DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ACADEMIC SERVICES
ACADEMIC ADVISORY MEMBERS
Summer Hill currently serves as the Instructional Facilitator at Lowe's Grove Magnet Middle School of Technology. Prior to joining Lowe's Grove, she taught Social Studies as a Teach for America Corps member at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability for eight years. Ms. Hill is a 2006 graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and received a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University in 2012. More importantly, she is looking forward to working with the members of the Academic Advisory Council to continue to achieve the goals of Durham Public Schools.
Jackie Tobias has served as a principal in DPS for 6 years at Riverside and City of Medicine Academy. She has a bachelor's degree, master's and specialist degrees from University of Florida. Also, she holds a masters degree from UNCG and is National Board certified. Currently, Ms. Tobias is working on her doctorate and truly loves being a part of molding and changing the lives of students and adults.
Kimberly McVay is the Assistant Principal at Parkwood Elementary School. She received her Master's in Leadership and Policies at North Carolina State University. She was recently accepted in the Superintendent’s Future Leaders Program. She is wants every child every day to be successful.
Kenneth Lesher is a Durham County Assistant Principal at Little River School. He is a transformational leader who puts emphasis on curriculum and building a strong school community. Mr. Lesher has experience in teaching many different grade levels in the elementary setting, as well as being certified as a Reading Specialist, in AIG, and being a NBCT, He feels he can bring to the academic table a perspective that sees the whole child and the path of education that lay before them. Mr, Lesher's goal is to play an integral part in ensuring that all of our young students become life long learners and that they are prepared to compete in a global community in the 21st century and beyond.
Arrica Dubose is currently serving as the principal of Creekside elementary. She has served as a principal in our district since 2012. She received her bachelor in Elementary Education from Winston Salem State University and a Master's of School Administration from UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about growing students to their full potential.
Shaneeka Moore-Lawrence is entering her sixth year as Principal of Bethesda Elementary School and her 15th year in education. Moore-Lawrence attended the UNCG as a NC Teaching Fellow where she received a degree in English and certification in Secondary Education. She received her Elementary Education Certification from NCCU and also graduated from there with her Master's in School Administration Degree as a NC Principal Fellow. Currently, she is completing her Doctoral Degree from UNCG in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations and is in the final stages of the dissertation process. She wholeheartedly concurs with Nelson Mandela’s quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Charity Uzoewilu is a proud graduate of two excellent institutions of higher learning; East Carolina University and Grand Canyon University. Her teaching experience spans 8 dedicated years and includes elementary, middle, secondary and collegiate level instruction. She currently serve in the role of Instructional Coach and feel that it allows her the opportunity to serve teachers, students and parents, as well as, share the passion she has for student learning and achievement.
Dr. Tekiesha Mitchell Dr. Tekeisha Mitchell is the principal of Lowe’s Grove Middle School. She is currently in her 21st year in education. Dr. Mitchell graduated from Hertford County High School (Ahoskie) then from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s of Communication degree, NCCU with a bachelor's of education degree, and NC State University with a master's in school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership. She is the proud mother of one son Ian and one daughter Makayla.
Sheena Boddie is currently completing her 2ndyear Assistant Principal at Lowe’s Grove Magnet Middle School. She holds both a Bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in Secondary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with a focus of School Administration from the illustrious North Carolina Central University. With her 10 years of experience in Durham Public Schools (DPS), she had truly grown to believe in the 3R’s of education… “Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships”. Her ultimate goals are to heighten cultural responsiveness in schools, foster academic achievement among students, and strengthen communication with the diverse population of DPS and its community stakeholders.
Thomas Seckler is entering his tenth year as a Principal with Durham Public Schools. He spent six years at Little River Elementary School and then moved up the road to open Lucas Middle School, where he just started in on our fourth year. He and his wife moved to North Carolina fourteen years ago from Massachusetts and they worked in the Chapel Hill – Carborro and Pitt County school systems before settling in Durham. They have a grown daughter who lives in Massachusetts and four dogs that keep them busy when they are not working.
Neil Clay is currently the principal at Forest View Elementary School. Previously, he was an assistant principal iin Granville County before joining Durham Public Schools. He holds a Bachelor's of Science from UNC Greensboro, Master's of School Administration and School Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill and a Masters of Theology from Harding Grad School. Neil enjoys outdoor activities and is happily married with three children.
Jerome Leathers started his teaching career with Durham Public School in 1995, at what is now Lakeview Alternative, as a Mathematics teacher. He continued his career in Orange County Public Schools; where he taught math at Orange High for two years and two years at Stanford Middle School. He returned to Durham Public Schools in August 2000; where he continued teaching Mathematics at Charles E. Jordan High School for seven years and was named Teacher of The Year for the 2004 – 2005 school year. After completing his Master’s Degree in School Administration and Supervision, he worked as an assistant principal at Hillside High School from 2008 – 2011. Mr. Leathers was named Principal at Charles E. Jordan High School in 2011 and remained there for three years before being named Principal at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability.