Middle School Counselor

Emily Allen is the middle school counselor at Meeting Street Elementary @ Burns this year. She has previously been a school counselor in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. Emily worked primarily with 7th graders, supporting, and implementing social, emotional, behavioral, and academic goals. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with her Masters in Counseling. She also is working towards her certification in Play Therapy and Child Parent Relationship Training. Before she was a counselor, Emily studied at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville while she competed on the Varsity swim team for three years. When she is not in school, Emily enjoys being outside with a good book. She also enjoys gardening and cheering on any sports she can, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. 

PE Teacher

Coach Bellanco is the Physical Education teacher for Meeting Street @Burns. He moved to Charleston from Scranton, Pennsylvania in August 2018. He is beginning his seventh year teaching and has experience teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. When not teaching, Coach B is extremely passionate about health and fitness, especially bodybuilding. He is also an avid sports fan, whose favorite teams include the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Hurricanes, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Exceptional Children's Teacher

Carly Brewington is beginning her second year as a Special Educator after graduating in May 2021 from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) with a B.S. in Special Education. While at ETSU, Carly was also a 4 year student athlete (triathlon) and during her senior year served as a student teacher at a University School on campus. She started her professional teaching career at North Charleston High School and since joining their staff, fell in love with the Charleston community. While Carly’s experiences at North Charleston High School have been fulfilling, she is very excited to be joining Meeting Street Elementary Burns next year, since the opportunity to follow her initial calling and work with younger children was too good to pass up. Carly was raised in south Florida and in her spare time she enjoys traveling there and other places, spending quality time with friends at the beach, cooking and running. 

Exceptional Children's Teacher

Mrs. Buchanan is beginning her first year at Meeting Street @Burns as a Special Education Teacher. She was born and raised around the Greenville, South Carolina area and attended the College of Charleston where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, with a focus on Learning and Emotional Disabilities. After graduation, she moved to Denver, Colorado with her husband while he completed his medical residency in Internal Medicine. They are excited to return to the Charleston area while he completes his fellowship in Cardiology at MUSC. Mrs. Buchanan has worked the last two years as the Special Education Coordinator for a private school. She is passionate about advocating for her students and helping them find their strengths. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Special Education at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!!). Outside of teaching, Mrs. Buchanan enjoys spending time with her husband Cole and dog Bella, reading and collecting books, going to concerts, and watching football.

5th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Burnsworth moved to Charleston from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2014 to pursue her career in education. She has 7 years’ experience teaching and most of those years were spent in underserved communities. She has always wanted to be a teacher and has been drawn to serve the communities that need it the most. Being from the Philadelphia area, her interest in underserved communities came from her student teaching experience and her volunteer experience in the Philadelphia Area School District. She graduated with bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in educational technology. Outside of school Mrs. Burnsworth is a mom to two children, Londyn and Carter. She is a season ticket holder for the South Carolina Stingrays and is a huge hockey fan. She loves to cook and spend time with family.

Fifth Grade Teacher

Ms. Cardenas moved to Charleston from Brooklyn, New York. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and spent the past 8 years as a teacher in charter school and public school settings. She attended Brooklyn College for both undergraduate and graduate school, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Master’s Degree in Education. She also completed a graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders. All of her teaching experience is in under-served communities. She is passionate about working with children to help them achieve their full potential. Outside of her career, Ms. Cardenas enjoys road trips with her husband Tom and her dog Sparky. She loves Puerto Rican food and music, and tries to visit her family in Puerto Rico at least once each year. She loves to cook and can always be found listening to a podcast or audiobook. 

Academic Interventionist

Marguerite (Meg) Case is joining the Meeting Street @ Burns staff as an interventionist. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Southern Wesleyan University with a Master of Education in Leadership. She is originally from Connecticut but has lived between South Carolina and Georgia for many years. Ms. Case has spent most of that time in Charleston and has spent her entire 20 year teaching career working in under-served communities and Title I Schools. She has taught second grade through fifth grade and became a literacy interventionist 13 years ago. Literacy has become her passion and created opportunities for her to build an extensive background in reading intervention. She is trained in multiple forms of literacy intervention, participated in after-school tutoring, and held the position of lead interventionist in a previous location. She has also passed on her knowledge to other educators through leading professional developments. It also gives Ms. Case great joy to pass on her love of reading to her students. She did a book drive during the pandemic and was able to provide six Title I schools in Charleston County with a book for each student. Meg loves to travel, spend time with her family and dogs, go to the beach and read. 

3rd Grade Teacher

Ms. Cameron is beginning her second year as a third grade teacher at Meeting Street @ Burns. She was born and raised in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Communicative Arts. After graduation Ms. Cameron began her teaching career in North Carolina where she taught for twenty years. She has been a Team Leader, Mentor Teacher, Cooperating Teacher, Math Teacher Leader, and was a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Early Childhood. In her spare time Ms. Cameron enjoys traveling, cooking, pilates, playing tennis and spending time with family, friends and her two longhaired dachshunds; Gus and Tucker.

Exceptional Children Teacher

Ms. Chitty is beginning her first year as an Exceptional Children's teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia but quickly fell in love with Charleston when she moved to attend College of Charleston. She followed her passion for education and studied special education while at CofC. She went on to teach for two years at Goose Creek High School and loved her time spent building relationships with students and families. While teaching, she realized the reality of the achievement gap. She decided to go back to school and is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Ms. Chitty is thrilled to be returning to her favorite city and most of all, to the classroom. She cannot wait to join the MSE@Burns team! In her free time, she enjoys traveling, attempting to cook, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog Bella.

