Click the link below to download a PDF of our 2020-2021 school calendar.
Click the link below to download a PDF of our 2020-2021 school calendar.
PREMO EDUCATORS
Why Our Teachers Are Different
Premo teachers are masters of their craft. That's why they are given a great deal of autonomy and are encouraged to teach how they teach best. Much of the school’s success can be attributed to the fact that our teachers are supported and our environment is positive. Happy teachers who feel valued and excited generate an environment of engaged students who feel connected to the joy of learning. Premo educators are honored, respected, trusted, and supported as expert professionals - and as a result, Premo students learn to honor and respect their own work as expert learners.
Meet Our Staff
Alashia Cody
Director | alashia@thepremoschool.org
Alashia has served as an educator for nine years. She has taught English Language Arts and History spanning third through eighth grade in both private and public schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of North Georgia in middle grades education with a concentration in English and History.
Alashia has worked with adolescents as a teacher, mentor, and liaison between school and community. She has led STEM committees, Google integration in the classroom, and relevant writing with a focus on project-based learning.
Alashia is an advocate for humanities-based learning. She believes history, art, philosophy, language, and literature open a window through which humans can experience an entire world from a mere idea, gain a wealth of knowledge from a hypothesis, and experience a single-human perspective with universal connections.
Alashia is married and has an eighteen-year-old daughter. Together, Alashia and her family love to read, travel, and eat!
Kerry Edgington
Early Childhood Educator| kerry@thepremoschool.org
Kerry graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelors of Science in Special Education and received her Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education with a literacy concentration and Reading Endorsement from Georgia State University.
Kerry is a lifelong learner who knew from an early age that she wanted to become a teacher. She taught in the Gwinnett County Public School System for many years. She is committed to the Premo philosophy of nurturing the whole child and fostering every child’s intrinsic desire to learn, grow, and succeed. Kerry takes a special interest in the creation of developmentally appropriate curriculum for children at every level.
Kerry and her husband have three children, all current or former Premo students. She enjoys reading, hiking, and knitting in her free time.
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Pilar Rodgers
Math & Science Specialist | prodgers@thepremoschool.org
Pilar graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She completed her graduate coursework in Math Education at the University of Georgia. Pilar has taught in formal classroom settings and has tutored 5th - 12th grade students in various settings for over 20 years.
Pilar is passionate about teaching math across the grades. She believes that math literacy isn’t just about learning algorithms and procedures but also about learning how to tackle and solve challenging problems. She is excited to structure a math program that addresses students’ needs in an engaging and creative way that also prepares them for high school math studies. As a result of her engineering training, she loves to answer that famous question, “When are we going to use this in real life?"
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Melissa Berry
Teacher | mberry@thepremoschool.org
Melissa has over 20 years of experience as an educator; including working as a certified elementary education teacher and a special education teacher; as well as her ESOL certification. Melissa loves teaching and loves to see students feeling successful in their learning. Reading is her passion and she loves developing early readers and instilling an interest and curiosity in books. She is a passionate advocate for students and will do whatever is needed to help them engage in their learning. Being a parent of a child who has learning challenges, gives her a unique perspective to be able to support not only her students but parents as well. Communication is an essential part of education and Melissa strives to be an open and honest partner in learning with families. Melissa believes that all children can learn and she hopes to be able to assist your child in their learning journey.
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Susan Mehalick
Literature & Writing Teacher | mehalick@thepremoschool.org
Susan has a degree in English from UCLA, with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She also completed one year of an MAT cohort at Reinhardt University, including student teaching and one-on-one instruction for phonics and literacy, within the Fulton County School System for K-5.
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Additionally, she has a certificate from SUNY and The University of Hong Kong in News Literacy and she has completed a workshop in Media Literacy for educators through The News Literacy Project.
Susan has worked for many years and continues to work now as a part-time, freelance writer/editor/researcher in the fields of marketing, health, education, television, and biography.
Farren Zealand-Cash
Elementary Teacher | fcash@thepremoschool.org
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Farren was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. After finishing high school, she traveled extensively and lived in Amsterdam as well as the states before pursuing her studies. She earned a Bachelors degree in early elementary education from Cape Peninsula University and taught third-grade Literacy. Farren is very interested in language acquisition and wants to continue her studies in the US focusing on curriculum development.
Farren lives with her husband and two very opposite dogs, a German Shepard and miniature Dachshund. While she once enjoyed traveling, she now spends her free time finding new parks and hiking trails to take her dogs on.
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Melanie Ponchot
Art Teacher | mponchot@thepremoschool.org
Melanie has been a working artist/illustrator for over twenty years and an art educator for fifteen. She graduated with a BFA in Fine Art from Auburn University and trained classically for a few years before launching her career as a contemporary realist painter. She spent a decade doing portraits and gallery work before transitioning into the field of Illustration. She’s illustrated products, children’s books, surface patterns, and prints. Visit MelaniePonchot.com to see her broad spectrum of work. She’s been teaching at metro Atlanta art schools since 2007.
Melanie is thrilled to join Premo because she loves to bring her infectious enthusiasm for art to the classroom. She’s excited to come alongside students, helping them discover their artistic voices and encouraging kids to engage in playful curiosity while making art.
When she’s not busy making art, you can find Melanie snuggling her dog, hiking with her husband, or dominating [destroying] her three kids in competitive four square.
Amanda Nichols
Spanish Teacher | anichols@thepremoschool.org
Amanda received both a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and an M.A. in Foreign Language Education from Auburn University. She has been teaching Spanish since 2004 in both private and public settings and has a deep love for the language and culture.
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Amanda lives in Woodstock with her husband and three children. When she's not spending time with her family or teaching, she enjoys hiking, coffee, and listening to music.
Ayanna Taylor
Ayanna Simone, Yoga Alliance certified Instructor (RYT-200HR), Sound Therapist and meditation guide.
She is the founder of Zennia Yoga & Meditation, leading corporate and private classes focused on calm, clarity and connection in Atlanta, Ga. She trained and instructed at Core Power Yoga, the leading yoga chain in the U.S. and currently teaches at the Atlanta Fitness Collective. Ayanna has partnered with non-profit organizations like the Four Seasons Camp Peach Pals, Smile Train USA & South America, and the Epilepsy Foundation, hosting yoga & mindfulness classes for fundraising initiatives. She has a heart for sharing mindfulness and movement practices with children, women, and persons living with chronic illness. Kayaking, volunteering at her local church and time with her fur baby are some of her favorite things to do!
Ayanna’s favorite quote is, “Be ashamed to die until you have scored some victory for humanity.” –Horace Mann
"I am not a teacher, but an awakener."
-Robert Frost
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
-Albert Einstein