WCDS Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

August 22nd 2021

Westchester is pleased to welcome the following new faculty and staff members for the 2021-22 school year:

Chip Bristol, Middle School Language Arts and Literature Teacher
Chip Bristol joins WCDS as a Middle School language arts and literature teacher for seventh grade. He comes to Westchester with rich and varied school experiences, including teaching at the K-8 and high school levels. Bristol holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Hamilton College, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from New Hampshire Institute of Art. He is the author of four children’s books, a 365-day spiritual meditation book and a forthcoming novel.

Chip Bristol, Middle School Language Arts and Literature Teacher

Chip Bristol joins WCDS as a Middle School language arts and literature teacher for seventh grade. He comes to Westchester with rich and varied school experiences, including teaching at the K-8 and high school levels. Bristol holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Hamilton College, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from New Hampshire Institute of Art. He is the author of four children’s books, a 365-day spiritual meditation book and a forthcoming novel.

Bright Carter, Upper School History Teacher
Bright Carter joins WCDS as an Upper School history teacher. Previously she has served as a substitute teacher and parent volunteer at Westchester. In her new role as a member of the faculty, Carter will teach the courses U.S. Government Honors, Geography and Economics Honors, Global Conflicts in the Modern Era, Civil Liberties, and Health. She previously taught Algebra I and Geometry at Lexington Senior High School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Bright Carter, Upper School History Teacher

Bright Carter joins WCDS as an Upper School history teacher. Previously she has served as a substitute teacher and parent volunteer at Westchester. In her new role as a member of the faculty, Carter will teach the courses U.S. Government Honors, Geography and Economics Honors, Global Conflicts in the Modern Era, Civil Liberties, and Health. She previously taught Algebra I and Geometry at Lexington Senior High School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jennifer Conrad, Director of Health Services
Jennifer Conrad joins WCDS as the director of health services. She is starting her ninth year as a school nurse. A native of High Point, Conrad worked in a variety of schools in different parts of the country before returning to her hometown. She is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in arts management from Salem College.

Jennifer Conrad, Director of Health Services

Jennifer Conrad joins WCDS as the director of health services. She is starting her ninth year as a school nurse. A native of High Point, Conrad worked in a variety of schools in different parts of the country before returning to her hometown. She is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in arts management from Salem College.

Teresa Denmark, Middle School Technology Teacher
Teresa Denmark joins WCDS as a Middle School technology teacher. Before joining the faculty, she served as a substitute teacher at Westchester. She also previously taught fifth and sixth grades and served as a K-8 administrative assistant at other area schools. Most recently, Denmark operated her own business dedicated to helping students with distance learning and tutoring. She has a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies with an emphasis in elementary education from Biola University.

Teresa Denmark, Middle School Technology Teacher

Teresa Denmark joins WCDS as a Middle School technology teacher. Before joining the faculty, she served as a substitute teacher at Westchester. She also previously taught fifth and sixth grades and served as a K-8 administrative assistant at other area schools. Most recently, Denmark operated her own business dedicated to helping students with distance learning and tutoring. She has a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies with an emphasis in elementary education from Biola University.

Andy DiMattia, Upper School Mathematics Teacher
Andy DiMattia joins WCDS as an Upper School mathematics teacher. Before coming to Westchester, he taught math at Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur for six years. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education from Appalachian State University. He is excited to be at Westchester and looks forward to working within the school community.

Lynn Dodge, Academic Support Specialist
Lynn Dodge joins WCDS as an academic support specialist for Middle and Upper School. Last year she served as a substitute teacher at Westchester, and she is happy to be back on campus as part of the faculty. In her new role, she provides academic coaching and intervention to students with learning differences and supports them in developing organizational skills, test-taking strategies and study skills. Dodge has worked as an educator and administrator within special education, mental health and related fields for many years. Her experience includes teaching graduate school courses in special education, particularly in the area of learning disabilities, as well as leading a human services agency that provided evaluation and education services to children and adults with learning differences. She also served as a hearing officer in New York presiding over service provisions for students with disabilities. In North Carolina, she has served as the developmental disabilities director for the mental health service system and then court administrator for the Guardian ad Litem program for three counties. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Rose.