PE Teacher

Mr. Ellison is originally from Sharon, Pennsylvania. He obtained his BS in Kinesiology from Penn State. Then he decided he wanted to teach. He then went to graduate school for health and physical education. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family and friends, surfing, and staying active.

Emma Ellsworth is a member of Teach for America and is in her first year of teaching at Meeting Street Elementary. She is from Johnstown, PA and went to the University of Virginia for undergrad, where she studied politics and history. Her interest in political theory, passion for serving others, and experience with education in Appalachia growing up inspired her to join the TFA corps. She has a passion for the outdoors and national parks, and she worked at a summer camp and for the National Park Service during college. She hopes to volunteer at Fort Sumter in her free time and become a seasonal at the NPS in the future. Emma likes to cook, read, go on walks, do creative projects, and hang out with her dachshund puppy in her free time. 

First Grade Teacher

First Grade Teaching Fellow

Ms. Ferreira is beginning her first year as a first-grade teaching fellow here at Meeting Street @Burns and she is excited to embark on this new adventure. She was raised in Darien, Connecticut and then graduated from the University of Lynchburg, in Lynchburg, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education while playing varsity level lacrosse. She discovered her passion for teaching and working with children at the summer camp she used to attend. She is so thrilled to bring that passion into the classroom. Outside the classroom, Ms. Ferreira likes to go to the beach, try new coffee spots, and relax with friends.

First Grade Teacher

Mrs. Francis is beginning her 6th year teaching and her first year at Meeting Street @Burns! She grew up outside of Birmingham, Alabama and attended Mississippi State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. After graduating, Mrs. Francis got married and moved with her husband to Los Angeles. She spent 4 years working as a first-grade teacher while also earning her Master’s Degree in Reading from Grand Canyon University. After spending this last school year teaching first grade in Colorado, Mrs. Francis, her husband Tyler, and their aussiedoodle Roary are excited to be in Charleston, a place that has always felt like home. In her free time, she enjoys going on road trips, grabbing coffee, and watching The Office at home with her family. 

Director of Curriculum of Instruction

Bronwen Gammons is beginning her first year with Meeting Street as the Director of Curriculum of Instruction. Previously, she was an assistant principal at River Oaks Middle School; and before at Ashley Ridge High School—with a total of 11 years as an administrator in Dorchester School District 2. Bronwen started her educational career in Virginia Beach, teaching Spanish at Bayside Middle School; transitioning to the position of AVID Coordinator, with a total of 10 years teaching in the area. Originally from Charleston, Bronwen graduated from high school in Greenville, South Carolina; then moved back home to attend THE College of Charleston. She received her Master’s of Education from Cambridge College. Outside of school, Bronwen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, exercising, and going to the beach. 

PreK Teacher

Ms. Giles received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. While attending USC, she was a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. Through this program she was able to attend several professional developments, including attending Ron Clark Academy in Georgia. She brings innovative hands-on activities into the classroom and focuses on confidence building in each student. She believes in setting a high standard of academic excellence and achievement. Outside of school, Ms. Giles enjoys traveling, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends and family.

5th Grade Teacher

Ms. Groves is beginning her second year here at Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She moved to Charleston from Delaware. She attended the University of Delaware where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Her most valuable experience was 3rd grade and her fondest memory was teaching a Social Justice curriculum called Need and Indeed, where her students got to choose a community problem, hear from a community member with first-hand knowledge about the issues and impact, and do a series of hands-on activities to dive deeper into the problem. This is how she hopes to build on her teaching philosophy of applying real world situations to her daily lessons. She is a second year corps member with an organization she’s passionate about called Teach for America. Ms. Groves loves the beach, traveling (most recently her first time out of the country as an au pair for a family in Italy!), going to concerts/festivals, and trying new workout classes.She is so excited to be part of this community.

Exceptional Children's Teacher

Ms.Harrison is beginning her first year as a special education teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She is moving to Charleston from Chicago, Illinois where she graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Chinese Language and Culture. Her passion for education began when she was a member of her high school’s unified club where she mentored and read books to special education classes in her community. She was also a Special Olympics flag football and bowling partner and coached special hockey, soccer, and track. Since then, Ms. Harrison has worked as an elementary teacher assistant in her hometown in Minnesota, tutored refugees in Chicago, homeschooled in Ireland, and worked in outdoor education for Voyageur Outward Bound School. Ms. Harrison loves to travel, spend time outside, run, and be with her family and friends!

Behavior Interventionist

Ms.Hartsough is a Behavior Interventionist here at Meeting Street @Burns. She moved to Charleston in 2021 from Cincinnati, where she was a special education behavior teacher for 4 years before working as a high school behavior interventionist. Ms. Hartsough loves working with students to help them unlock their potential and break down the barriers we sometimes face with learning. She is currently working on her Masters of Emotional Behavioral Disturbances while also picking up hobbies like fishing and surfing! 

Behavior Interventionist

Ms. Harvey is a Behavioral Interventionist at Meeting Street Elementary at Burns. She was born and raised in Iowa and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Political Science at Luther College. She then moved to California to be closer to her now husband of almost 5 years. She was called to work as an Assistant Family Teacher with Boys Town California. Ms. Harvey worked in a group home of 6 teenage boys on teaching social skills and building healthy relationships in order to help each child succeed in life. She found her passion in getting to know each one of the kids and celebrating each victory and success, no matter how big or small. She moved to the Charleston area late 2019 due to her husband’s relocation and is loving every bit of it. Ms. Harvey loves to read fantasy and horror novels in her spare time.

