Timothy Hall is a self-proclaimed philosopher and academic, having authored several textbook supplements, curriculums, standards, and popular history texts including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to World History and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Middle Ages. Dr. Hall has many years of teaching experience and has taught AP World History, AP European History, AP Psychology, and Medieval Studies. Prior to joining Thales Academy, Dr. Hall served as principal of a large charter high school. In addition to his daily responsibilities, he continually works to expand his involvements. He has collaborated with the College of William and Mary and the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop curricular materials for the teaching of religious freedom in US history. Dr. Hall’s current research focuses on Kierkegaardian philosophy and non-cognitive education. In all that he does, he is deeply passionate about classical education and works tirelessly to develop the highest quality education for Thales Academy students.
Dr. Hall received a B.A. in History from Elon University, a M.A. in History from East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Union Institute and University. He has received numerous awards, including schoolteacher studentships to the University of Oxford for curriculum development and research fellowships to the Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Dr. Hall serves as the Director of Operations and Academics for all campuses of Thales Academy.Ashley Bahor is a North Carolina native and has many years of experience working in public and private school systems as both a teacher and an administrator. Prior to joining Thales Academy, she served as campus administrator to a large charter school. Mrs. Bahor is committed to engaging students in opportunities and experiences that will prepare them for the future, through curricular and extracurricular programs. She is proud to be a member of the Thales family and enjoys working with her students and faculty team each day. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with the Junior League of Raleigh, reading books, and riding bikes with her husband, Ned.
Mrs. Bahor holds a B.S. in Child Development from Meredith College and a Master’s degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Melissa Blazek has always been a hard worker and extremely organized. Prior to joining Thales Academy, Mrs. Blazek worked in the medical field as a nurse in her native Australia. After years of providing care, she became an administrative assistant for General Motors and then lived in Sweden for four years where she cared for her oldest son. After her time in Sweden, Mrs. Blazek moved to the United States and raised two beautiful daughters. When all of her children began attending Thales Academy, she was impressed with the program and joined the Apex Kindergarten team as a Teacher Assistant. In 2015, Mrs. Blazek became the Administrative Assistant for Thales Academy Apex JH/HS. Daily, she enjoys providing a safe and orderly environment for all of the Apex JH/HS students and their families.
Mrs. Blazek received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Phillip Institute of Technology.Over the years, Nick Combs has worked with students in grades Pre-K through 8th Grade in traditional learning and special education environments. Mr. Combs has a strong passion for integrating technology to enhance the learning curriculum, and he has developed many programs within school systems to achieve good outcomes. Throughout his professional career, he has served as a technology consultant and has provided professional development for many school systems across the East Coast and Midwest. Mr. Combs is excited to bring his technology background to Thales Academy, serving as the Instructional Technology Administrator for all campuses.
Mr. Combs received a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Curriculum Specialist from Appalachian State University. Mr. Combs teaches Technology at Thales Academy Apex JH/HS and serves as the Instructional Technology Administrator for all campuses.Richard Dryer was born in eastern Ohio and before later moving to Middletown, Pennsylvania. After graduating from college, he won the clarinet audition for the US Air Force Band at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he served as section clarinetist, sound engineer, and computer network administrator for the Band of Flight. Mr. Dryer also performed as a soloist with the concert band and as guest conductor on several occasions. After several years of service, he retired from the Air Force in 2013 and became a full-time member of the Thales Academy faculty. Mr. Dryer strives to instill in his students a love of learning and an understanding of how to learn. He loves bringing music into the lives of his students and creating lifelong musicians and learners. In addition to music and history, Mr. Dryer counts biking and reading among his passions. He lives in Cary with his wife, son, deaf cat, and needy dog.
Mr. Dryer holds a B.M.E. from Butler University and a M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Kent State University. Mr. Dryer teaches Band.Elizabeth Jetton found her passion at Thales Academy. After teaching English Composition and Career Development at the college level, she determined that her calling was in teaching younger students. Thales students’ curiosity, energy, and high standards allow her to thoroughly enjoy each day of teaching. Mrs. Jetton hopes to instill in her students a continuous love of learning and an exceptional mastery of the English language. Her goal is summed up in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. when, in his essay “The Purpose of Education,” he wrote, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically…Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
Mrs. Jetton earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University and a M.A. in English from Wake Forest University. Mrs. Jetton teaches Trivium and chairs the Humanities Department.Originally hailing from Washington, D.C., Winston Brady spent time in Sicily, East Africa, and Capitol Hill before moving to North Carolina in 2011. He says of the Thales experience, “No other school in North Carolina strives to accomplish what Thales does. We use the latest technology in our classrooms, from iPads to Apple TVs, to make the vast literary expanse of the Western tradition available to our students. Only by taking our students through the great books, the ones that have molded great men and women long since past, will we be able to empower our students to change the world.”
