Trilogy School Faculty and Staff
Trilogy School Administration
Judy Williams, Co-founder, and Administrative Consultant
Judy Williams is the co-founder of the Trilogy School and currently serves as an Administrative Consultant after serving as Director and Principle for twenty-three years. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has earned a Master of Arts in School Administration from NC State University. Judy is a graduate of the Kellogg Institute and is a Developmental Education Specialist, has completed postgraduate work in Learning Disabilities at NC State University, and received training at UNC-TEACCH. She has five decades of educational experience that includes teaching English from middle school to college and serving on the faculties of NC State University and William Peace University. She enjoys spending her free time with her family.
Dr. Laura Wyatt Ph.D. Co-founder and School Psychologist
Dr. Wyatt is the co-founder of The Trilogy School where she fills the role of Psychologist. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master’s of Education in Special Education and Ph.D. in School Psychology from NC State University. Dr. Wyatt has more than five decades of teaching and tutoring experience, working with children of all ages in a variety of subjects. In addition, she has worked with children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, and other special needs. She has served on the Advisory Board of the College of Education at N. C. State University for many years and is also co-owner of Triangle Psychoeducational Consultants, a psychology practice specializing in educational evaluation and consultation. Laura spends much of her free time in her favorite role, that of fun and adoring grandmother.
Ann Ashby, Director of Upper School
Ann Ashby has been with the Trilogy School since its beginning in 1999. She started as a middle school writing teacher for fifteen years, has taught high school English, is the High School Division Chair, and serves as our Upper School Director. Ann is a passionate advocate for the students of Trilogy, who benefit from her dedication to their well being, growth and success. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from East Carolina University. Additionally, she has completed training at the Hill Center in Written Language Methodology and in the Wilson Reading Program. Her work experience includes teaching English at William Peace University, Durham Technical Community College, and East Carolina University and tutoring in those school’s Writing Centers. Ann is a pop culture aficionado and loves movies, music, and dance.
Genny Smith, Lower School Director
Genny Smith has comprehensive educational experience in public, private, and charter schools throughout North Carolina for more than two decades. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from NC State University, with an emphasis in families and children, and her Master of Arts in Education, in School Counseling, from Wake Forest University. She enjoys working with students of all ages, along with their families and support specialists. Genny joined the faculty at Trilogy as School Counselor in 2016 and brings that passion for supporting the whole child into her current role as Lower School Director. Her compassion and understanding benefit the students of the Lower School and help her to create nurturing relationships with them. When not at the Trilogy school, she is devoted to her many pets, including dogs, cats, lizards, mice and more, and enjoys helping rescue animals throughout the community.
Baxter Smith, Director of Admissions
Before joining the Trilogy faculty in 2015, Baxter Smith taught in both Wake and Durham public schools. She has worked with children with learning differences at Oak Grove Elementary in Durham and taught preschool children on the autism spectrum disorder in Chapel Hill. Baxter is currently the Director of Admissions and teaches afternoon elementary classes. She earned an Associate in Arts degree with a voice specialization from St. Mary’s College in Raleigh and a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from Meredith College. She completed her NC certification courses at Shaw University and is qualified in grades K through 6. She has completed many workshops on autism and adhd. Students flourish from her kindness and her willingness to listen to their needs. Outside of school she is an avid runner and enjoys her time training and riding horses with her daughter.
Liza Camak, School Counselor
Liza received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development from East Carolina University, as well as her Master of Science in Counselor Education. She has interned with Wake County Public Schools and is a Licensed Professional School Counselor who has logged many hours in direct counseling services to students. She has experience with ABA therapy and in leading classroom guidance lessons. Her strengths are communication with faculty, parents, and students and supporting an inclusive work environment for all students while assisting them with their diverse social, emotional, and academic needs. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Trilogy family.
Office Staff
Betty Woodson, Business/Office Manager
Betty Woodson has been the Business/Office Manager of the Trilogy School since 1999. She has over twenty years teaching experience with Wake County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, St. Timothy’s, and the Title I Reading Program. Betty has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Greensboro College (Greensboro, NC) and has completed her Reading Certification. Serving as manager of a small school means that Betty could be filling one of many roles from one minute to the next; she knows and engages with every student, their families, faculty and staff. Away from work, Betty likes to escape to the beach, where she enjoys boating and playing with her grandchildren.