4th Grade Teacher

Ms. Hughes is a native of Savannah, GA, and moved to Birmingham, AL to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations and History from Samford University. She began her teaching career in New Orleans, LA as a 2018 Corps Member with Teach for America. She has a passion for going beyond traditional expectations to support the academic and personal growth of her students. In her free time, Ms. Hughes loves to hang out at the beach, travel, watch movies, and see her favorite New Orleans jazz bands. Although she is sad to leave the "Big Easy", Joey is excited to begin her third year of teaching by serving the amazing kids of Charleston, SC.

Kinder Teacher

Ms. Jenkins is a graduate of Trident Technical College. Born and raised in Charleston, SC she worked with Charleston County School District for 3 years in the Kaleidoscope program where she tutored students, helped children set career goals, and provided a safe, supervised, and structured program for youth. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Jenkins enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with her family.

Exceptional Children's Teacher

Mr. Jimenez is a new Special Education teacher at Burns starting in January of 2023. He moved to Charleston during the summer of 2021 from NYC, but he has worked in both the public and private sector of special education since 2009. He attended college at Connecticut College and studied Psychology and Government pursuing an FBI career. However, that changed when he attended Americorps National Civilian Community Corps out west and found a calling supporting marginalized communities. He then moved to Boston as a counselor at a residential community for female adolescents who were struggling with mental health and traumatic experiences. Soon after, Raul moved back to NYC to pursue his Master’s Degree in Special Education and worked in the Bronx in a high needs specialized high school for individuals with disabilities. Ensuingly, he transitioned to the private sector and worked with college bound students with disabilities at a 1:1 capacity as well as in a classroom setting. Finally, upon moving to the Lowcountry, he launched a small business providing transition services for young adults with Autism as well as providing virtual college coaching for students with disabilities at Landmark College in Vermont.Outside of career commitments, his hobbies include fitness, being a foodie, working at a brewery on the weekends and being an avid fan of his home state teams: NY Mets, Rangers and Giants.

5th Grade Teacher

Mr. Keane is beginning his first year here at Meeting Street Elementary as a 5th grade English Language Arts teacher. Mr. Keane graduated from Francis Marion University in 2015 where he studied political science and was a member of the baseball team. During his senior year at FMU, he began tutoring at a local Boys and Girls Club, which sparked his love for teaching. After graduation he joined Teach for America and spent three years teaching 7th grade ELA and coaching baseball and basketball at Southside Middle School in Florence, SC. Mr. Keane spent the last three years in Chicago, IL, where he served as the 6th grade reading teacher, grade level chair, and baseball coach at Gary Comer College Prep Middle School. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, fishing, cheering on his Hornets and Panthers, playing basketball, and of course... reading!

3rd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Keesecker is a 3rd grade teacher here at Meeting Street @Burns. She attended the College of Charleston where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Keesecker served in the United States Army for four years. Outside of the classroom, she loves spending time with her husband and son.

Fifth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Keim is starting her first year as a fifth grade ELA teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She grew up in the upstate of South Carolina and eventually attended the University of South Carolina for her Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts. Maggie went on to pursue film—she earned her MFA in screenwriting from the University of Texas at Austin and moved to Los Angeles to be close to the movie industry. Throughout her creative pursuits, Maggie always volunteered as a tutor, instructor, and mentor for various non-profit after school programs serving k-12 students in underserved neighborhoods. After moving back to the southeast to be closer to family and her now husband, Maggie began to formally pursue her life-long passion for education, earning her Masters in Education from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN while working as a first grade teacher assistant. She is overjoyed to be even closer to her SC family by moving to Charleston and joining the Meeting Street Team. She enjoys watching movies and binging Survivor with her husband, playing with her Irish setter, Ruby, reading whenever she gets a chance, painting, and (always) writing scripts.

PreK Teacher

Ms. King is starting her first year teaching at Meeting Street Elementary @ Burns. She was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended a historically black university, North Carolina Central University and obtained her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She is a first generation college graduate and graduated Magna Cum Laude from NCCU. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as an active substitute in Title 1 schools with Durham County Public School System. During her senior year, she was chosen to attend NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project. She spent a week at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, training and learning how to incorporate kid friendly STEM projects in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Ms. King enjoys reading, trying new recipes, listening to music, time at the beach and watching reruns of old Saturday morning cartoons. She looks forward to working with students, parents, teachers, and the community to fulfill the need of her students on their academic journeys.

IT Manager

Mr. Kuzmenko is our campus IT Manager. He is the proud dad of two little ones and happily married to his childhood sweetheart. He was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine and migrated to Massachusetts in 2001 with his parents and nine siblings. He has fond memories of overcoming the language barrier and adjusting to the new culture. He played men’s varsity volleyball and soccer in high school and won the volleyball state title in 2010. He graduated high school with both a Diploma and the Information Support Services & Networking Certificate. Mr. Kuzmenko worked for an IT consulting company until he decided to move to Charleston South Carolina in 2015. Shortly after he became a Field Engineer primarily working on repairing copiers and configuring networking settings to make sure the end user had no problems printing, scanning, coping and faxing. Acquiring this knowledge, he became an expert troubleshooter and installer and was given the task of coordinating installs between customers and vendors and the end users to make sure the transition to the new devices were seamless. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, BBQing, playing sports and spending quality time with his family and friends.