Mr. Brady received a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary and is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mr. Brady teaches English, History, and Latin, and serves as a Curriculum Advisor.Debi Cauthen has taught students in both the Solomon Islands and the United States. She has industry experience as a forensic technologist in the Biology/DNA section of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and has experience in technology through training teachers to incorporate software into their classrooms. She has also enjoyed bringing education to the public by working as an educator at SeaWorld Theme Parks and as a docent at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Ms. Cauthen is excited to share her passion for science with the students at Thales.
Ms. Cauthen received a B.S. in Secondary Science Education from the University of Central Florida. Ms. Cauthen teaches Science.Hagen Donahue was born in Northern Virginia and raised in Cary, NC. Her passion for literature and history is only surpassed by her passion for teaching. Ms. Donahue’s teaching philosophy is grounded in educational psychology practices. She believes that students are most successful when they are taught how to learn, because that is the first step to understanding how to achieve anything. Ms. Donahue aims to inspire students to become passionate about their learning, for in the words of Aristotle, “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”
Ms. Donahue received a B.S. in Secondary English Education from Appalachian State University. Ms. Donahue teaches humanities courses.Laura Flack is a Delaware native, growing up in a large family of scientists and engineers. Mrs. Flack strongly believes in the value of the hands-on learning experience, which allows students to engage with and be exposed to new concepts directly. She stresses the art of critical thinking and insists that her students ask questions and continuously challenge themselves and their peers to make the most of their learning opportunities. Mrs. Flack believes that learning is not only for the classroom, but should be a fundamental part of everything we do.
Mrs. Flack earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Delaware. She previously worked as a Product Development Engineer for Johnson & Johnson and is co-inventor on 4 global patents from her work there. Mrs. Flack teaches Science.Deanna Achtelstetter was born and raised in beautiful Northern Virginia outside of Washington D.C. She considers herself fortunate to have the opportunity to change students’ lives for the better. Prior to teaching, she had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales and also co-founded a nonprofit supporting bilingual education (English-German) in the Triangle. She shares with her class an enthusiasm for learning and follows a simple motto by Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Ms. Achtelstetter received a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ms. Achtelstetter teaches Mathematics.Hollyn Geibel was raised a North Carolina girl and lived in Cary for most of her life. While interested in all subjects growing up, she quickly developed passions for history and the performing arts. She believes that history is one of the most important subjects to learn—not only does it help students open their minds to different cultures and traditions and develop critical thinking skills, learning history can help future generations avoid making the same mistakes made in the past. Because history is so important for understanding the world, Ms. Geibel believes it should be fun for students to learn. It is her goal to help students develop and expand their interests, whether for history, performing arts, or anything else life throws their way.
Ms. Geibel earned a B.A. in History Education from Elon University. Ms. Geibel teaches humanities courses.Jessie Gillooly grew up in the Triangle, where she spent her childhood playing outside, creating costumes for herself and her dogs, and coercing unsuspecting adults to read to her. She blames her favorite teachers for her incurable addiction to books. In college, she enjoyed studying a variety of subjects including English, art history, archaeology, Latin, and costume history. After graduating, she pursued a career in costume design in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area for several years before moving to Massachusetts to continue her study of British Literature. At UMass, Ms. Gillooly taught college writing, focusing on composition, rhetoric, and critical reading. Ms. Gillooly greatly enjoys sharing her passion for the humanities with her students at Thales, providing them with the tools they need to meet the great minds of past generations and cultures. Her students are continually feeding her addiction to books by making a number of excellent recommendations.
