Things

Dr. Michael Limberg received a bachelor’s degree from Gordon College and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder.  He recently completed a Ph.D. in History from University of Connecticut, where he also taught. 

Dr. Limberg’s Favorite Things

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

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.

Mrs. Martin’s Favorite Things

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.

Mrs. Ovalle’s Favorite Things

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. 

Mrs. Rathbone’s Favorite Things

Mrs. Sappington holds a bachelor’s degree from Greensboro College and is EMT-B Certified. She has served the Academy for since 2005 and has been an educator since 2001.

Mrs. Sappington’s Favorite Things

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. Southerland’s Favorite Things

Ms. Terry has bachelor’s degrees in both Marine Science and Meteorology as well as a master’s degree in Meteorology from N.C. 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. 

Ms. Terry’s Favorite Things

Mrs. Tyminski earned her bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies from Wellesley College.  While a student there, she spent time studying abroad at the University of St. Andrews and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. She also earned a master’s degree in American History from Pace University. She is currently a certified teacher in North Carolina, Virginia, and Kansas.  Mrs. Tyminski taught for three years at Jack Britt High School where she helped create the current A.P. U.S. History syllabus for the Cumberland County School System. She has served as a reader (grader) and table leader for the A.P. U.S. History Exam. She was also selected for and attended a Gilder Lehrman Summer Teacher Seminar 2017 on Daily Life in Colonial America at Yale University.

Mrs. Tyminski’s Favorite Things

Mr. Walcott teaches the P.E. elective in strength and conditioning. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in criminal justice, both from Colorado Technical University. Mr. Walcott has had a seventeen-year military career with the first two of those years in the U.S. Navy and the rest in the U.S. Army. He is currently a Chief Warrant Officer 2, serving with U.S. Army FORSCOM at Ft. Bragg. As part of his duties, Mr. Walcott has served as a Master Fitness Trainer Level 1 and a Combatives Level 2 trainer in the Army. Mr. Walcott has also experienced success as a basketball coach both at the AAU level and in the military, having coached the Fort Bliss Knights and the Fort Jackson Ruff Ryders.

Mr. Washburn holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in Linguistics from Cornell University. Prior to the Academy, he taught at Cornell University and SUNY Cortland in New York.  His interests include theoretical syntax, fantasy and horror literature and philosophy. He currently teaches 11th and 12th grade English, and has occasionally taught linguistics and philosophy. Mr. Washburn has served the Academy since 2010 and as the English Department chair since 2016. He has been an educator since 2002.

Mr. Washburn’s Favorite Things

After graduating from Fayetteville Academy, Mrs. Wermel went on to study at Wake Forest University and N.C. State University.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from N.C. State University.  She has previously completed AP summer institute training for both biology and chemistry, and she has taught all levels of those two subjects over her time at Jack Britt High School, Hill Country Christian (Austin, TX), and Cape Fear High School.

Mrs. Wermel’s Favorite Things

Ms. Williams earned her BFA in Art History and Studio Art from Wofford College. Prior to coming to Fayetteville Academy, she served as an Assistant Teacher at Meeting Street Academy and as an Education Intern at Mary H. Wright Elementary School. She has also worked as an Art Studio Intern and as a Museum Attendant and has had her own artwork featured in several shows and exhibitions.

Ms. Williams’s Favorite Things