1713 Legion Road, Chapel Hill, NC. 27517

Phone: 919.933.7699 FAX 919.967.9905

Faculty and Board of Directors

Rhonda Franklin, Director of Education email

 

Director of Education, Rhonda Franklin, completed her undergraduate degree at Virginia State University and her graduate degree at North Carolina Central University.  Before coming to PACE Academy, Rhonda had experience in variety of positions including a counselor, supervisor, and teacher at an outdoor therapeutic program, and most recently, the Director of Exceptional Children’s Programs at a North Carolina charter high school.  Rhonda was instrumental in the creation and development of this charter school.  Starting with a simple idea in the Winter of 2002, Rhonda worked tirelessly with others to survive the competitive charter school application process.  Through her guidance and leadership, PACE Academy met all expectations during the rigorous planning year and opened in the Fall of 2004.  Rhonda’s ability to hire and train a superb staff, skills in recruiting the students of PACE Academy, and her keen sense of humor have played an enormous role in the success of PACE Academy.  Serving as the director of a charter school requires a very talented individual who can seamlessly balance the various roles and responsibilities required of her position.  Not only does Rhonda fulfill the typical responsibilities of a high school principal, but she also satisfies the comprehensive duties assigned to a traditional school district’s central office and superintendent. Rhonda welcomes opportunities to work with staff, students, and their families.

 

 

Joan Hill, Business Manager email

 

Joan serves as the Business Manager of PACE Academy. She grew up in Georgia where she attended Georgia Southwestern State College with a major in Art and minor in English. During that time she was involved with the local theater group. After college she spent several years in the radio industry as both an announcer and advertising producer. Joan has over 18 years experience in various roles related to business management and administration. She has been involved with the charter school movement for the past four years, spending two years as a charter board member and almost two years in office management before joining PACE Academy. She is the mother of three children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening, watching movies, and volunteering.

 

 

Bret Morrison, Assistant Principal-Student Affairs  email

 

Bret is the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs at PACE Academy. Bret earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of South Alabama. He has worked as a counselor at both the boys and girls campuses for Three Springs Treatment Centers. He has gained a great amount of respect for all the kids who have it tough but do not make excuses because it is tough. He hopes to see each student grow and mature while at PACE Academy.

 

 

Ellen Gleason, Community Relations email

 

Ellie Gleason serves PACE in many capacities. She works as the OCS teacher’s assistant and Testing Coordinator. Ellie has worked in program development/supervision, special events coordination, infant and child care, office administration, realtor activities, marketing, and customer service. In academic, community, small business, family, church and corporate settings alike – she has been fortunate to work and grow with others. Ellie is one of eight children and has three children of her own. She brings a bright smile and relaxed spirit to PACE.

 

 

 

 

Jane Miller, Assistant Principal-Exceptional Children email

 

Jane begins her sixth year at PACE Academy as the Assistant Principal -Exceptional Children. She is currently pursuing her Ed.S. degree with an emphasis on the neurobiological influences of learning.  Jane completed her undergraduate work at Miami University in Oxford, OH, and earned her M.Ed. from NCSU with a concentration in Learning Disabilities.  Jane is certified in the Wilson Language System, and is passionate about helping people of all ages learn to read.  Prior to joining PACE, Jane worked as a Three Springs counselor, and then taught at an alternative high school in Chatham County and year round middle school in Wake County. Jane takes pride in being a part of the charter application process – from writing the actual document to the extensive preliminary planning year activities  a challenging, yet rewarding experience. Jane thanks everyone for their commitment to PACE Academy and welcomes students and their families for another fabulous year.

Tell Jane: Links for Information, Resources, and Services

 

 

 

 

Laura Cottrell, English Teacher Class Blogs email

 

Laura Cottrell is the Lead English Teacher for students in grades nine-twelve.  Laura has a variety of experience she brings to the PACE community.  For the last five years, Laura has worked as a Mental Health Case Manager for children and adolescents.  Prior to that she taught English at Three Springs of North Carolina.  Laura earned a Bachelors Degree from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative wring and Communication from the University of New Orleans.  She is a published poet and contributor to a variety of texts.  Laura enjoys spending time with her two children Laja and Logan.

 

 

 

Bill Hoffman, Social Studies and Electives Class blogs  email

 

Bill Hoffman teaches Social Studies and elective courses.  Bill's experience includes: teaching at a charter high school, serving as an officer in the USMC, and volunteering for the PEACE Corps in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Bill is retired from Verizon where he had extensive experience in business and management worldwide.  Bill completed hus undergraduate work at Union College of Kentucky and graduate work at Western Kentucky as well as UNC-Greensboro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dejah Mtingwa, Science Teacher   email

 

Dejah is excited to teach science at PACE Academy.  She works hands-on with the students to get them interested in science.  Her philosophy is that there is at least some aspect of science that everyone loves, they just may not have found it yet.  She is a graduate of Elon University with a degree in Biology.  

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Christie, Mathematics and Music Class Blogs email

 

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Jazz Studies, Jon traveled extensively throughout the United States and Central America exploring life and reaching out to and learning from people wherever he went. He has also been to South Africa where he was born and plans on seeing much more of the world someday. Along with traveling, Jon loves listening to and playing music of all forms, enjoying nature, surfing, working with computers and audio, and trying new things. He is also currently in a local Motown band that plays gigs around North Carolina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christine Norton, Studio Art Class Blogs email

 

Christine is a Glass Blower, Fine Artist, Commercial Artist, and Art Teacher. She graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1985. Her work has been shown in Berlin and Wurzburg, Germany; Los Angeles, California; and Durham, North Carolina. Christine has won several art contests, and so have her students. She also works as a freelance illustrator, a sign designer, and has been commissioned to do paintings for hotels and restaurants. She presently resides in the small community of Saxapahaw, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina with her eleven year old son, Elan. She has taught elementary through high school art students in the Alamance/Burlington school district and the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools. Her future ambition is to complete a Masters degree in Fine Arts.

 

 

 

 

Jason Cottrell, OCS and Science Class Blogs email

 

Graduate of Mount Union College (Ohio) BS - Sports Medicine inorHealth Education Graduate of NC Teach Program 2001 Three Springs of NC 2000-01 Science 9-12 Woodlawn MS , Mebane 2001-04 Science/Social Studies 7th PACE Academy 2004-present OCC, Science, Health/PE.

 

 

 

Board of Directors

 

Sylvia Mason,                                      Trevor Fleck

Board Chairperson                                Member

 

Lauren Kohler                                                            

Member, Board of Directors                 

 

Sharon Spencer

Member, Board of Directors

Edward Aul

Member, Board of Directors

 

 

Board Meeting Dates:

All Board meetings are held at the school on the third Saturday of each month at 9am.

 

PACE Academy is currently accepting letters of interest for individuals interested in becoming a member of the Board of Directors. Please call 933-7699 or email: paceboard@pace-academy.com if you are interested in learning more.