Shelly warnick
ELEMENTARY

I am Shelly Warnick and have been teaching for 13 years. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Frostburg State University. In 2017, I got my Master’s in Reading Education from ASU.  I enjoy teaching problem solving strategies and helping children feel confident when attacking challenging tasks.

DAN MAIULLO
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
SAT, ACT, & GRE PREP

Meet Dan, our lead high school math and science tutor. Dan was originally a businessman who began his teaching career through SAT classes. SAT tutoring led to tutoring in calculus, physics, chemistry, and other subjects. Dan found that he really enjoyed explaining the subject matter to students. Dan holds a graduate degree in Law from Rutgers and has over fifteen years experience tutoring students.

PAULA THOMSON
ELEMENTARY

My name is Paula Thomson, and I recently moved to the Boone area after living in Franklin, TN for the past 30 years.  I just retired from teaching in Tennessee after 21 years with Williamson County Schools.  I spent 13 years in the classroom as a 4th and 5th grade teacher, and I was a math instructional coach for 8 years.  I graduated from ASU, and I’m happy to be back in the high country!  I look forward to having one-on-one time with students in order for them to feel confident and successful.

 Susan Copeland

EC & Elementary & Middle School

Susan is a recently retired, certified, Special Education teacher of 45 years.  She attended Appalachian State University and has enjoyed a career focused on helping students in grades K-6 grow academically, emotionally, and socially.  Along with teaching all elementary level subjects, she is Orton-Gillingham trained and is passionate about using her knowledge to provide explicit, multi-sensory, direct instruction to build the reading skills students need to grow and be successful.  Susan taught her final 6 years at Mabel School in Watauga County.   Prior to that she resided in Hertford Co, where she taught in both public and private schools.  In addition, Susan owned a learning center for 21 years, where she and a team of tutors provided private tutoring to students from kindergarten through high school ages.  Her goal is to build relationships with her students, determine their strengths and weaknesses, and develop an individualized plan to meet their needs.  We are excited to have Susan join our team.

Christy Laws
Middle/HIgh School

Christy is a veteran teacher who has taught middle school math and language arts for over 27 years. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University. Christy holds a North Carolina teaching license in middle school language arts, math, social studies, and science, a K-12 reading license, and a National Board Certification in middle school language arts. Christy’s work with children is rooted both in her faith and in the belief that all children deserve the opportunity to learn. Her goal is to work with students to help them find the best strategies to make this possible.

Cheyenne RosS

Middle School Math and Science

My name is Cheyenne Ross, and I have a B.S. in Middle Grades Education with a dual concentration in mathematics and science from  Appalachian State University. While at App State, I was a member of Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES), Appalachian Educators Club, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. I have classroom experience from internships in both the 6th and 8th grade, and now have a classroom of my own teaching 7th and 8th grade math and science. I have a strong passion for educating youth and believe teaching is so powerful and influential. In my classroom, I strive to build a relationship with each one of my students to ensure they are in the best learning environment possible. I am so excited to be working with middle school students at the Academy!

Tressie York
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Tressie received her Bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University and Master's Degree from UNC-Charlotte. She is licensed by the state of North Carolina with three certifications: Music Education K-12, Elementary Education K-6, and Teaching English as a Second Language K-Adult. Her teaching experience includes public school instruction, small group instruction, and one-to-one tutoring. Tressie enjoys the challenge of pinpointing a student's specific areas of need and customizing a learning plan to meet those needs.

Allyson Clawson

Elementary Reading and Math

Hi there! My name is Allyson Clawson and I am currently a rising senior at Appalachian State University. My major is Elementary Education, with a concentration and minor in psychology. I am originally from Clayton, NC, which is about three hours from Boone. I’m very much a family oriented person, and enjoy spending my weekends at home with my family, or in Boone with my friends. I’ve always been someone who loves working with children, and I’m excited to start my career as a teacher in a couple short years. I have been babysitting for 6+ years for ages 2-14, and I substitute teach when I am home from college. I have subbed for kindergarten through fourth grade, and love all of those ages. My mom has been a teacher for 25+ years at the same school she started at, so I have basically been raised in a classroom. I have enjoyed my time at High Country Academy so far, and I look forward to staying here and gaining more experience, while also helping children grow and learn!