Art Teacher

Ms. Lamb teaching career started with Teach for America in a quest to make our education system more equitable across our country. Unlike most races run, this one has only given her more fire and energy as she runs it! She comes to Charleston with 3 years of teaching experience from the banks of the Mississippi river in Arkansas. She has spent time teaching 5th grade general education and kindergarten through fifth grade art. She served as a grade level chair and the head of after school programming in the past and is excited to bring her experiences to Meeting Street Schools' students. Ms. Lamb graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina with a double major in Public Relations and Spanish with a minor in Health Communications. She played Division I lacrosse for 4 years and loves to be active and share her love for the game with others! When not teaching and learning in the classroom, she loves to be outside, to be creating (literally anything-send her some ideas!), and to be with her dog, Levi.

Performing Arts Teacher

Ms. Laribo is so eager and excited to fill her new role as Performing Arts Teacher for Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She is a Charleston native who has returned home. In May of 2020 she graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. There she created a Holistic Wellness track within her program. Despite her career track changes during her undergraduate years, theater has been and will always be her first love (which is clearly exemplified by her full freshman year as a Musical Theatre BFA student). Ms. Laribo has gained experience teaching at The Chalkboard Preschool in Hanahan, South Carolina. She also has worked as a dance and theatre teacher for the Studio Kidz summer camp at Pinewood Prep. She is enthusiastic to begin her new journey with MSE. In her free time, she enjoys singing showtunes (at the top of her lungs), trying new restaurants, dancing like no one is watching and listening to comedy podcasts.

Part-Time Receptionist

Ms. Lease is beginning her role as part-time receptionist at Meeting Street @Burns. She returned to the work force after almost 2 years retiring as a Registered Nurse. She sought and accepted the MSS position because she wanted to give back to her community. She was born and raised in Dorchester Terrace and is a supporter of the mission of Meeting Street Schools. She believes each and every child can succeed if he or she feels loved, encouraged and worthy. Ms. Lease loves to cook new dishes that she makes up, go to the gym, garden, attend live music performances and play with her puppy, Bodhi, and her kitties, Betty and Veronica.

PE Teacher

Mr. Leigh is a physical education teacher in my 8th year of teaching. I have taught seven years as a physical education teacher and one year as a permanent building substitute. I have taught all ages and grades from 3k-12 and I have also taught adults when I was a swim instructor. I attended Central Connecticut State University from 2009-2014. I graduated with a bachelors in physical education and minored in psychology. During college I played and fell in love with the sport of rugby. After I graduated college I moved back to New York where I am from. I lived there for a year and then I moved to South Carolina in 2016. I moved to the Aiken area for my first teaching job at Allendale -Fairfax Elementary. I taught there for 3 years. I then switched schools and went to C.E. Murray Middle/High. I taught there for 3 years as well. Both of these schools really helped shape my teaching styles and has helped me stay young and goofy and make learning fun and enjoyable. I enjoy play all sports my favorite sports are hockey, rugby, working-out and golf. My favorite sports teams are the New Jersey Devils, New York Yankees, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.

Director of Student Experience

Ms. Lesky-Aull is the Director of Student Experience at Meeting Street @ Burns. She is a Charleston native and played volleyball at Wando High School and then went on to play in college. She graduated from Columbia College with an Elementary Education degree and pursued her masters degree from Northeastern University. During her 10 years of teaching she gained experience from multiple states including South Carolina, Connecticut & North Carolina. While in Connecticut Ms. Lesky-Aull was apart of the 2014-2015 third grade team that had the highest math scores in the state and was recognized by her Superintendent. While working as a third grade teacher in Raleigh, NC, she also served as the leader of the Tier Behavior Team to support teachers and students throughout the building. She is so excited to be moving back to Charleston and closer to her family! She loves spending time on the boat with her family and loves to take her 4 year old son shark fishing. In her free time she loves to go fishing offshore, hunting, running, and anything competitive.

Second Grade Teacher

Jennifer Martin is beginning her third year of teaching, and her first year at Meeting Street @Burns. She moved to Mount Pleasant from Massachusetts in July of 2014. After spending many years as a behavior therapist, Jennifer went back to school to finish her degree and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Jennifer is a graduate of the College of Charleston where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. In her free time she enjoys trail walks with her dog Willow, running, cooking for her family, or losing track of time reading a book. 

Director of Operations

Mr. McKeown was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina but moved to Athens, West Virginia to attend Concord University to pursue his undergraduate work in Elementary Education. He began his teaching career with Mercer County as a Title 1 Instructional and Reading Teacher. After two years, he moved back home to South Carolina to be closer to the coast in Beaufort. Mr. McKeown taught First grade and Kindergarten in Beaufort County for four years at Joseph Shanklin Elementary. During this time, he completed his Master of Education in Educational Administration, served on district and school committees, wrote district-wide curriculum, mentored new teachers, and evaluated teacher performance. In 2018, he started as Director of Development and Marketing for the Neighborhood Outreach Connection, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty. Mr. McKeown loves to relax, search for shark’s teeth, read books that take him to a different world, and sing and dance to music.

Kinder Teacher

Ms. Michaeli is a kindergarten teacher here at Meeting Street at Burns. This will be her 3rd year teaching kindergarten. Ms. Michaeli is from Fort Mill, South Carolina and moved to Charleston for college. Ms. Michaeli graduated from Charleston Southern University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. While in college, Ms. Michaeli was also part of the CERRA teaching fellow program. Through this, she was able to learn and grow her passion for education and building community in a classroom. When Ms. Michaeli is not at school, you can find her working out, cooking, going to the beach, or traveling all around! 

