MERRY HILL – Jason Wynne, Head of School at Lawrence Academy, announced the addition of several new faculty members for the 2017 – 2018 school year.

“We are fortunate in that we very rarely have to replace faculty and staff here at the school,” Wynn stated. “Butwhen the situation arises we always receive high quality applicants because of our reputation as a family-oriented independent school with an excellent academic record.”

Wynne added, “These five women and men have excellent backgrounds in education, and we are excited to have them with us.”

Kandis Sisson joins Lawrence Academy as an English instructor and will be teaching high school literature courses as well as AP English, Creative Writing, Journalism, and Yearbook. Sisson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and their award-winning national English program. In addition to her undergraduate degree, Sisson holds a Master of Arts from Tennessee in English Literature, including Criticism and Textual Studies. She most recently employed by the University of Tennessee as a Freshman English Instructor and as a writing instructor and tutor.

Diana Bennett joins the school as a 5th and 6th grade team teacher. She comes to Lawrence after stints at Greenville Christian Academy and Christ Covenant School. She is a product of independent schools and earned her degree from Pensacola College in Florida. She is an experienced elementary and middle school teacher with 10 years of classroom experience under her belt and an ACSI certification. Bennett will also coach the JV and Varsity Volleyball teams.

Kelly Caroon joins Lawrence from The StoneBridge School in Chesapeake, VA. Caroon will teach in the English department and will also be working on new English and initiative in the Middle School. She graduated from Norfolk State University in 2000 with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and Early Childhood Education, and is working on her graduate degree in Christian School Administration from Regent University. She previously held a Virginia Department of Education License and currently holds a North Carolina License for pre-k – 6th grade with an additional certification from ACSI (PK-8). At The StoneBridge School Caroon taught pre-k, kindergarten, first, second, fourth, and seventh grade.

Blair Whitehead has moved from the Development Office into the classroom full time this year. Whitehead will be teaching Middle and Upper School Health and Physical Education as well as Physiology and Life Science. She earned both her undergraduate degree and Master’s degree from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke in Exercise and Sports Science. Whitehead will also coach the Varsity Softball team.

Nicholas Stone joins Lawrence from St. Stephens School in Alexandria, VA. Stone will teach Middle and Upper School science, including courses in the FFA curriculum. He holds an undergraduate degree in Biology from Davidson College. In addition to his teaching background in math and science, Stone brings a range of experiences to the classroom as he worked as a research assistant at North Carolina A & T University, was a finalist at the American Chemical Society Research Symposium in Colorado, and worked for Senator Richard Burr at his office in Washington, DC. Stone will coach the JV tennis teams and assist with the varsity teams.

Zachary Crim joins the school as its STEM coordinator. He will also work to develop a new science curriculum in the Lower School, teach College and Career Readiness, and assist with the Upper School Internship program. Crim earned his Biology degree from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia and graduated with Cum Laude recognition. Crim will coach the JV Boys Basketball team and the Varsity Baseball team.

Lawrence Academy is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational college preparatory day school located in Merry Hill. The school serves students in grades Pre K – 12, and draws those students from a nine-county area: Bertie, Chowan, Dare, Hertford, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrell, and, Washington.

Lawrence Academy is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and approved by the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education.