Faculty Bios

For an alphabetical listing of faculty and staff email addresses, CLICK HERE.

Click on a faculty name to read their bio:
•  Tracey Armour
•  Candace Arwood
•  Karen Barber
•  Abby Brosche` 
•  Mary Louise Brown
•  Joe Caldwell
•  Alan M. Clark
•  Sonya Hampton Coley
•  Robert Conner
•  Sue Cooper
•  Regan Cothron
•  Kyle Craighead
•  Terri Curcio
•  Meg Dougherty
•  Darrell Duncan
•  Tracy Duncan
•  Amy Eatherly
•  Penney Gilliland
•  Scotti Harris
•  Jenny Howard
•  Kim Howard
•  Betsy Hunter
•  Bill Jung
•  Charlie Lewis
•  Colleen Lloyd
•  Stephanie Lynch
•  Lori Lyons
•  Karen MacKendree
•  Mike Marsh
•  Sarah McCreery
•  Alison McDuffee
•  Jolyn Mitchell
•  Raz Molotiu 
•  Amy Morgan
•  Natalie Nix
•  Phillip Paul
•  Melissa Perry
•  Beth Philemon
•  Dede Pinson
•  Samantha Puff
•  Cheryl Ryckeley
•  Brad Schreiner
•  Lani Skeith
•  Alyssa Smith
•  Courtney Spears
•  Rebecca Stewart
•  Cindy Storey
•  Jenny Stroud
•  Donna Thurman
•  Valerie Trantum
•  Jennifer Weedman
•  Dawn Williamson
•  Bettye Zettergren

Tracey Armour is one of our 2nd grade teachers. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Tennessee State University, a Master of Arts degree in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee Technological University, and her plus 30 hours were received from Cumberland University Tracey is married to Barry, who works for United Parcel Service and also is a preacher. They have one son, Zachary, who also attends Merrol Hyde Magnet School. Tracey enjoys reading, shopping, and scrap booking in her spare time.

Candace (Candy) Arwood is one of our kindergarten teachers.  She previously taught kindergarten at Trousdale County Elementary in Hartsville and Lakeside Park Elementary in Hendersonville.  She is a
graduate of Gallatin High School and Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN.  She enjoys sewing, cooking and reading.  She lives in Hendersonville with her husband Jeff and their two daughters.  Both daughters, Penny and MollyAnne attend Merrol Hyde Magnet School.  Candy and her family are members
of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN.

Karen Barber originally haled from central Illinois. She attended one year at ISU before marrying and moving to Gallatin in 1975. She attended Volunteer State for three years, earning associates degrees in musical performance and musical education.  After taking a twelve sabbatical to rear three children at home, she went on to earn her elementary education degree in 1992 from Cumberland University. She earned her masters’ degree in education, also at Cumberland University, in 1998. She went on to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville in 1999 and earned her doctorate in Professional Practices in 2002. During these years Dr. Barber also taught 4th grade for seven years at Union Elementary before going to Vena Stuart for more three years. She then taught for two years at Benny Bills Elementary in Gallatin before joining us in 2004 in a third grade position. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, she moved to the 5^th grade at MHMS and has thoroughly enjoyed the new challenges. She and her husband, Daryl, live in Gallatin. Between them, they share two sons and two daughters, as well as 4 grandchildren, soon to be 5. Dr. Barber enjoys reading during the cooler months and motorcycling and traveling with her husband and friends during the warmer months. As an animal lover, she also enjoys having pets in the classroom and at home, encouraging children to accept the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Mary Louise Brown is a lifelong resident of Sumner County.  Her 18 years teaching experience have all been in Sumner County.  She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University with a minor in math.  During her time as an undergrad student, Mary Louise studied for a semester in England at Harlaxton College the English campus of the University of Evansville. Mary Louise received her master's degree from Cumberland University in curriculum development.  She has two children Mary Katherine (8) and Trey (6) who attend Merrol Hyde Magnet School.  Mary Louise enjoys spending time with her children.  She also enjoys reading, gardening, and sewing.