5th Grade Teacher

Ms. Morris is beginning her third year as a fifth grade teacher at Meeting Street @ Burns. She grew up in Virginia, but moved to Tennessee for four years to attend East Tennessee State University where she studied Human Services and Early Childhood Education. During the time she spent completing this degree, Ms. Morris realized she had a passion for teaching students how to advocate for themselves and be a part of the reason that the achievement gap is closed. After college, Ms. Morris attended the College of Charleston to obtain her Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education. Outside of teaching, Ms. Morris enjoys spending time with family, going out on the boat, attending workout classes, and crafting! Ms. Morris can't wait to begin another amazing school year here at Burns! 

Special Edcation Teacher & Department Chair

Ms. Nye previously taught at Meeting Street Elementary @ Brentwood. Before joining the Meeting Street Schools team she taught with CCSD for four years as a Special Education Teacher at Thomas C. Cario Middle School. Prior to that she spent one year teaching in Hardeeville, South Carolina and a year teaching special education with a school in Parma, Ohio. She is passionate about special education. Ms. Nye is from Cleveland, Ohio and has a bachelor's degree in special education from Miami University of Ohio. While in college she focused on both mild to moderate and moderate to severe special education with a focus on family studies. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs, Caitlyn, Lucy and Sullivan. She also uses her free time to enjoy the beaches, crafting and cooking.

Operations Manager - Business & Logistics

Zoë Paschke is the Operations Manager- Business & Logistics here at Meeting Street Elementary @Burns. She moved to Charleston from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and Labradoodle, Winston, in August 2021 and is so thrilled to be near the beach and away from the snow! This is Mrs. Paschke's second year working for Meeting Street, and her second year working in an elementary school. Previously, Mrs. Paschke worked in the Child Life department at a children's hospital where she helped patients in the ICU develop strong coping skills and used play to normalize the hospital environment. She obtained her B.S in Child Development and Family Studies as well as a minor in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and completed Nonprofit Management courses at the University of Pittsburgh. Through these classes, Mrs. Paschke developed a passion for the business and event planning side of nonprofits and is excited to have the opportunity to blend those two together as a member of the Ops Team at Burns! When she's not at school, she loves to bake, read, learn new hobbies (she's recently taken up golfing!), and explore the city.

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Patel was born in Winona, Mississippi and raised in a small town called Covington, Tennessee. She also speaks three different languages including English, Hindi and Gujarati. She brings joy, laughter and a deep passion to help her students. She has spent her last few years educating students in Memphis, Tennessee. She taught at Memphis College Preparatory Elementary, preparing kindergartners for first grade. She uses her creative thinking skills to design interactive challenging assignments that are fun and engaging for all students in her class. She also uses her unique background to connect with a diverse range of students so that they all feel included and understood. Ms. Patel earned her Master's of Arts in Teaching at Relay Graduate School of Education in Memphis and her Bachelors of Science in Education at the University of Memphis. Outside of teaching she enjoys travelling, running, swimming and spending time with her family.  

School Nurse

Debbie Perdue is the new School Nurse at Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She moved to Charleston in 2021 from Florence, SC. Although, new to school nursing, she has been a nurse for 29 years. Most of her early years in nursing were spent in ICU settings. The past 15 years, she has worked in employee heath, infection control, immunizations and pre/post surgical care of infants, children and adults. Nurse Debbie is so excited for the opportunity to care for the students and to be a part of The Meeting Street @Burns family. Her true joy is her 2 grandchildren but she also enjoys boating with her family, shopping, interior decorating and exploring Charleston. 

2nd Grade Teaching Fellow

Ms. Piernik is beginning her first year at Meeting Street Elementary at Burns working as a second grade teacher fellow. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She is passionate and excited to teach second grade this year and she hopes that each of her students develop confidence, empathy, and growth during the school year. She strives to help all of her students succeed and reach their goals as learners. In her free time, Ms. Piernik enjoys the beach, traveling, cooking, and hanging out with family and friends.

4th Grade Teaching Fellow

Ms. Pryor is beginning her first year at Meeting Street @Burns as a 4th Grade teaching fellow. She is originally from DC but has called New England home for most of her life! Caroline graduated with a degree in history from Yale University, where, in her free time, she mentored for Girl Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club. She is a first year corps member of Teach for America and is so excited to get to know the Dorchestery- Waylyn community! Her favorites include reading, exploring new recipes, learning new songs, and hiking with her dog.

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Ravenell was born and raised in South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. After graduation, she remained in Columbia, where she worked as a social worker with the Department of Social Services. Her passion to serve her community dates back growing up in a rural part of South Carolina and having the opportunity to have teachers and other individuals make a profound impact in her life in Kindergarten and throughout Junior-High school. This makes her feel inclined to pay it forward in all areas of her life. In her spare time, Ms. Ravenell enjoys going to church, traveling, cooking, shopping, spending time with family and friends,cheering on her beloved Gamecocks, and listening to her favorite artist, Jay-Z.

4th Grade Teaching Fellow

Ms. Reece is beginning her first year of teaching at Meeting Street Elementary at Burns. She is starting her journey this year with forth grade students and she couldn't be more excited! She grew up in South Carolina and attended the College of Charleston. She received a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Political Science. While finishing up her degree at the College of Charleston she applied with Teach for America. She is beginning her two year commitment With Teach for America this year. While in college, Ms. Reece facilitated multiple First-Year Experience courses, where she helped freshman students become more acclimated to their time in college and provided them with the resources they needed to become a successful college student. Through her role as a Peer Facilitator and studying the educational system from a political science background, she found her passion for teaching and transforming the education system. In her free time Ms. Reece loves reading, walking around downtown Charleston, attending local concerts and spending time with her family and friends.

