Michael Branch-received a BS in Special Education with a concentration in psychology and a Master's Degree in Cross Categorical Special Education with a concentration in Specific Learning Disabilities from Appalachian State University. He holds North Carolina "M" level K-12 teaching certification and has completed an 80 hour workshop and practicum in the Orton-Gillingham approach at The Fletcher School in Charlotte. Mr. Branch has experience working with elementary,middle and high school students in resource and self-contained settings in the Wilkes, Watauga, and Forsyth County schools, and teaches elementary and middle school Language Tutorial, Math, Written Expression, and Literature at Triad Academy.

Cynthia Bouldin-received a BA in English from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught several middle grades electives at Summit School prior to joining the Triad Academy faculty. Mrs. Bouldin has completed an 80 hour workshop and practicum in the Orton-Gillingham approach and has completed workshops in Wilson Reading and advanced morphology. She has served as a reading tutor for at-risk students prior to joining the Traid Academy faculty and teaches one section of language Tutorial and Written Expression.

Rhonda Dering-received a Bachelor of Religious Education from Piedmont Bible College and an MAT in Elementary Education from Salem College. She has completed two 80 hour workshops and practicum in basic training and advanced Orton-Gillingham language education, and has training in the Wilson Reading program. Ms. Dering has served as a private reading tutor and most recently as a coordinate teacher in the Jackson Academic Center at Forsyth Country Day School. Ms. Dering teaches Language Tutorial, Written Expression, and Math to lower and middle school students.

Paul Dresel-received a BA in English from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MAT from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and holds an "M" level certification in Secondary English. He has experience teaching High School English in public school systems in Raleigh and Benson, North Carolina, and served as a technical writer for several technology companies in the Research Triangle Park area prior to that. Mr. Dresel served as a private English and Math tutor for students with Learning Disabilities prior to joining the teaching faculty at Triad Academy. Mr. Dresel teachers upper school Writing, Literature, and Computer Skills classes at Triad Academy.

Heather Rorke-received a BS in Education from Temple University and completed post-graduate study in Reading Education at Johns Hopkins University. She holds certification in early childhood education, elementary and middle grades education, and special education. She has training and experience in Orton-Gillingham based structured language education and has attended workshops in Wilson Reading, The Hill Center method, and SRA corrective reading. She was involved in a Direct Instruction pilot program in the Baltimore City Schools and has experience as a special educator for students with Specific Learning Disabilities, speech-language impairments, and other exceptionalities in resource and self-contained settings in the Baltimore, Towson, and Dulaney Valley, Maryland school systems.  Ms. Rorke teaches Language Tutorial and Social Studies classes at Triad Academy. 

Susan Schambach-received a BA in Biology and Studio Art from Smith College and holds North Carolina licensures in Biology (9-12) and Studio Art (K-12) with an endorsement in Computer Technology. Prior to joining the faculty of Triad Academy, Ms. Schambach tutored privately and taught locally at Forsyth Technical Community College and The Summit School. As the Director's Assistant at SciWorks , she was responsible for educational programs, summer camps, and teacher renewal credit courses. She has completed a 40 hour workshop in multisensory, structured language and teaches elementary, middle, and upper school science, art, and social studies.

Sarah Scott-received a BA in Psychology and an MAT in Special Education from the University of Virginia and has training and experience with Orton-Gillingham based structured language, Wilson Reading, and SRA corrective reading. Mrs. Scott holds  "M" level certification in Specific Learning Disabilities, K-12. Prior to joining the Triad Academy faculty, Mrs. Scott was an LD Resource teacher at Trevilians Elementary School in Louisa, Va., and had experience in resource and inclusion classrooms working with LD students in kindergarten through tenth grade. Mrs. Scott teaches primary reading, written language, literature, and content subjects at Triad Academy.

Jon Smink-received a BS in Recreation and Parks Management with a concentration in Environmental Interpretation from Pennsylvania State University. He is currently enrolled in the masters program in Science Education at UNC-G and has completed a 40 hour workshop on multisensory structured language methods. Mr. Smink joined the Triad Academy teaching staff from the Sound to Sea Environmental Education Program in Salter Path, NC, and teaches middle and upper grades Science, Math, and Health. 

Donna Smith-holds a BS in Educable Mentally Handicapped and an MA in Behaviorally and Emotionally Handicapped from Appalachian State University. She holds "A" level licensure in Elementary Education K-6, Learning Disabilities K-12, Mentally Disabled K-12, and Homebound/Hospitalized K-12; and "M" level licensure in Behaviorally / Emotionally Disabled K-12. She has training in Orton-Gillingham based structured language education, Wilson Reading, and Language! multisensory, structure language remediation programs , and taught for over 30 years as an Exceptional Children's Resource Teacher for the Davidson and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school systems prior to joining Triad Academy's teaching faculty. Mrs. Smith teaches two sections of High School written expression. 

Nancy Stewart-received a BS in Journalism from Ohio University with a concentration in art, marketing, and history. A former marketing executive and professional writer, Mrs. Stewart worked as a private reading tutor prior to joining the Triad Academy faculty. She has completed training in Orton-Gillingham based structured language programs and is Level I certified in the Wilson Reading program. Mrs. Stewart teaches two sections of High School written expression.

Cheryl Swanson-holds a BA in Specific Learning Disabilities from the University of West Florida and an MA in Special Education from Appalachian State University. She holds "A" and "M" level licensure in Specific Learning Disabilities K-12, Intermediate grades 4-6, Language Arts 6-9, and Severely Emotionally Handicapped K-12. She has training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, Wilson Reading, and the Language! Programs, and is a certified member of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. Mrs. Swanson teaches middle and upper school Language Tutorial, math, and social studies, and serves as coordinator of the school's Orton-Gillingham teacher mentoring program for faculty new to the approach.

Ginger Thomas-received a BS in Business Economics and Math from Meredith College and started her professional career with AON consulting. More recently, she has completed graduate-level coursework through the Learning Disabilities master's program at Salem College. She completed training in Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory structured language education, and the Wilson Reading system. Mrs. Thomas previously worked as a volunteer reading tutor with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

email: gthomas@triadacademy.org