Terri Curcio teaches kindergarten thru twelfth grade physical education and Wellness.  She lives with her husband, Jarrod and two dogs, Daisy and Rhodi.  Terri has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a K-12 teaching concentration from East Tennessee State University.  She also has her teachers’ certification for Illinois where she taught school at Loyola University in Chicago for five years.  While in Chicago Terri received her personal trainer’s certification from USA Trainers and trained with world known bodybuilders Charles Durr and Sergio Olivia. She also has certifications for Brian Grasso’s Youth Strength Training, YMCA’s Group Exercise, Spin, and First Aid and CPR.
Terri has taught school for nine years with age’s preschool through grade twelve.  She has also coached varsity basketball, softball, and soccer.  During Terri’s spare time she can be found on the soccer field with our girl’s varsity team or at the Sumner County YMCA where she currently teaches three spin classes and has four personal training clients.

Coach Meg Dougherty received her BA in Sociology from The University of Mississippi.  Her teaching certification in K-12 Physical Education and Health was acquired at University of Memphis.  She started her career in Memphis, TN teaching middle school P.E. in the Memphis City School System.  She has just moved back to the South after living and teaching in New York City at an all girl’s private school.  She has coached Varsity and Middle School Soccer, Basketball, Softball and Track and Field.  She is the head coach for the Middle School Girl’s Basketball team here at Merrol Hyde.  Coach Dougherty lives in the Bellevue area and in her free time plays in a Nashville Kickball, Basketball and Softball league.  She is extremely happy to be teaching here at Merrol Hyde and hopes to have a positive influence on her students and athletes.

Darrell Duncan teaches 8^th and 10^th/11^th grade American History.  He earned his B.A. in History from David Lipscomb University and his teaching certification from Trevecca.  He is a native of Gallatin, Tennessee.  He began teaching here at MHMS in 2006, after managing the Porter Paint store in Gallatin and teaching faux finish classes at Vol State.  For many years Darrell has been an associate minister at Center Chapel Church of Christ in Mt. Juliet.  He has also co-directed a youth camp for 225+ children and teens each summer since 2002.  He coaches the MHMS walking team.  Mr. Duncan enjoys travel and hiking, making him the perfect chaperone for the 7^th grade Tremont trip and the 8^th grade Washington D.C. trip.  He really enjoys traveling with his wife,  and especially enjoys cruising in Alaska, the Caribbean, and has plans for a transatlantic cruise. 

Tracy Duncan is a kindergarten teacher here a MHMS. She earned her B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education from David Lipscomb University and her Master’s from Tennessee Technological University. She began teaching kindergarten in 1993. Outside the school classroom, Tracy continues to be involved with children. She designed, developed, and implemented an on-going complete curriculum of Christian education for a 700-person church in Cannon County, with a systemized training program for children ages 6 months to 4 years. She assists each year in summer youth camps on Short Mountain in Cannon County, where she met her husband, Darrell, a teacher here at MHMS and a minister at Center Chapel Church of Christ in Mt. Juliet. “Miss Tracy” looks forward to each new school year with great anticipation and appreciation for exceptional gift each child brings to her classroom.

Amy Eatherly is one of our new fourth grade teachers. She graduated Cum Laude from Austin Peay State University with a degree in K-6 Education. Amy is originally from Chicago but moved to Sumner County at the end of her high school career. She recently married her high school sweetheart, Michael, on June 20, 2009. Amy finds in joy in reading, staying active at FBC Hendersonville and spending time with her husband. 
 

Penney Gilliland has been a Sumner county teacher for twenty plus years. She has taught Teen Living, Language Arts and a Reading/Writing Workshop all at Portland Middle School. Mrs. Gilliland was selected Teacher of the Year in 2000 at Portland Middle School. Mrs. Gilliland received her B.S. in Vocational Home Economics from Middle Tennessee State University in 1978. She received her Masters in Education from Trevecca Nazarene College in 1991 in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Gilliland has lived in Hendersonville since 1980 with her husband, Garry.  They have three wonderful, talented children and now have two lovely granddaughters, Elena Grace and Annelyse.   She enjoys working with computers and enjoys building machines and repairing them. She also likes to spend time reading, walking and is an avid sports fan.

Scotti Harris- (K-5 Library Media Specialist) -A native of Upper East Tennessee, Mrs. Harris received a B.S. in Special Education (Gifted/LD concentration) from East Tennessee State University and a M.Ed. in
Administration and Supervision (Library Science concentration) from Middle Tennessee State University. She enjoyed teaching SEARCH classes and other Special Education classes in Sumner County for 15 years prior to joining the MHMS faculty in 2005. Mrs. Harris is a member of FBC-Hendersonville
and enjoys reading, traveling, UT football, creating the MHMS elementary yearbook, and bargain-shopping with her daughter.

Kim Howard graduated from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, certifying in Speech/Drama. She worked as a production assistant for William F. Buckley's “Firing Line” and as an on-camera talent for children's programming with Educational Television in Columbia. After marrying Scott Howard in 1975, they moved to Dallas, Texas, where children Beau and Peyton were born. In 1989, the Howard's moved to Hendersonville, TN, and Kim was offered the opportunity to teach Special Education at Portland Middle School. She obtained her certification in special education and elementary education while teaching at Portland Middle and then transferred to Knox Doss Middle School. It was at Knox Doss that Kim discovered a passion for teaching gifted students. She remained at Knox Doss for eight years and following a short break began teaching social studies at T.W. Hunter where she was for two and a half years. Kim has studied at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C and uses Holocaust Literature in her classroom when it is appropriate. She enjoys crossing the curriculum boundaries by combining the study of history and social studies with literature. Kim also serves as the academic coach for Model UN and Youth Legislature on both the middle school and high school levels.  Kim has enjoyed the challenge of teaching at Merrol Hyde Magnet School and looks forward to the new school year with her students.

Betsy Hunter assistant principal at MHMS, is a lifelong resident of Gallatin She has taught in Sumner County for 28 years. She taught kindergarten for 15 years and taught middle school reading and math for nine years. Betsy received her B.S.Ed. from the University of Memphis and her M.Ed. from Tennessee State University. She is a Career Ladder III teacher. Betsy is married to Jim Hunter, who is General Sessions Judge for Sumner County. They have two children, Robert and Rachel. Betsy is a member of the First United Methodist Church where she has been a youth counselor. She also has worked with the Sertoma Club and sponsored the Serteen Club at Rucker Stewart for six years, and has served on the Foster Care Review Board for Youth Services.

Bill Jung, Coach Jung, retired from the Sumner County School system in 2001 after teaching for 31 years.  He taught Physical Science at Portland Junior High for 9 years.  He also coached the boys 7th and 8th grade basketball team as well as the high school freshmen team.  He transferred to Beech High School for its opening in 1980.  There he taught Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Honors Environmental Science, and AP Biology.  The ecology class was taught before it became a part of the state curriculum.  He also coached at different times, tennis, cross-country, freshmen boys basketball and was assistant boys varsity coach.  From Beech High School, he went to Hendersonville High School where he taught Physical Science, Standard Chemistry, Honors I Chemistry, and Honors II Chemistry.  Mr. Jung received his Bachelors Degree in Science from Memphis State University.  He received his Masters Degree from Middle Tennessee State University and acquired his plus 45 hours from different universities in middle Tennessee.

Mr. Jung owns a small farm in Carroll county where he spends most of his leisure time.  He plants a variety of food plots for the different wildlife.  He also enjoys hunting and fishing as hobbies.