Ms. Gillooly received a B.A. in Dramatic Arts with a concentration in Costume Design and a minor in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as a M.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts. Ms. Gillooly teaches Literature, Latin, and Trivium.Leah Kleinigger was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. From a very young age, she enjoyed learning about history and archaeology. She chose to pursue these interests formally in college, studying Classical and European History. During her master's program, she studied abroad in Israel and participated in several archaeological digs in both Israel and Spain. Mrs. Kleinigger enjoys sharing her overseas experiences with students and strives to make history come alive.
Mrs. Kleinigger received a B.S. in History, Secondary Education, from Appalachian State University and a M.A. in Biblical Archaeology, New Testament, from Wheaton College. She taught history for three years at an international school in Turkey and two years at a local school before coming to Thales. Mrs. Kleinigger teaches History, Literature, and Latin.Esther Morris has been teaching at Thales Academy for 8 years, since the opening of the Apex campus. She believes that students are led to be independent thinkers when mentors provide guidance and encouragement, helping them to reach their full potential. Mrs. Morris enjoys coaching Science Olympiad and coordinating student participating in the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair. When not teaching, she enjoys reading and baking and spending time with her husband and five children.
Mrs. Morris received a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from St. Francis University and a Master’s degree in Toxicology from Duquesne University. Mrs. Morris teaches Science and Mathematics.Persephone Hohls’ love for art dates back to her high school years, when she took many classes that sparked her interest. Following her graduation from college, Mrs. Hohls worked for over a decade in the business world, serving as a consultant for a major oil and gas company. In recent years, she has returned to her original passion for art, teaching traditional studio practices that stress in-depth study of both classical and contemporary artists and styles. Mrs. Hohls thoroughly enjoys sharing her joy for painting with her students. When she is not at school, she loves spending time with her husband and two children.
Mrs. Hohls earned a B.S. in Business from the University of Cape Town School of Business in South Africa. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and has owned several companies. Mrs. Hohls teaches Art.Mrs. Samantha Overacker is a southern girl all the way from her sweet tea to her pearls. Raised in Salisbury, NC, she enjoyed her Piedmont roots until school led her to the sunny coastal town of Wilmington, NC. While in college, Mrs. Overacker discovered her passion for teaching. After graduating, she traveled to Greece, Europe, and Costa Rica to further her education on their historical and modern cultures. At Thales, Mrs. Overacker is committed to providing a learning environment that is both exciting and rigorous; one that empowers both student and teacher to pursue further learning. Her classes encourage students to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, and socially as they reach their fullest potential and become lifelong learners.
Mrs. Overacker obtained a B.A. in History and a M.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Mrs. Overacker teaches Literature and History.Emily Bass was born and raised in McLeansville, NC, a suburb of Greensboro. While interested in both math and science in high school, Mrs. Bass chose to pursue math during her freshman year of college. She began teaching after receiving inspiration from some of her own teachers throughout her academic journey. Mrs. Bass believes it is crucial for students to understand basic math skills for optimal success in the 21st century. She aims to inspire students to have a love for math and a strong sense of confidence in their own abilities.
Mrs. Bass obtained a B.S. and a M.Ed. in Mathematics from Campbell University. Mrs. Bass teaches Mathematics.Katherine Greco was born and raised in Seaford, New York. She developed a passion for writing, literature, and history at a young age and knew she wanted to be a teacher by the time she reached high school. Ms. Greco teaches with a student-focused model, striving to develop positive relationships with students while motivating and inspiring them. She believes teachers are meant to build not only knowledge, but character. Ms. Greco is honored to have the opportunity to teach at Thales Academy.
Ms. Greco received a B.A. in Politics, Economics, and Law from the State University of New York at Old Westbury and a Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching Social Studies at Coastal Carolina University. Ms. Greco teaches Literature, History, and Trivium.Dawn Graff was born and raised in Illinois. At the young age of 4, she began playing piano and has enthusiastically participated in all things musical ever since. Involvement in ensembles ranging from Madrigal Singers to the University Steel Band, Rock-n-Roll and Jazz Ensembles to church choirs, have given her diverse experiences, allowing her to work with a large and varied repertoire. She strives to give her students as many instructional and performing opportunities as possible to allow them to improve their problem solving skills and increase their self-confidence. In addition to sharing her passion for music and the arts through teaching, Mrs. Graff has also served as an Artist in Residence for both Duke Medical Center and the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
Mrs. Graff received a B.A. in Music Education from Northern Illinois University, where she received a Women’s Student Leadership award, and a M.A. in Music Education from the University of Iowa. She is also a published composer and songwriter. Mrs. Graff teaches Music and Performing Arts.Jeff Bessler was born and raised in Indiana. While growing up, he could often be found in the backyard organizing games with his family or at any ballfield in town. Through his experience participating in community athletics, Mr. Bessler discovered early on that people have a wide array of athletic abilities. Mr. Bessler believes that every individual has some degree of athleticism hidden within. His passion is helping students discover their abilities and he strives to make Physical Education a safe environment where students can explore who they are, what activities they like, and how to develop their skills.
