Experienced. Passionate.
And just as dedicated to your kids as you are.
Pinewoods is fortunate to have a group of educators that care deeply about inspiring children with a love of learning.
Joy Langley-Parsons
Joy Langley-Parsons is the Toddler teacher at Pinewoods. Joy worked at Pinewoods for 5 years as a substitute teacher before entering training for Montessori toddler certification and doing a self-directed internship at Pinewoods from 2011-2012. Joy received her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification in June 2012 and is continuing to work towards a degree in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time, Joy enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
Karen Lewellyn
Karen Yates Lewellyn is an assistant in the Primary classrooms. She graduated in 1987 from Guilford Technical Community COllege with a degree in Medical Assisting and worked for 17 years as an Ophthalmic Assistant and Surgical Assistant. She decided after the 17 years to be a stay at home mom and has been blessed with 2 beautiful daughters who now go to Pinewoods.
Karen loves to work outdoors (weather permitting). She likes to decorate, paint, reorganize, do crafts with the girls. She also enjoys spending time with friends. This is Karen's fourth year working at Pinewoods, and she considers herself blessed to have this opportunity.
Karen loves to work outdoors (weather permitting). She likes to decorate, paint, reorganize, do crafts with the girls. She also enjoys spending time with friends. This is Karen's fourth year working at Pinewoods, and she considers herself blessed to have this opportunity.
Brittany Rodriguez
Brittany received a BA in Anthropology from UNC and subsequently earned her AMS Junior Elementary Certification from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Apex, NC. Brittany supplements the curriculum by teaching Spanish to elementary students in the afternoons. She loves to cook, run and dance. She and her husband live in Chapel Hill.
JoAnn Rubin
JoAnn Rubin has been with Pinewoods for thirteen years. She has a Master’s degree and her full Montessori teaching credential in Early Childhood and both Lower and Upper elementary. JoAnn is a talented teacher loved by children and parents alike. She is dedicated to each student in her class and is gifted at providing individualized instruction based on the unique learning style of each.
Her students have consistently achieved well above average in reading, writing, and math. Her classroom is rich with literature, science, geography, history, geometry, and art activities.
In her free time, JoAnn enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and going to tag sales.
Her students have consistently achieved well above average in reading, writing, and math. Her classroom is rich with literature, science, geography, history, geometry, and art activities.
In her free time, JoAnn enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and going to tag sales.
Jennifer Sewell, Head of School
This will be Jennifer's ninth year at Pinewoods. She has a Bachelor’s degree and, in addition to her full Montessori credential in Early Childhood Education, is a certified Kindermusik teacher.
Jennifer is committed to the traditional Montessori philosophy and has created a classroom environment that is not only stimulating and fun but teaches peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to teaching one of our primary classes, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary.
Jennifer also teaches our extended-day program for kindergarten age students. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn. as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Jennifer is committed to the traditional Montessori philosophy and has created a classroom environment that is not only stimulating and fun but teaches peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to teaching one of our primary classes, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary.
Jennifer also teaches our extended-day program for kindergarten age students. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn. as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Lindsay Ungewitter
This is Lindsay's fourth year at Pinewoods. She has a bachelors, degree in education and earned her Montessori early childhood credential in 2007 from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Apex, North Carolina.
Lindsay worked in a public Montessori school teaching Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten before moving to Efland. She and her husband live on the farm where he works. Her love of animals, the outdoors and gardening make this an ideal living situation for them both. She is often called upon to help with farm chores and activities and so strives to bring her connection with nature and her compassion for all living things into the classroom. Lindsay and her husband welcomed their son, Edward, in 2012.
Lindsay worked in a public Montessori school teaching Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten before moving to Efland. She and her husband live on the farm where he works. Her love of animals, the outdoors and gardening make this an ideal living situation for them both. She is often called upon to help with farm chores and activities and so strives to bring her connection with nature and her compassion for all living things into the classroom. Lindsay and her husband welcomed their son, Edward, in 2012.
Kim McNally
Physical Education Instructor
Kim McNally earned a BS in Health Psychology from Duke University and an EdD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. In addition to teaching Physical Education at Pinewoods, Kim works as a Lecturing Fellow at Duke University teaching undergraduate courses in Physical Education and Health; and conducting collaborative research at Duke Children’s Hospital related to primary care-based physical activity and obesity interventions.
Kim’s pedagogical philosophy is to guide children to 1) explore foundational movement skills, 2) feel comfortable in their bodies, and 3) identify movement activities they enjoy so they will be confident and intrinsically motivated to be active throughout their lifetime. Kim has 2 children enrolled at Pinewoods and enjoys reading, running, and exploring the outdoors with her children in her free time.
Kim McNally earned a BS in Health Psychology from Duke University and an EdD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. In addition to teaching Physical Education at Pinewoods, Kim works as a Lecturing Fellow at Duke University teaching undergraduate courses in Physical Education and Health; and conducting collaborative research at Duke Children’s Hospital related to primary care-based physical activity and obesity interventions.
Kim’s pedagogical philosophy is to guide children to 1) explore foundational movement skills, 2) feel comfortable in their bodies, and 3) identify movement activities they enjoy so they will be confident and intrinsically motivated to be active throughout their lifetime. Kim has 2 children enrolled at Pinewoods and enjoys reading, running, and exploring the outdoors with her children in her free time.
Deborah Wuliger, Artist in Residence
Ms. Wuliger works in various mediums, and enjoys crafting engaging and fun projects for the children. Teaching has long been part of her artistic career. "I share my love of art in several ways. Since coming to North Carolina, I have worked with students in two schools to paint murals. At EK Powe Elementary School in Durham we painted a mural about different forms of alternative energy. The Spanish Club at East Chapel Hill High School and I painted a mural in their school cafeteria about their annual trip to Nicaragua."
You can learn more about Debra on her web site or by visiting us on Thursday afternoons!
You can learn more about Debra on her web site or by visiting us on Thursday afternoons!