Charles Lewis is a Social Studies teacher, football coach, and bowling coach. He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He was the last baby to be born in Nashville’s Protestant Hospital. The next day, January 1, 1947, the hospital changed its name to Baptist Hospital. He was educated in Nashville’s public schools, and he graduated from Central High School. Charlie graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in History. He completed his Graduate Studies at Tennessee State University. He began teaching in the Metro-Nashville System in 1969. A year later, he accepted a teaching position at Hendersonville High School.  At H.H.S., he taught American History, Drivers Education, and Government. He taught the Honors American History when the program was offered at Hendersonville. He coached football, basketball, and track while he was a teacher. He started the first high school baseball program in Sumner County in 1972. He was the first Sumner County “Coach of the Year” in 1979. He was also voted Nashville “Dugout” Coach of the Year in 1978.  In 1984, Charlie was named Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Hendersonville High School. In 1998, he was selected Mid-State Athletic Director of the Year by the TSSAA. He served in these positions until his retirement in 2002. Now he has returned to serve our children at Merrol Hyde Magnet.

Colleen Lloyd teaches Life Sciences at MHMS. She lives in Castalian Springs with her husband, Hugh and daughter, Alex. She has a dual BS in both Biology and Environmental Resource Management from the University of West Florida. After working in the University of Alabama's Limnology department doing research, she received her Masters degree from UA in Comprehensive Secondary Science Education. In her eleven years of teaching, she has taught in both secondary public schools and community colleges in North Carolina and Tennessee. Mrs. Lloyd has taught Industrial Manufacturing, Computer Engineering (based on the A+ industry certification exam), Network Engineering (based on the Network + industry exam), Cisco Networking (Semesters I & II), Total Quality Management, Computer Applications, various software courses, Diversified Technology, 8^th grade Science, Honors Physical Science, Honors Biology I & II, AP Biology, Honors Anatomy & Physiology and Honors Ecology.

 

Karen MacKendree earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. She taught 8th and 11th grade English at Forest City School, a K-12 school. For several years, she was a trainer and administrator for companies in the business world, including Computerland, Procter and Gamble, and Sylvan Technology Center. She has been the Computer Instructor at Jack Anderson Elementary School prior to coming to Merrol Hyde. She has been a faculty member at Merrol Hyde since its beginning in 2003.  Karen is married to Bob, a business manager and choir director. Their son, Kurtis is a high school student at Merrol Hyde Magnet School.

Jolyn Mitchell is a native born Californian but has lived in the south most of her adult life.  She began her teaching career in Sumner County in 1999 and has taught grades 4-8.  She is a graduate of Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a MEd in curriculum and instruction with an additional EdS degree in Administration and Supervision and an endorsement as a reading specialist. She and her husband have five children all grown and on their own.   Jolyn loves to read, travel, and hike and experience life first hand. 

Phillip Paul teaches 8^th Grade Math, Algebra I and Geometry at MHMS. Originally from Australia,   he earned his Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching at Avondale College. Avondale College is also where he met and married his wife, Kelly, an American with family from Tennessee.  They moved to Tennessee in 2004 and reside in Hendersonville.  Mr. Paul taught Honors Physics and AP Physics at Brentwood High School and 7^th and 8^th Grade Science at Shafer Middle School before taking two years off to complete his Masters in Physics at Fisk University. Mr. Paul is the proud father of a beautiful little girl.  In his spare time, Mr. Paul enjoys reading, travel, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Melissa Perry teaches Algebra II, PreCalculus, and Advanced Placement Calculus.  She received her B.S. degree in Secondary Education Mathematics from Tennessee Tech University in 1992.  She began her career in Sumner County at Portland High School where she taught a variety of advanced math courses.  After teaching in Portland for 8 years, Mrs. Perry took time off to stay home with her two sons, Cade and Benjamin, who now attend Merrol Hyde Magnet School.   Her husband Randy is a civil engineer and owner of Perry Engineering.  They reside in Gallatin and are active members of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Mrs. Perry enjoys exercising, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family.

