Westchester Welcomes 15 New Faculty and Staff Members

August 19th 2022

Westchester is pleased to welcome the following new faculty and staff members for the 2022-23 school year:

Ms. Lindsey Carroll joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for pre-K. She previously was a lead pre-K teacher at Wesley Memorial School. Ms. Carroll has a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Spanish from Sweet Briar College. She is also the parent of a Westchester alumna. Her daughter, Chase, attended Westchester for K-12 and is a 2014 graduate.

Mrs. Erin Eftink joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School social studies teacher. She teaches Global Studies, U.S. Government, and Human Geography. She also coaches Varsity Tennis. Mrs. Eftink is starting her sixth year of teaching and comes to Westchester from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with experience teaching history in grades 6-12. She has a bachelor’s degree in history education from Lee University. She and her husband have two dogs.

Mrs. Erin Eftink joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School social studies teacher. She teaches Global Studies, U.S. Government, and Human Geography. She also coaches Varsity Tennis. Mrs. Eftink is starting her sixth year of teaching and comes to Westchester from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with experience teaching history in grades 6-12. She has a bachelor’s degree in history education from Lee University. She and her husband have two dogs.

Mrs. Joyce Hamilton joins WCDS as the violin instructor. She teaches Suzuki violin lessons for the WCDS School of Music, which provides private lesson opportunities for students during the school day and after school. She has taught Suzuki and traditional violin lessons in her home and general music and instrumental strings in schools. She also has played violin in several orchestras. Mrs. Hamilton has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Wheaton College. She and her husband have two children and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Joyce Hamilton joins WCDS as the violin instructor. She teaches Suzuki violin lessons for the WCDS School of Music, which provides private lesson opportunities for students during the school day and after school. She has taught Suzuki and traditional violin lessons in her home and general music and instrumental strings in schools. She also has played violin in several orchestras. Mrs. Hamilton has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Wheaton College. She and her husband have two children and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Caroline Jennings joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for pre-K. Prior to becoming a Wildcat, she was as a habilitation technician for young adults with cognitive disabilities. She also has a business creating printable play-based early learning activities for children. Mrs. Jennings has an associate degree in general education and completed additional coursework in the NC Teaching Fellows program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her daughter, Adeline, is a pre-K student at Westchester.

Mrs. Caroline Jennings joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for pre-K. Prior to becoming a Wildcat, she was as a habilitation technician for young adults with cognitive disabilities. She also has a business creating printable play-based early learning activities for children. Mrs. Jennings has an associate degree in general education and completed additional coursework in the NC Teaching Fellows program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her daughter, Adeline, is a pre-K student at Westchester.

Mr. Ray Jones joins WCDS as an Upper School English teacher. He teaches ninth grade Honors English, 12^th grade World Literature and the Film Studies elective. He is also the faculty advisor of the Upper School Mock Trial Club. Before joining Westchester, Mr. Jones spent most of his education career teaching at the college level. He has taught English and communication classes at East Tennessee State University, Appalachian State University and Boston University. Mr. Jones earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from East Tennessee State University. He also has a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting from Boston University.

Mr. Ray Jones joins WCDS as an Upper School English teacher. He teaches ninth grade Honors English, 12^th grade World Literature and the Film Studies elective. He is also the faculty advisor of the Upper School Mock Trial Club. Before joining Westchester, Mr. Jones spent most of his education career teaching at the college level. He has taught English and communication classes at East Tennessee State University, Appalachian State University and Boston University. Mr. Jones earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from East Tennessee State University. He also has a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting from Boston University.

Mrs. Abbey Lee joins WCDS as a Lower School assistant for first and second grades. She recently served as a substitute teacher and volunteer at Westchester and has prior experience teaching math and reading. Mrs. Lee has a bachelor’s degree in history from Roanoke College. She has two students at Westchester, Finnegan in second grade and Frankie in kindergarten.

Ms. Lena Naff join WCDS as the athletic trainer. She provides treatment and preventative care and evaluates athletic injuries for student athletes on the Middle School and Varsity athletic teams. Ms. Naff is entering her fourth year as an athletic trainer. Previously she was a minor league athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Reds, extender for orthopedic physicians, and head athletic trainer at Federal Hocking High School. Ms. Naff has a Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Miami University and a Master of Science in post-professional athletic training from Ohio University. She has a chocolate lab puppy named Luka.

Ms. Lena Naff join WCDS as the athletic trainer. She provides treatment and preventative care and evaluates athletic injuries for student athletes on the Middle School and Varsity athletic teams. Ms. Naff is entering her fourth year as an athletic trainer. Previously she was a minor league athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Reds, extender for orthopedic physicians, and head athletic trainer at Federal Hocking High School. Ms. Naff has a Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Miami University and a Master of Science in post-professional athletic training from Ohio University. She has a chocolate lab puppy named Luka.

Ms. Angel Olvey joins WCDS as a member of the food services staff. She is a dishwasher and provides additional support for the daily cafeteria lunch service provided to students and faculty.

Ms. Fonda Quick joins WCDS as an academic support inclusion teacher. She will be supporting reading success in second and third grade classrooms as Westchester pilots a new academic support program model. This is Ms. Quck’s 37^th year in education. She is a special educator who has taught in a variety of public and private schools. Ms. Quick has a Doctor of Education from Lipscomb University, a Master of Arts from Austin Peay State University, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University. She has four adult children and two grandsons.

