Blog

For all of its 25 years, Trinity has been fortunate to have outstanding faculty and staff members who make an impact on our students and the broader community.

As the 2024-25 school year concludes, Trinity applauds the following staculty members for their recognitions and achievements, as well as their service beyond our campus.

Middle School Spanish Teacher Erica Armas presented at a North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) conference in a workshop on ways to engage with students to speak and write using authentic resources. For her presentation, Mrs. Armas highlighted her 7th Grade students' Quinceñera projects.

Speech and Debate and Mock Trial Team Coach Jennifer Bader served as a board member for the North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities and Forensics Committee Chair. The speech and debate and mock trial teams both won their respective state championships this year.

Middle School Language Arts Teacher and High School Counselor Lilla Clark was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Humanities, which aims to connect people to each other and to the stories, histories, and cultures of North Carolina. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Ashley Hall in Charleston, S.C. She presented at a NCAIS conference on reviving creative writing in Middle School.

2nd Grade Teacher Tatyana Corley received a Light the Fire grant that she will use to study the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. She will also attend the Teaching Fellows Institute in Charlotte this summer.

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Ayeola Elias completed her fifth year of service on the executive board of Generation WE, which provides children with access to inclusive literature and interactive experiences. She also presented at an NCAIS conference on the topic of inclusive classrooms.

Middle School Academic Dean and ELA Teacher Leigh Fresina presented at an NCAIS conference on the topic of designing effective math practices.

Assistant Head of School for Academics Stephanie Griffin presented at the National Association of Episcopal Schools conference on student activism as a capstone experience, based on the 8th Grade Seminar class at Trinity.

Director of Advancement Katie Keels completed her term as chair of the Board of Directors of Time Out Youth, where she has served on the board for 5 years.

Digital Learning Catalyst Mer Leeson presented at an NCAIS conference on creating a student-led IT help-desk.

Middle School Science Teacher Aprillé Morris-Butler was chosen as one of 10 National STEM Scholars for 2025. The National STEM Scholars Program is a prestigious program at Western Kentucky University and is designed to inspire middle school science teachers’ creativity and passion for teaching. As part of the program, Ms. Morris-Butler will develop a develop a classroom “Weatherwise Project” that includes a network of student-built weather stations positioned strategically around campus.

Middle School Latin Teacher Lindsey Morse presented at an NCAIS conference on world languages on the topic of a student-created film festival as part of language studies.

Learning Catalyst Suzanne Newsom will travel to Rwanda this summer to teach girls from Afghanistan through the School of Leadership Afghanistan.

Learning Catalyst Anna Okrah presented at the Association for Middle Level Education conference on the topic of supporting Middle School students' executive functioning.

Interim Head Chaplain and Dean of Community Life Rev. Lindsey Peery presented at the National Association of Episcopal Schools conference on the topic of service learning.

Director of Admission and Financial Support Fé Patriciu served on her first Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) accreditation team for a school in Richmond, Va. She also was one of only three financial aid directors chosen out of a pool of 1,000 to participate in a webinar for the Clarity financial aid platform.

Visual Arts Director Jen Rankey-Zona, a founding Trinity faculty member, was named by the Arts & Science Council as a recipient of the 2025 CATO Excellence in Teaching Awards. Ms. Rankey-Zona was one of six educators in the Charlotte area to receive the award, which recognizes educators who have distinguished themselves in the arts, science, and history. These teachers are noted for their dedication to their students' learning and creativity in the classroom.

4th Grade Instructional Assistant Sydney Robinson completed her master's degree in child life with a concentration in play therapy from East Carolina University. For her thesis, she studied health disparities in pediatrics.

Director of Facilities Dallas Schwerin was appointed to the audit committee of the International Facility Management Association's Board of Directors. The IFMA is the world's largest and most widely recognized association for facility management professionals.

Head of School Imana Sherrill joined the advisory board of Wake Forest University's School of Professional Studies. She also serves on the SAIS Board of Trustees and the Black Alumni Council for the University of North Carolina - Charlotte.

Head of Lower School Sarah Barton Thomas serves on the faculty of the SAIS New Teacher Institute and will present next fall at the SAIS annual conference. She was elected as the Singer's Representative on the board of the Charlotte Master Chorale, and was named an ambassador for the 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon.

5th Grade Teacher Joann York represented Trinity at the NCAIS Lower School Conference and presented on the topic of students' internet usage for research and gathering information.

Congratulations to these staculty members on their achievements and their service!