1st Grade Teacher

Mrs. Reifeis is a first grade teacher at Meeting Street Elementary @Burns. She moved from Chicago, Illinois to Charleston three years ago and cannot imagine ever moving back to colder weather. She attended the University of Iowa and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Reading and Language Arts and a Master’s Degree in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency. Before settling into first grade, she was a preschool and substitute teacher for grades K-8. In the classroom, Mrs. Reifeis is passionate about finding ways to help all of her students succeed and meeting them exactly where they are at. Outside of teaching, she loves to read, play with her dog, Kona, try out new recipes, and travel with her husband!

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Reyes is a first grade teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia but was raised here in Charleston, SC! She attended The College of Charleston and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is thrilled to begin her fourth year with Meeting Street! She is passionate about teaching the children of the Dorchester-Waylyn neighborhood. She strives to provide a fun and safe learning environment for them each and every day. Previously, Ms. Reyes lived in Madrid, Spain, where she taught sixth grade in a bilingual school for two years. Outside of teaching, she loves to read, travel, and hang out with her friends/family. 

Director of Culture & Multi-tiered Systems Support

Ms. Riddle was born and raised in the Lowcountry on Wadmalaw Island! She believes that every child is unique and she hopes to help each child rise to reach their full potential. She has been working in the educational field for 18 years. She taught 9 years in first grade, where she loved creating a unique learning environment. She taught 1st-2nd grade reading intervention for 3 years as a Master Reading teacher. Ms. Riddle has been a part of Meeting Streets for 4 years working as the Director of Student Support services. She received her Associates in Art degree from Spartanburg Methodist College, a Bachelor in Science degree from Charleston Southern University, a Masters degree in Curriculum, Reading and Assessment from Lesley University and her adjunct certification in Reading Recovery from Clemson University. Outside of school, she loves spending time with family, baking,puzzling, reading and shopping!

Kinder Teaching Fellow

Ms. Rider is beginning her first year as a PreK Teaching Fellow here at Meeting Street Elementary at Burns. She attended The College of Charleston, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. While attending The College of Charleston she was a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. Ms. Rider was born and raised in Mount Pleasant. Outside of the classroom, she spends her time going to the beach, practicing yoga, or playing with her puppy, Rosie. Ms. Rider looks forward to bringing hands-on, project based learning to her classroom.

Second Grade Teaching Fellow

Ms. Ritter is beginning her first year as a second grade teaching fellow at Meeting Street @Burns. She was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She just graduated from Clemson University this past May where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. Her passion to become an educator started back in high school where she completed a senior thesis on the public education system for Title I schools in Charleston County. Her findings led her to want to help change the system. During her college career she learned about so many more issues in the education system that drove her to be more eager to be in the classroom. In her spare time, Ms. Ritter loves to travel, explore new restaurants, spend time with family and friends, and play with her dog Sawyer. 

Middle School Math Teacher

Ms. Savini is beginning her first year with Meeting Street Schools. She was born in Rhode Island, and moved to South Carolina during high school. She earned a BS in Elem. Education from College of Charleston and earned her M.Ed in Administration from The Citadel. In 1997, Ms. Savini began her teaching career in Dorchester Four where her love for middle schoolers began. After a few years, she moved to Berkeley Middle to be closer to home. For several years, Ms. Savini taught Math and partnered with CERRA to teach ProTeam. Over the years, Ms. Savini worked in a variety of leadership roles including Title 1/Curriculum Facilitator, Teacher Evaluator, Assistant Principal (in CCSD @ Northwoods), and most recently she served as the Instructional Coach at Berkeley Middle School. It was while working at Northwoods Middle that Ms. Savini began to realize her passion for working with students from underserved communities. Outside of school, Ms. Savini is mom to Caroline (21), a Clemson senior and Lauryn (16) a junior at Stratford. In her spare time. she enjoys cooking, reading, exercise, spending time with her family and friends and traveling “home” to visit. Her favorite place to relax is at the beach. 

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Schock is beginning her second year as a kindergarten teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She graduated from The University of South Carolina in 2015, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business. While volunteering in her community, she discovered a love for teaching and went back to graduate school to obtain her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University. In May 2022, she completed her Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in English as a Second Language from The University of Virginia. In her free time, Ms. Schock loves spending time with family and friends, reading, and going to the beach.

Special Education Teacher

Ms. Scott is a Special Education teacher here at Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She just recently relocated to Charleston from Winston-Salem, NC to be closer to her paternal family while advancing her career in education. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University in Psychology and subsequently began working with students with special needs as a Teacher's Assistant. This inspired her to pursue an advanced degree in Education and obtain a Master's degree of Education from Strayer University. She is a passionate educator who has worked with learners from all backgrounds on every end of the spectrum. Ms. Scott's favorite past times include spending time with family, learning, traveling, watching Jeopardy, and engaging in physical activity- including officiating basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

4th Grade Teacher

Ms. Sharpe-Thomas is a 4th Grade Math teacher here at Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She is from Atlanta, GA and move to South Caroline in August of 2011 to attend South Carolina State University. This is where she received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and was ready to begin here dream as an Elementary Teacher. The 2021- 2022 school year will begin her fourth year as a teacher, as well as her fourth year teaching Elementary Mathematics. Her goal is to see all students flourish academically and socially through problem solving and mathematical practices that can be applied to everyday life. Ms. Sharpe-Thomas enjoys listening to music, binge watching the latest shows and cooking weekly meals to build her chef skills in the kitchen.