Tammie Coon, Administrative Assistant
Tammie Coon has been a member of the Trilogy School community for over twelve years; she is the school’s administrative assistant and health advisor, which includes many roles from substitute teaching to teaching a cooking class to high schoolers at lunch to taking someone’s temperature or helping a teacher; she is the cheerful smile at our front door and shares joy and good humor with all. She is a parent of a Trilogy alum, who is currently attending college. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana) and worked for many years in internal medicine and cardiology. When not at Trilogy, she can be found tearing it up on the tennis court.
Trilogy School Faculty
Mary Jo Basile, Elementary/Middle School
Mary Jo Basile joined the Trilogy School faculty in 2019 as a reading teacher. Her career in education includes decades at WCPSS as a Literacy Coach and Interventionist and time served as a classroom teacher for kindergarten and children with Special Needs in schools in other states. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Wagner College (New York) and a Master of Science in Special Education from Long Island University (New York). Her expertise includes teaching certifications in Elementary Education, Reading, and Cross Categorical (K-12). Her students thrive in her caring classroom. She has a passion for travel and can be found out for a daily walk along the Greenways around town.
Deborah Brown, Middle School
Deborah Brown joined the faculty at the Trilogy School in 2013 and has taught a variety of subjects to middle school students; she currently teaches science. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a continuing education certificate in Education Awareness from Meredith College. Her career in education includes curriculum development, mentoring student teachers, Science Coordinator and Common Core advisor for Wake County Public Schools, and grade level chair, in addition to teaching students. She attained the Master teacher position in WCPSS. Her students benefit from her patience in the classroom. When not at school, Deborah can be found engaging with animals, like managing box turtles in her backyard!
April Cervi, Middle/High School
April Cervi has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Teaching degrees in Secondary Math Education, both from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has an extensive career in teaching mathematics that includes private schools, Wake County public schools, and Wake Tech Community College. She has also held the position of math department chair for St. Timothy’s School. April joined the faculty at the Trilogy school in 2019 and teaches a range of math classes to middle and high school students. She has a NC teaching certificate for secondary and middle grades math education. April’s students benefit from the joy she radiates every day. She loves the beach and gets away to the coast as often as possible.
Amy Donnelly, Elementary/Middle School
Amy comes to us with a varied background as a teacher in a charter school, Wake County Public Schools, The Hill Learning Center, and as a resource and inclusion Special Education Teacher and Case Manager in Wake County. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a BA degree in communication and psychology and from Meredith College with a master’s degree with a special concentration in Special Education. She has trained at The Hill Center and has experiences in Wake County’s assessments. She brings her wealth of knowledge and experience to Trilogy where she will be teacher and conducting assessments.
Eugene Fahning, High School
Eugene joined the Trilogy School faculty in 2013. He teaches our high school students in a variety of math and science subjects that include Discrete Math, Advanced Functions and Modeling (AFM), Precalculus, Calculus, Biology, Physics, and all the levels of Algebra. He has also instructed students in the Woodworking elective. In addition to teaching, he has extensive experience in tutoring students to improve their understanding in math and science. Eugene is especially popular with students for playing or refereeing “street hockey” with the high schoolers during lunch. Outside of Trilogy, Eugene is a whiz in the kitchen, frequently trying new recipes from different cuisines, and enjoys many outdoor activities, like fishing and camping.
Marchelle Flowers, Elementary and Middle School
Marchelle Flowers has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education from Appalachian State University and holds teacher certification as a cross categorical resource for kindergarten through twelfth grade. Her previous professional experience includes over three decades of teaching in Wake County Public Schools. She started at Trilogy in 2015 and teaches elementary and middle school children in a variety of subjects. Additionally, Marchelle served as the Elementary Chairperson for the school. Her gentle demeanor creates a nurturing environment in which to learn. Marchelle can be found taking in a play or working in her garden in her free time.