Lynn Dodge, Academic Support Specialist

Lynn Dodge joins WCDS as an academic support specialist for Middle and Upper School. Last year she served as a substitute teacher at Westchester, and she is happy to be back on campus as part of the faculty. In her new role, she provides academic coaching and intervention to students with learning differences and supports them in developing organizational skills, test-taking strategies and study skills. Dodge has worked as an educator and administrator within special education, mental health and related fields for many years. Her experience includes teaching graduate school courses in special education, particularly in the area of learning disabilities, as well as leading a human services agency that provided evaluation and education services to children and adults with learning differences. She also served as a hearing officer in New York presiding over service provisions for students with disabilities. In North Carolina, she has served as the developmental disabilities director for the mental health service system and then court administrator for the Guardian ad Litem program for three counties. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Rose.

Michelle Elliott-Stanback, After-School Staff
Michelle Elliott-Stanback joins WCDS as a member of the after-school care staff and substitute teacher. She is a retired New York City correction officer.

Lauren Ingold, Lower School Assistant and Before-School Director
Lauren Ingold joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for kindergarten and before-school director. Previously she has worked with students in many capacities, including teaching second and fourth grade and tutoring children in reading and literacy development. She also has worked in grant writing and program development with educational and health care nonprofit organizations. Ingold is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and lived in Roanoke, Virginia, for several years before attending college at High Point University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications along with a minor in education studies from HPU, a grant writing certification from Guilford College, and a certification in nonprofit development from the Continuing Education Program at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.

Lauren Ingold, Lower School Assistant and Before-School Director

Lauren Ingold joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for kindergarten and before-school director. Previously she has worked with students in many capacities, including teaching second and fourth grade and tutoring children in reading and literacy development. She also has worked in grant writing and program development with educational and health care nonprofit organizations. Ingold is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and lived in Roanoke, Virginia, for several years before attending college at High Point University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications along with a minor in education studies from HPU, a grant writing certification from Guilford College, and a certification in nonprofit development from the Continuing Education Program at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.

Debb Saie, Receptionist
Debb Saie joins WCDS as a receptionist. She is the first point of contact for phone calls and visitors in the front office within Phillips Hall. Saie has worked in education for many years and most recently was an administrator with Guilford County Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education with minors in physical science (6-9) and biology (7-12) from High Point University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University. She enjoys golfing, pickleball and playing tenor drum in the Jamestown Pipe and Drum Band.

Debb Saie, Receptionist

Debb Saie joins WCDS as a receptionist. She is the first point of contact for phone calls and visitors in the front office within Phillips Hall. Saie has worked in education for many years and most recently was an administrator with Guilford County Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education with minors in physical science (6-9) and biology (7-12) from High Point University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University. She enjoys golfing, pickleball and playing tenor drum in the Jamestown Pipe and Drum Band.

Vanessa Sullens, Middle School History and Literature Teacher
Vanessa Sullens joins WCDS as a Middle School history and literature teacher. She teaches the courses Literature 6, Ancient Civilizations and N.C. History for sixth and seventh graders. Before coming to Westchester, Sullens taught fourth grade for nine years at Wesleyan Christian Academy. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, elementary education and special education and a Master of Arts in educational psychology, both from Marist College.

Vanessa Sullens, Middle School History and Literature Teacher

Vanessa Sullens joins WCDS as a Middle School history and literature teacher. She teaches the courses Literature 6, Ancient Civilizations and N.C. History for sixth and seventh graders. Before coming to Westchester, Sullens taught fourth grade for nine years at Wesleyan Christian Academy. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, elementary education and special education and a Master of Arts in educational psychology, both from Marist College.

Meredith Turner, Middle School Language Arts, Literature and Science Teacher
Meredith Turner joins WCDS as a teacher in the Middle School, where she will teach language arts, literature and science classes. Before moving to the Triad, Turner has previous experience teaching middle school language arts and AP Psychology in the Raleigh area. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wake Forest University and a Master of Education from the University of Wilmington.