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Fitts, Brian
Teacher ELA High School 9-12
I graduated Dickson County High School in 1990 and went on to Middle Tennessee State University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1994 and a Master of Arts in English in 1998. I have been teaching high school English for 19 years with 15 of those years being in Dickson County at NDA. In my spare time I enjoy collecting bobbleheads based on literary characters and contemplating the wonders of the universe.
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Kovalchick, Wendy
Teacher High School Inclusion/RTI
I’m a Special Education Teacher and Reading Interventionist at New Directions Academy. I’m a graduate of Dickson County High School; earning my B.A. from a small liberal arts college in Pasadena, CA. I then worked in Southern CA more than 10 years as international coordinator for a multi-language magazine, during which time I met my husband-to-be, John, then a teacher in Los Angeles. Soon after our first son was born, we returned to Tennessee to be nearer family. John began teaching in Dickson County; and I completed my M.Ed. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 2004, majoring in Special Education. My focus areas of study were in High Incidence Disabilities (including sudents with Learning Disabilities, and students with Emotional & Behavioral Disorders), and students with Visual Impairments. In 2011, I completed my Reading Specialist endorsement at Belmont University. This 2020-21 school year will be my 17th year of teaching.
John & I have two grown sons, both also graduates of Dickson County High School, and now college grads as well.
I’m a lifelong learner with a passion for helping students discover or grow in their own passion for learning. One of my greatest joys as a teacher is when a student discovers a new interest or individual talent, and grows in confidence as he/she develops that interest & utilizes that talent in the classroom and beyond. I love the process of meeting students where they are, finding out how they learn best & what motivates them; and then using this invaluable information to help them continue to learn and grow to the next level.
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McKinley, Linda
Educational Assistant
I grew up all over the world with my dad being in the Air Force. I have lived in Okinawa, Florida, and Spain. I love going to the beach anytime I get the chance. I am the proud mother of one son. I have worked for the Dickson County Schools for the last 20 years. This will be my first year at NDA as an assistant .I worked the last 10 years at WBES as a Title 1 assistant, and prior to that I was the assistant at The Title 1 Parent Center.
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Rhoads, Belinda
Teacher Math High School 9-12
I graduated from Dickson County High School in 1979. I
attended college at Bethel College, now Bethel University, with a scholarship
in performance music because I participated in the musical group named the
“Bethel Balladeers”. I graduated with a BS in Applied Mathematics and Chemistry
with a minor in Choral Musical Performance. I became a mother of four and
worked in the insurance business for more than 15 years. After my third child
was born, I had an opportunity to stay at home and be a substitute teacher for
a nearby county BOE. I did that for more than a year and decided that being a
teacher would be a fulfilling job for me. I started to school at TSU while
working for Cheatham County BOE. I graduated from Tennessee State University
with a MAED in curriculum and instruction. I applied for a job in Dickson
County and was called by NDA that same day. I have been at NDA for fourteen
years. I have an additional MAED in Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics from
University of Phoenix and I have forty-seven hours toward my doctorate in
Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics. My goal is to make mathematics
understandable to all students, even the ones that say they don’t “get it” and
to show them that they can “get it”.
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Roby, Shayn
Teacher Science High School 9-12
Education1985 graduate of Houston County High School in Erin, TN’ BS 1993 Bethel University, Biology Major, Chemistry Minor2005 Tennessee Teaching License-Biology, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN 15 Years Teaching in Southern California
(Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties 3 Years Coaching High School Football
Huntington Park (CA), Montgomery Central (TN), Paramount Hills2.5 Years Teaching at New Directions Academy, Charlotte, TN (2018 to Present) Biology, Physical Science Life Experiences Interpreter (Spanish) for Christian Missionary Team to Mexico Author: The Original Light: The Great I Am
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Springer, Beverly
Educational Assistant High School 9-12
I graduated APSU with a Bachelor's Degree in business administration with a minor in marketing. I married to Buddy Springer and have two children Tyler and Taylor. I am starting my 9th year with the school system.
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