Beth Philemon hails from the Tar Heel State and bleeds true Duke blue. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Trevecca Nazarene University with a B.S. in Music Education. Beth’s favorite high school memories are from within the walls of the chorus classroom and she desires to create similar experiences for her students as the 6-12 grade choral music teacher. When not in the classroom, Beth enjoys spending time with her family and friends over a good meal, boat ride, concert, sporting event, travel excursion, or cup of coffee.

Gayle Pinson “Dede” has been teaching at Merrol Hyde since the beginning of the elementary school in 2004. She has been in the teaching profession for twenty plus years. She completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned a “Masters of Arts in Teaching” Degree from Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. She began her career in Sumner County in 1976 as a second grade teacher. After three years she and her husband moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she taught the first and second grades. She later moved to Saint Louis, Missouri and continued her teaching career in the first grade. While there, she also had the opportunity of being a “cluster teacher” for gifted children. In 1997 she returned to Sumner County and taught first grade for six years at Walton Ferry. She has been married to her husband Frank for thirty plus years. She has two grown children and two grandchildren. She is member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, an educational sorority for teachers and administrators. She has a passion for developing future writers.  She enjoys gardening and traveling in the summers.

Samantha Puff teaches middle school Spanish and Spanish III, IV and V.  She went to The University of Tennesse and received a Bachelors Degree in Spanish and a Masters Degree in Secondary Foreign Language Education.  During college, she studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a wonderful experience and she hopes to go back to visit soon.  She loves to dance salsa and bachata, eat food from Spanish-speaking countries and listen to Spanish music.  She is excited to share her love of this amazing culture with her estudiantes!

Cheryl Ryckeley has been teaching for 15 years. She graduated from Alma College in Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She began her career in Nashville as a first grade teacher then taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in Cheatham County. She has been teaching third grade in Sumner County for the past six years. Cheryl and her husband, Bryan, have two children who attend Merrol Hyde Magnet School.

Brad Schreiner, principal of Merrol Hyde Magnet School, graduated from MTSU and has her Master’s degree from TTU. Her plus 30 hours are from TSU. Mrs. Schreiner taught at Union Elementary for nine years before going to Portland Middle School as assistant principal for five years. She was the principal at Watt Hardison Elementary for almost five years before opening MHMS. Mrs. Schreiner’s husband, Jim, also teaches in Sumner County and they have two sons. She enjoys reading and running and is active at her church.

Lani Skeith has been teaching at Merrol Hyde Magnet since its beginning in 2003.  She taught fifth grade the first four years, and in 2007 she began teaching 6^th and 7^th grade math.  She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois.  She has been in the teaching profession for 24 years.  She is a Past-President of the North Central Reading Association and has served on the Board of the Tennessee State Reading Association.  Lani and her husband, Kevin, have two children, Trevor and Valerie, who attend Merrol Hyde Magnet.  On the weekends, she enjoys walking their two dogs, Maddie and Sydney, but most of all she enjoys being a soccer mom.

Alyssa Smith teaches fourth grade at MHMS. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt University. She received her degree in Elementary Education and Human & Organizational Development in May 2009. A dedicated Vandy fan, she regularly attends athletic events to cheer on her Commodores. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys traveling, practicing the cello, participating in league soccer, and playing with her kitten, Zoey.
 

Courtney Spears graduated from Gallatin High School. As a speech competitor in high school for three years, she was the first student in the county to attend National Forensic League Nationals. After high school, Spears attended Western Kentucky University where she competed on their nationally recognized speech and debate team. Spears was recognized as one of the top speakers at two collegiate national tournaments in 1997 and 1998. She also won several Kentucky State championships in acting and speaking. Spears graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western in 1999 with a B.A. in both English and Speech Communication and is also certified in Theatre Education. She graduated in 2003 with an M.A. in English, also from WKU. In December 2004, she graduated from Tennessee State University with her Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision.  Spears resides in Hendersonville with her husband, Andy, and their daughter.
 