Beth Hardee, Middle School
Beth joined the Trilogy faculty in 2003 and teaches our middle school students in social studies. She also mentors the Student Council as Advisor. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master of Arts degree in Special Education, Cross Categorical, from the University of Phoenix. She has also completed workshops in Methodology and Study Skills at the Hill Center and received training in the Wilson Reading System and Foundations. Beth is a North Carolina certified teacher for K-12 Special Education. Her students love the exciting field trips she plans each year. In her spare time, she can be found delighting in her many pets, including chickens, dogs, birds, geckos, and a tortoise.
Viviana Hillmann, High School
A former member of Ravenscroft School, Viviana brings her enthusiasm and energy as well as her Spanish expertise to our faculty. She is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she studied education at the Profesorado de Ingles. Throughout her long career, she has taught PK-12th grade Spanish in New Zealand, Canada, and at several schools in Raleigh. We are excited to add her to our faculty and for her to bring creativity to our students as they grow in their foreign language skills.
Beth Hobgood, Elementary/Middle/High School
Beth Hobgood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education for K-12 with a concentration in developmental disabilities from East Carolina University; she has also undergone training with UNC TEACCH in methodology for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and with the Crisis Prevention Institute in nonviolent de-escalation techniques for school settings. Beth has taught a variety of subjects to all ages at Trilogy School since joining the faculty in 2012. Outside of school, she shares her gifts as a teacher with her community, as well being a mom of her three daughters.
Sharon Kenan, Elementary School
Sharon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education for Kindergarten through twelfth grade from Appalachian State University. She has more than three decades of professional teaching experience at Wake County Public Schools and Dorothea Dix Hospital/Spring Hill School. She is a North Carolina certified teacher. Joining the Trilogy faculty in 2012, Sharon teaches writing and mathematics to our elementary students. Her calm, joyful personality nurtures every child lucky enough to be in her class. When not at school, Sharon dotes on her family and enjoys spending time in Blowing Rock, NC.
Mackenzie Lambert, Elementary/Middle and High School
Mackenzie has a bachelor’s degree double majoring in Psychology and Education at Meredith College. During her time at Meredith, she interned at Brooks Elementary School here in Raleigh and The Trilogy School in the second half of her senior year. She also worked as an intern over the summer of 2019 during Trilogy’s summer school program and directed Trilogy’s summer school program in 2021. This is her third year at Trilogy, and even though she has taught various classes, her specialty would be reading and writing. She loves to spend her free time with friends and family at the beach during the summer and somewhere skiing in the mountains during the winter.
Marlene Mazzola, Elementary School
Marlene came to Trilogy as a substitute teacher, and summer school teacher and is now a reading and math teacher. She has been teaching for over 30 years, teaching in New York and being a reading intervention teacher for over 23 years in Wake County Public Schools. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/ Elementary Education and a Master of Science degree in reading grades K-8. When she was in Wake County as a reading intervention teacher, she also coached her peers on the reading program. She is always looking for resources to motivate and teach her students to reach their true potential. Marlene is devoted to her family, which consists of her husband of almost 40 years, 28-year-old boy/girl twins, and her 2 cats. In her free time, she loves reading, yoga, and taking long walks while listening to music.
Sally Melvin, Middle/High School
Sally joined the Trilogy school faculty as a mathematics teacher in 2015 and has served as the Middle School Division Chair. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Secondary Level Certification in Mathematics from the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). She has three decades of teaching experience, both in South Carolina and Wake County. Sally is a NC certified middle school teacher and also achieved National Board Certification.
Her students benefit from her patience and her skills in individualizing math instruction. Sally is a puzzle master and can be found solving crosswords, jigsaws, and logic problems for fun in her spare time.
Lee Merritt Goss, Elementary/Middle School
Lee Merritt Goss teaches a variety of subjects to elementary students. She has almost three decades of teaching experience in Wake County Public Schools and has served as a Grade Chair, Reading Chair, Mentor, and on the Leadership Team during that time. She is proud to have been honored as Teacher of the Year during that time. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and earned an Early Childhood Education Certification, both from Meredith College. Lee is a National Board-certified teacher. Her love of gardening is a benefit to our school community as she coordinates and helps maintain our small school garden. She can be found in her own garden or away to the beach in her free time.
