WCDS Welcomes 11 New Faculty and Staff Members

September 2nd 2023

Westchester is pleased to welcome the following new faculty and staff members for the 2023-24 school year:

Mrs. Maria Ashburn joined the Lower School at WCDS as a fifth grade teacher. She taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades in South Carolina before relocating to the Triad. She has a Bachelor of Arts in media arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching in elementary education from the University of South Carolina. Her daughter, Kirby Rose, is in pre-K at WCDS.

Ms. Savannah Ball joined WCDS as the athletic trainer. She has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. In her athletic training program, she had diverse clinical experiences with Catawba College Women's Soccer, Wheatmore High School, Greensboro College Football, Cone Health Orthopedics, and HAECO.

Ms. Savannah Ball joined WCDS as the athletic trainer. She has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. In her athletic training program, she had diverse clinical experiences with Catawba College Women's Soccer, Wheatmore High School, Greensboro College Football, Cone Health Orthopedics, and HAECO.

Mrs. Chelsey Beck joined the Lower School at WCDS as a pre-K teacher. She previously served as a substitute teacher at WCDS and taught first grade in Guilford County Schools for five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in elementary education (reading) from High Point University. She and husband Steven Beck ’07 have two children at WCDS, Kennedy in third grade and Reagan in kindergarten.

Mrs. Chelsey Beck joined the Lower School at WCDS as a pre-K teacher. She previously served as a substitute teacher at WCDS and taught first grade in Guilford County Schools for five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in elementary education (reading) from High Point University. She and husband Steven Beck ’07 have two children at WCDS, Kennedy in third grade and Reagan in kindergarten.

Ms. Trisha Caviness joined the Lower School at WCDS as a fourth grade teacher. She is in her 20^th year teaching, having taught mostly in fourth and fifth grades in public and independent schools across the state. In addition to her classroom experience, she also served as an instructional coach at the school and district levels and provided professional development for pre-service teachers in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction specialist from Appalachian State University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher. She has two children, Emma Reese in fifth grade at WCDS and Weslynn Martha.

Ms. Trisha Caviness joined the Lower School at WCDS as a fourth grade teacher. She is in her 20^th year teaching, having taught mostly in fourth and fifth grades in public and independent schools across the state. In addition to her classroom experience, she also served as an instructional coach at the school and district levels and provided professional development for pre-service teachers in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction specialist from Appalachian State University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher. She has two children, Emma Reese in fifth grade at WCDS and Weslynn Martha.

Mr. Renarde Earl joined WCDS as the director of facilities, safety and security. Overall, he has 30 years of experience in policing, safety and security. For 25 years of those years, he worked at three colleges in North Carolina, serving as police chief on two of those campuses. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from North Carolina Central University. He also completed training in the Administrative Officers Management Program at N.C. State University, the FBI Regional Command College, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisor program, and Executive and Command training, as well as various other safety and security programs.

Mr. Renarde Earl joined WCDS as the director of facilities, safety and security. Overall, he has 30 years of experience in policing, safety and security. For 25 years of those years, he worked at three colleges in North Carolina, serving as police chief on two of those campuses. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from North Carolina Central University. He also completed training in the Administrative Officers Management Program at N.C. State University, the FBI Regional Command College, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisor program, and Executive and Command training, as well as various other safety and security programs.

Mrs. Lily Greene joined WCDS as assistant director of development and alumni affairs. She most recently worked in the advancement department at High Point University. She also worked at the American Heart Association executing and organizing the organization’s fundraising events. She has a Bachelor of Science in integrated communications from Liberty University.

Dr. Brandi Jacques joined WCDS as a pre-K-2 music teacher and piano instructor. She has more than 35 years of experience in group and private music education settings. She has been teaching early childhood music in independent schools for more than a decade and has taught private lessons and summer arts camps in a variety of settings in both the U.S. and Canada. She has a Ph.D. in music education and a Master of Music from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Music Performance from Queen's University. She also studied piano and music performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) and Capilano University.

Dr. Brandi Jacques joined WCDS as a pre-K-2 music teacher and piano instructor. She has more than 35 years of experience in group and private music education settings. She has been teaching early childhood music in independent schools for more than a decade and has taught private lessons and summer arts camps in a variety of settings in both the U.S. and Canada. She has a Ph.D. in music education and a Master of Music from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Music Performance from Queen's University. She also studied piano and music performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) and Capilano University.

Mr. Stephen Kiss joined the Upper School at WCDS as an English teacher. He has taught English in public schools in Mississippi and North Carolina for eight years. He has a Bachelor of Science in education from Miami University with a concentration in integrated English language arts education and is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science from Indiana University.

Mrs. Anna Shea joined the Lower School at WCDS as a first grade teacher assistant. She previously taught kindergarten in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Longwood University. Her two children are also joining WCDS this year, Mac in fifth grade and Teddy in first grade.

Mr. Jay Thompson joined the Middle School at WCDS as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher. He is also the assistant coach for Middle School soccer. He previously taught middle school in Guilford County, Randolph County and Chapel-Hill Carrboro for 17 years. He has a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University and a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Jay Thompson joined the Middle School at WCDS as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher. He is also the assistant coach for Middle School soccer. He previously taught middle school in Guilford County, Randolph County and Chapel-Hill Carrboro for 17 years. He has a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University and a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mrs. Elisabeth Wilbert joins the Upper School at WCDS as a Spanish teacher. She will be teaching students in Spanish 1 and 2. Her experience includes teaching for 27 years, as well as translating and interpreting. She most recently taught Spanish at the University of North Carolina Greensboro for 15 years and at Wake Forest University for nine years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and French and a Master of Arts in Spanish literature from UNCG.

Mrs. Elisabeth Wilbert joins the Upper School at WCDS as a Spanish teacher. She will be teaching students in Spanish 1 and 2. Her experience includes teaching for 27 years, as well as translating and interpreting. She most recently taught Spanish at the University of North Carolina Greensboro for 15 years and at Wake Forest University for nine years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and French and a Master of Arts in Spanish literature from UNCG.