Ms. Fonda Quick joins WCDS as an academic support inclusion teacher. She will be supporting reading success in second and third grade classrooms as Westchester pilots a new academic support program model. This is Ms. Quck’s 37^th year in education. She is a special educator who has taught in a variety of public and private schools. Ms. Quick has a Doctor of Education from Lipscomb University, a Master of Arts from Austin Peay State University, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University. She has four adult children and two grandsons.

Mrs. Gwen Stencler joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. She teaches Spanish 1 and 2 Honors as well as eighth grade Spanish. She brings more than 30 years of experience teaching all levels of high school Spanish and is National Board Certified in world languages. She is also a summer program leader for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) in Barcelona, Spain. Mrs. Stencler has a bachelor’s degree in English and 9-12 teaching certification from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and K-12 teaching certification from Salem College. She has an adult son and a daughter who is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mrs. Gwen Stencler joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. She teaches Spanish 1 and 2 Honors as well as eighth grade Spanish. She brings more than 30 years of experience teaching all levels of high school Spanish and is National Board Certified in world languages. She is also a summer program leader for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) in Barcelona, Spain. Mrs. Stencler has a bachelor’s degree in English and 9-12 teaching certification from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and K-12 teaching certification from Salem College. She has an adult son and a daughter who is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mrs. Jin Wang joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Mandarin teacher. Mrs. Wang has experience teaching undergraduate Mandarin at East Stroudsburg University and Lehigh University. She also has experience teaching undergraduate English in China. She earned a master’s degree in educational and instructional design technology from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in business English from Fort Hays State University.

Mrs. Jin Wang joins WCDS as a Middle and Upper School Mandarin teacher. Mrs. Wang has experience teaching undergraduate Mandarin at East Stroudsburg University and Lehigh University. She also has experience teaching undergraduate English in China. She earned a master’s degree in educational and instructional design technology from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in business English from Fort Hays State University.

Mrs. Ashleigh Welder joins WCDS as a kindergarten teacher. With 21 years of experience in education, this is her 13^th year as a full-time classroom teacher. She has taught kindergarten, first and second grades in independent, public and charter schools. She also has been an academic and enrichment summer camp leader at Greensboro Day School for 15 years and a sales representative for parenting website Triad Moms on Main. Mrs. Welder has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a psychology concentration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She and her husband, a public middle school social studies and science teacher, enjoy raising their kids, a 10^th grader and a seventh grader, in High Point.

Mrs. Ashleigh Welder joins WCDS as a kindergarten teacher. With 21 years of experience in education, this is her 13^th year as a full-time classroom teacher. She has taught kindergarten, first and second grades in independent, public and charter schools. She also has been an academic and enrichment summer camp leader at Greensboro Day School for 15 years and a sales representative for parenting website Triad Moms on Main. Mrs. Welder has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a psychology concentration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She and her husband, a public middle school social studies and science teacher, enjoy raising their kids, a 10^th grader and a seventh grader, in High Point.

Mrs. Sabrina Winstead joins WCDS as a Lower and Middle School counselor. She provides counseling to students in grades pre-K through 8, including classroom guidance and individual and group sessions. She has 16 years of experience in education with eight of those years as a school counselor. Mrs. Winstead has a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Master of Arts in counseling with a certification in school counseling from West Virginia University. She has three children: son Caleb in ninth grade and daughter Addy Grace in seventh grade at Westchester, as well as daughter Juliana, a fourth grader.

Mrs. Sabrina Winstead joins WCDS as a Lower and Middle School counselor. She provides counseling to students in grades pre-K through 8, including classroom guidance and individual and group sessions. She has 16 years of experience in education with eight of those years as a school counselor. Mrs. Winstead has a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Master of Arts in counseling with a certification in school counseling from West Virginia University. She has three children: son Caleb in ninth grade and daughter Addy Grace in seventh grade at Westchester, as well as daughter Juliana, a fourth grader.

Ms. Darlene Wyatt joins WCDS as a first grade teacher. She previously was a teacher in Randolph County and Thomasville City Schools for 30 years. She is National Board Certified and a Licensed Reading Specialist. Ms. Wyatt has a bachelor’s degree from High Point University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has two children, a 24-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter.

Ms. Darlene Wyatt joins WCDS as a first grade teacher. She previously was a teacher in Randolph County and Thomasville City Schools for 30 years. She is National Board Certified and a Licensed Reading Specialist. Ms. Wyatt has a bachelor’s degree from High Point University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has two children, a 24-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter.

Mrs. Kathryn Yarbrough joins WCDS as a pre-K teacher. She brings more than 20 years of early elementary teaching experience to her role. Mrs. Yarbrough most recently was a pre-K-4 teacher at Wesley Memorial School. She has also taught kindergarten and first grade. Mrs. Yarbrough has a bachelor’s degree in American history and an NC K-6 teaching certificate from Meredith College. She and her husband have one son, Joseph, who is a high school senior.

Mrs. Kathryn Yarbrough joins WCDS as a pre-K teacher. She brings more than 20 years of early elementary teaching experience to her role. Mrs. Yarbrough most recently was a pre-K-4 teacher at Wesley Memorial School. She has also taught kindergarten and first grade. Mrs. Yarbrough has a bachelor’s degree in American history and an NC K-6 teaching certificate from Meredith College. She and her husband have one son, Joseph, who is a high school senior.