Mr. Bessler received a B.S. in K–12 Physical Education with minors in 6–12 Health & Safety and Aquatics Administration. Mr. Bessler teaches Physical Education and Personal Fitness. He also serves as the school’s Athletic Director.Allison Burns grew up in Wake County, speaking only English until 7th Grade when she enrolled in her first Spanish class. From that point on, she continued to expand her Spanish language knowledge through academic classes, Spanish clubs, study abroad, and Hispanic cultural events in the community. She sincerely believes that the most effective method of learning a foreign language is to say the words out loud and to hear the language in context. Señora Burns has personally experienced the arduous process of learning the Spanish language in an English culture, and she understands the challenges her students encounter, as well as the rewards they gain when studying a culture different from their own. She knows that the end result of hard work, learning from mistakes, and perseverance is the ability to effectively use a new language and understand a foreign culture.
Señora Burns received a B.A. in International Studies with a concentration in Latin America from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned a M.A. in Education from Ashford University, specializing in English Language Learners. Señora Burns teaches Spanish.Courtney Van Kleeck was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts and moved to North Carolina when she was five years old. Ms. Van Kleeck played a vital role in assisting Thales Academy’s first graduating class during their college admissions process, helping them to gain acceptance to a number of prestigious institutions. This year, she is formally stepping into the role of College Advisor, working with all high school students from freshman year to senior year to assist them in preparing for, applying to, and gaining acceptance to colleges and universities. Ms. Van Kleeck is honored to serve at Thales Academy and she plans to continue to develop Thales’ college advising program into a program of excellence.
Ms. Van Kleeck obtained a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Music from North Carolina State University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. Ms. Van Kleeck is Thales Academy’s College Advisor.Angela Tuminno has been studying Latin since her first year of high school, when her teacher at the time made an indelible impression and kindled her interest in Classics. Her passion for ancient languages only grew while attending Washington and Lee University, where she continued her pursuit of Latin and initiated her study of Greek. While earning her undergraduate degree, she studied abroad with Arcadia University in Athens, Rome, and Sicily, and she has participated in three archaeological excavation seasons in Italy and Greece in the years since. Ms. Tuminno is thrilled to share her passion with middle and high school students through Latin class and Junior Classical League. She truly believes in the power of studying Roman and Greek culture and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share her excitement with the dedicated students of Thales Academy.
Ms. Tuminno received a B.A. in Classics and English from Washington and Lee University. She is currently pursuing a M.A. in Classics from Florida State University.Although born in Arizona, Monica Renck was raised in Raleigh and considers herself “almost" a Raleigh native. She grew up attending schools in Wake County, and majored in mathematics and education at Elon University. Following her passion after graduation, she spent ten years teaching in two different local middle schools before coming to Thales. Ms. Renck firmly believes that all students can be successful at math and gladly offers extra help to students as needed. Her goal is for her students to find joy in mathematics. In her free time, she loves to read historical fiction and British literature as well as hike local trails.
Ms. Renck received a B.A. in mathematics and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Elon University. Ms. Renck teaches Mathematics.David Mahaley has been involved in education for over 28 years as a teacher, technology consultant, and administrator. He has led education technology initiatives for much of his time in schools as well as authored several books on iPads for use in the classroom. Mr. Mahaley has organized numerous workshops for educators looking to maximize the benefit of technology in the classroom including sessions at SITE, ISTE, EdMedia, FETC, and NCTIES. He also founded the Teaching & Learning with the iPad Conference Series, a conference that draws educators throughout the region. Today, Mr. Mahaley assists Thales Academy in developing effective technology initiatives that enhance student learning.
Mr. Mahaley received B.A.s in Geography; Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures; and Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership from George Washington University. He serves as a technology consultant for all Thales Academy campuses.