Exceptional Children's Teacher

Ms. Shinn is an Exceptional Children's teacher at Meeting Street @Burns. She moved to Charleston from New York with her husband, 2 boys and their cat and dog, in December 2021. She's very excited to say goodbye to snowstorms! This is her second year working for Meeting Street, and her eighth year working in an elementary school. Previously, Ms. Shinn worked in elementary Charter Schools's across New York City from Brooklyn to the Bronx. She obtained her B.S in Special Education Emotional and Behavior Disorders as well as a Minor in Early Childhood Education in 2011 from the University of Kentucky. In 2015 she completed her Master's degree in Diversity and Equity Issues in Education from the University of Illinois. She is very excited to start her first full school year as a team member at Burns! When she's not at school, she loves going on adventures with her 2 boys, catching a movie with her husband, walking her dog, or going for a run or reading a book! She loves trying all the new food Charleston offers!

Middle School Counselor

Ms. Smith is the Middle School Counselor here at Meeting Street at Burns. Ms. Smith is from Augusta, Georgia. She attended the University of South Carolina-Aiken where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. After graduation, she took a break from school and took a position as Behavioral Specialist and later became the Lead Behavioral Specialist  at a therapeutic child care center where she worked with children with behavioral health diagnosis. Ms. Smith went back to school where she received a Master’s Degree in Professional School Counseling in 2018 and received her credentials as National Certified Counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, eating at restaurants and spending time with family and friends.

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Snowden moved to Charleston, South Carolina from Orlando, Florida where she was formerly a Walt Disney World cast member. Originally from Chesapeake, VA, she attended Brenau University in Gainesville, GA where she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theater and was in numerous productions. At Disney Ms. Snowden was a part of the professional internship program and lead teams in Animal Kingdom, at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, and in All Star Music Resort. In her spare time she likes to craft, follow Pinterest recipes, go to any and all professional athletic events, plan last minute weekend trips, and online shop. Ms. Snowden has always been passionate about two things: Musical Theater and children.

PreK Teacher

Amy Thomas taught first grade and preschool for 13 years. She was also the Director of Children’s Ministries at her church. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with an elementary education degree. She enjoys spending time with my fiancé Blake, and her children Marlow and Reid. She also loves to exercise, run, and read books in her free time!

Data & Analytics Manager

Mr. Thompson is beginning his Meeting Street career this year as the Data and Analytics Manager. He is a local South Carolinian and even attended Burns and Brentwood for both Elementary and Middle School. After Graduating from Canebay High School he immediately entered the workforce jumping straight into the field of IT. He studied and passed several certification tests that qualified him as a Network and Computer engineer. He started with ITS as an intern when he was 17 and worked there until he turned 26 servicing the Low country’s IT needs for around 9 years. Through the world of IT Mr. Thompson worked at several schools one of which was MSEB. He worked there from the summer of 2020 to the start of the New Year as a contractor and now is an official employee! During his time at Meeting Street he helped facilitate IT centric projects and handled the day to day tasks that ensure the technology needs are met for all teachers staff and students. In his spare time Mr. Thompson likes to play video/board games, go to the gym, spend time with his beautiful daughter, and listen to thought provoking podcasts.

Speech Language Pathologist 

Ms. Thompson was born and raised in Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders. After graduation, she continued her education at the University of Central Arkansas where she received her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. After receiving her masters, Ms. Thompson became a speech therapist for an elementary school in Little Rock, Arkansas. In order to spread her wings and further grow, she decided to move away from Arkansas and chose the beautiful, historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family/friends, taking long walks with her goldendoodle, or reading a good book.

PreK-2nd Grade Counselor

Chelsea Tolbert is the PreK - 2nd-grade counselor here at Meeting Street Elementary at Burns. This is her fourth year as a school counselor and her fourth year working at Burns. Born and raised in North Charleston, SC, Ms. Tolbert loves that she is able to support students and families within the same community she grew up in. Ms. Tolbert always knew she wanted a career where she could help others, especially in regard to mental health so after graduating high school, she attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. After graduating, Ms. Tolbert moved back to Charleston and began the Master of Education in Counselor Education program at The Citadel Graduate College in order to become an elementary school counselor. Upon graduation from The Citadel in December 2018, she began as a substitute teacher with Charleston and Berkeley County School Districts. During that time, she gained experience working with teachers and students from various backgrounds. In her free time, Ms. Tolbert loves reading, creative writing, doing arts and crafts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Music & Band Teacher

Mr. Tucker is beginning his 7th year as a music educator and 2nd year with Meeting Street Schools. He was born and raised in the Charleston area and graduated from Summerville High School in 2009. He attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill SC and received the degree of Bachelors of Music Education in 2013. Shortly after graduation he began teaching middle school band at James Martin Middle School in Charlotte, NC. In 2014 he moved back home to the Charleston area and taught for 5 years at Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School. During this time he completed his Master of Music Education at Boston University and graduated in 2016. Mr. Tucker is married to Kristen, a special education teacher and they have 3 children- Micah, Sariah, and Ezrah. His passion for teaching music started early in elementary school and believes that when children are exposed to music education they can become not only excellent musicians but also leaders in their homes and communities. He enjoys cooking, travelling, spending time with family and friends, as well as.performing local music and serving as the minister of Music for a church in Columbia.

