Why DGS?

Expert Faculty.

More than degrees, certifications, and experiences, our teachers have perfected the ability to create a loving and respectful environment at DGS, so students can take learning risks and build independence – be that through overnight field trips, being out in the world or simply in the classroom.

Click on images below to meet our teachers...

Jennifer Jakubecy

• Founder, and Head of School
• Ph. D. in Education from University of Virginia
• MA in Education, University of Virginia
• BS in Psychology, Teacher certificate, James Madison University
• 25 years in the field of education

Jennifer Jakubecy is the Cofounder and Head of Davidson Green School. She holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in education from the University of Virginia. She has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Prior to Davidson Green School, Jennifer taught at the University of Mary Washington, College of Education, where she taught pre-service teachers best instructional practices. She is passionate about teaching children through a natural, holistic approach that inspires students’ innate curiosity and problem solving. Jennifer has two daughters who attend Davidson Green School. When not at DGS, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, finding new and interesting plant based recipes to try, and traveling.

"The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it's to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel that they're valued." Ken Robinson

Kathleen McIntyre

• Science and Sustainability Coordinator, Co-Founder
• MS in Forestry, University of Georgia
• BS Environmental Health Science
• Certified in Permaculture Design
• 15 years in the field of education

Kathleen McIntyre is Cofounder and Coordinator for Science and Sustainability at Davidson Green School. She also leads mindfulness practices, music; and coordinates DGS’s participation in the Davidson Farmers Market. Kathleen holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Health Science and a Master’s degree in Forestry Resources from the University of Georgia in addition to being certified in Secondary Education and Permaculture Design. She has taught Biology and Earth Science at the high school and college level. Kathleen is passionate about inspiring people of all ages to live in harmony with nature and enjoys creating opportunities for them to connect with the natural world. She loves going backpacking with her family, hiking, gardening, and animals.

• Middle School Science and Engineering Teacher
• B.A. in Education and Music, Boston College
• International yo-yo champion
• 2nd degree black belt aikido
• 14 years in the field of education

Ed Haponik is the Lead Middle School Science and Engineering teacher at DGS. Ed is in his 13th year of teaching upper-elementary and middle school since completing his dual B.A. in Education and Music at Boston College. He has taught within public, independent, and charter schools, and has a passion for developing explorative, hands-on projects which challenge learners’ assumptions about the world.

In addition to teaching, Ed is an internationally known yo-yo champion, demonstrator, and contest judge. He holds a 2nd-degree black belt in the Japanese martial art of aikido and teaches classes at Aikido of Charlotte. Ed plays bass, ukulele, piano, and drums, and enjoys skateboarding, surfing, and exploring North Carolina’s natural beauty with his family.

Maya Montemurro

• Middle School English Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher, and School Arts Coordinator
• M.S. in Secondary English Education, Dowling College
• BFA in Acting, West Virginia University
• 11 years in the field of education

Maya Montemurro is the Middle School English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Davidson Green School. Maya has a BFA in Acting from West Virginia University and an MS in Secondary English Education with a grade 5/6 extension from Dowling College. She has spent 10 years as a middle and high school teacher in public schools in both Maryland and New York and has taught theatre to children ages 5 – 18 in public school and small professional theatres. Maya instills all of her instruction with creativity and a passion for literature and the English language. She respects all of her students as individual learners with specific interests and learning styles while creating a supportive learning environment in which all her students can learn together and from one another. Maya is originally from New York, but is thrilled to call North Carolina her home. In her spare time she loves to read, get into all manner of craftiness, and explore her new home with her two amazing daughters and her wonderful husband.

• Middle School Mathematics Teacher
• B.A. in Education, minor in math, science, and gifted education from UNC-Charlotte
• Certified by the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards in Mathematics
• Certified NC Environmental Educator
• 37 years in the field of education

Kim Smith is the Lead Math Teacher at DGS for grades 6th through 8th. Kim has a BA in education with a minor in math, science and gifted education, all earned at UNC-Charlotte. She is certified by the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards in Mathematics and has her her North Carolina Environmental Educator Certification.

With 36 years of experience, she has held positions teaching, mentoring teachers and administration.

She is passionate about educating children, protecting animals and preserving the environment for future generations. When not at DGS Kim enjoys gardening, exploring new places, hiking, serving the community and spending time with family.

