Founder/CEO

Suttiwan Cox, former ESOL teacher in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties, Georgia, has been an educator for over 30 years. She is in the Georgia Teacher Hall of Fame. She was a 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year finalist and the 1999 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year, and is a Milken Educator. She was also appointed by Governor Roy Barnes to serve on the Education Reform Study Commission in 1999 and 2000. Suttiwan Cox has an M.A. in English and M.Ed. (Leadership/Business Administration)

 

Principal

Ms. K Stagdon completed her Leadership Endorsement through the University of Georgia in May 2008 and has taken on the role of Principal at PATH Academy.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Alaska, as well as a Master’s Degree from the University of Alabama, both in Education.  Ms. Stagdon spent 2 years in Japan, and 8 years in Ecuador teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language.  She has earned a certificate in ESOL as well as her Gifted Endorsement while working here at PATH.  Ms. Stagdon’s passion is education, especially in the Middle School.

 

Counselor

 

Ms. S Singer is our school counselor at PATH Academy.  She earned her B.S. in Psychology
and English from Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. from California State University, Northridge in Educational Psychology and Counseling,  with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy.   Ms. Singer began her mental health career in 1986
in Los Angeles.  She has worked with children, teens, adults, families and the elderly in a variety of settings including group homes, hospitals, clinics, juvenile corrections and in-home social work.  She has two years of teaching experience in Special Education.   Ms. Singer taught literacy as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in the Eastern Caribbean, and learned Spanish in Mexico and Costa Rica.

 

Ms. A Stephenson is a new school counselor at PATH. She grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in psychology and Spanish. From there, she took a year off from school to do volunteer work at Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, a children's home near Cuernavaca, Mexico. She then attended the University of Georgia and received her Master's of Social Work degree in 2009. Ms. Stephenson completed her social work internship at Central State Hospital's Child and Adolescent Acute Psychiatric Unit.

 

Staff

Mr. P Medley attended High Point University. It should come as no surprise that Patrick played basketball while majoring in human relations. In addition to majoring in human relations, Patrick has worked with youth for thirteen years and truly values his position as a positive role model for young people. Because of his faith, he feels that one should believe in what they are doing in life and in their daily activities.

 

Ms. J Locklear attended college at the Atlanta College of Art and received a BS in Art Education from Indiana University in 2001. Ms. Locklear has been an art teacher for 8 years and has taught visual art from grades kindergarten through middle school. She values teaching students to respect diversity through art problem solving and to have faith in their ability to create. Ms. Locklear enjoys reading, making pottery and jewelry, traveling, and the beach.

 

 

Ms. D McCombs attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and holds a B.S. in Community Development from Georgia State University. She received her Masters in Education from American Intercontinental University. McCombs has used her determination to become a seasoned and successful teacher. She considers teaching as a calling from GOD. Her compassion for children is the fire that helps her to teach her students not only Language Arts but also how to become better people by being kind and tolerate of others. Last year, she was honored to represent PATH as its’ 2009 Teacher of the Year.

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Mr. A Langley was born in Georgia and has had a lifelong love of music that started with piano lessons in the 2nd Grade. He was drawn to computers at an early age and attended Southern Polytechnic State University where he graduated in 1989 with a BS in Computer Science. After graduation he spent the next 11 years writing banking software. After the technology bubble burst he changed careers and has been a music teacher for PATH Academy since its inception in 2002. He also teaches computer science and typing. He recently completed his Master of Education in School Library Media and is currently working in the school's Media Center.

 

 

Mrs. T. Hannah is a native of Atlanta, GA. She earned a B.S. degree in mathematics from Georgia Southern University and her masters degree in education with a concentration in technology from Troy State University. Mrs. Hannah believes in setting high expectations because she feels that all students can succeed. In her free time, she loves cooking, reading, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family.

 

Mrs. D Earnest is a native of Tampa, Florida. She received her bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech and her masters degree in mathematics education from Boston College. Mrs. Earnest teaches 7th grade math.

 

Mr. J Stein graduated with a double major from the University of Georgia in Spanish and in International Business.  While he was growing up he lived in Ecuador for almost 3 years where he first learned to speak Spanish. After working in the mortgage industry for almost 4 years he began teaching here at Dekalb Path Academy.  He is currently pursuing a masters in secondary education.  Outside of school you may find him dancing salsa at a local dance studio or salsa event.

 

Ms. B Caleb a native of Guyana, South America graduated from Towers High School in Dekalb County in 1999 and then attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton VA where she graduated in 2003 with a BA in Philosophy/Religion and Asian Studies.  After graduating, she worked at MBC as Director of Freshmen Services and has three years teaching experience as she joins us at PATH Academy to teach social studies.