Stephanie Morales, Middle/High School
Stephanie Morales has more than forty years of teaching experience in both New York and in Wake County. She joined the Trilogy School in 2016 and teaches High School English. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) and a Master of Science in Special and General Education from Bank Street College (New York City, NY). In addition to this, she has completed workshops in Reading and Writing at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York City, NY). Stephanie is dedicated to meeting each student where they are and working with them to both further their skills and also develop an appreciation for reading and writing. Outside of school, she indulges in her own love of reading and enjoys taking a book poolside.
Ashlee Owen, Middle School
Ashlee Owen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky) and Elementary Education and Special Education Certificates from Peace College. She started at the Trilogy school as a substitute teacher, beloved by staff and students, and was invited to join the faculty in 2019. Ashlee teaches a variety of subjects to middle and high school students. She is fully licensed in North Carolina in elementary and special education and has the highly qualified distinction for elementary education. Her previous educational experience is with Wake County Public Schools and St. Timothy’s. Ashlee’s students enjoy her easy-going nature and good humor. She stays busy outside of school fixing up her hundred-year-old house and fostering dogs.
Betsy Perkinson, Elementary School
We are happy to welcome Betsy to the Trilogy staff. She comes to us with a wealth of experience from Preschool to Fifth Grade in both public and private school environments in Raleigh, South Carolina, and Georgia. A graduate of the College of Charleston with a BS in Elementary Education, Betsy has her Certification in South Carolina for grades K-8. She will be teaching in the Lower School. We are excited to add her to Trilogy’s team of educators.
Lisa Phipps, High School
Lisa Phipps primarily teaches High School History classes at the Trilogy School. She is a NC Certified Teacher and has extensive teaching experience that includes Pitt, Cumberland, and Wake counties. She taught at St. Timothy’s School in Raleigh for eighteen years where she served in roles that include Lead Teacher, Guided Reading, Technology Integration, and Assessment. She holds Bachelors of Art degrees in History and Elementary Education from Meredith College. We have been lucky to have her here since 2014. She loves to read and often chooses books related to classes she is teaching, so she can share them with her students in class.
Margaret Stroud, High School
Margaret Stroud has been a high school teacher at the Trilogy School since 2014, teaches various classes in the Social Sciences and also teaches our Forensic Science elective. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Guilford College (Greensboro, NC) and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver (Denver, CO). In addition to teaching, she has worked with a variety of students in residential treatment centers, served as a family service worker, and created assessment and counseling plans for children and adolescents. Students thrive in her classes and enjoy her engaging sense of humor. When not in school, Margaret can be found off an adventure to the beach or mountains with her family.
Faculty Development Workshops Past Four Years
2018-2019
- “The Crucial Difference Between Mental Health and Mental Illness”- conducted by Dr. Emily King
- “School Safety, Security, and Lockdowns”- conducted by Raleigh Police Department
- “De-escalation Strategies and Techniques: Lunch and Learn”- conducted by Sharon Hahn
- “Understanding Testing and How to Use it”- conducted by Dr. Laura Wyatt
- “Mental Health First Aid- Part 1 and 2”- conducted by Meg Hill
2019-2020
- “The Four Functions of Behavior-Autism and Strategies for the Classroom”- conducted by Keri Sullivan
- “Self Care and Reset Tools (stress-reducing strategies inside and outside the classroom)”- conducted by Kelly from Everyday Yoga
- “Take a Moment of Mindfulness”- conducted by Marlee Thomsen
- “Suicide Prevention”- conducted by Marlee Thomsen
- “MakersSpace and Integrating Curriculum”- conducted by Grace Hancock
- “Remote Learning and Technology Training”- conducted by Ann Ashby, Genny Smith, and Grace Hancock
2020-2021
- “Managing Return to School Anxiety after Pandemic”- conducted by Marlee Thomsen
- “Using Technology for Effective Virtual Teaching on Zoom 101”- conducted by Eugene Fahning
2021-2022
- “Learning Disabilities in the 21st Century”- conducted by Caitlyn Owens
- “Trends in School Psychology”- conducted by Dr. Laura Wyatt
- “Data Summary and Performance Analysis- IOWA Assessments”- conducted by Judy Williams
- “Cognia Engagement Review”- conducted by Judy Williams
- “Building Faculty Communication”- conducted by Ann Ashby, Genny Smith, and Grace Hancock
