New faculty and staff join the Brookwood family

THOMASVILLE - The 2021-2022 school year brings several new faculty members to Brookwood School, as well as new roles for some returning faculty.

Brookwood’s Lower School welcomes a number of new team members. Mrs. Andrea Bentley assumes the role of Lower School Director. Mrs. Lauren Harrell ‘06 and Ms. Kelli Johnson will both teach fifth grade. Ms. Sherri Kirbo, Mrs. Amanda Mizell, and Mrs. Tina Watkinson will be teaching assistants. 

“I always look forward to the first day of a new school year,” Bentley said. “I am excited to build relationships with our students and their families as we kick off the 2021-2022 school year.”

Several members of the Lower School faculty are shifting roles. Mrs. Robyn Duncan, who previously assisted in the first grade, will teach Junior Kindergarten, and Mrs. Brittany Moore will be her assistant. Two teachers are changing grades: Mrs. Laurie Edwards from second grade to third grade and Mrs. Julia Taylor from third grade to second grade. Mr. Mario Mathis will be a new Lower School physical education teacher. Mrs. Lisa Yestrumsky will be a Curriculum Support Teacher. 

“I am excited to move to Lower School P.E., and I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of the youngest Warriors,” Mathis shared. “This [new] position with Lower School gives me the chance to know more of the Brookwood family.” 

Middle and Upper Schools are adding several new instructors. Mr. Cale Deese ‘16 returns to Brookwood as a faculty member to teach physical education. Dr. Grace Hunt Watkinson and Mr. Louis Schofill will teach history. Mr. Brandon French will join the English department. Dr. Katherine Odegaard will teach science. For electives, Ms. Trellis Payne will be the art instructor, and Mrs. Danielle Posey will teach Spanish.

Deese shared, “I am most excited about developing long-lasting relationships with every kid I meet, as well as helping them grow in every step of life.” 

Faculty shifting roles in the Upper School includes Mrs. Kendra Burrus, who will now teach the yearbook and journalism class, and Mr. Bill Byce and Ms. Susan Vann, who will share the Dean of Students role. 

Additionally, Mrs. Kate Brown, Ms. Jenny Ladson, and Dr. Jeremy Kasten are starting new roles across campus. Lower School Art teacher Brown will add Community Arts Liaison to her responsibilities. Ladson, who works in the Lower School Academic Resource Center (ARC), will also be the Director of Community Partnerships. Dr. Jeremy Kasten will continue to teach Spanish as he becomes the Director of College Counseling. 

“Once again, we are excited to have top-notch professionals joining the Brookwood Family,” Headmaster Dr. Randy Watts said. “We remain blessed that, even in challenging times, we have been able to attract such a talented group.” 

For athletics, two familiar faces have new roles and a new member has been added to the Warrior Athletic team as well. Ms. Jordan Edling has been a part-time Athletic Trainer at Brookwood School for the past two school years and now joins Warrior athletics full-time. Ms. Jordan Thompson ‘19 returns to her alma mater to assist the girls basketball team. Ms. Robyn Sullivan is welcomed to Brookwood as the Director of Grounds. Sullivan was previously a turf specialist at Florida State University and holds a degree in turf and turf management. 

“I know that all of our new employees will be welcomed into our community and will be great contributors to our returning team of outstanding educators.”