Rebecca Stewart teaches elementary French and Spanish, and she also teaches a few middle and high school foreign language classes when needed. In the spring of 1995, she spent five months in Paris, France studying at the Sorbonne University, and in the spring of 1996, she graduated from Berea College with a bachelor’s degree in French. After earning her BA, Rebecca attended the University of Kentucky, earning a Master’s degree in Education in 1998.  Rebecca taught both French and Humanities in Owensboro, Kentucky for six years before moving to Tennessee. While teaching at Owensboro Middle School, Rebecca developed and implemented a complete Humanities and French program geared towards eighth grade students, and later on, expanded it to include 6th and 7th graders at three local middle schools. Rebecca has been trained for eight years in Paideia educational techniques and for two years in Quantum Learning strategies, and has vigorously incorporated their philosophies into her own teaching style. She loves teaching and is very pleased to be given the unique opportunity to teach at Merrol Hyde Magnet School.  Go Hawks!

Cindy Storey  earned her B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems and her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Trevecca Nazarene University.   After programming computers for the State of Tennessee and billing Medicare for hospitals such as Vanderbilt and others nationwide, she returned to graduate school to become a teacher.  In 2004 she earned a M.Ed. in Education/Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee State University.  While in graduate school, she taught special education at Knox Doss Middle School for three years and 7^th and 8^th grade math at White House Middle School for one year.  She is beginning her 4th year here at MHMS teaching Keyboarding, Accounting, and Multimedia, and Desktop publishing.  Ms. Story sponsors Future Business Leaders of America, the school's largest club.  She is an avid Tennessee fan and loves to travel and cross-stitch in her spare time.
 

Donna Thurman has been in the teaching profession for 18 -20 years.  She is a Nashville native and received her undergraduate degree from TTU in Secondary Education English and her master’s degree from MTSU in Guidance and Counseling.  She taught English and Journalism and sponsored the school newspaper in Helena, Arkansas and  Fairview Middle and Brentwood High in Williamson County. For the past nine years, she has been a guidance counselor at Henry County High School  and Hendersonville High School. Personally, she has two daughters and one grandson.  She enjoys reading, gardening, sports, and spending time with friends.  She is an active member of First United Methodist Church and her Sunday School Class.

Valerie Trantum is our K-5 Music Teacher. Mrs. Trantum has taught general music and choral music for all ages. She has a Bachelors degree in piano performance from Gettysburg College, and a Masters degree in music education and choral conducting from The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Mrs. Trantum enjoys songs and folk dances from all over the world and likes working with other teachers to incorporate music into every child’s learning every day. Mrs. Trantum lives in Hendersonville with her husband Matt and their two sons. They are active at St. Timothy Lutheran Church and spend time together cooking, traveling, boating and doing other outdoor activities.

Jennifer Weedman is the school library media specialist. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and an M.L.S. from Vanderbilt. She has been in Sumner County since 1986. She has special interests in storytelling and Holocaust education. In 2001, while at Ellis Middle, she wrote and administered a $200,000 grant to implement technology into the curriculum. She has a passion for books, gardening, and travel.

Dawn Williamson graduated from Union University in 1990 with a Bachelors of Arts in English, with minors in Secondary Education and Communications.  Although this is her first year teaching at Merrol Hyde Magnet School, she previously taught at College Heights Christian Academy and at Portland High School.  She has taught English to grades 7-11, journalism, and speech/drama.  In order to spend more time with her family, Mrs. Williamson took a break from teaching and worked part-time for an attorney in Gallatin who specializes in real estate.  She and her husband have three children, live in Hendersonville, and are active members of their church.  Lauren and Drew currently attend Merrol Hyde.  Mrs. Williamson enjoys walking, scrapbooking, and camping.