Principal in Residence

Ms. Ulles came to Charleston to be closer to her family who all live in the Charleston area. She was born in Connecticut and attended Fairfield University, where she graduated with a degree in Economics in 2009. After college, she moved to Chicago, IL where she was a part of the Teach for America Program. She taught preschool as a 2009 Corps Member and received her Master of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education during her 2 years in the program. After finishing the TFA experience, Ms. Ulles moved on to work at KIPP Ascend Primary School as a kindergarten teacher, on the West Side of Chicago. She continued to work at KIPP Ascend for 5 years teaching and leading in kindergarten and first grade roles. In 2016 she went on to become a founding team member of KIPP Chicago’s second primary school, KIPP One Primary School. While there, she served as a Kindergarten Teacher and most recently, the Assistant Principal, working with the kindergarten and first grade teams. As an Assistant Principal, she was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to participate in the Relay Graduate School of Education’s, National Principals Academy Fellowship where she gained powerful professional development. In her free time, Ms. Ulles loves to pursue her other passions like real estate, puppies, Costco shopping and soccer.

Operations Specialist

Ms. Vanderhorst is the Operations Specialist. She was born in Johns Island, South Carolina. After graduating from St. Johns High School she attended Beta Tech Technical College where she became a state certified Medical Assistant. In addition to furthering her education, she worked 20+ yrs in school bus transportation. Seeking a change of pace, she decided and agreed to join the excellent and stellar team at Meeting Street Elementary @Brentwood. She is one of the founding members of Meeting Street Elementary @Burns. In her spare time, Ms. Vanderhorst enjoys reading, outdoor activities, cooking, traveling, attending her church services and functions, along with spending fun quality time with her two sons and family.

Prek Teacher

Ms. Washington was born and raised in South Carolina and attended Southeastern University where she received a Associate Degree in Medical Assistant. She is currently attending Phoenix University to receive an Early Childhood Bachelor degree. She previously worked as a teacher assistant in Prek3, Special Ed; and a lead Daycare teacher. Ms. Washington is a mother of two, a grandmother of one and a wife. In her spare time she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

PreK Teacher

Ms. Werth is joining the Early Childhood Program at Meeting Street Elementary Burns. She attended the University of Kansas where she received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and then a Master's degree in both Early Childhood and Special Education. She has taught in Kansas, Boston, Charlotte, NC and Rochester, NY. All those experiences have brought her to Burns and the opportunity to teach 3 and 4 year olds, her favorite little people. Her last classroom was a farm in upstate NY where she taught therapeutic horseback riding to students age 3 to 92 and worked as director of operations. Charleston gives Ms. Werth the opportunity to be closer to family including her two grandchildren. She continues to spend time with some very special horses serving children and adults with special needs, holding hands with her husband of 40 years and puttering in her garden.

1st Grade Teacher

Mrs. Williams is a 1st grade homeroom teacher. This is her 7th year teaching and her 5th year at Burns. Mrs. Williams is proud to be a founding member @Burns. She has taught both kindergarten and 1st grade. Mrs. Williams is originally from Irmo, South Carolina. She attended the College of Charleston where she studied and received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. In her free time, you can find her at the beach!

Second Grade Teacher & Grade Level Chair

Erica Wimpory is a 2nd grade teacher and grade level chair here at Meeting Street @Burns. She moved to Charleston from Bedford, Massachusetts five years ago and has been teaching with Meeting Street Schools ever since! Before teaching in Charleston, she was a Special Education Teacher for two years in Massachusetts. She received both her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Special Education from Endicott College. In her classroom, Mrs. Wimpory strives to help her students reach their goals while challenging them along the way. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, walking her two dogs, and going to the beautiful beaches in Charleston!

Second Grade Teacher

Emily Wingard is beginning her first year as a Second Grade Teacher at Meeting Street Elementary. She recently moved to James Island from a small town in Pennsylvania where she received her Bachelors Degree at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2020. She is currently obtaining her Masters Degree in Literacy to earn her Reading Specialist Certification. She will complete this in August of 2022. She was previously a Kindergarten Teacher in an under-served community in Western Pennsylvania where she was honored to watch the literacy growth in her spunky kiddos. She is active in the community and dedicated to research in teaching her young learners how to read. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, traveling, writing poetry, hanging out with her friends and family, and attending any spontaneous adventure! She is excited for her biggest adventure yet in the place of her dreams!

6th Grade Teaching Fellow

Mr. Wolfe is beginning his first year as the fellow for 5th and 6th grade math. He was born and raised in West Virginia and attended Marietta College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. After graduation he worked in corporate America in Finance and Management. After several years he left corporate America and joined the City of Charleston Fire Department. He served 7 years as a Fire Fighter/EMT until getting injured at a fire. In his spare time Mr. Wolfe enjoys traveling, cooking, attending shows on Broadway, and any live sporting event.

Academic Interventionist

Mrs.Wood is from down the road and across some bridges on Johns Island, SC where she grew up! She received both her BA (Hollins University) and her Masters of Science (College of Charleston) in Environmental Science. In addition, she is a Certified Practitioner of Orton-Gillingham through the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. She started with Meeting Street @ Burns in January 2019 and this is her 11th year of teaching overall. In her free time, Mrs. Wood likes outdoor adventures - especially on the water, cooking, working out, and traveling.