Whitney Branisteanu

• Upper Elementary Lead Teacher
• M.A. in Early and Elementary Education, James Madison University
• Spanish Minor, James Madison University
• Gifted Recourse Teacher
• 2013 Educator of the Year Award, Dulles Chamber of Commerce
• 9 years in education

Whitney Branisteanu is the lead teacher for the Upper Elementary class at Davidson Green School. She holds a Master's Degree in Early and Elementary Education as well as a Minor in Spanish from James Madison University in Virginia.
Her experience includes teaching in primary through upper elementary classrooms, as well as working with Kindergarten through 6th grade students as a gifted resource teacher. She delivered advanced math instruction to upper elementary students, taught in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool, and mentored several first-year and student teachers. In 2013, Whitney received the Educator of the Year award from the Dulles Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Whitney helped open a STEAM Lab in her previous school in Virginia, and chaired and established annual Walk to School Days, Family Fitness Nights, and grade-level TRASHion Shows.
Whitney is committed to helping her students think creatively, take risks, solve problems, and be resilient when faced with challenges. She was drawn to Davidson Green School's close-knit community and its many opportunities and outlets for students and teachers to be creative. Whitney also loves the school's commitment to teaching students to work collaboratively, communicate respectfully, and to interact with and appreciate nature. Whitney is thrilled that her two children are students at DGS! Outside of school, Whitney enjoys writing, singing, cooking, boating on Lake Norman, and supporting new mothers.

• Upper Elementary Lead Teacher
• Philosophy Teacher
• M.A.T. in Philosophy for Children, Montclair State University
• B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education K-8 University of Connecticut
• Gifted Certification, University of New Orleans
• 42 years in education

Recipient of the NEH Teacher-Scholar Award, Matt Berman has been an elementary school teacher for more than 40 years, with certification in gifted education and degrees in education and philosophy for children. A nationally recognized expert in children's literature, Matt has written four books on the subject, and his reviews, articles, and columns have appeared in many journals, including Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has also taught children's literature at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, and his reviews have appeared on numerous websites, including Common Sense Media, Disney Family, Family.com, iVillage, and the Child Lit Wiki. Matt has also been a freelance writer and editor, website developer, teacher trainer and consultant, photographer, communications director, and founding director of the Nueva Center for the Humanities.

Matt believes that it is difficult to overestimate what children can do, think about, and understand — and all too easy to underestimate; that, if a child learns only to be resourceful, to be responsive to beauty, to love thinking, to love learning, to love reading, to love truth, and to love others, then we have been wildly successful, for there is nothing this child cannot achieve; and that all things are related — nothing exists in a vacuum. He thinks, in the words of Robert Hutchins, that "It is the purpose of education to unsettle the minds of the young, to widen their horizons, to enflame their intellects ... Education is not to reform them, or amuse them, or to make them expert technicians in any field; it is to teach them to think, to think straight, if possible; but to think always for themselves." His hobbies include sailing and canoeing, weaving, writing, and reading (especially children's books and Dickens).

• Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
• B.A. in Fine Arts, Anderson College
• B.A. in Psychology/Early Childhood Education, UNC-Charlotte
• Certified Montessori Teacher
• 35 years in the field of education

Lynne Erickson is the lower elementary guide at Davidson Green School. She holds a fine arts degree from Anderson College and a degree in Psychology with related work in Early Childhood Education from UNC-C. She holds American Montessori credentials in both pre-primary and elementary levels. With 30 years of experience in Montessori Education, she has held positions both teaching and in administration.

Lynne is passionate about providing hands-on learning experiences and quality education in a prepared environment that respects, promotes and appreciates the potential and possibilities in each child. She enjoys cooking, gardening, art and music and loves spending time with her 3 grandchildren.

Collette Warner-Egan

• Primary Lead Teacher
• Montessori Primary Certification from CMTE/NC (AMS)
• Certification from the London Montessori Centre
• 20 years in the field of education

Collette Egan-Warner is the Primary Teacher at Davidson Green School. She holds Montessori Primary Certifications from CMTE/NC (AMS) and the London Montessori Centre. Collette grew up in Ireland in a very natural country environment. She is passionate about Montessori and once she was exposed to the Montessori philosophy it changed her perspective. She has been teaching Montessori at the primary level for seventeen years while rearing her family of four. She has taught at Marlboro Montessori Academy, NJ; Phoenix Montessori, NC and Countryside Montessori, NC, and is now extremely excited to join the Davidson Green School. Her hobbies include walking, bird watching, sewing and swimming.