 

Mrs. Z Harvey earned her English BA from Central University, Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary. Has over 20 years varied teaching experience: Elementary School, Middle School/Junior High School English, High School English, Jr. College Business English Seminary Homiletics I and Con Ed I & II. Who’s Who in College and universities 1994 & 1996. TESA graduate. Taylor Business Institute Director of Education Award, Chicago, IL 1982. Teacher of the Year and Excellence in Education Award, Greene County, Ohio 1992. Member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

 

Mrs. S Pounders was born in Morocco and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
She graduated from Georgia State University, with a major in English and a minor in Spanish.  She went on to complete her Master's degree in English Education in 2007.  She is an avid soccer player and aspires to see all of her students succeed.

 

Ms. R Elms has lived in Atlanta for ten years, originally as a student at Oglethorpe University, then as a therapeutic foster care supervisor and now as a teacher. In the past year she has been completing graduate work in Educational Psychology at Georgia State University. She is now teaching fifth grade Social Studies while working on a thesis that measures the effects of multicultural education on ethnic identity development.

 

 

Mr. M Dana earned his Master of Music degree from Valdosta State University.He teaches music at PATH Academy and instructs The Percussion Club. He has performed with the Valdosta, Albany,Columbus, and Savannah Symphony Orchestras. He also has performed locally with his jazz group the Michael Dana Group. He also teaches percussion at the Atlanta Music Academy and at LaGrange College. Mr. Dana enjoys reading, golf, tennis, and spending time with hiswife, Amanda, and his cats, Pearl, Olive, Widdle, and Gnocchi.

 

Ms. S Stanhope comes to PATH Academy from Houston, Texas.  She has been teaching for three years. In 2005, she graduated from Davidson College with a BA in History.  Sally is looking forward to her first year at PATH.  She expects students to work harder than they ever have before!  In her free time, Stanhope likes to run, bike, read, visit museums, and watch movies

 

 

Ms. E Peyton is currently in her second year at PATH Academy, and her fifth year teaching at various schools around Georgia. She has degrees in English and English Education from UGA, the greatest school in the country. In the rare hours she isn't teaching or grading papers, Mrs. Peyton enjoys cooking, eating, taking her dog for walks, eating, reading, and eating.

 

 

Ms. E Watner was born and raised in Northwest Russia. She holds a Diploma of Higher Education from Syktyvkar State University (Russia) with Major in Mathematics and a B.A. in Organizational Management with a concentration in Mathematics from Ashford University. Currently, Ms. Watner is pursuing her graduate degree at Columbus State University. Ms. Watner has taught mathematics and physics in middle and high schools, and is teaching Physical science to 8th grades this year. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, rafting, swimming and reading. Ms.Watner is committed to working with children and making a difference in our community.

 

Ms. M Warner was born in Bangkok, Thailand. She graduated from Brenau University in Gainsville, Georgia with B.S. in Biology. She is now teaching 7th grade Life Science while pursuing Master Degree in Teaching at Brenau University. She enjoy dancing and sitting at the local park. She loves to travel. She currently resides in Lawrenceville.

 

 

Ms. V Mitchell born in Denver, Colorado has lived in Atlanta for 13 years. She graduatated from Emory University with a B.S in Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Non-profit Management and Social Policy. She teaches many classes at PATH, but specializes in learning difficulties. Ms. Mitchell wakes up every morning exited to come to PATH. In her spare time she enjoys reading and sleeping

 

 

Ms. T Lester grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended Colorado State University, where she received her B.S in Zoology. She has worked in zoos and wildlife preserves with a variety of species but mainly focused on Western Lowland Gorillas, wich shes worked with for six years, Therefore, her main passion is animals and life science, as well as earth conservation. In her free time she enjoys salsa dancing and learning other types of dance as well.

 

Ms. C Wu attended college at Georgia State University and received a Bachelor degree in Accounting. She also earned her Masters in Education from Mercer University . Ms.Wu taught Chinese for five years, and this is her second year at PATH Academy. Outside the math class she may be found swimming laps at the pool. She has been swimming since she was 5 years old in the rivers of Taiwan.

 

Mr. R Lander an Atlanta native, graduated with a BBA in finance from Georgia State University. After a successful career in Operations Management, Mr. Lander completed The Teacher Institute at The Galloway School and North Georgia College and State University. He is certified in Middle School Science. He was a National Finalist in 2009 for the Leaders In Learning Award from the National Cable Association for his leadership and creativity in the classroom! His extensive coaching experience in both baseball and basketball led to his becoming a teacher. In his spare time, Mr. Lander enjoys sports, travel, reading, gardening, and spending time with his family. He looks forward to helping the students to be successful both at PATH Academy and after their time in middle school!