• Primary Classroom Assistant
• B.A. in Psychology, UNC-Charlotte
• M.A. in School Counseling, UNC-Charlotte
• 14 years in the field of education

Judith Helms is a classroom assistant at Davidson Green School. She has a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in school counseling, both earned at UNC-Charlotte. She has worked as an assistant teacher at The Children’s Schoolhouse, which is where she fell in love with child-centered learning with an emphasis on nature and the full expression of imagination and creativity. She has also worked as a classroom assistant at Metro School, a school dedicated to students with profound and severe disabilities. At both schools Judith learned so much from the students and the staff because she believes that the whole world is a classroom and every new discovery is an adventure. It is this passion for learning and genuine warmth for students that she brings to Davidson Green School. She also has a deep respect for our environment and believes that nature can be the best teacher of all. She loves to kayak and look for our wild neighbors, walk her dogs, and listen (and dance!) to music.

• Classroom Assistant
• 18 years in the field of education

Belkis Sica is a Lower Elementary Classroom Assistant at Davidson Green School.
She was born in Cuba and came to America as a child during the early seventies,
and has been a resident of Mooresville for the past ten years. Belkis is married
with two children and recently became a grandmother.
Belkis has sixteen years of experience in Childcare / Early Education as an
assistant teacher. In this role she has assisted the lead teacher with children of
various ages to help with their educational development and life skills. As a teacher assistant, Belkis loves working with children in this age group. She helps them grow in an environment where they feel comfortable and secure to where their main focus is expressing who they are. On her time off, baking, antiquing and going hiking with her husband are her
favorite pastimes.

• Music Teacher
• Degrees
• 12 years teaching music

Billy Jones is a performer, songwriter, and music educator based out of Davidson, NC. He has released two albums of his original music, “Time”and “Without a Fight”. As a performer, Billy has been a mainstay in the Lake Norman area for years. He was awarded Summit Songwriter of the Year in 2012. As a teacher, Billy has taught thousands of private lessons specializing in guitar and voice. He was the founder of the Davidson Green School music program and has been instrumental in helping it grow to what is now. Billy also owns and runs the Birdsnest, a lesson studio/record store/performance venue in downtown Davidson.

Adriana Chacon-Pabon

• Spanish Teacher
• M. A. in Educational Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
• B. A. in Elementary Education, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
• Program of Studies of Teaching Spanish as a foreign Language, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
• 10 years in elementary education

Born in Madrid, Spain, teaching is Adriana’s passion and the reason she relocated to the United States. After teaching multiple years in Dallas, TX, the love for her family brought her to this wonderful Lake Norman area of North Carolina. She brings extensive training in the use of different resources within the classroom, and how to approach a second language to non-Spanish speakers. Adriana loves teaching in a fun way while children make use of their best, and sometimes hidden, skills. She strongly believes learning other languages is always a wonderful opportunity for children to expand their minds while exploring and becoming interested about other cultures and societies. She loves spending time with her family, watching movies, visiting museums, making crafts, sewing and doing outdoor activities.

Truly hands-on, student driven and rooted in problem-based learning, our kids learn from doing in the classroom, in the community, and in nature.

Click on images below to learn more about how we innovate...

Problem-Based Learning

Authentic Learning

Sustainability & Nature Connection

Entrepreneurism & Economics

Engineering

Community Connections

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Why DGS?

Innovative Learning.

Why DGS?

Mindful Environment.

We are conscious, deliberate, and thoughtful in all we do.

Click below to learn more about our beautiful environment...

Our Culture

Our Home

Our How

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

I chose your school because there's a lot more learning about life than math and reading. I want my kids to be thinkers, kind, compassionate and aware. I think your school makes a well rounded child. There are 2 things that blow me away about my kids going to your school - the freedom they have to learn allows them to learn at a much higher level than traditional schools, and the kindness and compassion they receive and learn to give to others is worth its weight in gold.